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“EarthBound”, is a role-playing video game (RPG) developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1994.
The story of “EarthBound” follows the adventures of a young boy named Ness, who lives in the quiet town of Eagleland. One day, Ness encounters a mysterious being named Buzz Buzz, who warns him of an imminent threat: an evil being known as Giygas, who seeks to conquer the world.
To stop it, Ness must embark on an epic journey, accompanied by a group of friends including Paula, Jeff and Poo. Together, they must collect the “Melodies of Serenity” and face various enemies and challenges along the way.
One of the most distinctive features of “EarthBound” is its contemporary setting. Unlike other RPGs of the time that took place in medieval fantasy worlds, “EarthBound” is set in a modern setting, full of references to pop culture, everyday life and absurd humor.
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The characters are endearing and well-developed, each with their own unique abilities and personalities.
The combat system is another innovative aspect of the game. It uses a turn-based system, but introduces a “life” meter that allows players to see how characters' health is reduced in real time, which adds a layer of strategy to combat.
In addition, the game features a humorous approach to its dialogue and situations, which makes it stand out from other more serious RPGs.
“EarthBound” is also known for its distinctive visual style, which combines colorful, cartoonish graphics with a memorable soundtrack that complements the game's atmosphere.
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The music, composed by Keiichi Suzuki and Hiroshi Kanazu, spans a variety of genres and has become an iconic element of the game.
Despite its initial release, “EarthBound” was not a huge commercial success at the time, but over time has gained cult status, being acclaimed by critics and gamers alike for its originality and innovative approach to the genre.
The “Mother” series, of which “EarthBound” is the second installment, has influenced many video game developers and has left a lasting imprint on gaming culture.
What an excellent game and how forgotten it is. Despite being a turn-based RPG, it has several innovations that are really very interesting if you take into account the year of release of this game, a jewel of video games.
With so many RPGs it is common for many games to be forgotten, especially if they are not from major distributors.