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EarthBound |OT| Look at the sun. Face the sun and smile.
- Thread starter Joqu
- Start date
Rock on man. Where ya at?
The boss got my interest(back in the day when I would rent based on boxes!) and I took it home for a week. Fell in love, but didn't get super far. Years later(early 2000s), I traded my copy of Chrono Trigger for a used copy, and it quickly became one of my all time favorites.
I sorta love it, but I'm one of those weirdos that thinks organizing stuff and working in highly constrained environments is fun.
Just got Paula
I'm loving every piece of dialogue, and always loved 4th wall breaking moments in classic RPGs. Actually, playing this game makes me realise how many old school RPG things I like are missing from recent releases. The exact description of what happens when leveling up is also one of those things. I'm tired of this games where you don't have any sense of progression and have to go inside menus to notice changes and end up only being able to say "Welp, this number over here went higher"
Also the game has so much personality and is so refreshing playing a game which doesn't take itself seriously. Maybe this changes later on, but I'd be totally OK with this game not being epic.
I hope all this positive reaction on miiverse and the number of sales is noticed by nintendo and makes them take advantage of the huge amount of NES/SNES top quality
games. I'm totally ready for double dipping with Lufia 2, Secret of Evermore, Terranigma, Ilusion of Time/Gaia,...
At first I was a bit WTF with her stats (30HP? really?) but leveling 3 levels/battle was quite satisfying, hehe. I came back to Twoson and seems like nobody cares about those east caves... *shrug*, I'm going there next anyway 
I'm loving every piece of dialogue, and always loved 4th wall breaking moments in classic RPGs. Actually, playing this game makes me realise how many old school RPG things I like are missing from recent releases. The exact description of what happens when leveling up is also one of those things. I'm tired of this games where you don't have any sense of progression and have to go inside menus to notice changes and end up only being able to say "Welp, this number over here went higher"
Also the game has so much personality and is so refreshing playing a game which doesn't take itself seriously. Maybe this changes later on, but I'd be totally OK with this game not being epic.
I hope all this positive reaction on miiverse and the number of sales is noticed by nintendo and makes them take advantage of the huge amount of NES/SNES top quality
and maybe not so popular
Lucent
Member
Just got PaulaAt first I was a bit WTF with her stats (30HP? really?) but leveling 3 levels/battle was quite satisfying, hehe. I came back to Twoson and seems like nobody cares about those east caves... *shrug*, I'm going there next anyway
I'm loving every piece of dialogue, and always loved 4th wall breaking moments in classic RPGs. Actually, playing this game makes me realise how many old school RPG things I like are missing from recent releases. The exact description of what happens when leveling up is also one of those things. I'm tired of this games where you don't have any sense of progression and have to go inside menus to notice changes and end up only being able to say "Welp, this number over here went higher"
Also the game has so much personality and is so refreshing playing a game which doesn't take itself seriously. Maybe this changes later on, but I'd be totally OK with this game not being epic.
I hope all this positive reaction on miiverse and the number of sales is noticed by nintendo and makes them take advantage of the huge amount of NES/SNES top qualitygames. I'm totally ready for double dipping with Lufia 2, Secret of Evermore, Terranigma, Ilusion of Time/Gaia,...and maybe not so popular
This is something I REALLY miss and rarely see in RPGs. This game and Lunar series I wanted to talk to every NPC to see what they said. Playing Ni no Kuni, I stopped talking to people after awhile. I know not every RPG is meant to be funny, but it's kinda boring when you talk to some random NPC and all they say is something like "That boy...he sucks." Okay I actually would've liked that..I can't think of a specific example. lol
My favourite is the rat that says 'I'm a rat!'.
I love how it builds even on that with the
eraser eraser. How does such an item exist?!
Playing for the first time now too, I played it a bit as a kid, for some reason the art style put me off then but I love it so much now. I just got the
and I'm ready to go through that obstacle now.
I am surprised how quickly I got into the game, plenty of older RPGs are usually slow to get into for one reason or another but the way this game flows, plays and looks has aged beautifully. I also love how you can end some encounters without actually fighting, plenty of other JRPGs could have really benefited from getting rid of scrub encounters like that as long load times for battles in modern games make them so tedious (sometimes just taking actions takes too long in some games for scrub battles, like radiant historia and managing enemy locations).
I love stuff like the random lines in battle of strange enemy behaviour (like the hippies).
pencil eraser
I am surprised how quickly I got into the game, plenty of older RPGs are usually slow to get into for one reason or another but the way this game flows, plays and looks has aged beautifully. I also love how you can end some encounters without actually fighting, plenty of other JRPGs could have really benefited from getting rid of scrub encounters like that as long load times for battles in modern games make them so tedious (sometimes just taking actions takes too long in some games for scrub battles, like radiant historia and managing enemy locations).
