Earthbound (don't hate me too much)

[M.Buster2184]

So like 5 years ago I found Earthbound at a little strip mall for thirteen bucks and it was one of my best days. Recently I figured I should actually play it, lol. So over a couple nights after work I played it for a bit. To be honest with everyone....I don't really care for it. I appreciate some of the humor, but the overall gameplay? Meh. The music is good but I'm having a hard time getting into it. I know it's supposed to be one of the best RPGs ever, but it's not doing much for me. I'd have more fun playing Paper Mario or something along those lines. To each their own I guess. Should I give it another chance? Or just accept that I don't like it. On the plus side it's cool to be able to say I have it, there is a good story behind my obtaining it and worst case scenario I can sell it for below market value, make someone else happy and still make a profit.

[CastlevaniaDude]

So like 5 years ago I found Earthbound at a little strip mall for thirteen bucks and it was one of my best days. Recently I figured I should actually play it, lol. So over a couple nights after work I played it for a bit. To be honest with everyone....I don't really care for it. I appreciate some of the humor, but the overall gameplay? Meh. The music is good but I'm having a hard time getting into it. I know it's supposed to be one of the best RPGs ever, but it's not doing much for me. I'd have more fun playing Paper Mario or something along those lines. To each their own I guess. Should I give it another chance? Or just accept that I don't like it. On the plus side it's cool to be able to say I have it, there is a good story behind my obtaining it and worst case scenario I can sell it for below market value, make someone else happy and still make a profit.

I'll give you 20 bucks for it. That's 7 dollars profit.

[fluid_matrix]

I'll give you 20 bucks for it. That's 7 dollars profit.

I'd give ya $26. That's double yer $$!!

[CastlevaniaDude]

I'd give ya $26. That's double yer $$!!

26 dollars for EarthBound?

That game has litle kid graphics.

You're crazy. This thing will wind up in a Best Buy bargain bin for less than 26 dollars!

I move that you rescind your offer so that you don't get ripped off. Best cure for buyers remorse is to not get ripped off in the first place. :ass:

[Tanooki]

So like 5 years ago I found Earthbound at a little strip mall for thirteen bucks and it was one of my best days. Recently I figured I should actually play it, lol. So over a couple nights after work I played it for a bit. To be honest with everyone....I don't really care for it. I appreciate some of the humor, but the overall gameplay? Meh. The music is good but I'm having a hard time getting into it. I know it's supposed to be one of the best RPGs ever, but it's not doing much for me. I'd have more fun playing Paper Mario or something along those lines. To each their own I guess. Should I give it another chance? Or just accept that I don't like it. On the plus side it's cool to be able to say I have it, there is a good story behind my obtaining it and worst case scenario I can sell it for below market value, make someone else happy and still make a profit.

You know what I'll take you seriously on this and step up and admit you're right. It's not something everyone will care for. The humor is solid, the designs are unique, but the overall gameplay very much is meh (flat, if not poor.) The music is unique as are the child like visuals, you can take it or leave it on tastes. It's only one of the best RPGs to the insane blind fanboy pool who can't just let it go that Nintendo will NOT release the damned game again in this country due to their own shady reasons and potentially some copyright problems with music scores they swiped for it back then. You could give it another chance, but I don't think you'll change your mind much. I've had 3 copies of it since the late 90s, and I'm on my third only because I found it sitting on a stack of clothes at some mexican woman's table at a flea market and when I straight face asked how much she said $2, and I kept my cool and left with it. I've played it up until the Moonside area perhaps just passed that and stopped on it and haven't gone back in 4-5months at least. The gameplay on it isn't that good, the RPG engine is a snore and it just has these weird gameplay quirks that aren't much fun that can dig at you after awhile if you're stuck somewhere for a bit. I've finished it just once, on my original copy, and to be true I only now keep it because I get that random need to punish myself and play it again and I don't want to buy a mostly unpolished turd for $200+ bucks so for $2 I'm happy to keep it. It's not the only expensive game I bought cheap I keep because if I ever get the want to play it again the prices suck plus I don't want to contribute to the nauseating feeding frenzy the sharks have caused in gaming as it's ruining it like two childhood hobbies I had with the same behavior and terrible results.

