Released in 1989 in Japan under the title, MOTHER, it wouldn't be released internationally until 2015 under the title EarthBound Beginnings. Of course, we English-speaking MOTHER fans knew of this game since the '90s, but in those days the only way to play was to import a copy of the game from Japan or to resort to ... other means.

Luckily, EarthBound Beginnings is on Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) as of the time of this review's publication, so anyone with a subscription can give it a try!

The story is centered on Ninten, a 12-year-old boy with psychic powers who sets out to investigate the cause of paranormal events occurring in his hometown. With aid from his great-grandfather's diary, Ninten finds a portal to the land of Magicant, a fairy tale world ruled by the benevolent Queen Mary.

The Queen tasks Ninten to find her lost melody, which has been broken into eight parts. On his journey, Ninten is joined by a few colorful companions: a nerdy boy, a psychic girl, and a street thug with a heart of gold. Together, they travel between worlds battling aliens, possessed cars, hippies, and even a dragon as they search for the Eight Melodies.

The setting mostly eschews the medieval fantasy trappings typical of RPGs in favor of a modern American milieu. Our child heroes fight the bad guys with baseball bats, frying pans, and laser guns, take express trains to faraway towns, and recover health by eating hamburgers and french fries.

Sure, the gameplay is similar to the original Final Fantasy, but don't expect more of the same. EarthBound Beginnings brilliantly sets itself apart through its weird and wonderful world building as well as its writing, which is full of heart. Even the non-playable characters have personalities, which was very unusual for the time. Talking to NPCs rewards the player with memorable lines, some funny, some sad, and others that will leave you wondering what you just read.

The game's difficulty is high, which is not unusual for an NES game, and the high enemy encounter rate coupled with uneven balancing can make EarthBound Beginnings a slog at times. But if you're patient and willing to adapt to dated gaming conventions, you'll be rewarded with a beautiful story, unforgettable characters, and a rockin' soundtrack!

So enough with my review, if you've ever wondered what the EarthBound series is all about then play EarthBound ... on the Super NES (or NSO). Yes, you read that right. I recommend you experience the more user-friendly 16-bit sequel first, then go back and see where this delightfully quirky trilogy began.

And remember, no crying until the ending.

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EarthBound Beginnings

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