Editing EarthBound (section)

==Legacy==
===Acclaim and influence===
''EarthBound'' was listed in ''[[1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die]]'', where Christian Donlan wrote that the game is "name-checked by the video gaming cognoscenti more often than it's actually been played". He called the game "utterly brilliant" and praised its overworld and battle system.{{r|1001 Must Play}} Similarly, ''Eurogamer''{{'s}} Simon Parkin described it as a "sacred cow amongst gaming's cognoscenti".{{r|Eurogamer: M3 review}} Game journalists have ranked ''EarthBound'' among the best Super NES games{{r|IGN: top SNES}} and most essential Japanese role-playing games,{{r|Gamasutra: essential}}{{r|TimeExtension}} and at least three reader polls ranked the game among the best of all time.{{r|Edge: Famitsu|IGN: top 2005|IGN: top 2006}} For a piece about the "top worlds" in video games, ''IGN'' rated ''EarthBound''{{'s}} setting among the best, indelible between its unconventional environments, 1960s music, and portrayal of Americanism.{{r|IGN: top worlds}}

''Kotaku'' described the game "as one of the weirdest, most surreal role-playing games in RPG history".{{r|Kotaku: Trippiest}} Examples include using items such as the Pencil Eraser to remove pencil statues, experiencing in-game hallucinations, meeting "a man who turned himself into a dungeon", and battling piles of vomit,{{r|Kotaku: Trippiest}} taxi cabs, and walking nooses.{{r|IGN: Retro Remix}} David Sanchez of ''GameZone'' wrote that ''EarthBound'' "went places no other game would" in the 1990s or even in the present day, including "trolling" the player "before trolling was cool".{{r|GameZone review}} Localization reviewer Clyde Mandelin described the Japanese-to-English conversion as "top-notch for its time".{{r|Kotaku: Man Who Wrote}} ''1UP.com'' said it was "unusually excellent" for the time.{{r|1UP: Posthumous p1}} ''IGN'' wrote that Nintendo was "dead wrong" for believing that Americans would not be interested in "such a chaotic and satirical world".{{r|IGN: top worlds}} [[Complex Networks|Complex]] included ''EarthBound'' as one of the "Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time", saying the game is "definitely the craziest and one of the most fun RPGs the SNES had to offer.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Knight|first=Rich|date=April 30, 2018|title=The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time|url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/the-100-best-super-nintendo-games/|access-date=2022-02-12|website=Complex|language=en|archive-date=January 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109005057/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/the-100-best-super-nintendo-games/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Jeremy Parish of ''[[USgamer]]'' called ''EarthBound'' "the all-time champion" of self-aware games that "warp ... perceptions and boundaries" and break the [[fourth wall]], citing its frequent internal commentary about the medium and the final scenes where the player is directly addressed by the game.{{r|USgamer: metatext}}{{refn|group=nb|He thought the final scene was "perhaps the most clever and powerful moment in a clever and powerful game".{{r|USgamer: metatext}}}} ''GamesTM'' said the game felt fresh because of its reliance on "personal experiences" made it "exactly the sort of title that would thrive today as an [[indie games|indie]] hit".{{r|GamesTM review}} He called this accomplishment "remarkable" and credited Nintendo's commitment to the "voices of creators".{{r|GamesTM review}} IGN's Nadia Oxford said that nearly two decades since the release, its final [[Boss (video gaming)|boss]] fight against Giygas continues to be "one of the most epic video game standoffs of all time" and noted its emotional impact.{{r|IGN: 10 MMM}} ''Kotaku'' wrote that the game was content to make the player "feel lonely", and, overall, was special not for any individual aspect but for its method of using the video game medium to explore ideas impossible to explore in  media.{{r|Kotaku: Trippiest}}

