<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
as	O
is	O
a	O
role-playing	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Ape	O
Inc	O
.	O
and	O
HAL	O
Laboratory	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
for	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
Entertainment	I-Application
System	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
second	O
entry	O
in	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
it	O
was	O
first	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
August	O
1994	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
in	O
June	O
1995	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
had	O
a	O
lengthy	O
development	O
period	O
that	O
spanned	O
five	O
years	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
returning	O
staff	O
from	O
Mother	B-Application
(	O
1989	O
)	O
included	O
writer/director	O
Shigesato	O
Itoi	O
and	O
lead	O
programmer	O
Satoru	O
Iwata	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
composers	O
Keiichi	O
Suzuki	O
and	O
Hirokazu	O
Tanaka	O
,	O
who	O
incorporated	O
a	O
diverse	O
range	O
of	O
styles	O
into	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
,	O
including	O
salsa	O
,	O
reggae	O
,	O
and	O
dub	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Most	O
of	O
the	O
other	O
staff	O
members	O
had	O
not	O
worked	O
on	O
the	O
original	O
Mother	B-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
game	O
came	O
under	O
repeated	O
threats	O
of	O
cancellation	O
until	O
Iwata	O
joined	O
the	O
team	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Themed	O
around	O
an	O
idiosyncratic	O
portrayal	O
of	O
Americana	O
and	O
Western	O
culture	O
,	O
EarthBound	B-Application
subverted	O
popular	O
role-playing	O
game	O
traditions	O
by	O
featuring	O
a	O
modern	O
setting	O
while	O
parodying	O
numerous	O
staples	O
of	O
the	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
the	O
original	O
Mother	B-Application
had	O
not	O
yet	O
been	O
released	O
outside	O
Japan	O
,	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
called	O
EarthBound	B-Application
to	O
avoid	O
confusion	O
about	O
what	O
it	O
was	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
it	O
was	O
positively	O
received	O
by	O
Japanese	O
audiences	O
,	O
EarthBound	B-Application
sold	O
poorly	O
in	O
the	O
U.S.	O
,	O
which	O
journalists	O
attributed	O
to	O
a	O
combination	O
of	O
its	O
simple	O
graphics	O
,	O
satirical	O
marketing	O
campaign	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
lack	O
of	O
market	O
interest	O
in	O
the	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
ensuing	O
years	O
,	O
a	O
dedicated	O
fan	O
community	O
spawned	O
that	O
advocated	O
for	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
recognition	O
,	O
particularly	O
after	O
Ness	O
appeared	O
as	O
a	O
playable	O
character	O
in	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
followed	O
by	O
the	O
Japan-only	O
sequel	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
in	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
was	O
later	O
made	O
available	O
worldwide	O
on	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
in	O
2013	O
,	O
3DS	B-Operating_System
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
in	O
2016	O
,	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
Classic	I-Application
in	O
2018	O
,	O
and	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
Online	I-Application
in	O
February	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
features	O
many	O
traditional	O
role-playing	O
game	O
elements	O
:	O
the	O
player	O
controls	O
a	O
party	O
of	O
characters	O
who	O
travel	O
through	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
two-dimensional	O
world	O
composed	O
of	O
villages	O
,	O
cities	O
,	O
caves	O
,	O
and	O
dungeons	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
its	O
predecessor	O
,	O
EarthBound	B-Application
Beginnings	I-Application
,	O
EarthBound	B-Application
uses	O
random	O
encounters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
contact	B-Application
occurs	O
between	O
a	O
character	O
and	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
randomly	O
generated	O
enemy	O
parties	O
,	O
the	O
screen	O
dissolves	O
into	O
battle	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Characters	O
