About
EarthBound (known in Japan as MOTHER 2) is a Super Nintendo game released August 27, 1994 in Japan and June 5, 1995 in North America. The game was not released in European/PAL regions.
The game was created by Shigesato Itoi, who is the brain behind the Mother series, which EarthBound originates. He's considered to be a pretty big celebrity in Japan, especially after the success of his first game MOTHER (released in North America years later as EarthBound Beginnings). The late Satoru Iwata later joined development as producer, before he became president and CEO of Nintendo. The music was mainly composed by Keiichi Suzuki and Hirozuku Tanaka.
The plot revolves around a young boy named Ness, who was born with psychic abilities. He must travel the world to collect fragments of energy/melodies stored within 8 magical locations, called "Your Sanctuary". He must do this to save Earth from an alien threat who is attacking from multiple points in spacetime. Along the way, Ness teams up with three other kids; Paula, a girl from a town closeby who also has powerful psychic abilities, Jeff, a boy from up north who is a skilled inventor, and Poo, a prince from a faraway kingdom trained in a form of psychic martial arts.
While the game sold well in Japan, it recieved poor sales in the US. This was due to abyssmal marketing strategies, as well as the game not fitting well into the American demographics at the time. However, about a decade later, many people relooked at the title and realized how groundbreaking the game was. It is now considered by many to be one of the best video games of all time, and is one of the biggest inspirations for the indie RPG scene for many years now, especially in the US.
Music
Listen, I could go on and on and on about the music. Not only is there a lot of interesting history behind how the soundtrack was composed, but the music has had a deep influence on me and what I like to listen to as well as compose myself. I'll talk a bit about the thought processes behind the tracks, then I'll discuss my favorite tracks and why I like them so much (be warned, there will be a lot of tracks here to peruse).
The Process
Main composers Keiichi Suzuki and Hirokazu Tanaka were brought on the project after being the composers for MOTHER 1. Getting the chance to work with an 8-channel sample-based soundchip excited them, and they wanted to take advantage of it as much as possible. They composed enough music to fill up 1/3rd of the game's cartridge, with many other tracks that didn't make the final cut.
Both Suzuki and Tanaka were heavily unfluenced by a lot of Western artists, including The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and Randy Newman. They also used a variety of different styles of music to capture a fun, quirky atmosphere, such as salsa, reggae, and the early forms of dubstep, as well as sampling and quoting folk, artpop, and art rock music. While not directly influenced by them, artists the composers say embody a similar sound to the soundtrack include Frank Zappa, Brian Eno, Todd Rundgren, Sun Ra, and Steve Reich.
The Music
Your Name, Please
This song plays when you first start the game and are inputting the name of your characters, and other information that becomes important later on. God, this goes so hard. It's also such an amazing way to musically start your adventure. It also gives a good window into how the music is composed, not only with it's heavy use of samples, but that funky beat as well.
Pokey
This is Pokey's theme, the character who is one of the main antagonists throughout the game. I really like this theme a lot because it very accurately depicts his character. He's a snotty brat who only ever cares about himself and his wellbeing, but there are also a lot of layers to peel back.
The first bit exemplifies his sort of nervous energy, which is his drive to do the morally questionable things he does, as well as explains how he becomes suseptible to Giygas' psychic control over him at the end. The more distorted section shows a more sinister side to him, which is shown by his harsh and abusive upbringing. He essentially tries to mirror his parents, which explains his tendency for nastiness. The clip that plays is reminiscent of a lullaby/children's song, and it shows his childness and lack of maturity. This theme also feels like a smaller version of his house theme, which expresses the fact that he is a product of bad parenting, which is so clever.
Otherworldly Foe
This plays as one of the first battle themes, and typically plays when fighting the Starmen and other strong alien enemies. This song is so trippy, and really does feel, well, "otherworldly". This has also been used in some different memes too, I will never be able to hear this song without thinking of the strange dancing kid named Casey...
Home Sweet Home
This plays whenever you return home after the beginning sequence. It's just a lovely song, and it never fails to warm my heart. You can really feel the Beatles influence in this track, from the organesque synths, to the melody and chord progressions sounding like something off of one of their albums (idk why, but "Dear Prudence" comes to mind).
Battle Against A Weak Opponent
Easily one of my favorite battle themes in this game. It's so fun and weird, just like all of the enemies, and this entire game for that matter. It's got that Latin music feel that the composers were partly influenced by, which gives the theme so much energy. It also has those strange sound effects going on in the background, which adds to the enthusiasm and oddity this song exhuberates. Everytime this theme pops up I'm always grooving along while aggressively pummeling the enemy.
Battle Against an Unsettling Opponent
This plays during some "minibosses" as well as some other enemies. This track definitely gives the impression that something is off. The way that high pitch drone sits uncomfortably alongside the detuned bass, as well as the low percussion giving a sense of intimidation. That bass is so good though, easily the best part of the song.
