Mother (video game)
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| Mother | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Nintendo |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Designer(s) | Shigesato Itoi |
| Release date(s) | JPN July 27, 1989 JPN June 20, 2003 (GBA) |
| Genre(s) | RPG |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Platform(s) | Family Computer/Famicom Game Boy Advance (port) |
| Media | Cartridge |
Mother (マザー Mazā?), often referred to as "EarthBound Zero" or "EarthBound NES" outside of Japan, was a game released only in Japan for the Famicom (FC). The original plan was to release the game in the USA, but Nintendo of America, after fully translating the game, decided not to release it. A few internal review copies were leaked and subsequently sold in auctions. The game was later compilated with its sequel Mother 2, known outside Japan as EarthBound, in a compilation known as Mother 1 + 2, which also was released only in Japan.
[edit] Plot
Mother tells the story of a 12-year-old boy, who journeys around the world to explore his psychic powers, to collect a eight melodies, and to save the planet from an evil race of mind-controlling aliens. Along the way he is joined by three friends; A young boy tormented at his school for being a genious, a girl whose mother mysteriously went missing, and a gang leader whose parents were murdered. They meet many unusual characters and visit strange settings before ultimately confronting the leader of the aliens, Gyiyg.
Ninten's power, PSI was utilized by an alien race that abducted George and Maria, his Great-Grandmother and Great-Grandfather. George stole the secrets to the power while living among the aliens, and upon his return to Earth, attempted to research it further and spread the research. Of the four playable characters, Ninten was able to learn it due to being the grandson of George, while Ana had developed her PSI powers on her own, and becoming famous for having done so.
Though George and Maria were not mistreated while in captivity of the aliens (due to taking care of one alien named Giegue, Giegue sought revenge on George for stealing the secrets of PSI, and subsequently launched an invasion of the planet Earth.
[edit] Gameplay
Mother's interface is very similar to that of the Famicom Dragon Quest games. When not in battle, one button opens a menu and selects items from it; another is used to close the menu. However, Mother also uses some design principles, which, at the time of production, were strangely modern. Instead of an overhead view with four directions, Mother uses isometric graphics, and the main character is capable of moving in eight directions. Also, instead of using a world map and several city maps, Mother's world is constructed from a set of relatively large and interconnected maps, allowing the world to have a uniformity of scale.
[edit] External links
- Starmen.net: Earthbound Zero - Website with information and fan works on Mother
- Mother's Day - A website with a translation guide for Mother.
- EarthBound IPM - Website with information on Mother
- (Japanese) Mother Party (Mother-jp.net): Mother - Japanese Fanpage with information on Mother
- Mother at MobyGames
- [1] - Entire Mother game beaten in a series of 10 minute videos. (introduction video)
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Mother / EarthBound video games
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Mother • EarthBound • Mother 1 + 2 • Mother 3 |
