<s>
(	O
known	O
as	O
EarthBound	B-Application
outside	O
Japan	O
)	O
is	O
a	O
video	O
game	O
series	O
that	O
consists	O
of	O
three	O
role-playing	O
video	O
games	O
:	O
Mother	B-Application
(	O
1989	O
)	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
EarthBound	B-Application
Beginnings	I-Application
outside	O
Japan	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
Family	O
Computer	O
;	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
1994	O
)	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
EarthBound	B-Application
outside	O
Japan	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
Entertainment	I-Application
System	I-Application
;	O
and	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
(	O
2006	O
)	O
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Written	O
by	O
Shigesato	O
Itoi	O
,	O
published	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
,	O
and	O
featuring	O
game	O
mechanics	O
modeled	O
on	O
the	O
Dragon	B-Application
Quest	I-Application
series	O
,	O
Mother	B-Application
is	O
known	O
for	O
its	O
sense	O
of	O
humor	O
,	O
originality	O
,	O
and	O
parody	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
franchise	O
is	O
popular	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
in	O
the	O
Anglosphere	O
it	O
is	O
best	O
associated	O
with	O
the	O
cult	O
following	O
behind	O
EarthBound	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
visiting	O
Nintendo	O
for	O
other	O
business	O
,	O
Itoi	O
approached	O
Shigeru	O
Miyamoto	O
about	O
making	O
Mother	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
approved	O
for	O
a	O
sequel	O
,	O
Itoi	O
increased	O
his	O
involvement	O
in	O
the	O
design	O
process	O
over	O
the	O
five-year	O
development	O
of	O
EarthBound	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
English	O
localizers	O
were	O
given	O
great	O
liberties	O
when	O
translating	O
the	O
Japanese	O
game	O
's	O
cultural	O
allusions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
originally	O
slated	O
for	O
release	O
on	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
and	O
its	O
64DD	B-Device
disk	B-Architecture
drive	I-Architecture
accessory	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
cancelled	O
in	O
2000	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Three	O
years	O
later	O
,	O
the	O
project	O
was	O
reannounced	O
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
alongside	O
a	O
rerelease	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
and	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
in	O
the	O
combined	O
cartridge	O
Mother	B-Application
1	I-Application
+	O
2	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
abandoned	O
the	O
3D	O
graphics	O
progress	O
for	O
a	O
2D	O
style	O
,	O
and	O
became	O
a	O
bestseller	O
upon	O
its	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
was	O
rereleased	O
for	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
in	O
2013	O
,	O
and	O
Mother	B-Application
received	O
its	O
English-language	O
debut	O
for	O
the	O
same	O
platform	O
in	O
2015	O
,	O
retitled	O
EarthBound	B-Application
Beginnings	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2022	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
released	O
Mother	B-Application
1	I-Application
and	O
2	O
to	O
their	O
Nintendo	O
Switch	O
Online	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
is	O
widely	O
regarded	O
as	O
a	O
video	O
game	O
classic	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
included	O
in	O
multiple	O
top-ten	O
lists	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
absence	O
of	O
continued	O
official	O
support	O
for	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
members	O
of	O
the	O
EarthBound	B-Application
fan	O
community	O
organized	O
online	O
to	O
advocate	O
for	O
further	O
series	O
releases	O
through	O
petitions	O
and	O
fan	O
art	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Their	O
projects	O
include	O
a	O
full	O
fan	O
translation	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
a	O
full-length	O
documentary	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
fangame	B-Application
sequel-turned-spiritual	O
successor	O
called	O
Oddity	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ness	O
,	O
the	O
protagonist	O
of	O
EarthBound	B-Application
,	O
received	O
exposure	O
from	O
his	O
inclusion	O
in	O
all	O
five	O
entries	O
of	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
locations	O
and	O