can	O
also	O
use	O
PSI	B-Application
actions	O
that	O
require	O
PP	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whenever	O
a	O
character	O
receives	O
damage	O
,	O
the	O
HP	O
box	O
gradually	O
"	O
rolls	O
"	O
down	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
a	O
mechanical	B-Device
counter	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
mechanic	O
does	O
not	O
apply	O
to	O
enemies	O
,	O
for	O
whom	O
unconsciousness	O
is	O
instantaneous	O
and	O
can	O
be	O
reversed	O
only	O
with	O
healing	O
PSI	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
1990s	O
,	O
several	O
years	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
,	O
in	O
the	O
fictional	O
country	O
of	O
Eagleland	O
,	O
a	O
parody	O
of	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
small	O
,	O
bee-like	O
creature	O
from	O
the	O
future	O
named	O
Buzz-Buzz	O
instructs	O
Ness	O
to	O
collect	O
melodies	O
in	O
a	O
Sound	B-Application
Stone	I-Application
from	O
eight	O
Sanctuaries	O
to	O
preemptively	O
stop	O
the	O
force	O
,	O
but	O
is	O
killed	O
shortly	O
thereafter	O
when	O
Pokey	O
and	O
Picky	O
's	O
mother	B-Application
mistakes	O
him	O
for	O
a	O
pest	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
his	O
journey	O
to	O
visit	O
the	O
sanctuaries	O
,	O
Ness	O
visits	O
the	O
cultists	O
of	O
Happy	O
Happy	O
Village	O
,	O
where	O
he	O
saves	O
Paula	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
zombie-infested	O
Threed	B-Application
,	O
where	O
the	O
two	O
of	O
them	O
fall	O
prey	O
to	O
a	O
trap	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
Paula	O
telepathically	O
instructs	O
Jeff	O
in	O
a	O
Winters	O
boarding	O
school	O
to	O
rescue	O
them	O
,	O
they	O
continue	O
to	O
Saturn	B-Application
Valley	I-Application
,	O
a	O
village	O
filled	O
with	O
a	O
species	O
of	O
creatures	O
called	O
Mr.	O
Saturn	O
,	O
the	O
city	O
of	O
Fourside	B-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
seaside	O
resort	O
Summers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
the	O
Sound	B-Application
Stone	I-Application
is	O
eventually	O
filled	O
,	O
Ness	O
visits	O
Magicant	O
,	O
a	O
surreal	O
location	O
in	O
his	O
mind	O
where	O
he	O
fights	O
his	O
personal	O
dark	O
side	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
returning	O
to	O
Eagleland	O
,	O
Ness	O
and	O
his	O
party	O
use	O
the	O
Phase	B-Application
Distorter	I-Application
to	O
travel	O
back	O
in	O
time	O
to	O
fight	O
Giygas	O
,	O
transferring	O
their	O
souls	O
into	O
robots	O
so	O
as	O
to	O
not	O
destroy	O
their	O
bodies	O
through	O
time	O
travel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
Mother	B-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
NES	B-Language
in	O
1989	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
sequel	O
,	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
or	O
EarthBound	B-Application
,	O
was	O
developed	O
over	O
five	O
years	O
by	O
Ape	O
and	O
HAL	O
,	O
and	O
published	O
through	O
Nintendo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
made	O
with	O
a	O
development	O
team	O
different	O
from	O
that	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
most	O
of	O
its	O
members	O
were	O
unmarried	O
and	O
willing	O
to	O
work	O
all	O
night	O
on	O
the	O
project	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
development	O
took	O
much	O
longer	O
than	O
planned	O
and	O
came	O
under	O
repeated	O
threat	O
of	O
cancellation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
continues	O
Mother	B-Application
story	O
in	O
that	O
Giygas	O
reappears	O
as	O
the	O
antagonist	O
(	O
and	O
thus	O
did	O
not	O
die	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
)	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
has	O
the	O
option	O
of	O
choosing	O
whether	O
to	O
continue	O
the	O
protagonist	O
's	O
story	O
by	O
choosing	O
whether	O
to	O
name	O
their	O
player-character	O
the	O
same	O
as	O
the	O
original	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
titles	O
are	O
built	O
on	O
what	O
Itoi	O
considered	O
"	O
reckless	O
wildness	O
"	O
,	O
where	O
he	O
would	O
offer	O
ideas	O
that	O
encouraged	O
his	O
staff	O
to	O
contribute	O
new	O
ways	O
of	O
portraying	O
scenes	O
in	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
