EarthBound is a breath of fresh air from the ‘90s
EarthBound is a classic video game released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in the mid-‘90s. While having received high praise in Japan where it was developed, it was met with a lukewarm response from North American audiences where it largely faded into obscurity. Despite being a commercial flop upon release, today the game is considered a cult classic in retro gaming that’s maintained a loyal and consistent fanbase over the years.
The game is memorable not because of its difficulty or merely due to its age but because of the charm of its aesthetics and storyline. A young boy named Ness travels a two-dimensional, pixelated world, enlisting the help of other characters to confront and defeat a cosmic evil force called Giygas that threatens to destroy the planet. Along the way they battle odd enemies like animated piles of puke, territorial oak trees, and hippies. Something as simple as attacking an enemy in battle can invoke a psychedelic visual effect on screen on top of the already trippy background animations and the colourful world to explore outside of the battle system. From beginning to end, the game is unapologetically whimsical, vibrant, and downright weird.
EarthBound ‘s world is also a heavily parodied United States, taking place in the fictionalized country of Eagleland. The game’s soundtrack incorporates and distorts “The Star-Spangled Banner” in one of its tracks, throwing out other Western pop culture references like a yellow submarine and having an enemy named Starman — possibly alluding to David Bowie’s song of the same name.
The game is uniquely charming because it throws so many rules in storytelling out the window. Following the plot of the game is almost dizzying in that it makes no sense yet is highly entertaining. At any point along the way, players will be exploring a dream world called Magicant made of memories, encountering the unofficial mascot creature, Mr. Saturn, or not moving Ness for three whole minutes to gain access to a new area.
What’s special about EarthBound is that anyone can pick up the game and relate to Ness. As a young boy, there’s seemingly little he can do to defeat an all-consuming evil force like Giygas — and yet he does. The end battle involves Ness fighting Giygas with a bat (not an overpowered weapon like other role-playing games) and one of his friends, Paula, sending out a prayer for safety and strength to the friends they’ve made along the way. Finally, to deliver the final blows to the boss the game breaks the fourth wall by calling on the player directly, allowing players to feel that everyday people can be heroes too.
EarthBound , if anything, is an unforgettable gaming experience even if some mechanics can feel outdated or tedious due to its age. With its colourful world, immersive plot, and rule-bending gameplay, this ‘90s game has gone on to be considered one of the greatest role-playing games of all time.
Chandy is a biology major/chemistry minor who's been a staff writer, Arts editor, and Managing Editor at The Cascade. She began writing in elementary school when she produced Tamagotchi fanfiction to show her peers at school -- she now lives in fear that this may have been her creative peak.
