EarthBound (game)

"EarthBound" redirects here. For the universe, see EarthBound (universe).

EarthBound
Developer(s)	Ape, Inc. HAL Laboratory, Inc.
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Designer(s)	Shigesato Itoi
Released	August 27, 1994 March 20, 2013 (VC) June 5, 1995 July 18, 2013 (VC) July 18, 2013 (VC)
Genre(s)	Console role-playing game
Ratings	ESRB: K-A (SNES), T (Virtual Console) PEGI: 12+ (Virtual Console)
Platform(s)	Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Virtual Console, Nintendo Switch Online
Media	24 megabit cartridge
Article on WikiBound	EarthBound

EarthBound (MOTHER 2 ギーグの逆襲, Mother 2: Gyiyg Strikes Back) is a role-playing game (RPG) for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the second game in the EarthBound series, following the Famicom game Mother, later released outside of Japan as EarthBound Beginnings. The game is only loosely connected to EarthBound Beginnings, in that it shares neither the primary protagonists nor the primary setting; one of the few notable connections is Giygas, the primary antagonist of both games, here seemingly executing the revenge he swore to uphold against the planet Earth at the end of EarthBound Beginnings.

The plot is about a young boy named Ness whose adventure first starts when a meteor crashes in Onett and he goes to investigate. While there, Ness meets Buzz Buzz who tells Ness about the universe being sent into eternal darkness by from Giygas, the game's main antagonist. He tells Ness that he is the chosen one and that he and three other people will save the world. Ness eventually meets with the other people, who also have been given the same fate. They travel through the world collecting the Eight Melodies, and eventually defeat Giygas.

EarthBound was released on the SNES in Japan and North America. Although it sold considerably well in the Japanese market, EarthBound had poor sales in the American market and was initially poorly received by critics, due to its outdated graphics, "This Game Stinks" marketing campaign and lack of interest in JRPG games at the time of its release. A dedicated fan base has grown over time, however, and many critics nowadays deem it as a cult classic. A port of the game, coupled with its prequel, was also released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan. EarthBound was never released for SNES in Europe and Australia, and it only finally saw release in these regions following a worldwide re-release of the game for the Wii U's Virtual Console in 2013, becoming a best seller.

In the Super Smash Bros. series

Ness standing outside of his house in Onett in the opening of EarthBound.

Fighter

Ness, the main protagonist, debuted in this game. He is a fighter in every Smash Bros. game, being an unlockable character in SSB, Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, and Ultimate, and a starter character in Melee and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Moves

PK Flash (or PSI Flash in EarthBound), Ness's Neutral special move from Melee onwards and PK Starstorm (or PSI Starstorm in EarthBound), Ness and Lucas' Final Smash come from this game. PK Flash involves using the character's psychic power to cause a strong flash, which can have a variety of different effects. Ness is the one to learn it in this game. PK Starstorm involves using the character's psychic power to rain down falling stars and cause major damage. Although Ness uses PK Starstorm as his Final Smash, he cannot learn it in EarthBound. Rather, PK Starstorm is learned by his party member, Poo. In Ultimate, Paula and Poo assist Ness in his Final Smash.

Stages

Onett and Fourside come from this game. Onett is Ness's hometown in Eagleland. Fourside is a major city that Ness has to venture through in order to find the fifth Your Sanctuary location. Onett is a stage in Melee, Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Ultimate. Fourside appears as a stage in Melee and Ultimate.

Items

Mr. Saturn and Ramblin' Evil Mushroom come from this game. Mr. Saturns are strange creatures that reside in Saturn Valley where they provide health care and hotel stays free of charge. They also assist Ness and their friends in their quest to defeat Giygas. Ramblin' Evil Mushrooms are enemies that spread spores and confuse the player, making them attack themselves and party members in battle, and scrambling their controls on the overworld. Mr. Saturn appears as an item from Melee onwards. The Ramblin' Evil Mushroom appears in Ultimate.

Assist Trophy

Jeff is one of the player's four party members. He appears as an assist trophy in Brawl and onwards.