The few role-playing games set in real-world settings, ''PC Gamer'' has written, are often and accurately described as having been influenced by ''EarthBound''.{{r|PC Gamer: YIIK}} It was cited as an influence on video games including ''[[Costume Quest]]'';{{r|Gamasutra: CQ|PS Blog: CQ}} ''[[South Park: The Stick of Truth]]'' (via ''[[South Park]]'' creator [[Trey Parker]]);{{r|Polygon: South Park|GamesRadar: South Park}} ''[[Undertale]]'';{{r|PCG Undertale}}<ref name="GameRev cult">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/manifesto/you-should-play-undertale-34989 |title=You Should Play Undertale |last=LaBella |first=Anthony |website=[[Game Revolution]] |publisher=[[CraveOnline]] |date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151213171935/http://www.gamerevolution.com/manifesto/you-should-play-undertale-34989 |archive-date=December 13, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Contact (video game)|Contact]];''{{r|USgamer: metatext|1UP: Contact}} ''[[Omori (video game)|Omori]]'';{{r|Nintendo Life: Omori}} ''[[Lisa (video game)|Lisa]]'';{{r|RPS: LISA}} ''[[Citizens of Earth]]'';{{r|NWR: Citizens of Earth}} ''[[YIIK: A Postmodern RPG]]'';<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/8/29/12699654/yiik-a-postmodern-rpg-demo-release-date-free-download |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211111/http://www.polygon.com/2016/8/29/12699654/yiik-a-postmodern-rpg-demo-release-date-free-download| archive-date=2021-11-11|title=Try Y2K: A Postmodern RPG for free next week|first=Allegra|last=Frank|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date=August 29, 2016|access-date=January 1, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="PC Gamer: YIIK">{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/yikk-a-postmodern-rpg-is-a-psychadelic-indie-earthbound/| url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224115749/http://www.pcgamer.com/yikk-a-postmodern-rpg-is-a-psychadelic-indie-earthbound| archive-date=2015-02-24 |title=YIIK: A Postmodern RPG is a psychedelic indie Earthbound|first=Tom|last=Sykes|date=February 22, 2015|work=[[PC Gamer]]|access-date=January 1, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> the [[webcomic]] [[Homestuck]];<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-17 |title=What exactly is Homestuck? |url=https://www.resetera.com/threads/what-exactly-is-homestuck.141496/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=ResetEra |language=en-US}}</ref>  and ''Kyoto Wild''.{{r|Gamasutra: Kyoto Wild}} Japanese writer [[Hiromi Kawakami]] told Itoi that she had played ''EarthBound'' "about 80 times".{{r|1101: cancel}}

===Fandom===
{{Main|EarthBound fandom}}
A [[cult following]] for ''EarthBound'' developed after the game's release.{{r|Wired: Lindblom}}<ref name="GameRev cult"/> Colin Campbell of ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'' wrote that "few gaming communities are as passionate and active" as ''EarthBound''{{'s}},{{r|Polygon: Quash}} and ''[[1UP.com]]''{{'s}} Bob Mackey wrote that no game was as poised to have a cult following.{{r|1UP: Posthumous p1}} IGN's Lucas M. Thomas wrote in 2006 that ''EarthBound''{{'s}} "persistent", "ambitious", and "religiously dedicated collective of hardcore fans" would be among the first groups to influence Nintendo's decision-making through their purchasing power on Virtual Console.{{r|IGN: Retro Remix}} ''[[Digital Trends]]''{{'}}s Anthony John Agnello wrote that "no video game fans have suffered as much as ''EarthBound'' fans", and cited Nintendo's reluctance to release ''Mother'' series games in North America.{{r|Digital Trends: Itoi teases}} ''IGN'' described the series as neglected by Nintendo in North America for similar reasons.{{r|IGN: Retro Remix}} Nintendo president [[Satoru Iwata]] later credited the community response on their online [[Miiverse]] social platform as leading to ''EarthBound''{{'s}} eventual rerelease on their Virtual Console platform.{{r|Polygon: coming to VC}} Physical copies of ''EarthBound'' were hard to find before the rerelease,{{r|Kotaku: Trippiest}} and in 2013, were worth twice its initial retail price.{{r|Wired: Lindblom}}

''Wired'' described the amount of ''EarthBound'' "fan art, videos, and tributes on fan sites like ''EarthBound'' Central or ''[[Starmen.net]]'' as mountainous.{{r|Wired: Lindblom}} Reid Young of ''Starmen.net'' and ''Fangamer'' credits ''EarthBound''{{'s}} popularity to its "labor of love" nature, with a "double-coat of thoughtfulness and care" across all aspects of the game by a development team that appeared to love their work.{{r|1UP: Posthumous p1}} Young started the fansite that would become ''Starmen.net'' in 1997 while in middle school. It became "the definitive fan community for ''EarthBound'' on the web" and had "almost inexplicable" growth.{{r|1UP: Posthumous p1}} ''Shacknews'' described the site's collection of fan-made media as "absolutely massive".{{r|Shacknews: EarthBotched}} It also provided a place to aggregate information on the ''Mother'' series and to coordinate fan actions.{{r|Shacknews: EarthBotched}}

