No jokes about playing your mom, please. Let's Play Mother!

I decided to Let's Play this game because many people write it off due to its difficulty and rather primitive gameplay (although there is a so-called Easy Hack to help with the difficulty). Most people turn to this game after enjoying its SNES sequel called Earthbound in USA. The game can certainly be seen as a prototype in two ways. First, is that in many ways it feels like it is a prototype for its sequel. To some it seems that Mother 2 just took this game and upgraded it which turns off many people. Nevertheless, there are many worthwhile things to see in this game.

The other way it is a prototype has been documented many times over on the internet. Parish and Lost Levels. In short, the game was basically translated, censored, and improved; however a domestic release never happened. Years later, a prototype of the translation was sold to a ROM dumper.

The text in this game is very bland due to its prototype nature (it probably would've stayed that way though since it had the ol' NES constraints). However the GBA version is actually being retranslated. I decided on this Let's Play before I knew about this, so I suppose I'll get to play it again later!

I prefer to call this game Mother. Not only does the title fit the game, but far too many people think the game is actually called Earthbound Zero, which title is just a fan creation to better distinguish it from its sequel. This NES game was also to be called Earth Bound.

The Mother series is inextricably connected with music, and half the enjoyment is lost if playing it silently. Prolific Japanese musician Keiichi Suzuki teamed up with Nintendo veteran Hip Tanaka to get some amazing music from the NES. If you know how to use nsf files, here's the soundtrack to the game. This is the nsfe file that I fixed up to have the music play in order, but if you're restricted to regular ol' nsf, here it is. Otherwise, for those who care not to mess with nsf files, there are also mp3 conversions of the nsf files out there too.

(I also heartily recommend the 1989 vocal/arranged album, but that's a whole different matter.)

(And, no, I'm not using the hacked Easy version.)

Current music: ♪Introduction♪



So let's begin!



I suppose I don't need help from you guys for this screen. So let's Start up!



Well? What is this boy's name? As you can see, we get a generous seven letters. He's named Ken in the supremely canonical Japanese novelization of the game, but he's Ninten to fans. In other materials, such as guides and instruction manuals he's just known as "I". Obviously there was never an American manual for the prototype, but he is the hero of this game.

Based on the available characters, I'm hoping for some names like :-. :-' :-O



What is this girl's name? Ana is the standard for her. She's the magic-user.



This other boy's name? American fans almost universally know him as Loid even though his Japanese name is clearly supposed to be Lloyd, but the collective fans of Mother aren't known for their intelligence. Perhaps the double-L looked too much like an alien's name because obviously Loid doesn't seem weird. Maybe I'll give the benefit of the doubt and assume that most of the people who champion Loid do understand the pun on the Japanese word for coke-bottle glasses. Of course, we could always call him 'roid for his obvious steroid-influenced physique. He's the brainy, gadget guy. But enough talk about his name, let's talk about his name.



This last boy's name? Despite the question, I've never really thought of this sprite as looking like a mere boy, but his name is Teddy. He's the muscular bruiser.



What is your favorite food? The standard, of course, is BABIES. I'm confident, however, that we can break the mold of never-funny cliches. I've heard that the official answer is Prime rib. Perhaps Hamburgers. Who knows. Who cares. What do you want? We have a whopping 11 letters to work with.
Well? Let's get to work!

NEXT: A Lamp Draws Near

Boy2: Roid
Boy3: Biff
Food: kittens

Boy 1, Girl, Boy 2 and Boy 3

Food shall be Planets

For he is Boy 1: Devourer of Worlds.

Pants
Panties
pants
PANTS
Croquettes

Hmm...

Boy 1: Marty
Girl 1: Jennifer
Boy 2: Doc
Boy 3: Biff

8 characters in a NES game? That's really generous.

Favourite food: manure

Boy1-Mario
Girl1-Peach
Boy2-Luigi
Boy3-Wario

Seconded; I miss the Pants thing. And I like Croquettes >_>...

