<s>
is	O
a	O
2006	O
role-playing	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Brownie	O
Brown	O
and	O
HAL	O
Laboratory	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
third	O
entry	O
in	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
follows	O
Lucas	B-Application
,	O
a	O
young	O
boy	O
with	O
psychic	O
abilities	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
party	O
of	O
characters	O
as	O
they	O
attempt	O
to	O
prevent	O
a	O
mysterious	O
invading	O
army	O
from	O
corrupting	O
and	O
destroying	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
previous	O
entries	O
,	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
focuses	O
on	O
exploring	O
the	O
game	O
world	O
from	O
a	O
top-down	O
perspective	O
and	O
engaging	O
in	O
turn-based	O
combat	O
with	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
development	O
spanned	O
twelve	O
years	O
and	O
four	O
consoles	O
,	O
beginning	O
in	O
1994	O
for	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Famicom	I-Application
and	O
then	O
transitioning	O
to	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
and	O
its	O
64DD	B-Device
add-on	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
initially	O
canceled	O
in	O
2000	O
,	O
but	O
development	O
was	O
restarted	O
in	O
2003	O
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
never	O
localized	O
or	O
released	O
outside	O
Japan	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
release	O
near	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
Advance	O
's	O
lifespan	O
and	O
the	O
company	O
focusing	O
on	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
unofficial	O
English	O
fan	O
translation	O
was	O
released	O
by	O
the	O
Starmen.net	O
internet	B-Architecture
community	I-Architecture
in	O
2008	O
,	O
and	O
received	O
over	O
100,000	O
downloads	O
within	O
a	O
week	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
re-released	O
for	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
a	O
single-player	O
role	O
playing	O
video	O
game	O
similar	O
to	O
previous	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Leveling	O
up	O
a	O
character	O
permanently	O
enhances	O
its	O
individual	O
attributes	O
such	O
as	O
maximum	O
hit	O
points	O
(	O
HP	O
)	O
,	O
power	B-Application
points	I-Application
(	O
PP	O
)	O
,	O
offense	O
,	O
and	O
defense	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
can	O
restore	O
their	O
characters	O
 '	O
HP	O
and	O
PP	O
or	O
heal	O
various	O
status	O
ailments	O
by	O
visiting	O
hot	O
springs	O
which	O
are	O
abundant	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
world	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
save	O
the	O
game	O
by	O
talking	O
to	O
frogs	B-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
can	O
deposit	O
or	O
withdraw	O
DP	O
from	O
frogs	B-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
retains	O
the	O
turn-based	O
battle	O
system	O
featured	O
in	O
EarthBound	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
characters	O
can	O
utilize	O
psychic-based	O
abilities	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
PSI	B-Application
,	O
which	O
includes	O
stronger	O
attacks	O
and	O
healing	O
abilities	O
,	O
and	O
require	O
PP	O
to	O
execute	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
EarthBound	B-Application
,	O
combat	O
uses	O
a	O
"	O
rolling	O
health	O
"	O
system	O
:	O
when	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
characters	O
is	O
injured	O
,	O
its	O
HP	O
will	O
gradually	O
"	O
roll	O
"	O
down	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
an	O
odometer	O
,	O
rather	O
than	O
immediately	O
decremented	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Combat	O
in	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
includes	O
a	O
unique	O
musical	O
combo	O
system	O
not	O
seen	O
in	O
previous	O
Mother	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
fictional	O
Nowhere	O
Islands	O
,	O
an	O
unknown	O
length	O
of	O
time	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
begins	O
with	O
twins	O
Lucas	B-Application
and	O
Claus	O
and	O
their	O
mother	B-Application
Hinawa	O
preparing	O
to	O
return	O
home	O
to	O
Tazmily	B-Application
Village	I-Application
after	O
visiting	O
Hinawa	O
's	O
father	O
,	O
who	O
lives	O
in	O
the	O
northern	O
reaches	O
of	O
the	O
Islands	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Before	O
they	O
can	O
return	O
,	O
Tazmily	B-Application
Village	I-Application
is	O
attacked	O
by	O
a	O
mysterious	O
military	O
force	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Pigmask	B-Application
Army	O
,	O
who	O
bomb	O
the	O
nearby	O
forest	O
and	O