characters	O
have	O
made	O
appearances	O
in	O
the	O
fighting	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Itoi	O
wanted	O
to	O
tell	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
through	O
a	O
technique	O
that	O
swapped	O
the	O
active	O
player-character	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
first	O
attempted	O
in	O
EarthBound	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
music	O
is	O
both	O
similar	O
in	O
tone	O
to	O
its	O
predecessors	O
and	O
completely	O
new	O
,	O
it	O
features	O
similar	O
sound	O
effects	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
characters	O
such	O
as	O
Mr.	O
Saturn	O
recur	O
,	O
and	O
RPGamer	O
wrote	O
that	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
final	O
chapter	O
is	O
"	O
full	O
of	O
blatant	O
links	O
"	O
between	O
the	O
games	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
also	O
shares	O
similarities	O
with	O
its	O
sequel	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
save	O
option	O
through	O
phoning	O
Ninten	B-Application
's	O
father	O
,	O
an	O
option	O
to	O
store	O
items	O
with	O
Ninten	B-Application
's	O
sister	O
at	O
home	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
automated	O
teller	O
machine	O
for	O
banking	O
money	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ninten	B-Application
's	O
party	O
members	O
in	O
Mother	B-Application
are	O
analogous	O
to	O
those	O
of	O
EarthBound	B-Application
in	O
style	O
and	O
function	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Mother	B-Application
battles	O
were	O
triggered	O
through	O
random	O
encounters	O
,	O
EarthBound	B-Application
and	O
early	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
shared	O
battle	O
scene	O
triggers	O
,	O
where	O
physical	O
contact	O
with	O
an	O
enemy	O
in	O
the	O
overworld	O
began	O
a	O
turn-based	O
battle	O
scene	O
shown	O
in	O
the	O
first-person	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Apart	O
from	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
rhythm	O
and	O
combo	O
battle	O
mechanic	O
,	O
the	O
two	O
game	O
's	O
battle	O
systems	O
are	O
similar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
also	O
retains	O
the	O
"	O
rolling	O
HP	O
meter	O
"	O
of	O
EarthBound	B-Application
(	O
where	O
health	O
ticks	O
down	O
like	O
an	O
odometer	O
such	O
that	O
players	O
can	O
outrun	O
the	O
meter	O
to	O
heal	O
before	O
dying/fainting	O
)	O
but	O
removes	O
the	O
feature	O
where	O
experience	O
is	O
automatically	O
awarded	O
before	O
battles	O
against	O
much	O
weaker	O
foes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Giygas	O
is	O
the	O
primary	O
antagonist	O
in	O
both	O
Mother	B-Application
and	O
EarthBound	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Giygas	O
shows	O
internal	O
conflict	O
in	O
Mother	B-Application
and	O
has	O
no	O
appearance	O
but	O
as	O
an	O
"	O
indescribable	O
"	O
force	O
in	O
EarthBound	B-Application
final	O
boss	O
battle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nadia	O
Oxford	O
wrote	O
for	O
IGN	O
that	O
nearly	O
two	O
decades	O
later	O
,	O
EarthBound	B-Application
final	O
fight	O
against	O
Giygas	O
continues	O
to	O
be	O
"	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
epic	O
video	O
game	O
standoffs	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
"	O
with	O
noted	O
emotional	O
impact	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
EarthBound	B-Application
and	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
dissimilar	O
settings	O
,	O
the	O
Mr.	O
Saturn	O
fictional	O
species	O
appear	O
in	O
similar	O
Saturn	B-Application
Valleys	I-Application
in	O
both	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nadia	O
and	O
David	O
Oxford	O
of	O
1UP.com	O
considered	O
the	O
Mr.	O
Saturn	O
to	O
be	O
aliens	O
despite	O
their	O
human-like	O
and	O
fleshy	O
appearance	O
,	O
as	O
described	O
a	O
piece	O
arguing	O
the	O
central	O
theme	O
of	O
aliens	O
in	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Finally	O
,	O
Pokey	O
begins	O
as	O
Ness	O
's	O
child	O
neighbor	O
who	O
"	O
cowers	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
refuses	O
to	O
fight	O
"	O
in	O
EarthBound	B-Application
,	O
but	O
grows	O
into	O
a	O
"	O
vicious	O
control	O
freak	O
with	O
no	O
regard	O
for	O
human	O
life	O
"	O
,	O
Porky	O
,	O
by	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
soundtracks	O
for	O
Mother	B-Application
and	O
EarthBound	B-Application
were	O
composed	O
by	O