Boss

Porky Minch, who appears as a boss in Brawl, makes his debut in this game. Although, he was named "Pokey" in EarthBound and his design in Smash is based on his appearance in Mother 3.

Music

"Fourside (Melee)", "Smiles and Tears", "Onett Theme/Winters Theme" and "Fourside" (new remix) come from this game. Fourside from Melee (known as "EarthBound" in Melee's sound test) is a techno-based remix of the track which plays in the city of Fourside. This track also consists of the first half of the "Eight Melodies" from EarthBound (called "Smiles and Tears"), and a small remixed excerpt from the theme played in Fire Spring, which consists mostly of drum beats. There are also the sound effects of caves and strange locations from EarthBound in the track. "Smiles and Tears" plays while the staff credits roll upon beating the game. "Onett Theme/Winters Theme" is a remix of two themes from this game: the music that plays as Ness explores Onett, and the music that plays when Jeff escapes his dormitory in Winters (which itself is a remix of EarthBound Beginnings's Snowman theme). The new remix for Fourside is the main theme of Fourside and incorporates a remix of the first 4 melodies, similar to the Melee remix.

Trophies

In Melee

Name	Image	First Game	Description
Ness		EarthBound 6/95	Ness is a young boy who's mastered the psychic power known as PSI. Ness was living a normal life in the suburbs of Onett until a meteor crashed into a nearby mountain and sent him on a wild adventure. Believing in the ultimate powers of wisdom, courage, and friendship, Ness proves that some heroes come in small packages.
Mr. Saturn		EarthBound 6/95	The origins of the Mr. Saturn race are unknown, but many believe they came from outer space. They reside in Saturn Valley and speak their own unique language. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Mr. Saturn is just another item with which to pelt foes. These guys are laid back and not into fighting, so you can rest easy...or can you?
UFO		EarthBound 6/95	At the beginning of EarthBound, this flying saucer appears along with the ominous message, "The War Against Giygas!" Adding to the mystery are three more UFOs, which fly amok in the skies over Onett; how all of these alien craft are connected is anyone's guess. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, this slippery UFO appears on the Fourside level.
Paula		EarthBound 6/95	Paula is a PSI master who used her incredible psychic abilities to call Ness from afar. Ness rescued Paula from the blue-stained clutches of the Happy Happyist cult, and she became integral to his EarthBound adventure. Originally, Ness didn't know either PK Thunder or PK Fire, so Paula probably taught him these techniques.
Jeff		EarthBound 6/95	Another of Ness's close friends in EarthBound, Jeff is the only son of the famous scientist, Dr. Andonuts. Jeff is a mechanical genius, able to turn common, broken tools into complex weapons like the Hungry HP-sucker and the Slime Generator. He's a bit on the shy side but incredibly intelligent and brave in the heat of battle.
Poo		EarthBound 6/95	Poo, the crown prince of the mysterious eastern country of Dalaam, joined Ness after completing rigorous training in his home country. While he doesn't stand out among Ness's friends, his vast experience and strong willpower make him a key to their success. Poo can assume the form of an enemy to gain its powers.