start	O
a	O
forest	O
fire	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
finds	O
Lucas	B-Application
and	O
Claus	O
,	O
but	O
discovers	O
that	O
Hinawa	O
was	O
killed	O
defending	O
them	O
from	O
a	O
hostile	O
Drago	O
,	O
a	O
normally	O
peaceful	O
lizard-like	O
creature	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
Pigmasks	B-Application
 '	O
invasion	O
,	O
neophyte	O
thief	O
Duster	O
is	O
sent	O
by	O
his	O
father	O
and	O
teacher	O
Wess	B-Application
to	O
the	O
abandoned	O
Osohe	O
Castle	O
to	O
retrieve	O
the	O
mysterious	O
Egg	O
of	O
Light	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
a	O
mysterious	O
peddler	O
known	O
as	O
Yokuba	O
,	O
who	O
works	O
with	O
the	O
Pigmasks	B-Application
,	O
sells	O
television-like	O
devices	O
known	O
as	O
Happy	O
Boxes	O
to	O
the	O
townspeople	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
unwilling	O
help	O
of	O
a	O
monkey	O
named	O
Salsa	O
who	O
he	O
abuses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Salsa	O
escapes	O
from	O
Yokuba	O
's	O
control	O
with	O
the	O
help	O
of	O
Kumatora	O
,	O
Lucas	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Wess	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Three	O
years	O
later	O
,	O
Tazmily	B-Application
Village	I-Application
has	O
been	O
taken	O
over	O
by	O
the	O
Pigmask	B-Application
Army	O
,	O
who	O
have	O
modernized	O
it	O
with	O
railways	O
,	O
Happy	O
Boxes	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
modern	O
technology	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lucas	B-Application
hears	O
rumours	O
that	O
Duster	O
,	O
who	O
has	O
been	O
missing	O
since	O
leaving	O
for	O
Osohe	O
Castle	O
,	O
is	O
working	O
as	O
a	O
bassist	O
at	O
the	O
nearby	O
Club	O
Titiboo	O
,	O
and	O
sets	O
off	O
with	O
his	O
dog	O
Boney	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
join	O
and	O
recover	O
the	O
Egg	O
and	O
restore	O
Duster	O
's	O
memory	O
,	O
but	O
while	O
attempting	O
to	O
board	O
a	O
flying	O
Pigmask	B-Application
airship	O
,	O
a	O
mysterious	O
Masked	O
Man	O
shakes	O
them	O
off	O
and	O
sends	O
them	O
flying	O
to	O
the	O
ground	O
,	O
separating	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lucas	B-Application
and	O
Boney	O
land	O
in	O
a	O
haystack	O
back	O
in	O
Tazmily	B-Application
,	O
and	O
learn	O
from	O
the	O
Magypsies	O
that	O
beneath	O
the	O
Islands	O
is	O
a	O
massive	O
dragon	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lucas	B-Application
and	O
Boney	O
reunite	O
with	O
Duster	O
and	O
Kumatora	O
and	O
race	O
to	O
pull	O
the	O
Needles	O
before	O
the	O
Masked	O
Man	O
,	O
but	O
only	O
manage	O
to	O
pull	O
three	O
before	O
him	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
Masked	O
Man	O
pulling	O
another	O
three	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
seventh	O
and	O
final	O
Needle	O
is	O
located	O
beneath	O
New	B-Application
Pork	I-Application
City	I-Application
,	O
the	O
capital	O
of	O
the	O
Pigmasks	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lucas	B-Application
and	O
company	O
travel	O
there	O
and	O
meet	O
Leder	O
,	O
another	O
villager	O
,	O
who	O
reveals	O
that	O
the	O
inhabitants	O
of	O
Tazmily	B-Application
Village	I-Application
are	O
the	O
last	O
survivors	O
of	O
a	O
global	O
apocalypse	O
,	O
who	O
travelled	O
to	O
the	O
Nowhere	O
Islands	O
as	O
they	O
were	O
protected	O
by	O
the	O
dragon	O
's	O
power	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
reveals	O
that	O
the	O
leader	O
of	O
the	O
Pigmasks	B-Application
is	O
Porky	B-Application
Minch	I-Application
(	O
Known	O
as	O
Pokey	O
Minch	O
in	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
)	O
,	O
who	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
travelled	O
in	O
time	O
to	O
the	O
Nowhere	O
Islands	O
and	O
began	O
building	O
an	O
empire	O
there	O
,	O
kidnapping	O
inhabitants	O
from	O
other	O
time	O
periods	O
(	O
including	O
Dr.	O
Andonuts	O
from	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
)	O
to	O
populate	O
it	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
transforming	O
the	O
local	O
wildlife	O
into	O
twisted	O
new	O
forms	O
(	O
including	O
the	O
Drago	O
that	O
killed	O
Hinawa	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lucas	B-Application
and	O
company	O
set	O
out	O
to	O
confront	O
Porky	O
and	O
pull	O
the	O
last	O
needle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
fighting	O
their	O
way	O
to	O
him	O
,	O
they	O
discover	O
that	O
Yokuba	O
was	O
the	O
Magypsy	O
responsible	O
for	O
protecting	O
the	O
seventh	O
Needle	O
,	O
who	O
turned	O
traitor	O
and	O
started	O
working	O
for	O
the	O
Pigmasks	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