Keiichi	O
Suzuki	O
and	O
Hirokazu	O
Tanaka	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Mother	B-Application
soundtrack	O
was	O
likened	O
by	O
RPGFan	O
reviewer	O
Patrick	O
Gann	O
to	O
compositions	O
by	O
the	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
and	O
for	O
children	O
's	O
television	O
shows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Mother	B-Application
soundtrack	O
contains	O
several	O
tracks	O
later	O
used	O
in	O
subsequent	O
series	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Suzuki	O
and	O
Tanaka	O
were	O
unavailable	O
to	O
commit	O
to	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
soundtrack	O
,	O
Itoi	O
chose	O
Shogo	O
Sakai	O
for	O
his	O
experience	O
with	O
and	O
understanding	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Luke	O
Plunkett	O
of	O
Kotaku	O
credited	O
Suzuki	O
's	O
background	O
outside	O
of	O
games	O
composition	O
as	O
a	O
rock	O
star	O
and	O
film	O
scorer	O
for	O
making	O
the	O
music	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
and	O
EarthBound	B-Application
"	O
so	O
distinct	O
and	O
memorable	O
"	O
as	O
"	O
a	O
synthesized	O
tribute	O
to	O
20th-century	O
pop	O
music	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
,	O
titled	O
Mother	B-Application
,	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Ape	O
,	O
published	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
,	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
July	O
27	O
,	O
1989	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
Famicom	O
(	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Nintendo	O
Entertainment	O
System	O
outside	O
Japan	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
slated	O
for	O
an	O
English-language	O
localization	O
as	O
Earth	B-Application
Bound	I-Application
,	O
but	O
was	O
abandoned	O
when	O
the	O
team	O
chose	O
to	O
localize	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
instead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Years	O
later	O
,	O
the	O
complete	O
localization	O
was	O
recovered	O
by	O
the	O
public	O
and	O
distributed	O
on	O
the	O
Internet	O
,	O
where	O
it	O
became	O
known	O
as	O
EarthBound	B-Application
Zero	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
received	O
its	O
English	O
language	O
debut	O
in	O
June	O
2015	O
as	O
EarthBound	B-Application
Beginnings	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
is	O
a	O
single-player	O
role-playing	O
video	O
game	O
set	O
in	O
a	O
"	O
slightly	O
offbeat	O
"	O
,	O
late	O
20th-century	O
United	O
States	O
(	O
as	O
interpreted	O
by	O
Itoi	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
its	O
Japanese	O
role-playing	O
game	O
contemporaries	O
,	O
Mother	B-Application
is	O
not	O
set	O
in	O
a	O
fantasy	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
follows	O
the	O
young	O
Ninten	B-Application
as	O
he	O
uses	O
psychic	O
powers	O
to	O
fight	O
hostile	O
,	O
formerly	O
inanimate	O
objects	O
and	O
other	O
enemies	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
through	O
nights	O
on	O
the	O
project	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Ape	O
and	O
HAL	O
,	O
published	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
,	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
's	O
Super	B-Application
Famicom	I-Application
on	O
August	O
27	O
,	O
1994	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
translated	O
into	O
English	O
for	O
North	O
American	O
audiences	O
whereupon	O
it	O
became	O
the	O
only	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
game	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
until	O
the	O
later	O
localization	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
as	O
EarthBound	B-Application
Beginnings	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
avoid	O
confusion	O
about	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
numbering	O
,	O
its	O
English	O
title	O
was	O
changed	O
to	O
EarthBound	B-Application
,	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
June	O
5	O
,	O
1995	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
North	O
American	O
Super	B-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
Entertainment	I-Application
System	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
was	O
released	O
when	O
role-playing	O
games	O
were	O
not	O
popular	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
and	O
visual	O
taste	O
in	O
role-playing	O
