PixlBit

For myself and many others of my generation and leanings, Earthbound has acquired the allure of the Holy Grail. Though I vaguely remember the scratch-n-sniff campaign in Nintendo Power, I was unable to connect it to this new RPG. I was turned off by the childish graphics (when I was a child, this seemed lame, you see), I was confused by the premise (an RPG without swords? bosh!) and generally looking forward to the next generation of games. I was also mired in one of the greatest RPGs of all time: Chrono Trigger, which I managed to play through possibly 30 - 40 times? To this date, the only game I've ever maxed out every character without intending to. Those double-stars... But I digress!

Many years, experiences, and expanded horizons later, Earthbound took on the lure of the rare and beautiful. I am generally very good about avoiding spoilers for games, movies and books I haven't experienced yet, and no media have I avoided reading about more diligently than Earthbound. I knew I would play it one day. Despite emulator access in college, I continued to avoid Eartbound, knowing that, one day, I would have the means with which to acquire a true cart, the only honest way to play an NES, SNES or N64 game. To my surprise, perhaps the best-wedding-present-ever arrived in a gift bag on the porch from my friend, Sean. As the weeks wore on, the cartridge stared at me from its perch on the shelf. Between summer school and work, I knew I couldn't afford to get sucked in to a new game until I had enough time to devote to it.

And so, with the game behind me, it is with great pleasure that I announce that: yes, Earthbound is that amazing. It is as good as anything you've heard about it. I was skeptical, and even a little cynical, I'll admit. But beneath this game's understated exterior beats a heart of purest diamond, a true delight for anyone who has yet to experience it.

Those jolly pink fellows with big noses are called Mr. Saturn(s)

On the surface, Earthbound is quite a simple game. Rather than copy the state-of-the-art RPGs of the day like Final Fantasy 3/6, Chrono Trigger, or Secret of Mana, Earthbound takes a decidedly spartan approach to combat. Resembling nothing more or less than a Dragon Quest clone, with all extraneous elements stripped away (attacks have no animation whatsoever, magic is limited to two/three color animations, and backgrounds are nearly non-existent), Earthbound is not setting out to drop the jaws of any graphics junky. At the time of its release, I was exactly that; one of many reasons I passed up the opportunity to explore this amazing world.

Exploration in Earthbound resembles an SNES version of Pokemon. Towns are small enough to avoid overwhelming, but large and diverse enough to be unique locations (something Pokemon struggles with). Characters are short and a little stout, but bursting with personality.

Encounters are not random; enemies roam the map, and if you're able to sneak up on them (far more difficult than it first appears), your party gains first strike. Unfortunately, if enemies get the jump on you, they gain the same.

So far, so standard, you say? Well I'm just getting to the best parts: Music and writing. I have no idea how a Japanese-made game of its vintage has such spot-on writing and translations, but Earthbound is *funny*. Really. Most enemies have silly adjectives added to their names (e.g. "Spiteful Crow" "Rowdy Mouse"), and most NPCs have something silly, funny, or interesting to say. Though battles lack anything resembling dynamic visuals, the constantly-scrolling text provides plenty of context and enjoyment.

And the music... Oh, the music. EB's music is simple and oh-so-sweet, just like the game overall. In particular, the percussion is a standout. Though most of the melodies and themes of the game stick to pretty basic synthesized samples, the percussion elevates even the most modest of tracks, with stop-start drums, distinct hip-hop-like beats, and just a general sense of the dynamic that is missing from many RPGs contemporary to that era. Battles have multiple themes, and I enjoy them all, for various reasons. In particular, one battle theme (that plays when one is fighting slimes, among other enemies) sounds like a depressed version of the Super Mario theme. Da da da duh da dAh! Plenty of times, I returned to Onett, just to hear that fun music; I'll be damned if it didn't feel like coming home.

Which brings me to where Earthbound stands out from its peers: Its modesty. Earthbound isn't trying to tell a grand story. It's a tale of a boy named Ness and his friends. By avoiding obvious histrionics and sticking to the simple, Earthbound rises above its humble surroundings to become truly affecting. In particular, when one character is kidnapped (without any explanation, other than just getting snatched), I found myself honestly missing them. Where are they? I wonder what is happening to them, right now? When I finally tracked them down, it was with tremendous relief that they stepped back into the line. We're whole again. No grand speeches, no tacit explanations of what happened and where to go next, just: they're back, let's get going.

There are a few media companies in the world that went through phases of reliable classic releases. Disney is one, churning out animated movies that my grandchildren will likely play for their children. Pixar was another such company, bringing sophistication, humor and wider appeal to computer animation. And of course, the Nintendo of the late-NES through SNES era is that company for video games. By striking that perfect balance between universal appeal, accessbility, and overall craft, the Disneys, Pixars and Nintendos of the world turned out works that will live far beyond a product phase or marketing thrust.

It is worth a minute to compare another late-in-the-SNES-cycle RPG to Earthbound: Super Mario RPG. Super Mario RPG was a step forward for RPG design; it married elements of action (an overworld with platforming elements and other action-exploration and button prompts/timing for battles) with a recognizable cast of characters. The story is a little silly, but the game was just so fun to play that it got by on its feel alone.

Earthbound is the opposite: deliberately old-school, battles without the slightest concession towards *Final Fantasy 1's* see-your-characters-fight revolution, a simple cast of new characters, lacking all but the most rudimentary amount of character development and background, and a setting based on the Japanese (mis)impression of the United States. Earthbound doesn't work in spite of all the above, it works *because* of it. Earthbound's simple facade hides a core of pure idea; a unified and unique vision that is carried to its inevitable conclusion. It is a reminder that RPGs don't need updated mechanics, they don't need a world map, they don't need fancy-pants FMVs or cut scenes. They can get by (and even excel!) on their dedication to a persistent, unassuming-yet-bursting-with-life-and-passion world and to the people that inhabit it.

As time wears on, moments of wonder seem few and far between. Between the persistent march of time, the added stressors of work, and the considerations of starting a family, the seconds of unbridled joy experienced without cynicism or tempered by concern are all the more precious. The wide-eyed wonder of days gone past is an experience better remembered than encountered. Yet some works of art take us back to those moments of childhood; the rush of the unique, the push-and-pull of wanting to continue the experience, but knowing that the harder you push, the closer you are to the end. I won't be able to read Harry Potter again, but one day, if I'm lucky, a new artist will create a world I yearn to live in.

Or maybe I don't need to wait for a new Harry Potter. Maybe somewhere, covered with a fine layer of dust, a jewel like a forgotten bottle of wine waits for me; its world standing outside time, beckoning with the soft light of a door left cracked open. Sounds of life and laughter drift out, and with apprehension and vulnerability, I push open the door and let the light envelope.

Maybe there will be another Earthbound...