Many fans are thrilled that this month Nintendo Switch Online will have over 100 retro games in its library. But an equal number of fans are outraged that the company seems to be ignoring one of its hallmark titles: Earthbound.
With five more titles being added to the Nintendo Switch Online NES and SNES game libraries, 4 of which are obscure and a couple of previously Japan-only exclusives, Nintendo fans are wondering and disappointed that Earthbound is not getting its due.
What is Earthbound and Why Is It Important to Nintendo Fans?
Earthbound (known as MOTHER 2: Gyiyg Strikes Back!) is the second and most well-known entry in a beloved RPG series. Developed for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System by Nintendo, Ape Inc., and HAL Laboratory, Earthbound was released in North America on June, 1995. Although a critical success, the game was considered a financial failure during its initial release. However, Earthbound gained a growing cult following and it is now considered one of the greatest games on the SNES ever produced.
In Earthbound, you play as Ness and his friends Paula, Jeff, and Poo (although you can change their names, as with most RPGs) as they are thrust into a globetrotting adventure to prevent an evil and powerful extraterrestrial named Giygas from destroying time and space. That seems like a very generic plot for RPGs, but where the basic plot is rather common, the execution of Earthbound is anything but.