heroes	O
confront	O
Porky	O
deep	O
beneath	O
New	B-Application
Pork	I-Application
City	I-Application
,	O
but	O
he	O
seals	O
himself	O
inside	O
an	O
"	O
Absolutely	O
Safe	O
Capsule	O
"	O
built	O
by	O
Dr.	O
Andonuts	O
;	O
unbeknownst	O
to	O
him	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
Andonuts	O
has	O
tricked	O
him	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
Absolutely	O
Safe	O
Capsule	O
also	O
renders	O
the	O
outside	O
world	O
safe	O
by	O
permanently	O
sealing	O
Porky	O
within	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lucas	B-Application
reaches	O
the	O
seventh	O
needle	O
and	O
confronts	O
the	O
Masked	O
Man	O
,	O
who	O
is	O
revealed	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
brainwashed	O
Claus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
battle	O
between	O
Claus	O
and	O
Lucas	B-Application
,	O
Claus	O
's	O
memory	O
of	O
his	O
mother	B-Application
restores	O
his	O
humanity	O
and	O
he	O
commits	O
suicide	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lucas	B-Application
pulls	O
the	O
final	O
Needle	O
,	O
awakening	O
the	O
Dragon	O
and	O
destroying	O
the	O
Nowhere	O
Islands	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
credits	O
,	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
logo	O
is	O
shown	O
restored	O
to	O
being	O
made	O
completely	O
of	O
wood	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
began	O
in	O
1994	O
for	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Famicom	I-Application
with	O
Shigeru	O
Miyamoto	O
and	O
Satoru	O
Iwata	O
as	O
producers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
mostly	O
consisted	O
of	O
members	O
involved	O
in	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
the	O
previous	O
Mother	B-Application
game	O
,	O
EarthBound	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Inspired	O
by	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
64	I-Application
,	O
the	O
team	O
transitioned	O
from	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Famicom	I-Application
to	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
,	O
believing	O
that	O
they	O
could	O
also	O
creatively	O
flourish	O
by	O
making	O
a	O
3D	O
world	O
without	O
technical	O
restrictions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
their	O
early	O
specifications	O
exceeded	O
the	O
capabilities	O
and	O
memory	O
limits	O
of	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
;	O
halfway	O
through	O
development	O
the	O
team	O
scaled	O
back	O
its	O
large	O
scope	O
and	O
changed	O
the	O
platform	O
to	O
the	O
64DD	B-Device
,	O
a	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
expansion	O
peripheral	O
that	O
was	O
later	O
released	O
only	O
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
expected	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
64DD	B-Device
launch	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
development	O
shifted	O
back	O
to	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
after	O
the	O
64DD	B-Device
's	O
commercial	O
failure	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
showcased	O
a	O
demo	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
at	O
the	O
1999	O
Nintendo	O
Space	O
World	O
trade	O
show	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
expected	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
under	O
the	O
title	O
EarthBound	B-Application
64	O
,	O
on	O
a	O
256-megabit	O
cartridge	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ocarina	I-Application
of	I-Application
Time	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
reacted	O
favorably	O
to	O
the	O
demo	O
and	O
compared	O
the	O
multi-character	O
narrative	O
to	O
the	O
Japan-only	O
Super	B-Application
Famicom	I-Application
RPG	O
Live	B-Application
A	I-Application
Live	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Famitsu	O
readers	O
ranked	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
their	O
top	O
ten	O
most	O
anticipated	O
towards	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shigesato	O
Itoi	O
announced	O
in	O
late	O
August	O
2000	O
that	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
had	O
been	O
cancelled	O
following	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
delays	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Iwata	O
and	O
Miyamoto	O
clarified	O
in	O
an	O
interview	O
that	O
resources	O
had	O
been	O
moved	O
to	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
,	O
the	O
next	O
Nintendo	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Miyamoto	O
also	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