BAT
PAN
GUN
HIT

food: FOOD

Doesn't the properly-working version of the game have the little "Zero" to the lower-right of the Earthbound text on the title screen?

Not that I think that is the right title, but I remember reading about a glitch of some kind in versions that didn't have it or something.

I like this one a lot. ..and I hate the Pants thing.

I third (or however many other quotes it gets) this.

This. I like food: FOOD too.

If you're doing the Back to the Future names, the favorite food needs to be Pepsi.

As long as they're giving us all that space.

I like the Back to the Future theme, but then I know I'd just end up turning the whole Let's Play into Back to the Future, and that's a whole 'nother Let's Play (also the max is 7 letters, so Jennifer doesn't fit).

I do enjoy BAT, PAN, GUN, HIT but part of me wants to use longer names just since we can. I think I'm leaning towards the Mario names, but I'm open to opinion for another day or so until I get on with the game.

The emulation of this game has a wonky history with too many versions. Long story made short: the original was hacked because it messed up with with NESticle, the premier emulator of the day. These days emulators actually work, so the original dump can be used.

Jenifer? Jenn?

I think Back to the Future names is a great idea.

Back to the Future names.

Jenny is short enough and cute. ^_^ Confession: I've never seen the Back to the Future movies. x_x

Is this OK?

Yes. Yes it is. I'm not really a fan of Pepsi, but I think this is why it's called role-playing. So we begin.



Oh no! We have to find some way to go back in time to stop George McFly from getting with this Maria girl. We gotta get him with Lorraine, otherwise Marty will never be born! Fortunately this is sometime in the 1980s Fortunate because time travel was finally realized in 1985. Unfortunately I don't think it's very widespread yet.
Oh. These aren't Marty's parents that the intro talks about. I guess that would make Marty pretty old.



Current music: ♪House♪

The game begins with Marty sitting by his lamp. He must be playing the Gameboy that was just released. Just as he gets his longpiece to make a tetris, he realizes that he's been sitting on his legs wrong and needs to stop the tingling. Also his Pepsi Free ran out. I wonder if his mom has restocked the fridge. As he touches his doorknob,



Current music: ♪Poltergeist♪

The lamp charges at Marty and attacks!



The very first attack of the game is a critical hit against me. These get a pretty font saying SMAAAASH!! and a nice green flash.



At this point the tactics for fighting are just hit and be hit. Luckily I was able to kill it anyway. Or rather make it not move anymore. For the record, I got a whole 1 Exp for destroy a lamp with a face.



The house begins shaking in wonderful NES earthquake-mode.

Marty's dad is never home. So as the man of the house, I suppose Marty must help out his family. I'm not exactly sure where his parents sleep since he just came out of his own room, and now he has decided to save his two sisters in their separate rooms. Maybe this is the parents room, and the house's alarm system has gone cazy because Marty's sister was messing with their mom's lamp. So, of course, I destroy Marty's priceless family lamp heirloom.



All she can do is boo hoo at me. My sister is Droopy the dog. Perhaps I should go save my other sister now.



I will! It's no lamp this time, it's a floating baby doll!



Or is it a real baby? It's creepy and strong, but I prevail by getting some lucky evades. It was ten times as hard as the lamps, but it gave ten times the experience.



Hooray!



Killing the doll makes it teleport to the top of the dresser, but at least the house stopped shaking.



Marty's sister always wants him to play dolls with her. I'll do it this time for her since she just had such a fright. But never again! Marty does like music though.



Current music: ♪Melody 1 ~ Doll♪

A very short snippet of music plays. It feels very unfinished. Marty keeps the song in mind in case he wants to strum it out on his guitar later.



I don't know why my sister stole all the juice from the refrigerator, but I happily take some.



Just a few of course.



As I was saying, Marty's dad is never home. His parents probably don't have a room because mom probably just sleeps curled up next to the telephone. Marty's father also was a little too quick to call after the phenomenon ended and a little too quick to identify the cause, don't you think?



I don't think he means the adventure will be merely for a Basement Key. Dad also tells Marty to call him whenever he needs to SAVE. So I call him back.