games	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>
EarthBounds	B-Application
atypical	O
"	O
this	O
game	O
stinks	O
"	O
marketing	O
campaign	O
was	O
derived	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
unusual	O
humor	O
and	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
dwindling	O
support	O
for	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>
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>
Earthbound	B-Application
's	O
story	O
is	O
a	O
continuation	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
's	O
,	O
featuring	O
many	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
antagonists	O
and	O
monsters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Buzz	O
Buzz	O
,	O
a	O
bee	O
from	O
the	O
future	O
,	O
instructs	O
Ness	O
to	O
collect	O
melodies	O
in	O
a	O
Sound	B-Application
Stone	I-Application
to	O
preemptively	O
stop	O
the	O
force	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Along	O
the	O
way	O
,	O
Ness	O
encounters	O
the	O
cultists	O
of	O
Happy	O
Happy	O
Village	O
,	O
the	O
zombie-infested	O
Threed	B-Application
,	O
the	O
Winters	O
boarding	O
school	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
kingdom	O
of	O
Dalaam	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
the	O
Sound	B-Application
Stone	I-Application
is	O
filled	O
,	O
Ness	O
visits	O
Magicant	O
alone	O
,	O
a	O
surreal	O
location	O
in	O
his	O
mind	O
where	O
he	O
fights	O
his	O
dark	O
side	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
plays	O
as	O
a	O
Japanese	O
role-playing	O
game	O
modeled	O
on	O
Dragon	B-Application
Quest	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1996	O
,	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
(	O
EarthBound	B-Application
64	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
)	O
,	O
was	O
announced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
slated	O
for	O
release	O
on	O
the	O
64DD	B-Device
,	O
a	O
disk	B-Architecture
drive	I-Architecture
expansion	O
peripheral	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
entered	O
development	O
hell	O
and	O
struggled	O
to	O
find	O
a	O
firm	O
release	O
date	O
and	O
in	O
2000	O
,	O
despite	O
its	O
level	O
of	O
completion	O
,	O
was	O
later	O
cancelled	O
altogether	O
with	O
the	O
commercial	O
failure	O
of	O
the	O
64DD	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
project	O
was	O
reannounced	O
three	O
years	O
later	O
as	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
alongside	O
a	O
combined	O
Mother	B-Application
1	I-Application
+	O
2	O
cartridge	O
for	O
the	O
same	O
handheld	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Itoi	O
had	O
been	O
working	O
on	O
porting	O
Mother	B-Application
and	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
to	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
,	O
and	O
based	O
on	O
encouragement	O
what	O
he	O
predicted	O
to	O
be	O
further	O
pressure	O
,	O
decided	O
to	O
release	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
new	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
abandoned	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
version	O
's	O
3D	O
graphics	O
,	O
but	O
kept	O
its	O
plot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
combined	O
cartridge	O
contains	O
both	O
Mother	B-Application
and	O
EarthBound	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
uses	O
the	O
extended	O
ending	O
of	O
the	O
unreleased	O
English	O
language	O
prototype	O
,	O
but	O
is	O
still	O
only	O
presented	O
in	O
Japanese	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
earlier	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
presented	O
in	O
chapters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
the	O
Pig	O
Mask	O
Army	O
starts	O
a	O
forest	O
fire	O
and	O
imposes	O
police	O
state-like	O
conditions	O
on	O
a	O
"	O
pastoral	O
forest	O
village	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
father	O
,	O
Flint	O
,	O
ventures	O
out	O
to	O
protect	O
his	O
family	O
(	O
twin	O
sons	O
Lucas	B-Application
and	O
Claus	O
and	O
wife	O
Hinawa	O
)	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
the	O
world	O
is	O
eventually	O
implicated	O
in	O
the	O
plot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lucas	B-Application
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
hero	O
,	O
does	O
not	O
become	O
prominent	O
until	O
the	O
fourth	O
chapter	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Along	O
with	O
his	O
dog	O
,	O
a	O
neophyte	O