In Brawl

Name	Type	Picture	Description
Ness	Fighter		An average boy whose life changed when he found a meteor and an alien on a nearby mountain. The alien warned him of a future threat, and adventure ensued. He can use psychic energy known as PSI and also wields a bat and yo-yo. This brave youth gives his all to defeat the evil Giygas. : EarthBound : Super Smash Bros. : EarthBound (Japan and US Only) : Super Smash Bros.
PK Starstorm (Ness)	Final Smash		Ness as he calls down a host of damage-dealing stars in his Final Smash. Everyone on the screen must dodge like crazy to avoid getting hurt, but that's no easy task. This attack appeared in the Mother series, but it was Poo, not Ness, who wielded it. Perhaps Poo taught Ness the secret of the attack for use in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. : Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Mr. Saturn	Item		A creature from a race of unknown origin that speaks its own unique language. Some say they came from outer space, but the facts behind their appearance are wrapped in mystery. In Smash Bros., they'll wait a bit after appearing before wandering off on their own. They can be picked up and thrown at foes for minimal damage. Their shield-breaking properties are high. : EarthBound : Mother 3 (Japan Only) : EarthBound (Japan and US Only) : Mother 3 (Japan Only)
Jeff	Assist Trophy		Dr. Andonuts's son, who attends a boarding school in Winters. He receives a telepathic message from Paula saying that she and Ness have been captured, and he sets out to rescue them. He's Ness's age but has the knowledge of an established scientist. He repairs broken items and makes them into other things. As his IQ increases, so does the number of things he can create. : EarthBound : EarthBound (Japan and US Only)
Porky	Enemy		A self-centered, rotten brat who lives next door to Ness. As the events of the game progress, he's rapidly led astray and becomes Giygas's right-hand man. Afterward, he goes missing in time and then reappears in the Nowhere Islands of Mother 3. He leads the Pig Mask Army invasion but is eventually defeated by Lucas and friends. : EarthBound : Mother 3 (Japan Only) : EarthBound (Japan and US Only) : Mother 3 (Japan Only)

In Smash 4

Both versions

Name	Category	Picture	Picture	Description
Ness	Fighter			Hailing from Onett, a small town in Eagleland, this young boy's ordinary looks hide his psychic powers. Ness fought against the evil Giygas in EarthBound, and in Smash Bros. he unleashes some of the same PSI moves. Watch out for PK Thunder, a guided attack that can also launch Ness like a rocket! Hailing from Onett, a small town in Eagleland, this young boy sports ordinary looks that hide his psychic powers. Ness fought against the evil Giygas in EarthBound, and in Smash Bros. he unleashes some of the same PSI moves. Watch out for PK Thunder, a guided attack that can also launch Ness like a rocket! : EarthBound (06/1995) From Onett in Eagleland comes this young lad. He may not look like much, but he has powerful psychic abilities, and they really come in handy in EarthBound. They come in handy in this game, too. Did you know you can control his PK Thunder bolt? Aim it at Ness himself to send him flying, absolutely clobbering anyone in his path! : EarthBound (1994 (JP)) : Mother 1+2 (2003 (JP))
Mr. Saturn	Item			Mr. Saturns are curious beings that speak their own language. They might not look it, but they're scientific geniuses! In this game, they tend to go for a stroll around the battlefield. Throwing one at an enemy won't do much damage, but Mr. Saturn will take out a shield very easily. : EarthBound (06/1995) Mr. Saturns are curious beings that speak their own language. They might not look it, but they're scientific geniuses! In this game, they tend to just do their own thing, but you can throw them to deal...a bit of damage. They're good at breaking shields, though, and make adorable noises when they do! : EarthBound (1994 (JP)) : Mother 3 (2006 (JP))
Jeff	Assist Trophy			One of the main party members in EarthBound, he attends Snow Wood Boarding School in Winters. Jeff takes after his inventor father, Dr. Andonuts, creating devices in his free time. One of these is the bottle rocket, which fires one large missile and four smaller ones. And sometimes one extra! : EarthBound (06/1995) This boy from EarthBound is the same age as Ness and goes to Snow Wood Boarding School. His dad, the genius scientist Dr. Andonuts, was the brain behind Jeff's weapon: the big bottle rocket. It's made up of four small missiles and one large one. And...who knows? Maybe you'll even get some extra firepower out of it! : EarthBound (1994 (JP))

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Name	Category	Picture	Description
Sky Runner	Stage		A flying machine designed by Dr. Andonuts, it is given to Jeff to travel to Threed. It promptly crash-lands, rendering it temporarily out of service. On the Magicant stage, it can sometimes be seen floating above the clouds before it suddenly zooms back into the sky. A flying vehicle that Jeff receives from Dr. Andonuts. Unfortunately, he crashes it on his first flight, turning it into an unflyable wreck. The Sky Runner that appears in the Magicant stage descends from the sky without warning, then hovers in place, never landing on the clouds, before suddenly floating up and away.
Dungeon Man	Stage		Thanks to Dr. Andonuts's genius, the dungeon creator Brickroad was able to become the first man-dungeon hybrid in history, complete with an ATM, pay phone, and hospital. He walks back and forth slowly in the Magicant stage, and his head can serve as a platform to ride on as you fight. Dedicated dungeon-designer Brick Road used Dr. Andonuts's knowledge to turn himself into this fully explorable human/dungeon combo, complete with ATMs, phones and more. In this game, he'll slowly make his way across the Magicant stage every now and then. Feel free to use his head as a platform!

