SNES Review: EarthBound

Review by: Pierst179
Edited by: Pikaboo

Earthbound is an RPG where you take control of a normal boy that suddenly becomes a hero, the chosen one. It all happens when a meteor crashes into the peaceful town of Onett in the middle of a scary night and he decides to explore. And is here in the beginning of the game that you start to realize that you are not playing an average RPG.

As you advance to check out what has happened, with one of your friends, the music gets creeper, when you get to the top of the mountain a strange bee comes out of it, and tells you that in the future, 10 years later, Earth had been transformed and dominated by aliens and that he is not a bee he is actually human!!



An intelligent storyline that keeps EarthBound away from any game. The battle system is turn-based, and while battles happen you will get strange information about what your friends are doing and how they are reacting to the battle, which is really funny as they can cry or pass out. The battles, as expected from a turn based RPG, can be really slow paced because everything you do the information appears written on the screen, so it takes quite a while for a single turn to end, but if you are fed up with the slow pace you can press AutoFight and battle will just happen. The most interesting and innovative aspect of the battles is that your HP or Health doesn't just go down automatically. It uses a "rolling counter", a feature where your HP rolls down however you can still continue your turn while it is rolling down. Because of this, if you're fast enough you can heal before your HP hits zero, thus saving your life. However, because of this, this makes the game much easier, a double-edged sword. During the battles you will be able to equip lots of different items and use many Psychic powers.

But the game isn't all about battles, there is also lots of exploration on Eagle Land, you will need to communicate a lot to discover what to do next or where is the problem. While speaking to the characters, which are magnificent and full of personality, you will see some lines that are just the funniest things ever.



Graphically the game is just great, there are many different scenarios to go through, and you will always be amazed by the huge and colorful view, it doesn't matter where you are. The best thing about the visuals is that it gives the game its own style.

Sound is just great, all songs are awesome and could easily make it to the top of any hit parade. During battles an alien-like song will be played, and the game is filled with electronic sounds that give you the feel that we are being struck by aliens.

Replay value is something that this game would have a lot if it wasn't for its long battles, when you finish it you will think about doing it again, but I believe you are going to be a little bored just to think of defeating all those bad guys again.

Earthbound is one of the best RPGs ever, its humor, its creepiness, everything is just awesome, and while some SNES game struggle to keep in shape and up to date EarthBound manages to still be looking good after such a long time. A timeless game.