The ''EarthBound'' fan community at ''Starmen.net'' coalesced with the intent to have Nintendo of America acknowledge the ''Mother'' series.{{r|1UP: Posthumous p1}} The community drafted several thousand-person petitions for specific English-language ''Mother'' series releases,{{r|Shacknews: EarthBotched}} but in time, their request shifted to no demand at all, wanting only their interest to be recognized by Nintendo.{{r|Ars Technica: epic}} A 2007 campaign for a ''Mother 3'' English localization led to the creation of a full-color, 270-page art book—''The EarthBound Anthology''—sent to Nintendo and press outlets as demonstration of consumer interest.{{r|1UP: Posthumous p2}} ''Shacknews'' called it more of a proposal than a collection of fan art, and "the greatest gaming love letter ever created".{{r|Shacknews: EarthBotched}} Upon "little" response from Nintendo, [[Mother 3 fan translation|they decided to localize the game themselves]].{{r|1UP: Posthumous p2}} Starmen.net co-founder and professional game translator Clyde "Tomato" Mandelin led the project from its November 2006 announcement{{r|Shacknews: EarthBotched}} to October 2008 finish.{{r|Kotaku: completed}} They then printed a "professional quality strategy guide" through ''[[Fangamer]]'', a video game merchandising site that spun off from ''Starmen.net''.{{r|1UP: Posthumous p2}} Unlicensed ''EarthBound''-themed merchandise produced by ''Fangamer'' contributors included T-shirts, a pin set and a mug;<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Lopez|first1=Alan|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/10/feature_how_fangamer_changed_the_world_of_video_game_merchandise_forever| url-status=live|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211111/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/10/feature_how_fangamer_changed_the_world_of_video_game_merchandise_forever|archive-date=2021-11-11|title=Feature: How Fangamer Changed The World Of Video Game Merchandise Forever|date=October 26, 2019|website=Nintendo Life}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''[[The Verge]]'' cited the effort as proof of the fan base's dedication.{{r|The Verge: today}}