medium	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
His	O
own	O
favorite	O
town	O
was	O
Threed	B-Application
,	O
though	O
it	O
was	O
Summers	O
before	O
then	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
designed	O
to	O
fit	O
within	O
an	O
eight-megabit	O
limit	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
expanded	O
in	O
size	O
and	O
scope	O
twice	O
:	O
first	O
to	O
12	O
megabits	O
and	O
second	O
to	O
24	O
megabits	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
would	O
release	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
about	O
a	O
year	O
later	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
includes	O
anti-piracy	B-Application
measures	I-Application
that	O
,	O
when	O
triggered	O
,	O
increases	O
enemy	O
counts	O
to	O
make	O
the	O
game	O
less	O
enjoyable	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
right	O
before	O
players	O
reach	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
pirated	O
copy	O
's	O
story	O
,	O
their	O
game	O
resets	O
and	O
deletes	O
its	O
saved	O
file	O
in	O
an	O
act	O
that	O
IGN	O
declared	O
"	O
arguably	O
the	O
most	O
devious	O
and	O
notorious	O
example	O
of	O
'	O
creative	O
 '	O
copy	B-Application
protection	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
composers	O
Keiichi	O
Suzuki	O
and	O
Hirokazu	O
Tanaka	O
returned	O
to	O
make	O
the	O
EarthBound	B-Application
soundtrack	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
newcomers	O
Hiroshi	O
Kanazu	O
and	O
Toshiyuki	O
Ueno	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
comparison	O
with	O
Mother	B-Application
,	O
Itoi	O
said	O
that	O
EarthBound	B-Application
had	O
more	O
"	O
jazzy	O
"	O
pieces	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Suzuki	O
told	O
Weekly	O
Famitsu	O
that	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
NES	I-Application
afforded	O
the	O
team	O
more	O
creative	O
freedom	O
with	O
its	O
eight-channel	O
ADPCM	B-Algorithm
based	O
SPC700	O
,	O
as	O
opposed	O
to	O
the	O
old	O
Nintendo	O
Entertainment	O
System	O
's	O
restriction	O
of	O
five	O
channels	O
of	O
basic	O
waveforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Itoi	O
believes	O
that	O
EarthBound	B-Application
may	O
be	O
the	O
first	O
video	O
game	O
to	O
use	O
vibrato	O
,	O
or	O
"	O
string-bending	O
"	O
,	O
in	O
its	O
music	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
Suzuki	O
,	O
Smile	O
evoked	O
the	O
bright	O
and	O
dark	O
aspects	O
of	O
America	O
,	O
while	O
Song	O
Cycle	O
displayed	O
a	O
hazy	O
sound	O
mixed	O
with	O
American	O
humor	O
and	O
hints	O
of	O
Ray	O
Bradbury	O
,	O
a	O
style	O
that	O
he	O
considered	O
essential	O
to	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Suzuki	O
corroborated	O
with	O
his	O
own	O
affinity	O
for	O
Harry	O
Nilsson	O
's	O
Nilsson	O
Sings	O
Newman	O
(	O
1970	O
)	O
,	O
he	O
also	O
cited	O
John	O
Lennon	O
as	O
a	O
strong	O
influence	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
common	O
theme	O
of	O
love	O
in	O
his	O
music	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
also	O
a	O
prominent	O
theme	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
his	O
album	O
John	O
Lennon/Plastic	O
Ono	O
Band	O
(	O
1970	O
)	O
helped	O
him	O
to	O
avoid	O
excessive	O
instrumentation	O
over	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
's	O
technical	O
constraints	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Speaking	O
about	O
Frank	O
Zappa	O
's	O
Make	O
a	O
Jazz	O
Noise	O
Here	O
(	O
1991	O
)	O
,	O
Tanaka	O
felt	O
that	O
Zappa	O
would	O
have	O
been	O
the	O
best	O
at	O
creating	O
a	O
live	O
performance	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
music	O
,	O
but	O
could	O
not	O
detail	O
Zappa	O
's	O
specific	O
influence	O
on	O
EarthBound	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
he	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
mix	O
tape	O
Wired	O
Magazine	O
Presents	O
:	O
Music	O
Futurists	O
(	O
1999	O
)	O
presented	O
a	O
particular	O
selection	O
of	O
artists	O
that	O
embody	O
the	O
ethos	O
of	O
EarthBound	B-Application
,	O
running	O
the	O
gamut	O
from	O
space	O
age	O
composer	O
Esquivel	O
to	O
avant-garde	O
trumpeter	O
Ben	O
Neill	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
innovators	O
Sun	O
Ra	O
,	O
Steve	O
Reich	O
,	O
Todd	O
Rundgren	O
,	O
Brian	O
Eno	O
,	O