thief	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
princess	O
,	O
Lucas	B-Application
fulfills	O
a	O
prophecy	O
of	O
a	O
"	O
chosen	O
one	O
"	O
pulling	O
Needles	O
from	O
the	O
Earth	O
to	O
wake	O
a	O
sleeping	O
dragon	O
and	O
determine	O
the	O
fate	O
of	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
features	O
a	O
lighthearted	O
plot	O
,	O
with	O
characters	O
such	O
as	O
"	O
partying	O
ghosts	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
talking	O
rope	B-Application
snakes	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
much	O
like	O
its	O
predecessors	O
,	O
is	O
a	O
single-player	O
role-playing	O
video	O
game	O
played	O
with	O
two	O
buttons	O
:	O
one	O
for	O
starting	O
conversations	O
and	O
checking	O
adjacent	O
objects	O
,	O
and	O
another	O
for	O
running	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Apart	O
from	O
this	O
,	O
the	O
battle	O
system	O
and	O
"	O
rolling	O
HP	O
meter	O
"	O
(	O
where	O
health	O
ticks	O
down	O
like	O
an	O
odometer	O
such	O
that	O
players	O
can	O
outrun	O
the	O
meter	O
to	O
heal	O
before	O
dying	O
)	O
are	O
similar	O
to	O
EarthBound	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Around	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
2006	O
release	O
,	O
Itoi	O
stated	O
that	O
he	O
had	O
no	O
plans	O
to	O
make	O
Mother	B-Application
4	I-Application
,	O
which	O
he	O
has	O
reaffirmed	O
repeatedly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Itoi	O
has	O
said	O
that	O
,	O
of	O
the	O
three	O
,	O
he	O
had	O
the	O
strongest	O
drive	O
to	O
create	O
the	O
first	O
Mother	B-Application
video	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
made	O
for	O
the	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
reflecting	O
on	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
2000	O
cancellation	O
,	O
Itoi	O
recounted	O
the	O
great	O
efforts	O
the	O
team	O
made	O
to	O
tell	O
small	O
parts	O
of	O
the	O
story	O
,	O
and	O
felt	O
this	O
was	O
a	O
core	O
theme	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
absence	O
of	O
continued	O
support	O
for	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
an	O
EarthBound	B-Application
fan	O
community	O
coalesced	O
at	O
Starmen.net	O
with	O
the	O
intent	O
to	O
have	O
Nintendo	O
of	O
America	O
acknowledge	O
their	O
interest	O
in	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
drafted	O
petitions	O
for	O
English	O
language	O
releases	O
and	O
created	O
a	O
full-color	O
,	O
270-page	O
anthology	O
of	O
fan	O
art	O
,	O
Upon	O
"	O
little	O
"	O
response	O
from	O
Nintendo	O
,	O
they	O
localized	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
by	O
themselves	O
and	O
printed	O
a	O
"	O
professional	O
quality	O
strategy	O
guide	O
"	O
through	O
Fangamer	O
,	O
a	O
video	O
game	O
merchandising	O
site	O
that	O
spun	O
off	O
from	O
Starmen.net	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	I-Application
,	O
a	O
fan-produced	B-Application
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>
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
,	O
and	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
were	O
not	O
released	O
outside	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
this	O
,	O
Ness	O
's	O
recurrence	O
in	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
series	O
signaled	O
favorable	O
odds	O
for	O
the	O
future	O
of	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
and	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Power	I-Application
readers	O
anticipated	O
a	O
rerelease	O
of	O
EarthBound	B-Application
on	O
the	O
Wii	O
's	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
upon	O
its	O
launch	O
in	O
2006	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
did	O
not	O
materialize	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Japanese	O
rerelease	O
was	O
announced	O
in	O
2013	O
for	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
as	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
celebration	O
of	O
the	O
anniversaries	O
of	O
the	O
NES	O
and	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
a	O
"	O
top-seller	O
"	O
on	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
,	O
and	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>
In	O
an	O
interview	O
in	O
late	O
November	O
2015	O
,	O
Shigesato	O
Itoi	O
has	O
once	O
again	O
denied	O
plans	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
Mother	B-Application
4	I-Application
,	O
despite	O
fan	O