Other fan efforts include ''EarthBound, USA'', a full-length documentary on ''Starmen.net'' and the fan community,{{r|IGN: EB USA}} and ''Mother 4'', a fan-produced sequel to the ''Mother'' series that went into production when Itoi definitively "declared" that he was done with the series.{{r|Kotaku: M4 amazing}} After following the fan community from afar, Lindblom came out to fans in mid-2012 and the press became interested in his work. He had planned a book about the game's development, release, and fandom before a reply from Nintendo discouraged him from pursuing the idea. He plans to continue to communicate directly with the community about the game's history.{{r|Polygon: Quash}}{{refn|group=nb|For instance, Lindblom rejected a popular, or infamous, "abortion theory": that the game's final sequence is a metaphor for an abortion,{{r|Kotaku: Man Who Wrote}} with Giygas as the fetus.{{r|Kotaku: Trippiest}} He also provided a floppy disk whose recovered data provided extra context into the game's development errata.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Machkovech |first1=Sam |title='Deleted' Nintendo floppy recovered 26 years later, full of Earthbound secrets |work=[[Ars Technica]] |date=2021-06-04 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/06/earthbounds-original-translator-parses-new-game-secrets-found-26-years-later/| url-status=live | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211111/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/06/earthbounds-original-translator-parses-new-game-secrets-found-26-years-later/| archive-date=2021-11-11 |language=en-us |access-date=2021-06-05 |df=mdy-all}}{{cbignore}}</ref>}} Books that have been written about ''EarthBound'' include [[Ken Baumann]]'s ''Earthbound'', by [[Boss Fight Books]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bossfightbooks.com/products/earthbound-by-ken-baumann|title=Earthbound by Ken Baumann: New Boss Fight Book on the SNES RPG Classic - Boss Fight Books|access-date=December 27, 2021|archive-date=December 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227195116/https://bossfightbooks.com/products/earthbound-by-ken-baumann|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Legends of Localization Book 2: Earthbound'', by Clyde Mandelin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fangamer.com/products/legends-of-localization-book-2-earthbound|title=Legends of Localization Book 2: Earthbound - Fangamer|access-date=December 27, 2021|archive-date=December 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227195116/https://www.fangamer.com/products/legends-of-localization-book-2-earthbound|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Ness===
{{main|Ness (EarthBound)}}
A variety of merchandise depicting Ness have been produced by [[Nintendo]]; this merchandise includes a figurine<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/earthbound-figures-ness-paula-mr-saturn-coming-japan/|title=Earthbound Figures Of Ness, Paula, And Mr. Saturn Coming Out In Japan|date=July 8, 2014|website=Siliconera|access-date=April 9, 2020|archive-date=December 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220073328/https://www.siliconera.com/earthbound-figures-ness-paula-mr-saturn-coming-japan/|url-status=live}}</ref> and an [[Amiibo]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/11/guide_best_amiibo_for_nintendo_switch|title=Guide: Best amiibo For Nintendo Switch|date=November 24, 2019|website=Nintendo Life|access-date=December 18, 2023|archive-date=December 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220073329/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/11/guide_best_amiibo_for_nintendo_switch|url-status=live}}</ref> Ness became widely known for his appearance as a playable character throughout the ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' fighting game series,{{r|IGN: top SNES}} debuting as a fighter in the [[Super Smash Bros. (video game)|first installment]] in 1999.{{r|IGN: SSB 3DS/Wii U}} Ness's inclusion in the original release was among its biggest surprises,{{r|IGN: Smash Profile}}{{refn|group=nb|Ness's original ''Super Smash Bros.'' spot was actually intended for ''Mother 3'' protagonist Lucas, but the developers later fit Ness into the character design{{r|Nintendo: SSB}} when ''Mother 3'' was delayed.{{r|IGN: evolution}}}} and renewed ''Mother'' series fans' faith in new content from Nintendo.{{r|IGN: Retro Remix}} Ness was one of the game's most powerful characters, according to ''IGN'', if players could perfect his odd controls and psychic powers.{{r|IGN: Smash Profile}} In Europe, which did not see an ''EarthBound'' release, Ness was better known for his role in the fighting game than for his original role in the role-playing game.{{r|ONM: drop Ness}}

Ness returned in the first sequel, ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee|Melee]]'', alongside an ''EarthBound''-themed item and battle arena.{{r|IGN: Smash Profile}}{{refn|group=nb|''Melee'' players toss [[Mr. Saturn]] items at enemies,{{r|IGN: Smash Profile}} and fight in an arena based on the ''EarthBound'' city of Fourside.{{r|IGN: Melee secrets}}}} Lucas, the protagonist of ''Mother 3'', joined Ness in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl|Brawl]]''.{{r|IGN: Smash final roster|IGN: Smash veterans}}{{refn|group=nb|''Brawl'' also contains the final area from ''Mother 3'' along with items and characters from the game,{{r|NWR: Brawl stages}} and a boss fight against ''Mother 3''{{'s}} antagonist, Porky.{{r|ONM: Porky}}}} Several years after ''Brawl''{{'s}} release, ''[[Official Nintendo Magazine]]'' wrote that Ness was an unpopular ''Smash'' character who should be removed from future installments.{{r|ONM: drop Ness}} However, Ness returned in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate|Ultimate]]'',{{r|USgamer: bid farewell}} and Lucas was later added to the former as [[downloadable content]].{{r|Polygon: Lucas DLC}}

===Sequels and rereleases===
{{Main|Mother 3|Development of Mother 3|l2=its development}}
In 1996, Nintendo announced a sequel to ''EarthBound'' for the [[Nintendo 64]]: ''Mother 3''{{r|Shacknews: EarthBotched}} (''EarthBound 64'' in North America).{{r|GameSpot: from the dead}}<!--|IGN: Retro Remix--> It was scheduled for release on the [[64DD]], a Nintendo 64 expansion peripheral that used a [[magneto-optical drive]],{{r|1UP: Vapor}} but struggled to find a firm release date{{r|IGN: M3 PUSHED}} as [[Development of Mother 3|its protracted development]] entered [[development hell]]. It was later canceled altogether in 2000{{r|Shacknews: EarthBotched}} when the 64DD flopped.{{r|1UP: Vapor}} In April 2003, a Japanese television advertisement revealed that both ''Mother 3'' and a combined ''[[Mother 1+2]]'' cartridge were in development for the handheld [[Game Boy Advance]].{{r|GameSpot: sequels}} ''Mother 3'' abandoned the Nintendo 64 version's 3D, but kept its plot.{{r|Shacknews: EarthBotched}} It became a bestseller upon its Japanese release in 2006, yet did not receive a North American release{{r|1UP: Vapor}} on the basis that it would not sell.{{r|Digital Trends: Itoi teases}} ''IGN'' described the series as neglected by Nintendo in North America, as ''Mother 1'', ''Mother 1+2'' and ''Mother 3'' were not released outside Japan.{{r|IGN: Retro Remix}}