and	O
Can	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tanaka	O
also	O
mentioned	O
that	O
he	O
listened	O
to	O
the	O
various	O
artists	O
compilation	O
Stay	O
Awake	O
:	O
Various	O
Interpretations	O
of	O
Music	O
from	O
Vintage	O
Disney	O
Films	O
(	O
1988	O
)	O
heavily	O
during	O
EarthBounds	B-Application
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Miscellaneous	O
influences	O
on	O
Suzuki	O
and	O
Tanaka	O
for	O
EarthBound	B-Application
include	O
the	O
music	O
of	O
Michael	O
Nyman	O
,	O
Miklós	O
Rózsa	O
's	O
film	O
score	O
for	O
The	O
Lost	O
Weekend	O
(	O
1945	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
albums	O
by	O
various	O
other	O
pop/rock	O
musicians	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
was	O
traditional	O
for	O
Nintendo	O
,	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
in	O
Japan	O
and	O
localized	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
a	O
process	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
translated	O
into	O
English	O
for	O
Western	O
audiences	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
it	O
was	O
the	O
only	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
to	O
be	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
its	O
title	O
"	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
"	O
was	O
changed	O
to	O
"	O
EarthBound	B-Application
"	O
to	O
avoid	O
confusion	O
about	O
what	O
it	O
was	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Japan	O
,	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
sold	O
518,000	O
units	O
,	O
becoming	O
the	O
tenth	O
best-selling	B-Application
game	I-Application
of	I-Application
1994	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
June	O
5	O
,	O
1995	O
,	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
campaign	O
,	O
EarthBound	B-Application
"	O
this	O
game	O
stinks	O
"	O
campaign	O
included	O
foul-smelling	O
scratch	O
and	O
sniff	O
advertisements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Between	O
the	O
poor	O
sales	O
and	O
the	O
phasing	O
out	O
of	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
NES	I-Application
,	O
the	O
game	O
did	O
not	O
receive	O
a	O
European	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
originally	O
received	O
little	O
critical	O
praise	O
from	O
the	O
American	O
press	O
,	O
and	O
sold	O
poorly	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
:	O
around	O
140,000	O
copies	O
,	O
as	O
compared	O
to	O
twice	O
as	O
many	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kotaku	O
described	O
EarthBound	B-Application
1995	O
American	O
release	O
as	O
"	O
a	O
dud	O
"	O
and	O
blamed	O
the	O
low	O
sales	O
on	O
"	O
a	O
bizarre	O
marketing	O
campaign	O
"	O
and	O
graphics	O
"	O
cartoonish	O
"	O
beyond	O
the	O
average	O
taste	O
of	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
when	O
RPGs	O
were	O
not	O
popular	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
,	O
and	O
visual	O
taste	O
in	O
RPGs	O
was	O
closer	O
to	O
Chrono	B-Application
Trigger	I-Application
and	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VI	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Of	O
the	O
original	O
reviewers	O
,	O
Nicholas	O
Dean	O
Des	O
Barres	O
of	O
DieHard	O
GameFan	O
wrote	O
that	O
EarthBound	B-Application
was	O
not	O
as	O
impressive	O
as	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
although	O
just	O
as	O
fun	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Des	O
Barres	O
wrote	O
that	O
"	O
past	O
the	O
graphics	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
were	O
purposefully	O
8-bit	B-Application
for	O
nostalgia	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
not	O
an	O
"	O
entry-level	O
"	O
or	O
a	O
"	O
child	O
's	O
"	O
RPG	O
,	O
but	O
"	O
highly	O
intelligent	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
captivating	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GamePro	O
commented	O
that	O
"	O
The	O
lack	O
a	O
convincing	O
storyline	O
and	O
the	O
dull	O
NES-clone	O
graphics	O
...	O
will	O
make	O
serious	O
RPG	O
fans	O
a	O
little	O
cautious	O
about	O
approaching	O
EarthBound	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lindblom	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
changes	O
to	O
the	O
RPG	O
formula	O
(	O
e.g.	O
,	O
the	O
