EarthBound Beginnings

About EarthBound Beginnings (NES)

EarthBound Beginnings is a role-playing game developed by Ape and HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Family Computer in Japan in 1989, where it was known as Mother. Created by writer Shigesato Itoi, it was the first game in the Mother series: instead of swords and dragons, it set a role-playing adventure in a modern world of small towns and telephones touched by something strange.

You play as Ninten, an ordinary boy who discovers he has psychic powers, known as PSI, and must investigate a mysterious alien presence threatening his hometown and beyond. Joined by friends Ana, Lloyd, and Teddy, Ninten travels across America-inspired towns, caves, and factories, fighting wild animals, hippies, and alien creatures. Its humour and quirky modern setting made it a cult classic, finally reaching Western players officially in 2015.

Detailed Gameplay

EarthBound Beginnings is a traditional turn-based role-playing game with a modern twist. You explore towns, talk to people, buy equipment, and fight random encounters to level up your party.

Exploration and a modern world

• Travel on foot through towns, suburbs, deserts, and dungeons, talking to residents for hints about where to go next.
• Shops sell weapons and food, and hospitals, hotels, and phone booths keep your party healthy.
• Money is stored in a bank account and withdrawn from cash machines, a charmingly modern touch for a role-playing game.

Turn-based battles and PSI

• Battles are fought in first person against enemy sprites, with commands for fighting, using PSI, defending, and running.
• PSI powers include offensive attacks, healing, and support effects, giving each character a distinct role in battle.
• Status effects and enemy quirks, from crying to strange dances, add humour and unpredictability to fights.

Party, story, and the alien threat

• Ninten is joined by Ana, a girl with strong PSI, Lloyd, a boy genius with gadgets, and Teddy, a tough gang leader.
• Each party member brings different strengths, so balancing attacks, healing, and items matters in harder fights.
• The story moves from a poltergeist in Ninten’s house to a full alien invasion, with the mysterious Giegue behind it all.

Game Highlights

• The first Mother game: The quirky, heartfelt beginning of a series that would become legendary with EarthBound.
• A modern RPG world: Telephones, banks, and suburbs replace castles and dragons, and the game is funnier for it.
• PSI powers: Psychic abilities give battles a distinctive flavour beyond ordinary swords and spells.
• A story with heart: Beneath the jokes, the game tells a warm story about friendship, family, and growing up.

Controls

On NES, you explore towns and choose battle commands with the directional pad and two buttons.

• D-Pad: Move Ninten through towns and dungeons, and move the cursor in menus and battles.
• A Button: Confirm a choice, talk to people, open doors, and select battle commands.
• B Button: Cancel a selection or go back in a menu.
• Start Button: Open the main menu and pause during exploration.
• Select Button: Access secondary menu options and shortcuts.

Tips and Strategies to Win

Survive the early game and beyond with these tactics for grinding, healing, and party balance.

• Grind a few extra levels before a new area, since early enemies hit hard and the game expects a well-levelled party.
• Stock up on healing food and medicine before dungeons, because safe towns can be a long walk away.
• Use PSI for healing in battle to save items, and keep Ana’s offensive PSI ready for tough enemies.
• Save often at phones and hotels, especially before entering a cave or factory where encounters are frequent.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is EarthBound Beginnings the same as EarthBound? A: No, it is the first game in the series, originally called Mother in Japan. EarthBound is its sequel, and Beginnings sets up the world and ideas that sequel builds on.

Q: Why did it take so long to reach Western players? A: A complete English version was prepared in the early 1990s but never released at the time. It finally arrived officially in 2015, more than two decades after the Japanese release.

Q: Can I play EarthBound Beginnings online for free? A: Yes, you can play EarthBound Beginnings online free in your browser on RiveGame, with no download or installation needed.