franchise	O
had	O
not	O
been	O
abandoned	O
and	O
that	O
he	O
was	O
still	O
interested	O
in	O
bringing	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
fruition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2003	O
,	O
in	O
a	O
Japanese	O
commercial	O
for	O
the	O
compilation	O
game	O
Mother	B-Application
1+2	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
announced	O
that	O
it	O
had	O
restarted	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
for	O
the	O
portable	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Itoi	O
had	O
believed	O
that	O
restarting	O
the	O
project	O
was	O
impossible	O
but	O
changed	O
his	O
mind	O
following	O
encouragement	O
from	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
fanbase	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
about	O
60%	O
complete	O
by	O
July	O
2004	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
April	O
20	O
,	O
2006	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Itoi	O
thought	O
of	O
the	O
concept	O
behind	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
towards	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
production	O
,	O
a	O
"	O
detective	O
story	O
where	O
the	O
city	O
was	O
the	O
main	O
character	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
idea	O
of	O
a	O
"	O
single	O
place	O
changing	O
over	O
time	O
"	O
was	O
central	O
to	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
"	O
uncomfortable	O
beauty	O
"	O
of	O
chimera	O
—	O
multiple	O
creatures	O
fused	O
into	O
one	O
—	O
was	O
central	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
the	O
idea	O
behind	O
the	O
metallic	O
and	O
wooden	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
logo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Itoi	O
served	O
less	O
of	O
a	O
manager	O
role	O
and	O
more	O
as	O
a	O
team	O
member	O
and	O
scriptwriter	O
than	O
in	O
previous	O
Mother	B-Application
development	O
cycles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Itoi	O
chose	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
pixelated	O
style	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
2	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
because	O
he	O
was	O
uninterested	O
in	O
computer	O
graphics	O
trends	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Itoi	O
described	O
the	O
game	O
world	O
as	O
governed	O
by	O
a	O
"	O
might	O
equals	O
right	O
...	O
macho	B-Operating_System
"	O
power	O
struggle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Itoi	O
's	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
the	O
scenario	O
was	O
darker	O
,	O
"	O
dirtier	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
more	O
upsetting	O
,	O
though	O
the	O
final	O
version	O
changed	O
little	O
in	O
concept	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shogo	O
Sakai	O
,	O
a	O
video	O
game	O
composer	O
at	O
HAL	O
Laboratory	O
whose	O
previous	O
works	O
include	O
music	O
for	O
Kirby	B-Device
Air	I-Device
Ride	I-Device
and	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
Melee	I-Application
,	O
composed	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
soundtrack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shigesato	O
Itoi	O
stated	O
that	O
Sakai	O
was	O
chosen	O
for	O
the	O
role	O
given	O
his	O
deep	O
understanding	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
story	O
and	O
the	O
EarthBound	B-Application
series	I-Application
in	O
general	O
,	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
fact	O
that	O
EarthBound	B-Application
composers	O
Keiichi	O
Suzuki	O
and	O
Hirokazu	O
Tanaka	O
were	O
both	O
unavailable	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
soundtrack	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
compact	O
disc	O
on	O
November	O
2	O
,	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Love	O
Theme	O
"	O
,	O
the	O
main	O
theme	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
was	O
composed	O
late	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
development	O
;	O
earlier	O
in	O
development	O
Itoi	O
intended	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
"	O
Pigmask	B-Application
Army	O
"	O
theme	O
as	O
the	O
main	O
theme	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
creation	O
of	O
an	O
important	O
scene	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
Sakai	O
was	O
asked	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
song	O
that	O
would	O
have	O
a	O
greater	O
impact	O
than	O
the	O
Pigmask	B-Application
theme	O
;	O
upon	O
its	O
creation	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
chosen	O
to	O
be	O
used	O
as	O
the	O
main	O
