The MOTHER series has become a new favorite video game series of mine. So I decided to make a Ness's Magicant themed shrine since that's my favorite part of Earthbound. MOTHER is a beloved role-playing video game franchise created by Japanese Copyrighter Shigesato Itoi and developed by Nintendo. Here's an overview of its history:
MOTHER (EarthBound Beginnings):
Released in Japan in 1989 for the Famicom (Nintendo Entertainment System), MOTHER was the first game in the series. It follows the story of a young boy named Ninten who embarks on a journey across the world to collect melodies in order to combat an alien invasion. Despite its critical acclaim, it was never officially released outside Japan. Although an North American version was made under the name "EarthBound", it was never released because it was too late in the NES's lifespan. A prototype of the North American version was dumped online in 1998 and was dubbed EarthBound Zero. In 2015, it was localized for the Wii U Virtual Console as "EarthBound Beginnings" and in 2022, would be released on the Switch Virtual Console.
MOTHER 2 (EarthBound):
MOTHER 2, known as EarthBound internationally, was released for the Super Famicom (Super Nintendo Entertainment System) on August 27th, 1994 in Japan and June 5th, 1995 in North America. It stars a young boy named Ness and his friends Paula, Jeff, and Poo as they travel across the world to stop an alien force known as Giygas from destroying the universe. Originally, the story would follow the events after MOTHER but was changed due to time constraints. EarthBound is renowned for its quirky humor, unique setting, and memorable characters. While it wasn't a commercial success initially in North America, it gained a cult following over the years.
MOTHER 3:
MOTHER 3 was released for the Game Boy Advance in 2006, but only in Japan. The game follows the story of Lucas, a young boy with psychic abilities, as he journeys across the Nowhere Islands to save his homeland from a mysterious army. MOTHER 3 retains the series' signature humor and emotional depth, but it didn't receive an official English localization from Nintendo. However, dedicated fans have created unofficial translation patches. Despite the critical acclaim and passionate fanbase, the MOTHER series has seen limited commercial success compared to other Nintendo franchises. Nevertheless, it has left a lasting impact on gaming culture, particularly for its unique storytelling, quirky humor, and memorable music composed by Hirokazu Tanaka and Keiichi Suzuki. Fans worldwide continue to celebrate and cherish the series, often advocating for its recognition outside of Japan.
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