#thisisEarthBound

I remember a ton of stuff! I thought the game was the most hilarious thing in the world when I was 11. I also remember playing late at night and getting to Giygas! I was defeated and started crying. I went out of my room to hug my mom and I felt way better. I got a goodnight's rest and after school I beat Giygas! After that I replayed the entire game again! Ahh... childhood....

EarthBound, for many years, wasn't just a game; it was an experience that changed who I was as a person.
I played the MOTHER series in the order most people do: EarthBound, MOTHER 3, then EarthBound Zero/Beginnings.
First when I got into EarthBound as an 8th grader, I wanted nothing to do with any other game series for months.
Took me awhile to explore and talk to many people, but eventually I finished and felt accomplished.
Then, like a month or so later, I met my best friend on a facebook page because she wanted another person to help her on the said page for awhile.
Then, the summer of that year, EarthBound had succeeded to bond another internet friendship.
Long story short, EarthBound has been the bond holder of at least two friendships of mine and I have no idea how things would've been if I never met the two wonderful friends I have.
In closing, I wouldn't be the same person I am today with the everlasting effects the EarthBound series. No matter how many gaming friends I'll have in my lifetime, I will always urge them to play EarthBound due to the importance it has on so many people's lives.

What does EarthBound mean to me? Everything. Let me share a "story" with you.

The year was 1999. Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64 was released. My best friend, Jimmy Baker (hope you are doing well Jimmy) introduced me to this game. At this time in my life, I was 12 years old. I was reaching a point where "childhood" was ending and "adulthood" was beginning. The end of adolescence and the beginning of the teenage years. Jimmy (my best friend), had moved away a couple years back and we kept in close contact through phone calls, and letters. We were best bros. He encouraged me to take a look at this game. I did not need much encouragement.

I had never successfully completed an RPG on my own. I was able to play this game during that very year: 1999. What drew me to this game? A few things.

1. Ness was roughly the same age as me. 12, 13, 14 ish.
2. Ness lived in a place exactly the same as me: Suburban America (I lived in Hudson, Ohio).
3. Ness was a gifted kid, with powers (I've always believed in my own powers).
4. Ness loved baseball (so do I).
5 Ness conquered evil and saved the world at an extremely young age (this was, and is my ultimate fantasy).

So, all of this is great, but what does this mean to me?

EarthBound was the first time that I became honest with myself. I knew after playing this game that I did not want to live and ordinary life. EarthBound propelled me into knowing that I could not settle for a life of mediocrity or fear. If a 13ish-year-old Ness could get up and save the world, then I must do the same thing as well. From then on, it's driven me in every aspect of my life. This hasn't made things very easy for me. I sometimes put a little bit too much pressure on myself, but this game also taught me that it was okay not to take myself too seriously, or life too seriously.

This game showed me that no matter what situation I found myself in, I could fight, overcome, and achieve peace, and make friends along the way.

EarthBound shows me that a life of love, passion, sacrifice, valuable friendship, and unforgettable experiences are all possible for each of us, and it is not only my privilege to live this kind of life, but it is my (and also your) destiny.

I struggled with depression as a young 12-year-old boy. This game helped me to realize the warrior, and love-filled human that I am. I became awakened to my own abilities, and the affections of my heart through playing this game. Without EarthBound, I definitely would not be the man I am today. I cannot believe it's 16 full years since I first played this game. It's been a long ride, and there is still so much of life to experience that I have not yet experience. Here's to knowing that I have the courage to face it, and embrace it with all my heart. EarthBound taught me how to do this. Thank you Shigesato Itoi for changing my life.

Love,

Mike

A way to see the world. The MOTHER/EarthBound franchise has and will always have a special place in my heart, its beauty, its quirkiness, its humor, its way to tell a story. This is art, no matter who says otherwise, this franchise is art. You will be a better person if you play these games, you will choose better decisions in your life. It is truly amazing how only 3 games are one of the best videogames of all time. You will laugh, you will cry, you will be angry, you will experiment almost all feelings of the human being. That's why I'm sad about how little-known the franchise is, and about that we still don't get the last chapter, the ending, arguably the best of the 3, oficially translated. Nintendo, you already know how loyal we are, don't be afraid, have faith in us, we won't disappoint you. I know this is going to be harsh but Satoru Iwata, rest in peace, liked and helped the franchise to exist, if you make the official translation of MOTHER 3, I'm sure he will be happy, wherever he is, seeing the people playing Nintendo's games, his legacy will never be forgotten. Shigesato Itoi is an amazing writer, it is sad that he is not well-known outside of Japan, but you have the power to change that. I will end here, hoping to be alive when I see MOTHER 3 oficially translated, I won't cry until the end. I will leave luck to Satoru Iwata, I will leave luck to heaven.

To be honest, I haven't played EarthBound (MOTHER 2) yet, because I'm not interested in RPG games (well I'll try it sometime later). But MOTHER 3, when I heard it's music from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and read some of it's trophies and stickers, somehow I wanted to play this game. I firstly played this game when I was 13 year old, and gave up at chapter 5 because my English was so sh*tty that I couldn't understand the game story, so I was bored and gave it up. Many years later I played it again on an Android phone with an emulator, and I just couldn't stop playing.
And by the end of this game, I cried like a child, I played many video games and this is the only one that made me cry.
I live in south east Asia and currently I don't have a Wii U, and I don't feel like to buy it since I'm enjoying PC games, but if MOTHER 3 come out on Wii U maybe that'll be the reason I'd buy a Wii U. Why? BECAUSE MOTHER 3 IS MY #1 FAVORITE GAME ALL THE TIME AND I WILL NEVER FORGET IT. I WISH I COULD "FORGET" IT ANYTIME I WANT THAT I COULD ENJOY IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN!
*Sorry if my poor grammar bothers you*