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REVIEWS - EarthBound ::
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| Oh, clay. How we loved thee. |
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| Game Info. |
Genre
RPG |
Publisher/Developer
Nintendo/Halken (HAL Labs), Ape |
Peripherals
(none) |
Release
6/95 |
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Media
(our EarthBound section) |
EarthBound
Video gaming at its absolute finest.
Reviewed by Sam - January 10th, 2001
Rewritten November 13th, 2001
I'll start out by saying that I've firmly decided this is my favorite game of all time. Alright, and I'll admit that makes my opinion a little, dare I say, biassed. But having played a game for so long lets you see its good and bad sides (sort of like a long-term relationship). I think I have enough opinions sorted out to warrant an honest review on a game that has touched my life in such a magical way.
An interesting thing to notice are the fans who dedicate their lives to EarthBound. It's by no means a popular game, a flashy game, a trendy game, or what have you. So what makes it special? That's what we're here to find out...
Gameplay
Here's a basic rundown of this game: battle with hippies, cultist painters, sea dragons, and so forth, arming yourself only with baseball bats, frying pans, and teddy bears, all on your quest to save the Earth from an impending space invasion. It's not a sci-fi game, it's not a fantasy game, it's just plain crazy. But not so much that it'll make your head spin, just pleasantly quirky, humorous, and ultimately, quite enjoyable.
The game is completely alluring in every way. I don't know what it is; maybe it's in the tea. But with a great mix of plot intricacy, good interface, and humor, this game really has a charming effect on you. The only downsides I can think of are minor, and should really only bother you if you're watching out for them. For instance, the slow character movement that only gets worse with some pretty bad slowdown (the effect of the gameplay moving to a crawl in crowded, data-heavy areas). Also, you're only able to ride a bicycle, which is one of the coolest features in the game, for a short portion of the game before you get your second character. But really, these are very minor complaints next to all the game's plusses that I've only begun to mention. It's truly an unforgettable experience.
9/10
Graphics
So many people ridicule this game for having "bad graphics". But I don't think they're looking at it correctly. It's almost like saying that Paper Mario or Yoshi's Island had bad graphics; it just happened to be the first cartoony-looking role-playing game in a while (if not ever), which was rather disagreeable in 1995, a year when beautiful meant better. Take a look at that era's other RPG releases: Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasies VI and VII, Illusion of Gaia, y'know? EarthBound's graphics were very stylized for the time. I say they look pretty good and very original, which is a little something every game's should try to do, at least just to stay fresh and new.
8/10
Sound
The music in EarthBound is of exceptional quality. The style is generally electronic, heavy beats against digital horns and organs, all adding up to a barrage of varrying tunes and melodies. Again, when you go back to big games like Chrono Trigger, you'll notice their musical quality, but it just doesn't stand out the way it does in EB.
As far as sound effects go, they're actually pretty nice, if a bit basic. Menu sounds never get annoying, which seems to be a flaw in RPGs. And the little clips of speech in the game, such as "ok desu ka?" and "I'll miss you" are grand, just grand. Bip-bip.
9/10
Replay Value
It's hard to say; I was 8 when I first played the game. I just remember waking up at 7 in the morning with a bowl of crunchy cereal every day for almost an entire year, just to play EB; it was a great feeling. The game allures you in that way; it's very charming. This is usually where many RPGs lack in strength, but EarthBound (once again) ceases to fit the mold. It's also fun to play with a friend. You know how it goes, lend the newbie the controller for a while and see how poorly he does, and then cry as he beats all your bosses in one try. Bastard.
9/10
Overall
What more can I say that hasn't been said by those who don't lie? EarthBound is great. EarthBound is god. EarthBound is... goat-like in apparel, I think. Anyway, I just can't express my feelings for this wonderful game any further in words, so I leave you with the command to download the ROM and/or buy the game off eBay. A truly dazzling game is waiting for the world to discover it. Enjoy.
FINAL SCORE: 9/10
=Amazing=
Send feedback to: sam@ngeb.net
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