feedback	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1001	O
Video	O
Games	O
You	O
Must	O
Play	O
Before	O
You	O
Die	O
,	O
Christian	O
Donlan	O
wrote	O
that	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
is	O
a	O
"	O
massive	O
RPG	O
franchise	O
"	O
in	O
Japan	O
comparable	O
to	O
that	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
and	O
Dragon	B-Application
Quest	I-Application
,	O
though	O
it	O
does	O
not	O
enjoy	O
the	O
same	O
popularity	O
in	O
the	O
West	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
which	O
only	O
received	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
three	O
Mother	B-Application
releases	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donlan	O
added	O
that	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
oddities	B-Application
did	O
not	O
lend	O
towards	O
Western	O
popularity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
was	O
the	O
sixth	O
best-selling	O
game	B-Application
of	I-Application
1989	I-Application
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
where	O
it	O
sold	O
about	O
400,000	O
copies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Critics	O
noted	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
similarities	O
with	O
the	O
Dragon	B-Application
Quest	I-Application
series	O
and	O
its	O
simultaneous	O
"	O
parody	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
genre	O
's	O
tropes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
thought	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
sequel	O
,	O
EarthBound	B-Application
,	O
to	O
be	O
very	O
similar	O
and	O
a	O
better	O
implementation	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
gameplay	O
ideas	O
,	O
overall	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
USgamer	O
Jeremy	O
Parish	O
said	O
that	O
Mother	B-Application
script	O
was	O
"	O
as	O
sharp	O
as	O
EarthBound	B-Application
"	O
,	O
but	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
original	O
's	O
game	O
mechanics	O
were	O
subpar	O
,	O
lacking	O
the	O
"	O
rolling	O
HP	O
counter	O
"	O
and	O
non-random	O
encounters	O
for	O
which	O
later	O
entries	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
were	O
known	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Parish	O
wrote	O
earlier	O
for	O
1UP.com	O
that	O
in	O
comparison	O
to	O
EarthBound	B-Application
,	O
Mother	B-Application
is	O
"	O
worse	O
in	O
just	O
about	O
every	O
way	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
important	O
less	O
for	O
its	O
actual	O
game	O
and	O
more	O
for	O
the	O
interest	O
it	O
generated	O
in	O
video	O
game	O
emulation	O
and	O
the	O
preservation	O
of	O
unreleased	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
sold	O
about	O
440,000	O
copies	O
worldwide	O
,	O
with	O
approximately	O
300,000	O
sold	O
in	O
Japan	O
and	O
about	O
140,000	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	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>
Prior	O
to	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
top	O
five	O
most	O
wanted	O
games	O
"	O
of	O
Famitsu	O
and	O
at	O
the	O
top	O
of	O
the	O
Japanese	O
preordered	O
game	O
charts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
comparison	O
,	O
the	O
2003	O
Mother	B-Application
1	I-Application
+	O
2	O
rerelease	O
sold	O
around	O
278,000	O
copies	O
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
its	O
first	O
year	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
reissue	O
"	O
value	O
selection	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
cartridge	O
sold	O
106,000	O
copies	O
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
received	O
a	O
"	O
Platinum	O
Hall	O
of	O
Fame	O
"	O
score	O
of	O
35/40	O
from	O
Famitsu	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
one	O
point	O
leading	O
up	O
to	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
release	O
,	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
"	O
Love	O
Theme	O
"	O
played	O
as	O
music	O
on	O
hold	O
for	O
the	O
Japan	O
Post	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donlan	O
of	O
1001	O
Video	O
Games	O
You	O
Must	O
Play	O
Before	O
You	O
Die	O
wrote	O
that	O
EarthBound	B-Application
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>
Critics	O
consider	O
EarthBound	B-Application
a	O
"	O
classic	O
"	O
or	O
"	O
must-play	O
"	O
among	O
video	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
ranks	O
the	O
game	O
13th	O
in	O
its	O
top	O
100	O
SNES	B-Application
