Earthbound
Reviewed by Adrian Sandoval
Through out the years since the game Dragon Warrior, I have been given RPG after
RPG to try. Now when you think "RPG" You usually think a game with mystical dragons,
elves and sword duels. Not anymore. It was about the year 1992 when I first heard
about Mother, a game to be an RPG with more of a present day look, but sadly,
it never came to America. Now Mr. Shigesto Itoi releases the sequel and for the
first time, people had a taste at what could have been here. Needless to say, THIS
RPG RULES. I have been playing RPGs for a long time and I am glad to take a break
from the usual aspects of an RPG.
Graphics 35 out of 100
I love the game but the graphics just plain stink. This game was released in 1995
but the graphics are remiscent to when the SNES first came out. The cartoony
Saturday morning cartoon look just does not become the SNES anymore. That's a fact.
But still, there are the good sides like the bright colors to cheer up your days. This
is the one thing I would have changed about Earthbound.
Music and Sound 95 out of 100
This music rocks. We are talking what every RPG needs, Music with a feeling. From
sad music all the way to an upbeat New Age Retro Hippie type of music, you will
hear it all. The Trumpets blaring in Saturn valley, to the feel of the music when
Paula is not at PoleStar Preschool. And the sound is the best I have heard. When
you go up the stairs, you hear every foot step, and for every door opening and closing
you hear it. The crack of the bat on an enemy sends shivers up your spine it sounds so
real! Buy the sound track to this, you'll be glad you did.
Game Challenge 100 out of 100
Ok, a lot of you people are thinking out there "What the heck is he talking about?
This game was as easy as pie!" I do know that most people say its easy, But I am
reviewing it on a balance. Enemies are averagely hard, the game is 40 hours long,
which is average for most RPGs and the last boss will take you a few months if
you don't know what your doing. This game deserved the perfect score.
Game Play-Fun 100 out of 100
I will say it now, most people don't rate the fun in RPGs anymore. All it is now is
storyline and music. This game is the most Fun RPG out of any of them I played. The
music from the runaway 5 is fun, the humor is fun and every thing else in this game
is just plain fun. If you don't have fun fighting a New Age Retro Hippie, you have
problems. I am assured of that.
Frustration
The only part I am frustrated about this game is that Mother was never released.
At least I hear rumor of it coming to the Game Boy Color this fall. I sure hope so.
I feel so incomplete with out knowing the full storyline.
Replayability 75 out of 100
This factor actually depends the kind of person you are. If you get bored doing the
same thing over again, you will hate this, if you just had fun playing the first
time around and want to do it again, You are going to love this game to death. I
just love going across the worlds of Earthbound, just to see some old friends again.
Game Value 100 out of 100
When I bought this game, it was a whopping $79.99 to get. It was worth every penny,
I tell you that now. This game was fun just seeing all the wired sites, wondrous
people and magnificent worlds of Earthbound. Today you see it in Best Buy for only
$10.00. That is an outrage because such a good game should be what Final Fantasy 3
is worth Pre-owned. Believe me, you will love this game, whether for just it being a
game or being a hard-core RPG fan just as myself.
Creativity 100 out of 100
Believe me, Mr. Itoi must of had some spark of imagination when he thought up this
game. (Maybe Mr. Miyamoto is contagous? :]) If you don't think a game with a modern
setting, a blue cow, new age retro hippies, two inventors with fruits for heads, a hip
Blues Brother's Type ban, flying saucers, a big who takes a dump in the desert,
Zombies, a Slimy little pile, a man who is half Dungeon, A professor who wants a
girls autograph on an eraser, and a last boss who is so powerful, It destroyed his
own mind 'Creative' Than you need to check in with the mental ward.
Humor 100 out of 100
Humor comes in many shapes or forms. In the world of Earthbound, humor comes around
every corner. Example: You knock on a guy's door, and he ask you to name this beetles
song: XXXterday, and ask you if you can fill in the blanks, and you get the choice of
yes or no, he adds YES to the blanks if you say you can answer it, and NO to the blanks
if you can't. That kind of humor is sprawled across Earthbound. Heck, I even saw a blue cow!
Overall 98 out of 100
This game rocks. If your a beginner or you have played RPGs as long as me, you will
love this game. This is the alternative to RPGers who want something different. The
world of earthbound is the best alternative to the world of Earth.