In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Name	Category	Picture	Description
PK Starstorm (Ness)	Final Smash		In EarthBound, this PSI ability belonged to Poo, the Crown Prince of Dalaam and one of Ness's friends. Ness must have learned it especially for Smash Bros.! The attack makes a shower of meteors fall onto the stage, damaging any foes it hits. While the attack's in progress, Ness is invincible and can adjust the meteors' trajectory.
Porky	Series Related		Porky was just a chubby, selfish little boy in EarthBound. When he next appeared, in Mother 3, look what he'd become! We might need another two games just to explain how this occurred. Oh, Porky, what in Eagleland (or beyond?) happened to change you so? : EarthBound (06/1995) In EarthBound, he was nothing more than a chubby, selfish little boy. But by the time Mother 3 comes around...well, just look at what he's become. It would probably take another two full games just to explain how this remarkable transformation came to pass. Oh, Porky, where in the world did you go wrong...? : EarthBound (1994 (JP)) : Mother 3 (2006 (JP))

Stickers

No.	Image	Name	Effect	Characters
402		Mr. Saturn	SCMrSaturnCarry Mr. Saturn
403		Ness	APK+33 Attack +33	Ness Lucas
404		Jeff	APK+24 Attack +24	Ness Lucas
405		Porky	APK+15 Attack +15	Ness Lucas
407		Paula	APK+10 Attack +10	Ness Lucas
408		Poo	APK+09 Attack +9	Ness Lucas
409		Master Belch	ABi+09 Attack +9	Yoshi Wario Pokémon Trainer Wolf

Spirits

Primary

No.	Image	Name	Type	Class	Slots	Base	Max	Base	Max	Base	Max	Ability
572		Paula		★★★★	⬡⬡⬡	4,204	10,511	1,357	3,392	2,465	6,164	PSI Attack ↑
574		Poo		★★★	⬡⬡	3,080	9,266	1,540	4,633	1,260	3,791	PSI Attack ↑
575		Buzz Buzz		★	⬡⬡⬡	818	4,096	568	2,841	204	1,024	Initial Damage 30%
580		Master Belch		★★	⬡⬡⬡	1,762	7,076	816	3,276	816	3,276	Speed ↓

Support

No.	Image	Name	Class	Cost	Ability
573		Jeff	★★★★	⬢⬢	Jam FS Charge
576		Ness's Father	★★★★	⬢⬢	Running Start
577		Mr. Saturn	★★★	⬢	Shield Damage ↑
578		Dungeon Man	★★	⬢	Falling Immunity
579		Ramblin' Evil Mushroom	★	⬢	Ramblin' Evil Mushroom Equipped

Fighter

No.	Image	Alternate Artwork	Name
563			Ness

Masterpiece

The game appears as a default masterpiece in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and and an unlockable masterpiece in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Both versions can be played for 300 seconds, notably the most generous amount of time for any masterpiece. The game is only available in the Japanese version of Brawl, and is notably the first re-release of the game in any format. The Smash Wii U version skips the character creation screens and starts at the opening cutscene to save time. It will need to be unlocked by getting 1968 ft. or more in Home-Run Contest. Once the timer elapsed on the Wii U version, the player was given the opportunity to purchase the game as a Virtual Console title on the Nintendo eShop before its closure on March 27, 2023.

Trivia

• EarthBound is the only Masterpiece in Brawl that was not available for sale on the Wii Virtual Console anywhere in the world.
  • It is also the only Masterpiece in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U with an ESRB warning, likely because it is the only Teen rated masterpiece.