rolling	O
HP	O
meter	O
and	O
fleeing	O
enemies	O
)	O
were	O
ignored	O
in	O
the	O
following	O
years	O
,	O
though	O
he	O
thought	O
the	O
game	O
had	O
aged	O
well	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
of	O
its	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
rerelease	O
in	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Thompson	O
wrote	O
that	O
EarthBound	B-Application
balances	O
"	O
dark	O
Lovecraftian	O
apocalypse	O
and	O
silly	O
lightheartedness	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
just	O
as	O
interesting	O
nearly	O
a	O
decade	O
after	O
its	O
original	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GamesTM	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
"	O
far	O
from	O
revolutionary	O
"	O
,	O
compared	O
to	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VI	I-Application
and	O
Chrono	B-Application
Trigger	I-Application
,	O
and	O
that	O
its	O
battle	O
scenes	O
were	O
unexciting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
magazine	O
compared	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
"	O
chosen	O
one	O
"	O
story	O
to	O
a	O
"	O
throwaway	O
Link	O
's	O
Awakening/Goonies	O
hybrid	O
narrative	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Thompson	O
praised	O
Nintendo	O
for	O
digitizing	O
the	O
Player	O
's	O
Guide	O
,	O
though	O
noted	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
technically	O
easier	O
to	O
view	O
it	O
on	O
another	O
tablet	O
rather	O
than	O
switching	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
's	O
view	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
was	O
listed	O
in	O
1001	O
Video	O
Games	O
You	O
Must	O
Play	O
Before	O
You	O
Die	O
,	O
where	O
Christian	O
Donlan	O
wrote	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
"	O
name-checked	O
by	O
the	O
video	O
gaming	O
cognoscenti	O
more	O
often	O
than	O
it	O
's	O
actually	O
been	O
played	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
journalists	O
have	O
ranked	O
EarthBound	B-Application
among	O
the	O
best	O
Super	B-Application
NES	I-Application
games	O
and	O
most	O
essential	O
Japanese	O
role-playing	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
at	O
least	O
three	O
reader	O
polls	O
ranked	O
the	O
game	O
among	O
the	O
best	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
a	O
piece	O
about	O
the	O
"	O
top	O
worlds	O
"	O
in	O
video	O
games	O
,	O
IGN	O
rated	O
EarthBound	B-Application
setting	O
among	O
the	O
best	O
,	O
indelible	O
between	O
its	O
unconventional	O
environments	O
,	O
1960s	O
music	O
,	O
and	O
portrayal	O
of	O
Americanism	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
David	O
Sanchez	O
of	O
GameZone	O
wrote	O
that	O
EarthBound	B-Application
"	O
went	O
places	O
no	O
other	O
game	O
would	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
1990s	O
or	O
even	O
in	O
the	O
present	O
day	O
,	O
including	O
"	O
trolling	O
"	O
the	O
player	O
"	O
before	O
trolling	O
was	O
cool	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Complex	O
included	O
EarthBound	B-Application
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
Best	O
Super	B-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
Games	O
of	O
All	O
Time	O
"	O
,	O
saying	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
"	O
definitely	O
the	O
craziest	O
and	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
fun	O
RPGs	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
had	O
to	O
offer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jeremy	O
Parish	O
of	O
USgamer	O
called	O
EarthBound	B-Application
"	O
the	O
all-time	O
champion	O
"	O
of	O
self-aware	O
games	O
that	O
"	O
warp	O
...	O
perceptions	O
and	O
boundaries	O
"	O
and	O
break	O
the	O
fourth	O
wall	O
,	O
citing	O
its	O
frequent	O
internal	O
commentary	O
about	O
the	O
medium	O
and	O
the	O
final	O
scenes	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
directly	O
addressed	O
by	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
few	O
role-playing	O
games	O
set	O
in	O
real-world	O
settings	O
,	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
has	O
written	O
,	O
are	O
often	O
and	O
accurately	O
described	O
as	O
having	O
been	O
influenced	O
by	O
EarthBound	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
cited	O
as	O
an	O
influence	O