A Bad Dream
This track plays whenever you get a game over, and I find it to be really fitting. It definitely gives the aura that yeah, you failed, but there's still hope. Just dust off your shoes and give it another chance! For some reason, I also find this to be oddly comforting. I used to listen to this a lot whenever I was studying for school. Something about it just kept me focused and motivated to get my readings done.
Welcome to Your Sanctuary
I'll be honest, all of the songs that play during the Your Sanctuary sections are so emotional and gorgeous, but I picked this one to highlight because it captures what is so beautiful about this OST. It's so simple, but the attention to detail is what sells it. From the instrumentation, to that G Major chord, even the little echoey sound effects to help have some texture, it's just so amazing. Literally every time I hear it I feel my heart swell, in a way that very few other soundtracks can for me.
Apple Kid's Theme
This plays at a few different points throughout the game, but it's best known for when it plays when you meet the inventor, Apple Kid. God, this is such a weird song, but I love it. The instrumentation is strange, the countermelodies do not line up at all with the main one, and the percussion sometimes hits on the beat but other times it doesn't really. I want more weird stuff like this in my OSTs, no joke.
Happy-Happy is Blue
Another weird song that plays while you're visiting the Happy-Happy cult. It's one of the first instances where you reallybegin to feel how Gigyas is taking over people's minds and making them behave oddly. This theme really encapsulates that feeling, making them sound strange, somewhat threatening, and maybe even a little drugged out? It works really well.
Winters White
Move over, "Snowman"! This right here is the definitive song of Winters and it's hero Jeff. It's so cute, it's so fun, and I love the flute synth that plays the melody. If there is a playlist out there for video game Christmas songs, this one absolutely has to be on there, no exceptions.
Dr. Andonuts' Lab
As the title suggests, this plays while you are in the lab of Dr. Andonuts. This is such a relaxing little ambient track. Whenever I'm having trouble falling asleep at night, I'll put this on at a low volume and it'll lull me to bed. I feel it reflects Dr. Andonuts well, including his space. He's a lax character, but still quite bright. His lab is clean, yet still contains many complex machines. The song definitely sounds like what sort of noise would go on in a very calm, controlled laboratory.
Get on the Bus!
This song plays whenever you use the buses. It's such a fun and catchy song, I wish buses would actually play songs like this. I especially love the sound of the guitar, the strumming effect just sounds so cool. The organ synth comes back again, but this time it kinda sounds more like a steel drum, which is just neat.
Super Dry Dance
This plays when you are on the desert highway, headed to Fourside. I love this track specifically because it sounds like it's playing on a crusty radio, where the reception is kinda bad. It helps paint the picture of being on a road in the middle of nowhere, through its use of generated noise and the weird sound effects.
Sailing to Scaraba
This track plays when you are on the boat with the fisherman. In my opinion, this is one of the most underrated songs in the OST. Sure, it doesn't give off that typical EarthBound sound, but it shows the versatility of Suzuki and Tanaka in terms of their ability to compose a fun song in different styles. It really sounds like you're going out to sea with an eccentric sailor who likes to throw his slippers at Krackens.
The Unforgiving Desert
This plays during the part where you are walking the deserts of Scaraba. To me, this very much gives the vibe of someone trekking through a really hot desert, but trying their best to keep their spirits high. This is especially the case with all the very low, bassy instruments in the beginning, as well as the type of percussion that plays throughout the song. Somehow, listening to this, I can see the heat waving over vast hills of sand.
The Deep Darkness
This plays while you traverse the swamps of Deep Darkness. Everytime I play this game, this section easily makes me the most aggravated. The music I feel doesn't give off that impression, but it rather feels like a dramatic sense of exhilarating danger. It sounds like soemthing you'd hear in an old 1930s-1950s movie about fighting a group of pirates. I especially get that notion from not only the instrumentation (the crashing gong, the dramatic strings, etc.), but also the way they all sound very compressed in comparision to other tracks in the OST. It's one of the more tonally confusing tracks, but I think it enhances the feel of the level rather than diminishes it.
The Cliff That Time Forgot
This plays in the area before you enter the area taken over by Gigyas. I love this song because it creates such a strange emotional intensity. The trumpet sample sounds as if it's playing into an endless void, making it feel as if there's life, but it's the only life left. It's very lonely, when you really listen to it in that way. It definitely reflects how the protagonists must feel being stranded somewhere where meaningful life essenitally doesn't exist.
Pokey Means Business!
Oh yeah, this song. I mean, this is a crowd favorite for a reason. Firstly, it one of the very few tracks that fully embraces a hard rock/metal style, and it sounds absolutely badass. Secondly, I love the juxaposition between the 8-bit section and the metal section.
The 8-bit section sounds almost cute in a way. It harkens back to early RPGs where your enemy was likely an evil dragon or wizard, where they are a threat, but in a sort of small scale way. When the metal section suddenly comes in, the intensity is ramped up to eleven. You very quickly realize that Pokey isn't messing around anymore, and that he most certainly wants you dead. It also changes the way the battle feels. All of the sudden, you realize that you have to win, or else the entire world is doomed. It's so smart, I am obsessed with it.