[recorderdude]

I'm going to reccomend that you try MOTHER 3 instead of EB. It solves pretty much all the problems you have with EB: Its story is still quirky, but there's a WAY bigger focus on the overarching plot, the battle system is RHYTHM based with a TON of different battle songs to attack to, so it doesn't get old half as fast, and it's got a lot more animation than both EB and EBZero.

[Kyle15]

Don't worry, you're going to get little to no hate here for that opinion. Earthbound isn't very well received around these here parts. ;)

[Graham Mitchell]

I haven't played it myself but everyone I've talked to says its pretty terrible outside of the aesthetics. The more I see people talking about it, though, the more I want to play robotrek again.

[mailman187666]

I've always liked Earthbound. I haven't played it recently but I remember beating the game close to when it came out. I liked it because it did something different than just the fantasy setting that Squares games and many other RPGs used. I think thats what makes it stand out from other RPGs. Even though it does have a very basic battle system, its still fun. Now I don't know if I'd want to go paying $250+ for the game because luckily I've had my copy for ages. Its one of those games that some people will either love or hate.

[Rickstilwell1]

The size of the box alone is enough to keep me away from the game for a while since I only usually like complete in box games for my personal collection. It just won't fit in the same space as the other SNES games so I can easily just pretend it doesn't exist until I have everything else I could ever want on Super Nintendo for less.

[ifkz]

Great price you found it at, if it is not your thing, don't think twice about selling it. Just do not expect to find it again at any reasonable price for many years (depending on re-releases).

I am surprised these SNES Earthbound fans are not as equally hooked on NES Earthbound's prototype that was found years ago. I found a donor cart and had it reproduced over at nesreproductions, I still consider it some of the best money I've spent.

[M.Buster2184]

You know what I'll take you seriously on this and step up and admit you're right. It's not something everyone will care for. The humor is solid, the designs are unique, but the overall gameplay very much is meh (flat, if not poor.) The music is unique as are the child like visuals, you can take it or leave it on tastes. It's only one of the best RPGs to the insane blind fanboy pool who can't just let it go that Nintendo will NOT release the damned game again in this country due to their own shady reasons and potentially some copyright problems with music scores they swiped for it back then. You could give it another chance, but I don't think you'll change your mind much. I've had 3 copies of it since the late 90s, and I'm on my third only because I found it sitting on a stack of clothes at some mexican woman's table at a flea market and when I straight face asked how much she said $2, and I kept my cool and left with it. I've played it up until the Moonside area perhaps just passed that and stopped on it and haven't gone back in 4-5months at least. The gameplay on it isn't that good, the RPG engine is a snore and it just has these weird gameplay quirks that aren't much fun that can dig at you after awhile if you're stuck somewhere for a bit. I've finished it just once, on my original copy, and to be true I only now keep it because I get that random need to punish myself and play it again and I don't want to buy a mostly unpolished turd for $200+ bucks so for $2 I'm happy to keep it. It's not the only expensive game I bought cheap I keep because if I ever get the want to play it again the prices suck plus I don't want to contribute to the nauseating feeding frenzy the sharks have caused in gaming as it's ruining it like two childhood hobbies I had with the same behavior and terrible results.

Well I feel less bad for not liking it. Granted I can appreciate a game for it's quirks or achievements during it's time period, but appreciating wont make me like a game. I do like they went a different route with the story verus the tried and true fantasy timeline, but I just can't get into it. Will I play it again? Maybe, though I have hundreds of games that I haven't played through yet, so who knows when I'll attempt to sit down with it again. On the other hand you guys have a good point of I'll most likely never find the game for the price I originally found t at. On a sidenote, is it worth playing the Mother NES port? Occasionaly at local expo's I see repro carts of Mother available. Maybe I'd like it? Or is it pretty similar to Earthbound and I'd be "meh" about it?

[Captain_N77]

Yeah, it's up to you if you play it further or not. However, a few points I'd like to make.

First, it is an rpg. I've never been wow'd by the gameplay/controls of rpg's since they are for the most part just tapping in the commands. Maybe you are referring to the battle system? Still, whatever it is may just not work for you.