on	O
video	O
games	O
including	O
Costume	B-Application
Quest	I-Application
;	O
South	B-Application
Park	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Stick	I-Application
of	I-Application
Truth	I-Application
(	O
via	O
South	B-Application
Park	I-Application
creator	O
Trey	O
Parker	O
)	O
;	O
Undertale	B-Application
;	O
Contact	B-Application
;	O
Omori	B-Application
;	O
Lisa	B-Application
;	O
Citizens	B-Device
of	I-Device
Earth	I-Device
;	O
YIIK	B-Application
:	I-Application
A	I-Application
Postmodern	I-Application
RPG	I-Application
;	O
and	O
Kyoto	O
Wild	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Japanese	O
writer	O
Hiromi	O
Kawakami	O
told	O
Itoi	O
that	O
she	O
had	O
played	O
EarthBound	B-Application
"	O
about	O
80	O
times	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
cult	O
following	O
for	O
EarthBound	B-Application
developed	O
after	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Colin	O
Campbell	O
of	O
Polygon	O
wrote	O
that	O
"	O
few	O
gaming	O
communities	O
are	O
as	O
passionate	O
and	O
active	O
"	O
as	O
EarthBound	B-Application
,	O
and	O
1UP.com	O
Bob	O
Mackey	O
wrote	O
that	O
no	O
game	O
was	O
as	O
poised	O
to	O
have	O
a	O
cult	O
following	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
's	O
Lucas	B-Application
M	O
.	O
Thomas	B-Application
wrote	O
in	O
2006	O
that	O
EarthBound	B-Application
"	O
persistent	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
ambitious	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
religiously	O
dedicated	O
collective	O
of	O
hardcore	O
fans	O
"	O
would	O
be	O
among	O
the	O
first	O
groups	O
to	O
influence	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
decision-making	O
through	O
their	O
purchasing	O
power	O
on	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Digital	O
Trends	O
's	O
Anthony	O
John	O
Agnello	O
wrote	O
that	O
"	O
no	O
video	O
game	O
fans	O
have	O
suffered	O
as	O
much	O
as	O
EarthBound	B-Application
fans	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
cited	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
reluctance	O
to	O
release	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
games	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
president	O
Satoru	O
Iwata	O
later	O
credited	O
the	O
community	O
response	O
on	O
their	O
online	O
Miiverse	O
social	O
platform	O
as	O
leading	O
to	O
EarthBound	B-Application
eventual	O
rerelease	O
on	O
their	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Physical	O
copies	O
of	O
EarthBound	B-Application
were	O
hard	O
to	O
find	O
before	O
the	O
rerelease	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
2013	O
,	O
were	O
worth	O
twice	O
its	O
initial	O
retail	O
price	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wired	O
described	O
the	O
amount	O
of	O
EarthBound	B-Application
"	O
fan	O
art	O
,	O
videos	O
,	O
and	O
tributes	O
on	O
fan	O
sites	O
like	O
EarthBound	B-Application
Central	O
or	O
Starmen.net	O
 "	O
as	O
mountainous	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reid	O
Young	O
of	O
Starmen.net	O
and	O
Fangamer	O
credits	O
EarthBound	B-Application
popularity	O
to	O
its	O
"	O
labor	O
of	O
love	O
"	O
nature	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
"	O
double-coat	O
of	O
thoughtfulness	O
and	O
care	O
"	O
across	O
all	O
aspects	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
by	O
a	O
development	O
team	O
that	O
appeared	O
to	O
love	O
their	O
work	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
became	O
"	O
the	O
definitive	O
fan	O
community	O
for	O
EarthBound	B-Application
on	O
the	O
web	O
"	O
and	O
had	O
"	O
almost	O
inexplicable	O
"	O
growth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
provided	O
a	O
place	O
to	O
aggregate	O
information	O
on	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
and	O
to	O
coordinate	O
fan	O
actions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
EarthBound	B-Application
fan	O
community	O
at	O
Starmen.net	O
coalesced	O
with	O
the	O
intent	O
to	O
have	O
Nintendo	O
of	O
America	O
acknowledge	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
community	O
drafted	O
several	O
thousand-person	O
petitions	O
for	O
specific	O
English-language	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
releases	O
,	O
but	O
in	O
time	O
,	O
their	O