My Favorite Characters
One of EarthBound's strongest points is its characters. There are a lot of them in this game, with each one overflowing with distinct personality. This makes its already big world feel so large and full of life! Here are just a few of my favorites, with some explanations as to what makes them special to me.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Jeff Andonuts
Without a doubt, Jeff is my all time favorite character. He's one of the 4 main protagonists that doesn't have PSI, but he makes up for it with by being able to make broken objects you collect into useful tools, and being able to use some of the coolest and arguably strongest items in the enitre game. He also is the one that stays with you the most throughout the game, permanently staying once he's joined.
Jeff is such a comforting character for me. He is a very aloof and awkward kid, but he is incredibly smart and brave. He says that he can be a bit reckless, which definitely adds to his character. He kinda just does what he thinks is best, no matter how ridiculous it may seem, which I admire that a lot. It is also clear that he cares about those that he's with, whether it be new companions or longtime friends. However, he doesn't know how to show this, which I find to be heavily relatable.
While I don't want to pick all-time favorites, Jeff is without a doubt my favorite character in all of EarthBound. A big grin appears on my face whenever he first appears on screen, and I love every interaction he has with anyone throughout the game. He's just a really cool guy.
Tony
Speaking of Jeff, his friend Tony is another amazing character. He is clearly a boy with a big heart, and deeply cares about his friends and colleagues. The part in Summers where he calls you about a survey was neat, and led to one of the most incredible foreshadowing moments for the climax that I had ever seen.
He is also comfirmed to be gay, making him one of the earliest canonically gay characters in Nintendo history. This was hinted at by creator Shigesato Itoi, and was comfirmed by localizer Marcus Lindblom. It is also confirmed that he has feelings for Jeff, but it is unknown whether or not this is reciprocated. Despite the fact that it may not be apparently obvious when first playing the game, you can tell by the way Tony talks to and about Jeff that he has a deep love for him. Especially for the 1990s, seeing this kind of representation in a video game is really neat, and makes me have a deeper appreciation for Tony and his character.
Paula
Man, Paula is so cool. I feel like overall, she does not get enough credit. While she is considered both technically and narratively a "glass cannon", she also has really strong and useful psychic abilities. She also is the one to help save the party many times, from calling on new allies, to using her "Pray" ability to destroy the final boss. She's very much the unsung hero in EarthBound, and I wish this was recognized more by fans.
Everdred
This guy is the definition of unhinged. You only speak to him for a short period, but during this time he jumps off a roof, tries to bite you during a battle, then proceeds to give you a wad of cash and ask you not to ask where he got it. He also likes haikus and stealing things. Do you see my point?
Everdred also got really good fashion taste, I wanna dress like him so bad. His shirt honestly looks like something out of my closet, and those shades are just cool.
There are rumors that he might've been one of the main protagonists, possibly replacing Poo's role in the lineup. I like Poo, but it would've been so fun to have Everdred take that position. Considering how wacky he is, he would've most certainly add a sense of "pizzazz" that would've been really fun.
Brick Road and The Dungeon Man
Brick Road is another truly fascinating character. You meet him randomly during your adventures playing as Jeff, where he creates a small and amatuerish dungeon. He talks about how he knows Jeff's father and how he's working with him to fuse him with a dungeon to become the first hybrid. Yeah, this guy is really into dungeons.
Later on in the story, you meet Brick Road again, finally achieving his dream. He is part dungeon, part man. The Dungeon Man. The design of the Dungeon Man is easily my favorite in the entire game, being simple yet fun-looking. He also joins your party for a little while, which is also pretty cool. His walking theme slaps too.
Venus
One of the couple of music performers you meet during the game, she's only really seen singing in Fourside. But her song is one of the coolest ones in my opinion. It's full of smooth jazz, and her voice works well with the overall aesthetics of EarthBound. She's also just pretty. I think we're allowed to like pretty women sometimes, especially if they're musical pretty women.
Tessie
I mean, look at her. How can you say no to a face like that?
Some Fun Facts
Under Construction
With a game as quirky as EarthBound, it's no surprise that the game would have some intersting details regarding development as well as Easter Eggs. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but here's a few fun facts that I personally find to be really interesting!
Development
- Throughout development, the game had been under threat of cancellation many times. A lot of this had to do with the size of the team, and the fact that a lot of them hadn't worked on its prequel, Mother (aka EarthBound Beginnings in the US). This was resolved when the company HAL, run by Satoru Iwata, joined the development team.
- During localization, certain graphics had to be changed to fit within certain cultural differences between Japan and the US. This included changing Ness from being naked to wearing pajamas in the Magicant area, to changing the Happy Happy Cultists to less resemble the KKK, and replaced references to alcohol with coffee.
If any localization stuff interests you, check out this website that has a comprehensive list of localization changes between EarthBound and Mother 2. - EarthBound contains arguably one of the most crafty and vicious anti-piracy measures. When triggered, more enemies will appear in an area than normal, making the game more difficult. Right before the player reaches the final boss, the game will reset and delete the player's save file.