games	O
and	O
26th	O
among	O
all	O
games	O
for	O
its	O
in-game	O
world	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
"	O
distinct	O
and	O
unforgettable	O
"	O
for	O
its	O
take	O
on	O
Americanism	O
,	O
unconventional	O
settings	O
,	O
and	O
1960s	O
music	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
rerelease	O
was	O
Justin	O
Haywald	O
of	O
GameSpot	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>
GameZone	O
said	O
it	O
"	O
would	O
be	O
a	O
great	O
disservice	O
"	O
to	O
merely	O
call	O
EarthBound	B-Application
"	O
a	O
gem	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
,	O
where	O
EarthBound	B-Application
had	O
been	O
previously	O
unreleased	O
,	O
GamesTM	O
noted	O
how	O
it	O
had	O
been	O
"	O
anecdotally	O
heralded	O
as	O
a	O
retro	O
classic	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Multiple	O
critics	O
wrote	O
that	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
role-playing	O
games	O
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Video	O
game	O
journalist	O
Tim	O
Rogers	O
posited	O
that	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
"	O
the	O
closest	O
games	O
have	O
yet	O
come	O
to	O
literature	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
no	O
plans	O
for	O
an	O
official	O
Mother	B-Application
4	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
series	O
,	O
and	O
specifically	O
EarthBound	B-Application
,	O
is	O
known	O
for	O
having	O
a	O
cult	O
following	O
that	O
developed	O
over	O
time	O
well	O
after	O
its	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>
Starmen.net	O
hosted	O
a	O
Mother	B-Application
25th	O
Anniversary	O
Fanfest	O
in	O
2014	O
with	O
a	O
livestream	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
plans	O
for	O
a	O
remixed	O
soundtrack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Verge	O
cited	O
the	O
two-year-long	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
fan	O
translation	O
as	O
proof	O
of	O
the	O
fan	O
base	O
's	O
dedication	O
,	O
and	O
Jenni	O
Lada	O
of	O
TechnologyTell	O
called	O
it	O
"	O
undoubtably	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
known	O
fan	O
translations	O
in	O
existence	O
"	O
,	O
with	O
active	O
retranslations	O
into	O
other	O
languages	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EarthBound	B-Application
Ness	O
became	O
widely	O
known	O
due	O
to	O
his	O
later	O
appearance	O
in	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
appeared	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
and	O
its	O
sequels	O
:	O
Melee	B-Application
,	O
Brawl	B-Application
,	O
3DS/Wii	B-Application
U	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Ultimate	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Europe	O
,	O
which	O
did	O
not	O
see	O
an	O
original	O
EarthBound	B-Application
release	O
,	O
Ness	O
is	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>
He	O
returned	O
in	O
the	O
2001	O
Melee	B-Application
with	O
EarthBound	B-Application
Mr.	O
Saturn	O
,	O
which	O
could	O
be	O
thrown	O
at	O
enemies	O
and	O
otherwise	O
pushes	O
items	O
off	O
the	O
battlefield	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Melee	B-Application
has	O
an	O
unlockable	O
Fourside	B-Application
level	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
EarthBound	B-Application
location	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Melee	B-Application
was	O
in	O
development	O
,	O
Ness	O
was	O
not	O
supposed	O
to	O
return	O
as	O
a	O
playable	O
character	O
and	O
would	O
have	O
been	O
replaced	O
by	O
Lucas	B-Application
,	O
the	O
main	O
character	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
original	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
release	O
was	O
cancelled	O
,	O
though	O
it	O
was	O
later	O
successfully	O
revived	O
as	O
a	O
project	O
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
result	O
,	O
Ness	O
was	O
featured	O
in	O
Melee	B-Application
instead	O
of	O
Lucas	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ness	O
was	O
later	O
joined	O
by	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
Lucas	B-Application
in	O
Brawl	B-Application
,	O
and	O
both	O
characters	O
returned	O
in	O
3DS/Wii	B-Application
U	I-Application
and	O
Ultimate	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
can	O
fight	O
in	O
the	O
3DS	O
Magicant	O
stage	O
,	O
which	O
features	O
clips	O
from	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
in	O
its	O
background	O
.	O
</s>