request	O
shifted	O
to	O
no	O
demand	O
at	O
all	O
,	O
wanting	O
only	O
their	O
interest	O
to	O
be	O
recognized	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
2007	O
campaign	O
for	O
a	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
English	O
localization	O
led	O
to	O
the	O
creation	O
of	O
a	O
full-color	O
,	O
270-page	O
art	O
book	O
—	O
The	O
EarthBound	B-Application
Anthology	O
—	O
sent	O
to	O
Nintendo	O
and	O
press	O
outlets	O
as	O
demonstration	O
of	O
consumer	O
interest	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlicensed	O
EarthBound-themed	O
merchandise	O
produced	O
by	O
Fangamer	O
contributors	O
included	O
T-shirts	O
,	O
a	O
pin	O
set	O
and	O
a	O
mug	O
;	O
The	O
Verge	O
cited	O
the	O
effort	O
as	O
proof	O
of	O
the	O
fan	O
base	O
's	O
dedication	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
fan	O
efforts	O
include	O
EarthBound	B-Application
,	O
USA	O
,	O
a	O
full-length	O
documentary	O
on	O
Starmen.net	O
and	O
the	O
fan	O
community	O
,	O
and	O
Mother	B-Application
4	O
,	O
a	O
fan-produced	O
sequel	O
to	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
that	O
went	O
into	O
production	O
when	O
Itoi	O
definitively	O
"	O
declared	O
"	O
that	O
he	O
was	O
done	O
with	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Books	O
that	O
have	O
been	O
written	O
about	O
EarthBound	B-Application
include	O
Ken	O
Baumann	O
's	O
Earthbound	B-Application
,	O
by	O
Boss	O
Fight	O
Books	O
,	O
and	O
Legends	O
of	O
Localization	O
Book	O
2	O
:	O
Earthbound	B-Application
,	O
by	O
Clyde	O
Mandelin	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ness	O
became	O
widely	O
known	O
for	O
his	O
appearance	O
as	O
a	O
playable	O
character	O
throughout	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
fighting	O
game	O
series	O
,	O
debuting	O
as	O
a	O
fighter	O
in	O
the	O
first	B-Application
installment	I-Application
in	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ness	O
 '	O
inclusion	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
release	O
was	O
among	O
its	O
biggest	O
surprises	O
,	O
and	O
renewed	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
fans	O
 '	O
faith	O
in	O
new	O
content	O
from	O
Nintendo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Europe	O
,	O
which	O
did	O
not	O
see	O
an	O
EarthBound	B-Application
release	O
,	O
Ness	O
was	O
better	O
known	O
for	O
his	O
role	O
in	O
the	O
fighting	O
game	O
than	O
for	O
his	O
original	O
role	O
in	O
the	O
role-playing	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ness	O
returned	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
sequel	O
,	O
Melee	B-Application
,	O
alongside	O
an	O
EarthBound-themed	O
item	O
and	O
battle	O
arena	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lucas	B-Application
,	O
the	O
protagonist	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
joined	O
Ness	O
in	O
Brawl	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
years	O
after	O
Brawl	B-Application
release	O
,	O
Official	O
Nintendo	O
Magazine	O
wrote	O
that	O
Ness	O
was	O
an	O
unpopular	O
Smash	O
character	O
who	O
should	O
be	O
removed	O
from	O
future	O
installments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Ness	O
returned	O
in	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
for	I-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
3DS	I-Application
and	I-Application
Wii	I-Application
U	I-Application
and	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Ultimate	O
,	O
and	O
Lucas	B-Application
was	O
later	O
added	O
to	O
the	O
former	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
also	O
produced	O
Ness	O
and	O
Lucas	B-Application
Amiibo	B-Device
figurines	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ness	O
was	O
included	O
in	O
a	O
licensed	O
set	O
of	O
EarthBound-themed	O
figurines	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1996	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
announced	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
EarthBound	B-Application
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
:	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
(	O
EarthBound	B-Application
64	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
scheduled	O
for	O
release	O
on	O
the	O
64DD	B-Device
,	O
a	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