theme	O
instead	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
Pigmask	B-Application
Army	O
"	O
song	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Itoi	O
requested	O
that	O
"	O
Love	O
Theme	O
"	O
be	O
playable	O
on	O
a	O
piano	O
with	O
only	O
one	O
finger	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
Eight	O
Melodies	O
"	O
theme	O
from	O
Mother	B-Application
had	O
gained	O
popularity	O
and	O
been	O
played	O
in	O
elementary	O
schools	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
simplicity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
that	O
plays	O
after	O
the	O
player	O
chooses	O
the	O
character	O
's	O
name	O
was	O
recorded	O
without	O
Itoi	O
's	O
knowledge	O
by	O
Hirokazu	O
Tanaka	O
more	O
than	O
a	O
decade	O
before	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
April	O
20	O
,	O
2006	O
,	O
where	O
it	O
became	O
a	O
bestseller	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
limited	O
edition	O
Deluxe	O
Box	O
Set	O
was	O
produced	O
with	O
a	O
special	O
edition	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Micro	I-Device
and	O
Franklin	B-Application
Badge	I-Application
pin	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
marketed	O
in	O
Japan	O
with	O
a	O
television	O
commercial	O
that	O
has	O
Japanese	O
actress	O
Kō	O
Shibasaki	O
on	O
the	O
verge	O
of	O
tears	O
as	O
she	O
explains	O
her	O
feelings	O
about	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Japanese	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
on	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
in	O
December	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
said	O
that	O
he	O
was	O
in	O
talks	O
with	O
Iwata	O
to	O
possibly	O
release	O
it	O
on	O
the	O
North	O
American	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
eShop	O
prior	O
to	O
Iwata	O
's	O
passing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
did	O
not	O
receive	O
an	O
official	O
release	O
outside	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
October	O
17	O
,	O
2008	O
,	O
Starmen.net	O
released	O
a	O
fan	O
translation	O
patch	O
that	O
,	O
when	O
applied	O
on	O
a	O
copy	O
of	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
ROM	B-General_Concept
image	I-General_Concept
,	O
translates	O
all	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
text	O
into	O
English	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reid	O
Young	O
,	O
co-founder	O
of	O
Starmen.net,	O
stated	O
that	O
when	O
they	O
realized	O
Nintendo	O
was	O
not	O
going	O
to	O
localize	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
they	O
decided	O
to	O
undertake	O
the	O
task	O
,	O
for	O
themselves	O
and	O
for	O
fans	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
the	O
character	O
"	O
Yokuba	O
"	O
,	O
loosely	O
derived	O
from	O
,	O
was	O
renamed	O
"	O
Fassad	O
"	O
,	O
loosely	O
derived	O
from	O
the	O
French	O
word	O
façade	B-Application
and	O
,	O
incidentally	O
,	O
the	O
Arabic	O
word	O
fasād	O
( فساد	O
,	O
"	O
corruption	O
"	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
ROM	O
hacking	O
entailed	O
assembly-level	O
changes	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
code	O
to	O
support	O
features	O
such	O
as	O
variable	O
width	O
fonts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Along	O
with	O
the	O
translation	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
announced	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
Handbook	O
,	O
an	O
English	O
player	O
's	O
guide	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
that	O
had	O
been	O
in	O
development	O
since	O
June	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Verge	O
cited	O
the	O
two-year	O
fan	O
translation	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
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
undoubtedly	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>
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
,	O
it	O
sold	O
around	O
200,000	O
copies	O
in	O
its	O
first	O
week	O
of	O
sales	O
in	O
Japan	O
and	O
despite	O
not	O
having	O
an	O
English	O
localization	O
,	O
critics	O
imported	O
it	O
for	O
reception	O
and	O
gave	O
it	O
mostly	O
positive	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jenni	O
Lada	O
of	O
TechnologyTell	O
called	O
it	O
the	O
"	O
perfect	O
"	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
role-playing	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
compared	O
the	O
chapter	O
approach	O
with	O
the	O
method	O
of	O
Dragon	B-Application
Quest	I-Application
IV	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lada	O
of	O
TechnologyTell	O