I love stuff like the random lines in battle of strange enemy behaviour (like the hippies).
Lucent
Member
I finished off the first chunk earlier, the giant step in Onnet.
When I was much younger and I recall renting it only once and I wasn't big on it. Not to say I didn't give it a fair shake, it's just Earth Bound had this fantastic marketing campaign with scratch and sniff magazine ads where you could smell all the bosses. As a 12 year old boy I found this hilarious and appealing, also the plasticine look of all the promo art was pretty amazing.
According to wikipedia, Earthbound made it out in June of 1995. I'm honestly not sure if I rented it right away or if I waited a bit but I wasn't big into RPGs at that point. In theory , I enjoyed everything about them ... just the act of actually playing them did nothing for me. Chrono Trigger , which came out just a couple months later that same year was the first one that hooked me into it's graphics and story and even - for the first time - gameplay.
So I think back on my experience of playing Earthbound IN 1995 and I just recall being frustrated with the difficulty level because the little bit of RPGs I did play at that point usually resulted in me running away from every single fight and dying lots.
Either way, that bit of my sad old history is behind me now and I really enjoy what I've played of this so far. I'm actually not even sure I beat the Titanic Ant boss during my original attempt at this game because of the aforementioned running away from all the fights but this time I intend to keep going. Due to the nature of renting games there were always save files much further along then I could ever get so I saw bits of the next area and some stuff in the middle of the game but just never got around to playing it through until now.
I'm glad nintendo released it for wii U though, it's given me a reason to turn on the system again.
When I was much younger and I recall renting it only once and I wasn't big on it. Not to say I didn't give it a fair shake, it's just Earth Bound had this fantastic marketing campaign with scratch and sniff magazine ads where you could smell all the bosses. As a 12 year old boy I found this hilarious and appealing, also the plasticine look of all the promo art was pretty amazing.
According to wikipedia, Earthbound made it out in June of 1995. I'm honestly not sure if I rented it right away or if I waited a bit but I wasn't big into RPGs at that point. In theory , I enjoyed everything about them ... just the act of actually playing them did nothing for me. Chrono Trigger , which came out just a couple months later that same year was the first one that hooked me into it's graphics and story and even - for the first time - gameplay.
So I think back on my experience of playing Earthbound IN 1995 and I just recall being frustrated with the difficulty level because the little bit of RPGs I did play at that point usually resulted in me running away from every single fight and dying lots.
Either way, that bit of my sad old history is behind me now and I really enjoy what I've played of this so far. I'm actually not even sure I beat the Titanic Ant boss during my original attempt at this game because of the aforementioned running away from all the fights but this time I intend to keep going. Due to the nature of renting games there were always save files much further along then I could ever get so I saw bits of the next area and some stuff in the middle of the game but just never got around to playing it through until now.
I'm glad nintendo released it for wii U though, it's given me a reason to turn on the system again.
Davey Cakes
Member
One of Earthbound's best qualities is that it's rather peppy with its battle system. If you're strong enough, you can beat an enemy without even going into the battle screen. That aside, the actual battles themselves are rather quick and not overly flashy except for with PSI animations. It's kind of a basic system overall which may be a turn off for folks, but it helps the game not get dragged down by its combat in terms the time dedicated to enemy encounters.
The battle pace is probably the fastest I know of in a Nintendo RPG. Closest thing might be Pokemon.
Another thing I love is how... emotive it all is. The language used really puts you in the battle in a way that many games don't attempt to. In fact, the behavior of enemies during combat in many ways mirrors the way NPCs move and behave outside of combat. It's all really organic feeling.
It'd be nice if they could at least give meaningful tidbits on the story, but only MegaTen nailed ythat and I think that has a lot to do with how messed up things can be in the bigger picture and how in some ways your characters sometimes ARE the most ignorant.
Though I do seem to appreciate EarthBound's oddness more and more over time.
Man, everytime I read about EB, I still feel shameful that I never picked it up back in the day, and that I've never played it yet. I still remember seeing the big box behind the store shelf at my local game shop, and thinking I should play it. I was big into FF and DQ, and read everything I could about it in the mags back in the day, even kinda liked the smelly scratch and sniff ads.
I gotta play it... This might push me to get a Wii U... seems so charming.
My birthday is in a couple weeks, maybe my wife will surprise me with a Wii U
*edit*... hmm, wouldn't that be strange if this near 20 year old game ended up pushing Wii U sales... ha ha... Maybe Nintendo would be encouraged to release Mother 3 with an english translation.
I gotta play it... This might push me to get a Wii U... seems so charming.