expansion	O
peripheral	O
that	O
used	O
a	O
magneto-optical	B-Device
drive	I-Device
,	O
but	O
struggled	O
to	O
find	O
a	O
firm	O
release	O
date	O
as	O
its	O
protracted	O
development	O
entered	O
development	O
hell	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
later	O
canceled	O
altogether	O
in	O
2000	O
when	O
the	O
64DD	B-Device
flopped	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2003	O
,	O
a	O
Japanese	O
television	O
advertisement	O
revealed	O
that	O
both	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
a	O
combined	O
Mother	O
1+2	O
cartridge	O
were	O
in	O
development	O
for	O
the	O
handheld	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
abandoned	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
version	O
's	O
3D	O
,	O
but	O
kept	O
its	O
plot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
described	O
the	O
series	O
as	O
neglected	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
as	O
Mother	B-Application
1	I-Application
,	O
Mother	O
1+2	O
and	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
were	O
not	O
released	O
outside	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Nintendo	O
launched	O
its	O
digital	O
distribution	O
platform	O
,	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
,	O
for	O
the	O
Wii	O
in	O
2006	O
,	O
IGN	O
expected	O
EarthBound	B-Application
to	O
be	O
among	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
highest	O
priorities	O
for	O
rerelease	O
,	O
given	O
the	O
"	O
religious	O
"	O
dedication	O
of	O
its	O
fanbase	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
ranked	O
the	O
most	O
desired	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
release	O
by	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Power	I-Application
readers	O
,	O
rated	O
for	O
release	O
by	O
the	O
ESRB	O
,	O
and	O
able	O
to	O
be	O
published	O
with	O
little	O
effort	O
,	O
the	O
Wii	O
version	O
did	O
not	O
materialize	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
anniversary	O
celebrations	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	O
Entertainment	O
System	O
and	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
in	O
March	O
2013	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
rereleased	O
EarthBound	B-Application
for	O
Japan	O
on	O
the	O
Wii	O
's	O
successor	O
,	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
producer	O
Satoru	O
Iwata	O
soon	O
announced	O
a	O
wider	O
rerelease	O
,	O
citing	O
fan	O
interest	O
on	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Miiverse	O
social	O
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
July	O
American	O
and	O
European	O
launch	O
included	O
a	O
free	O
,	O
online	O
recreation	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
original	O
Player	O
's	O
Guide	O
,	O
optimized	O
for	O
viewing	O
on	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
GamePad	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
a	O
top-seller	O
on	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
,	O
and	O
both	O
Kotaku	O
users	O
and	O
first-time	O
EarthBound	B-Application
players	O
had	O
an	O
"	O
overwhelmingly	O
positive	O
"	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
re-release	O
was	O
one	O
GameSpot	O
editor	O
's	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
,	O
and	O
Nintendo	O
Life	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
game	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
New	O
Nintendo	O
3DS-specific	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
received	O
the	O
re-release	O
the	O
next	O
year	O
,	O
in	O
March	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
September	O
2017	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
released	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
NES	I-Application
Classic	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
,	O
which	O
included	O
EarthBound	B-Application
among	O
its	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2022	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
rereleased	O
EarthBound	B-Application
worldwide	O
on	O
its	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
Online	I-Application
service	O
along	O
with	O
its	O
predecessor	O
EarthBound	B-Application
Beginnings	I-Application
.	O
</s>
