Mother 3/EarthBound 2
 

The official release date for the game is April 20 in Japan. To commemorate this auspicious event, Shigesato Itoi put up a special page where he would upload special presents for Mother 3 fans once a week (or so) until the release of the game. So far, he's given us the game's "official slogan," part of the Love Theme, a link to download the Love Theme ringtone (Japan only), and news of the Mother 3 deluxe box (the game, a Game Boy Micro, and a Franklin Badge). Oh, yeah, and eight screenshots.

http://www.1101.com/MOTHER3/images/screen_01.gif

http://www.1101.com/MOTHER3/images/screen_02.gif

http://www.1101.com/MOTHER3/images/screen_03.gif

http://www.1101.com/MOTHER3/images/screen02_001.gif

http://www.1101.com/MOTHER3/images/screen02_002.gif

http://www.1101.com/MOTHER3/images/screen02_003.gif

http://www.1101.com/MOTHER3/images/0228_kazan.gif

http://www.1101.com/MOTHER3/images/0228_battle.gif

For the record, the characters in the last screenshot are named "Flint" and "Boney," two names that some may recognize from the cancelled N64 version of Mother 3.

You can check out Starmen.net's translation page for the Mother 3 page right here.

So, do you think the fan community is going to wait for a yea or nay on a US port, or are they going to have a translation patch out by the end of May?

I thought it was cool that the protagonist will be named "Flint", though, to be honest, I'm kind of disappointed it won't have the same setting as in the old N64 previews.

Also, the kid with red-hair looks cool.

Dear sweet lord, FINALLY. Now I can hold off from killing myself.

Honestly, this is amazing. Earthbound was probably my favorite game of all time. A sequel is long overdue.

Can't friggin' wait. I'm getting the import, and still hoping NOA will release it here.

I remember seeing Earthbound 64 in Next Generation magazine right after I bought an N64. I waited throughout the entire console cycle hoping for more news, and all that came was a cancellation. This had better come out here, I mean they already promised it like 10 years ago. Smash Bros. has made a lot of American fans who missed Earthbound curious about the series (I know I've had to explain to all of my friends at one point or another who Ness and Mr. Saturn are), so it could even be more well received than the SNES game.

I don't figure this'll be coming to the United States anytime soon.

A new update from Shigesato Itoi reveals the world map.

http://www.1101.com/MOTHER3/images/map.gif

I am kinda speechless. The world looks kinda small <_<

Earthbound's world (Mother 2) wasn't really all that large either when you think about it, and Mother was even smaller (granted it WAS on the NES).
I like that they are sticking with a graphical theme for this series. I'm sure it will get graphics flack from noobies to the series, but to heck with 'em!
I would have liked to see what the polygonal version would have become on the N64, but alas it will never be.
I was expecting more games to come over from Japan after SSBM introduced Marth and Roy to US players and sparked enough curiousity to bring the Fire Emblem series over. I think we'll see this game come over eventually, but translators will most likely have it worked out before Nintendo's marketing department!
Still, there's always another (most likely doomed) attempt at a Nintendo petition, but that tends to be like throwing a grape at Godzilla. :poke:

He's not really throwing us much of a bone there with that map, is he? :laugh:

EDIT: Dammit, bring back my laughing smiley face!

I myself am guessing that that is just part of the world map. Yes, Mother 1 and 2 had fairly small gameworld's, but I'm fairly certain that Mother 2's world map was bigger than that. As it stands I think I only see one or two towns on that map. I don't think they'd present us with such a limited game world.

I wonder what new PSI powers are going to be utilized if any, unless they're just reusing the old powers with different animations.

Also, how could they make the last battle more creative than it was in Earthbound?

Holy shit, this is awesome. I approve of retaining that graphical style. I dearly hope it's coming to America, and if not, that someone will translate it.

It actually seems pretty big to me, I think it's just a small level of detail.
I can't wait to see the Saturns again!
I also hope they bring back some baddies, like the new age retro hippie and what-not.

Does anybody else feel an overwhelming urge to roll up those trees with a katamari?

LOL I though the same thing after I posted and looked at it again.

Hey all, i've never played any Mother/Earthbound game before... I only know the character Ness from SSBM :p
What makes this RPG so unique from all the others? I've noticed it has quite a mass of fans but to me it looks like any other SNES RPG's i've played in the good old days :p

I think it was mostly the game's quirky sense of humor and strange style. Between Apple Kid, a cult obsessed with painting everything and everyone blue was great, random aliens, bubblegum monkeys, and zombie infestations it was just an unusual game. Also, the North American release of Earthbound included a strategy guide and every picture of an enemy was a model done in claymation. That may not be much, but I always thought it was cool.

Last week and this week, Itoi updated with sprites and short character descriptions for Lucas, Claus, Flint, Hinawa, and Boney. The translations are courtesy of Starmen.net.

http://www.1101.com/MOTHER3/images/chara01.gif
Lucas: Younger twin brother. A gentle boy.

http://www.1101.com/MOTHER3/images/chara02.gif
Claus: Older twin brother. An energetic boy.

http://www.1101.com/MOTHER3/images/f_01.gif
Flint: Gentle and strong. A dependable father.

http://www.1101.com/MOTHER3/images/h_02.gif
Hinawa: The beloved mother!

http://www.1101.com/MOTHER3/images/p_03.gif
Boney: Their courageous and smart dog!

It's official. Best game ever. Younger twin has my name programmed in. Pure genius.

Haha, this is looking really cool. I can't wait until it comes out.

As a big fan of EarthBound, I'll be playing this one way or another in the future. The first (second) game is responsible for getting me into RPGs, so I've been waiting for this for a long time now. I'm hopeful Nintendo will realize this thing has an audience in the States and other areas outside of Japan, but I'm also not holding my breath.

Its circulating GameFaqs that Famitsu gave the game a 35 (10, 8, 8, 9). Certainly good news, I can't wait for the fansub to come out. Earthbound is favorite RPG of all time (replaying it right now), and a good sequel is too good for words.

- WraithTwo -

Hrm... released on 4/20, he must be a stoner!

Stoners UNITE!