Mother 3 was a game many Earthbound (Mother 2 in Japan) fans never expected to see on our shores. It started out as a project for the N64 over a decade ago, then it was moved to the ill-fated N64 disk add-on, the 64DD, and finally, it was cancelled. Several years later, it reemerged as a GBA title. When fans first heard about it, they immediately started petitions to urge Nintendo to release the game in the U.S. Nintendo considered Earthbound to be a sales failure in the U.S., so they would be difficult to persuade. Even though Earthbound didn't sell well initially, it gained notoriety over time for being a quirky RPG classic. The Super Smash Bros. series gave Ness (the hero of Earthbound), some spotlight, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl created another spike of interest by including the hero of Mother 3, Lucas, as a playable character. Some fans thought that Nintendo might finally release Mother 3 after all since Lucas was now a playable character. Alas, this dream never came to fruition. Thankfully, some dedicated Mother fans worked on creating an English translation, so Earthbound fans on the other side of the Pacific could experience the sequel. The project took approximately two years, and the translators did an admirable job. Earthbound fans like me would have never experienced the story of Mother 3 otherwise.
Long-delayed games often turn out to be failures, so I was initially wary about Mother 3. It had been years since I played Earthbound, and I remembered the battle system being archaic even back then. It was the quirky story, humor, and setting that made Earthbound a classic for me. Thirteen years later, I wondered if Mother 3 would be able to charm me, especially since it was made on an already dead system, the GBA. When I started up the game for the first time, it worked flawlessly. Initially, I noticed that the story was drastically different from Earthbound. It had a more serious tone, and dealt with tragic issues such as the death of family members. Even the music had a different feel; instead of being serene like Earthbound, it was slightly somber. I also was surprised that Lucas wasn't used for the first part of the game. Instead, you take control of a gruff Cowboy named Flint. He investigates a mysterious occurrence in a nearby forest, and is trusted with saving a couple people from his local village that are trapped in the dark wood. Flint also goes out in search of his family members who are heading back home, but unfortunately a terrible tragedy occurs that will change the state of his once tranquil village forever. While this may not sound that different from typical RPG faire, the tragic event that occurs will leave a lasting impression on you, and makes you realize how precious our lives really are. Luckily, Mother 3 isn't only about tragedy, and there is plenty of humor that will oftentimes have you laughing out loud. One of the great things about Mother 3 is that it pokes fun at capitalism and modern day human practices. It isn't an outright critique, but it'll definitely make you think about things.
Like Earthbound, Mother 3 features hilarious dialogue. The translators did an incredible job--they managed to bring back the fonts from Earthbound, and the writing has a professional quality to it that many legitimately localized games lack. There is an enormous amount of dialogue in the game--every animate, and sometimes even non-animate objects have something to say. To get the most out of Mother 3, you'll want to talk to every person, cow, sparrow, and sign. The humor is quirky, but something most gamers will be able to relate to. Cows talk about eating steak, your character's crazy old man always refers to you as a moron, and you can enter a restroom with your whole party while someone is in it, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. I enjoyed the story and dialogue even more than the first two Mother games, and that is saying something considering that Earthbound has some of the most humorous dialogue in RPG history.
When playing Mother 3 for the first time, you'll probably notice that the graphics haven't changed much from Earthbound, and that isn't such a bad thing. Personally, I find the style quite charming just as some gamers like the look of modern retro-style games like Mega Man 9. Mother 3's graphics aren't exactly the same as its predecessor's however. The people and environments are a little more detailed, and the animation has been significantly improved (wait till you see a certain old man dance at a castle). Before playing Mother 3, I was disappointed that it wasn't coming to a more advanced system, but after seeing it in action, I really like the style. The characters and animation really match the humorous dialogue, and give the game a unique vibe. Still, I will always wonder what Mother 3 would have been like it if was in 3D on the N64.
Mother 3 has a look similar to its predecessor, but its music is drastically different. The music seems like it is of a higher quality overall, and there is more of a variety of tunes. The theme song of the game is very well done and helps add feeling to the game. Mother 3 features a variety of light-hearted and sad songs, but it also includes songs with a mysterious quality. Every song mirrors the on-screen action perfectly. Not only are the field and song towns good, but there is also a plethora of battle music. Some of the battle songs are very catchy, but they're not just there for background music like most RPGs. One of the unique features of Mother 3 is that in battles, the beat of the song can be used to get more attacks in on the enemy. If you tap the attack button with the beat, you can create a long combo that will allow you to pound your enemy into the ground. This is a unique feature that makes the battles more engaging.
Even with a musical addition to the battle system, the classic Mother battle system still feels archaic. You can actually see your characters in battles now before you attack, but the animations you see on-screen are limited. Your characters and enemies don't move; the only animations you'll see is when a magic spell is cast or an item is used. It is very basic, but I'm sure the creator kept it that way for a reason. Still, it would have been nice if the game received a facelift in this department seeing that even Dragon Quest is looking better these days. Having an old look does have its benefits though. The battle system will instantly be accessible to fans of the Mother series and to gamers who have played a turn-based RPG before. The characters select a series of menu commands such as attack, PSI (magic), item, guard, and flee. The enemies don't attack while you are selecting commands, but they will attack whenever their turns come up. Once you are hit, your HP slowly depletes, so even if the enemy does more damage to your character than they have HP, you have the opportunity to heal them if you are fast enough. Also, if you hit the gameover screen, Mother 3 will allow you to continue with your EXP and items you've gained, so dying isn't as bad as in many other RPGs. It is a good thing this feature has been included, because certain parts of Mother 3 are really hard if you don't have high enough levels. I found myself having to grind on multiple occasions to gain certain spells, so I could defeat difficult bosses. This was a nuisance, but in the end, it was worth it to see Mother 3's great story.
It is too bad Nintendo chose not to release Mother 3 in the U.S., because I definitely would have purchased it, and I'm sure scores of other gamers would have as well. The game has so many great things about it--the people that inhabit the world are memorable, the music is incredible, especially considering it is a GBA game, and the story and dialogue are top-notch. I was expecting a retread of the themes found in Mother 1 & 2, but the game takes a completely different approach with its chapter system. The game is also surprisingly long for a GBA game, clocking in at around 20 hours. If you are a fan of Earthbound, or are looking for something different in an RPG, I would highly recommend Mother 3. If Nintendo decides to continue the series, hopefully they'll get smart and bring more of this unique RPG series over here.