Oh, wow, thanks. I take back everything bad I said about you.



I'll just move on.

Damn. He wasn't lying. Well, my mom has stopped blocking the door ever since I picked up the telephone, so I'll see what's outside.



Current music: ♪Field 1 ~ Pollyanna (I Believe in You)♪

Ooh, a puppy.



I can what?



Even my dog is hitting on me! Bow wow yourself!



Marty check's Einstein's collar and finds a clock. Just 10 minutes ago it was synced up exactly to Marty's own watch, but now it's one minute behind. What could have happened?



Let's go into the basement!



Current music: ♪Underground♪

It's kind of scary in here don't you think? At least there are no hostile lamps.



But there are rats!



Filthy-mouthed rats apparently. Dirty words lower Marty's fighting stats.



Lamps stop moving. Rats become quiet. This rat was too busy cursing at Marty to actually fight back.



Among the family portraits and other trash that this family has been keeping for years is GGF's Diary. I can only assume that this belongs to the Great Grandfather that knew PSI and is not a German Ground Fighter's Diary. Thanks a lot old man. Your clear words will guide me to victory. Marty found something much more important down here anyway. His first weapon: a plastic bat! It must be his toy from when he was 7 years old.

Well, Marty's dad said something about an adventure, but Marty's just confused by this diary. It doesn't say anything.



Minnie is charge of the house closet and will take items for you. I immediately give her the Diary and Basement Key since I don't have any use for them.



Marty is a jerk brother.



Before Marty takes off on his journey, his mom lets him rest to regain his strength. I don't think she understands what Pepsi actually is though. That silly older generation will never understand the Pepsi Generation.

After his Pepsi dinner, Marty sleeps in preparation for his journey. As he wakes up:

"Mom? Mom is that you?"
"You've been asleep for 9 hours."
"I had this horrible nightmare. Our house was shaking!"
"Well, you should be fine now after you learn some PSI."
"PSIIIIII?"

NEXT: Welcome to Podunk

...well? We're waiting.

Programming Note: Thanks to DeeMer's kindness, the Current Music will now have direct links to music. Also I will be back soon (insert various real reasons for absence that nobody cares about).

Well, it's time to venture further in this world. Past my dog's house at least. Where Marty is going, I don't know. His dad, however, told him it was time for adventure. Luckily for Marty there's only one path leading out of his house.



This is either mischief on Marty's part, or I was right about him being the man of the house.



This is the first bridge past my house. I've seen nothing but a path so far, but at this point I realize I either need to drink some Orange Juice or go back home for some Pepsi Free. I decide to turn back for some free healin'. For healthy bodies soda is always better than juice.



Current music: ♪Battle 3♪

As I turn back I meet a deranged hippie. His battle music is special and is reprised in later Mother games. After the Hippie became quiet and I get my Pepsi

Well, I hope you're not asking me to save her because, I'm just a mere boy. Oh. Well, I guess I can do that.



I finally am able to pass the bridge and see a frantic woman. It doesn't show in screenshots, but she's looking back and forth frantically. Like a frantic woman.



Well, I hope you're not asking me to save her because I'm just a mere boy.



Oh. Well, I guess I can do that.



Like its sequels, Mother's world map is no different than the cities. Everything connects with roads.



However, unlike Mother 2 and 3, enemies pop randomly like a standard NES game. There is no running into them. They run into you. These long roads make for many battles.



At least there are no random battles in the town borders. The towns in the Japanese Mother were named after holidays. Guess what Podunk's name is. That's right. Welcome to Mothersday.



For a place called Podunk, this town is pretty large. It has its own zoo for starters, and its land mass is large enough to include a suburban area to the north near the zoo that the police have some sort of martial jurisdiction over. Never fear though: we will see a bigger city or two.



Well, at least I can stop blaming my dad now.



Using my amazing PSI ability to speak with animals, I learn a great tip for exploring towns. We should adopt this door system in real life.



It won't open. What do you know? That noisy mouse was telling the truth. Let's explore the town and see what's going on. And then we can go see the mayor!