said	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
surprisingly	O
"	O
darker	O
"	O
than	O
its	O
forebears	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eurogamer	O
Parkin	O
wrote	O
that	O
the	O
"	O
childlike	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
unusually	O
Western	O
"	O
graphics	O
were	O
similar	O
to	O
EarthBound	B-Application
in	O
"	O
flat	O
pastel	O
textures	O
devoid	O
of	O
shading	O
"	O
as	O
juxtaposed	O
with	O
background	O
art	O
that	O
"	O
fizzes	O
with	O
life	O
and	O
character	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
described	O
the	O
cutscenes	O
 '	O
animations	O
as	O
"	O
bespoke	O
"	O
,	O
rare	O
for	O
16-bit	B-Device
role-playing	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
of	O
greater	O
dramatic	O
impact	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eurogamer	O
Parkin	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
role-playing	O
game	O
elements	O
were	O
less	O
interesting	O
and	O
added	O
that	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
had	O
few	O
standout	O
selling	O
points	O
other	O
than	O
its	O
attention	O
to	O
detail	O
and	O
"	O
only	O
systemic	O
innovation	O
"	O
:	O
the	O
rhythm-based	O
battle	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
RPGamer	O
reviewers	O
noted	O
that	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
has	O
few	O
penalties	O
for	O
death	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Parkin	O
wrote	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
filled	O
with	O
"	O
memorable	O
moments	O
"	O
,	O
including	O
a	O
character	O
who	O
criticizes	O
the	O
player	O
"	O
for	O
not	O
giggling	O
at	O
puns	O
"	O
,	O
frogs	B-Algorithm
with	O
progressively	O
silly	O
costumes	O
that	O
save	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
a	O
"	O
reconstructed	O
mecha	O
caribou	O
"	O
battle	O
,	O
a	O
bad	O
haiku	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
"	O
campfire	O
scene	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
while	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
simpleness	O
could	O
have	O
leaned	O
towards	O
"	O
raw	O
stupidity	O
"	O
,	O
instead	O
it	O
was	O
"	O
elegant	O
in	O
its	O
simplicity	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>
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
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
has	O
been	O
heavily	O
criticized	O
for	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
lack	O
of	O
an	O
international	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
referred	O
to	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
as	O
"	O
neglected	O
"	O
in	O
regards	O
to	O
EarthBound	B-Application
being	O
the	O
only	O
game	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
outside	O
Japan	O
across	O
the	O
decades	O
until	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bob	O
Mackey	O
of	O
1UP.com	O
wrote	O
of	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
that	O
"	O
no	O
other	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
history	O
of	O
time	O
garnered	O
such	O
a	O
rabid	O
demand	O
for	O
translation	O
,	O
"	O
and	O
Chris	O
Plante	O
of	O
UGO	O
Networks	O
wrote	O
that	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
an	O
official	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
English	O
localization	O
was	O
one	O
of	O
2008	O
's	O
"	O
worst	O
heartbreaks	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
acclaimed	O
,	O
Mother	B-Application
series	I-Application
writer	O
and	O
creator	O
Shigesato	O
Itoi	O
has	O
stated	O
that	O
he	O
does	O
not	O
have	O
any	O
plans	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
fourth	O
installment	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
series	O
features	O
Lucas	B-Application
as	O
a	O
playable	O
fighter	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
minor	O
characters	O
as	O
collectibles	O
,	O
items	O
,	O
or	O
stage	O
hazards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
digital	O
event	O
at	O
E3	O
2014	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
made	O
a	O
humorous	O
reference	O
to	O
Mother	B-Application
3s	I-Application
lack	O
of	O
a	O
localization	O
by	O
presenting	O
a	O
stop-motion	O
animation	O
created	O
by	O
Robot	O
Chicken	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
fan	O
says	O
"	O
Come	O
on	O
,	O
Reggie	O
,	O
give	O
us	O
Mother	B-Application
3	I-Application
!	O
</s>
<s>
and	O
then	O
proceeds	O
to	O
eat	O
a	O
Fire	O
Flower	O
from	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
series	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
throw	O
a	O
fireball	O
at	O
the	O
fan	O
.	O
</s>
