Ness

Overview

Ness is the primary playable character in the 1994 role-playing game EarthBound. He is one of the "chosen four" children that were prophesied by the Apple of Enlightenment to defeat Giygas and save the world. Ness lives near Onett with his mother and younger sister Tracy. While Ness' father does not appear in person during the events of EarthBound, he often converses with Ness by telephone. Ness' trademark weapons are baseball bats and a yo-yo; as a natural psychic, he also uses several powerful PSI abilities in combat.

EarthBound

Ness was born and raised in the small town of Onett in Eagleland, but his peaceful childhood is shattered after a strange meteorite crashes near Ness' home late one night. When he goes to investigate, an alien insect named Buzz Buzz appears to warn Ness of the alien conqueror Giygas that will destroy the world in ten years' time. However, Ness and three other children are destined to save the world by destroying Giygas in the present. After setting out from his home the next morning, Ness goes on a globe-spanning adventure and eventually meets the other "chosen four": Paula, Jeff and Poo. By combining their power, the children manage to overcome many obstacles and eventually defeat Giygas, preventing the apocalypse.

Gameplay

Ness is a strong physical fighter and equips baseball bats as his primary weapons. His PSI abilities primarily focus on healing, but he is also the only party member that uses PSI Rockin', a potent offensive ability that targets all enemies. Ness also has the highest total number of hit points among the party. These characteristics make Ness a natural party leader with outstanding survivability; by the end of the game, Ness can single-handedly revive and restore the entire team to full health within a few turns, even without healing items.

Although Ness is a capable leader, he does possess one potentially crippling weakness in the form of Homesickness, a exclusive status ailment that manifests when Ness hasn't talked to his mother for a certain period of time. While Homesick, Ness will frequently ignore battle commands; fortunately, this is easily cured by calling Ness' Mom using any telephone, or by meeting her in person at her home in Onett.

Super Smash Bros.

Ness has appeared in every Smash Bros. game. In Super Smash Bros., Ness was a secret unlockable character. He uses moves such as PSI Magnet, PK Fire and PK Thunder. Ness never has these powers in Earthbound and it is said Paula had taught the moves to him. Ness was regarded as one of the best characters in Super Smash Bros. because of his outstanding Meteor Smash attack.

Unlocking Ness

To unlock Ness, you must clear the single player game on Normal difficulty with a stock of three lives and without using a continue. If you succeed, Ness will challenge you. Defeat Ness and he will become playable.

Competitive Play

Ness is a high tier character known for his double jump cancel and good aerial moves, which have almost no lag even with L-cancelling them all.

Super Smash Bros. Melee

Ness returned in the second installment in the Smash Bros. series only this time Ness was playable from the beginning. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Ness gained the move PK Flash, which he actually used in Earthbound. Ness' fighting ability was also decreased in this game making him a somewhat lower-quality character.

Competitive Play

Ness is a relatively small character who packs a punch. Generally, Ness has a higher learning curve when playing at higher levels of gameplay, but for strategies against the computer or casual players, you can pick him up at ease. Well-known Ness player, Simna ibn Sind makes claims that Ness is the best character in the game. This is mainly because of his significantly higher potential for inescapable combos.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

In the third installment of the Smash Bros. series, Ness returns and like the first game is an unlockable character. Super Smash Bros. Brawl has Ness using all his previous moves adding PK Starstorm as his Final Smash move.

Unlocking Ness

To unlock Ness, get Ness to join your party in The Subspace Emissary mode. Alternatively, you can play five Brawl matches or reflect 10 projectiles. Succeeding in either of these will have Ness challenge you. Defeat him and he will become playable.

Competitive Play

Ness is a low tier character who has many good moves, but many flaws as well. His recovery is easy to gimp and short; he has forty frames of release lag from a grab (all characters except Donkey Kong, Lucas and Bowser have thirty frames) and can be grabbed infinitely to death; and he is very slow

Trophy Description

An average boy whose life changed when he found a meteor and an alien on a nearby mountain. The alien warned him of a future threat, and adventure ensued. He can use psychic energy known as PSI and also wields a bat and a yo-yo. This brave youth gives his all to defeat the evil Giygas.