{{Multiple image
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| footer            = Fans incorrectly suspected music licensing issues from artists such as [[the Beatles]] and [[Chuck Berry]] had impeded ''EarthBound''{{'s}} re-release.{{r|Kotaku: not music}}
}}

When Nintendo launched its digital distribution platform, Virtual Console, for the Wii in 2006, ''IGN'' expected ''EarthBound'' to be among Nintendo's highest priorities for rerelease, given the "religious" dedication of its fanbase.{{r|IGN: Retro Remix}} Though the game was ranked the most desired Virtual Console release by ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' readers, rated for release by the [[ESRB]],{{r|Nintendo Life: ESRB}} and able to be published with little effort,{{r|Shacknews: EarthBotched}} the Wii version did not materialize.{{r|Polygon: Quash}} Many fans believed that music licensing or legal concerns impeded the rerelease.{{r|Kotaku: Man Who Wrote|Shacknews: EarthBotched|Kotaku: not music}} English localizer Marcus Lindblom doubted that the game's music samples were an issue, since they were not a concern during development, and instead hypothesized that Nintendo did not realize the magnitude of the game's popular support and did not consider it a priority project.{{r|Kotaku: Man Who Wrote}} By 2008, it was not apparent that Nintendo of America was considering a rerelease.{{r|Shacknews: EarthBotched}} At the end of 2012, Itoi revealed that the re-release was moving forward,{{r|Digital Trends: Itoi teases}} which was confirmed in a January 2013 [[Nintendo Direct]] presentation.{{r|Polygon: Wii U Japan}}

As part of the anniversary celebrations for the Nintendo Entertainment System and ''Mother 2'' in March 2013, Nintendo rereleased ''EarthBound'' for Japan on the Wii's successor, the Wii U Virtual Console.{{r|Polygon: Wii U Japan}} ''EarthBound'' producer Satoru Iwata soon announced a wider rerelease, citing fan interest on Nintendo's Miiverse social platform.{{r|Polygon: coming to VC}} The July American and European launch included a free, online recreation of the game's original Player's Guide, optimized for viewing on the [[Wii U GamePad]].{{r|Polygon: now available}} The game was a top-seller on the Wii U Virtual Console, and both ''Kotaku'' users and first-time ''EarthBound'' players had an "overwhelmingly positive" response to the game.{{r|Kotaku: Man Who Wrote}} Simon Parkin wrote that its re-release was a "momentous occasion" as the return of "one of Nintendo's few remaining lost classics" after 20 years.{{r|ONM review}} The re-release was one ''GameSpot'' editor's game of the year,{{r|GameSpot: Justin Haywald}} and ''Nintendo Life''{{'s}} Virtual Console game of the year.{{r|Nintendo Life: GOTY 2013}} The [[New Nintendo 3DS]]-specific Virtual Console received the re-release the next year, in March 2016.{{r|3DS}} In September 2017, Nintendo released the [[Super NES Classic Edition]], which included ''EarthBound'' among its games.<ref name="supernesclassic"/> Japan's version of the console however, did not include the game.<ref name="chagrin"/>

In February 2022, Nintendo rereleased ''EarthBound'' worldwide on the [[Nintendo Classics]] service along with its predecessor [[Mother (video game)|''EarthBound Beginnings'']].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Diaz |first1=Ana |title=EarthBound will hit the Nintendo Switch on Feb. 9 |url=https://www.polygon.com/22926231/earthbound-mother-mother-2-nintendo-switch-online |access-date=9 February 2022 |publisher=Polygon |date=February 9, 2022 |archive-date=February 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210001822/https://www.polygon.com/22926231/earthbound-mother-mother-2-nintendo-switch-online |url-status=live}}</ref>