My birthday is in a couple weeks, maybe my wife will surprise me with a Wii U
*edit*... hmm, wouldn't that be strange if this near 20 year old game ended up pushing Wii U sales... ha ha... Maybe Nintendo would be encouraged to release Mother 3 with an english translation.
It will certainly be a big plus among the other first party games coming up!
Box of Bunnies
Banned
Reached Saturn Valley when I stopped playing this after...morn? About 11 hours 40 minutes played. Ness is level 25 or so. Paula and Jeff are late teens.
In terms of gameplay, there's not a lot to say about Earthbound. Having played the Zenithia trilogy of Dragon Quest it's pretty easy to see where this game was coming from and where it's taking its influences from as a parody. The dad, for example, plays exactly like DQ churches. Things like the "auto kill" encounters against weaker enemies and (to a lesser extent) the rolling health bar are great additions though.
The real draw of Earthbound is its melding of styles. It has this real cute innocence about it, yet things like the psychadelic battle backgrounds, the Psi effects, certain musical cues and specific areas give it this real surreal, off-kilter bent. It's simultaneously cute and unsettling but not in a way that provides some kind tonal clash. Instead it's compelling and makes you want to keep going. Not to mention the clever, funny script.
In terms of gameplay, there's not a lot to say about Earthbound. Having played the Zenithia trilogy of Dragon Quest it's pretty easy to see where this game was coming from and where it's taking its influences from as a parody. The dad, for example, plays exactly like DQ churches. Things like the "auto kill" encounters against weaker enemies and (to a lesser extent) the rolling health bar are great additions though.
The real draw of Earthbound is its melding of styles. It has this real cute innocence about it, yet things like the psychadelic battle backgrounds, the Psi effects, certain musical cues and specific areas give it this real surreal, off-kilter bent. It's simultaneously cute and unsettling but not in a way that provides some kind tonal clash. Instead it's compelling and makes you want to keep going. Not to mention the clever, funny script.
Should I be buying the latest equipment each time I come across some or will it be a waste of money?
Finally! I thought I was going to be all alone with the Mr. Saturn thing.
Finally! I thought I was going to be all alone with the Mr. Saturn thing.
Cheesemeister
Member
y cant fuzzy pickle crawl?
SteelYoshi
Neo Member
Playing the game, runs into super starman.
"He looks way strong, I better take him out quickly"
(Launches 2 PK Freeze Beta's from paula and poo)
"Shit"
"He looks way strong, I better take him out quickly"
(Launches 2 PK Freeze Beta's from paula and poo)
"Shit"
I don't think that many kids will play this. It's not 30 cents like SM.
Oh shit...I'm on the Fourside dept store...
They took Paula, after I had all the Picnic launches I bought on her... :'(
lol
(so true)
One of the most intense battles on the game followed this. I had only 12HP and only Ness was conscious in the end. No PP. If I hadn't landed 3 Smaaash hits I'd be dead and I hadn't save the game for a long time.
BalrogTheMaster
Neo Member
Hey guys! Just out of curiosity, has anyone noticed dialogue or any changes from the SNES version?
Ha, that is awesome. In a game like this, you will always remember the moments like this where you miraculously escaped the jaws of death. That is why I recommend no one using the save state and just rely on the in game save system like we did in the SNES days. Makes it more tense and memorable.
Most items you find will be valuable stuff that you can't buy. It's pretty rare to find armor or a weapon that's sold in stores.
Just one who was posting that joke on every other Miiverse community. how does earthbound exit house?
Battles aside, so far it just seems to be the obstacle in Peaceful Rest Valley and first entering Threed that are giving people trouble. I remember being stuck there for a little while when I first played.
lol, judging by the Miiverse posts there are definitely some kids playing this. FUZZY PICKALS!!!
A couple of inconsequential lines might have been changed for some unknown reason. That's all, I think.
Shadow Hog
Member
I missed out on this game growing up even though I remember the scratch n sniff ads and my friend loving the hell out of it.
Also, the "I just farted, sorry." line always cracked me up. I think the scene was shown either in an old EGM or Nintendo Power.
Really wish this was coming out for the regular Wii VC.
Also, the "I just farted, sorry." line always cracked me up. I think the scene was shown either in an old EGM or Nintendo Power.
Really wish this was coming out for the regular Wii VC.
I just got to the part with this line in the concert
6 hours in already: it feels surrealist to play this game right after TLoU and feel just as addicted.
That's when I asked miiverse for help.
I think I'm on the second half of the game.
Until now I love everything in the game... I don't know why but I haven't been bored even a bit, even whike grinding. Usually during this part of games that require exploring like Zelda, I try to advance more because I get sick of the same environment. On EarthBound this hasn't happen. Even the battles are awesome for their little details.
In probably 1 or 2 days I'll finish it so I'll try to write more complete impressions. But the sure thing is that the series has a new fan. After this, I'd really like to play Mother 1 or 3 but I'm not really fond of ROMs, even for titles like those, that probably won't come to the West.
I stopped playing in Scarabe town, right before I leave for the desert(and not dessert ). Poo's addition was somewhat late and I had to grind to have power him up. He was like 40 levels weaker than Ness. Now, he's early 40s, while everyone else is mid 50s and Ness early 60s.
). Poo's addition was somewhat late and I had to grind to have power him up. He was like 40 levels weaker than Ness. Now, he's early 40s, while everyone else is mid 50s and Ness early 60s.Until now I love everything in the game... I don't know why but I haven't been bored even a bit, even whike grinding. Usually during this part of games that require exploring like Zelda, I try to advance more because I get sick of the same environment. On EarthBound this hasn't happen. Even the battles are awesome for their little details.
In probably 1 or 2 days I'll finish it so I'll try to write more complete impressions. But the sure thing is that the series has a new fan.
After this, I'd really like to play Mother 1 or 3 but I'm not really fond of ROMs, even for titles like those, that probably won't come to the West.PezDispenser
Banned
I think I'm on the second half of the game.
I stopped playing in Scarabe town, right before I leave for the desert(and not dessert
Until now I love everything in the game... I don't know why but I haven't been bored even a bit, even whike grinding. Usually during this part of games that require exploring like Zelda, I try to advance more because I get sick of the same environment. On EarthBound this hasn't happen. Even the battles are awesome for their little details.
Yep, you're in the second half, approaching the last third if you're not there already. The only frustrating/annoying part for me is the
monkey caves
You're playing a ROM right now and loving it =P
SpoonyBard
Banned
Bah, made it to the final boss, but
I'll continue tomorrow, don't feel like playing the final bit again today.
gave up during the third form. I kept going and going, but the enemy never ran out of HP and eventually I just thought that there must be some trick to the fight, and tried using every item and option I had. Looks like I should just have continued bashing away.
I'll continue tomorrow, don't feel like playing the final bit again today.
Yeah right, I mean illegal ROM and not on a console.
PezDispenser
Banned
I was like that last night. But there's a sequence of events just waiting to happen. Go back to Twoson and you'll be cool.
SpoonyBard
Banned
fuzzylogic
Member
Non-story-related Final Boss Spoilers below.
Vague hint:
You were on the right track when you were using every option you had.
Vague hint:
Normal tactics won't truly hurt Giygas.
Light (fight mechanics) spoiler, Hint:
Giygas has infinite HP, you DO need to do something special to defeat it.
Blatant hint:
What's something that only Paula can do? Do that, repeatedly.
Edit: beaten, over the head, many times over.
Davey Cakes
Member
The final battle has that tricky part. We've all been there. But, once you know, you know.
Cool. Annoying that I have to backtrack, though.
SpoonyBard
Banned
By the way, I did the Sanctuaries in this order by accident:
1->2->3->4->7->8->5->6
5 and 6 were pretty easy when done in this order, but needles to say, 7 was pretty hard...
1->2->3->4->7->8->5->6
5 and 6 were pretty easy when done in this order, but needles to say, 7 was pretty hard...
Chet Rippo
Member
I actually recently got a SNES copy off an awesome fellow gaffer, so I've been playing through slowly but surely.
Just got to
and what the hell this place is so messed up! Do I have to spend very long here? I feel like I'm tripping really bad.
So glad I found those
, so I'm pretty decently leveled, I think... Ness is nearly 50 and Jeff isn't too far behind.
Also does anyone know what happens when
? I've managed to avoid it so far but it's freaking me the hell out!
Just got to
Moonside
So glad I found those
little green wriggly dudes in the desert
Also does anyone know what happens when
the gas pump enemies count down to 0
Shadow Hog
Member
They
hit you with a Bomb item. It's damaging, but not as bad as the exploding trees in Peaceful Rest Valley
This place was really weird. Probably the epitome of weirdness.
The black background with the neon lights, the totally weird enemies like the dali clocks and abstract art, the way everyone speaks... If you hadn't visit the Moonside museum, visit it now! One of people there said something really crepped me out. xD I really liked this place though. About the pumps, I don't think they do something. One of them managed to count until 1 but after this it made a ticking noise and stopped... This was also creepy. lol
After Off-TV playing this amazing game, I just can't wait for more and more VC titles, I have a hard time breathing thinking about some SNES, N64 and specially GC games running on the gamepad, godammit Nintendo, take my money and fking do it already, sometimes I don't get this company.
/rant.
/rant.