Second, it is an rpg haha. Maybe this is just me, but I have never been drawn in to an rpg off the bat. I always assume I will have to put in a good 5-10 hours before everything like the characters, story, and battle system start to click with me. Some really incredible rpg's, like Earthbound, FF VI, FF X, Chrono Trigger, and Paper Mario, were all quite boring to me the first few hours. I'm glad I gave them the time they needed in the end. I was THIS close to taking FF X back, and it was honestly my being too lazy to get up and turn off my PS2 that kept me playing it...then all of a sudden it just clicked.

I hold Earthbound in the highest regard, but there isn't any law that says everyone has to like it. It's not like you have to turn in your gamer card or anything haha. I know what it's like to play a game you're "supposed" to like, but for whatever reason can't get into. I personally couldn't get into Banjo Kazooie very much, though I could recognize the qualities of the game. I can't stand Conker's Bad Fur Day. And I will go to my grave saying that Grand Theft Auto III completely bored me to tears and baffled me as to how it came to be one of the defining games of it's generation.

[bb_hood]

I really really like earthbound. My brother got it when it came out as a kid and we have played it through more than a few times.

I think the main problem is that they see the 150+ price tag and they just expect way more. Especially if you have never played it. What the game sells for is just insane. Its just not mega rare

[M.Buster2184]

Yeah, it's up to you if you play it further or not. However, a few points I'd like to make.

First, it is an rpg. I've never been wow'd by the gameplay/controls of rpg's since they are for the most part just tapping in the commands. Maybe you are referring to the battle system? Still, whatever it is may just not work for you.

Second, it is an rpg haha. Maybe this is just me, but I have never been drawn in to an rpg off the bat. I always assume I will have to put in a good 5-10 hours before everything like the characters, story, and battle system start to click with me. Some really incredible rpg's, like Earthbound, FF VI, FF X, Chrono Trigger, and Paper Mario, were all quite boring to me the first few hours. I'm glad I gave them the time they needed in the end. I was THIS close to taking FF X back, and it was honestly my being too lazy to get up and turn off my PS2 that kept me playing it...then all of a sudden it just clicked.

I hold Earthbound in the highest regard, but there isn't any law that says everyone has to like it. It's not like you have to turn in your gamer card or anything haha. I know what it's like to play a game you're "supposed" to like, but for whatever reason can't get into. I personally couldn't get into Banjo Kazooie very much, though I could recognize the qualities of the game. I can't stand Conker's Bad Fur Day. And I will go to my grave saying that Grand Theft Auto III completely bored me to tears and baffled me as to how it came to be one of the defining games of it's generation.

Point taken. Realistically I'm not a huge RPG fan, though I do love Chrono Trigger and Paper Mario, because of the mindless gameplay of RPGs for the most part, a game needs to have a story I can really get in to for me to like it. Mostly the battle system of Earthbound I didn't like. Granted I'm not the biggest RPG fan, but I'm not a novice, yet I died more in the 6-10 hours or so that I played Earthbound then I feel I should have. Also the little details like having to find a phone to save, taking money out of the ATM and it seemed like the amount of items I could carry wasn't much. There were definitely parts of the game I liked, but not enough to make me keep playing.

[bb_hood]

it seemed like the amount of items I could carry wasn't much. There were definitely parts of the game I liked, but not enough to make me keep playing.

You actually get more party members each with own inventory, so in not too long your inventory will be 4x as big.
Plus you can always call Escargo Express...haha
I understand if you dont like it, but the game does pick up alot after the second area. The enemies stop being things like runaway dogs and mad ducks and such..

[kupomogli]

Earthbound is Dragon Warrior with a current day setting. As was already said, the games graphics and setting gives the game so much praise rather than the gameplay. Each new area you probably want to grind until enemies start to run away. Attack them from the back during that time for an instant win, exit then reenter and repeat for quicker grinding. Do this on just about every area until you beat the game.

[Tanooki]

That run away mechanic I did like as a unique thing Earthbound did in the day as it saved a lot of wasted time on wimpy battles.

I see the TS mentioned loving Chrono Trigger, and that there is one I have a love-hate on as I can never find it fun enough to finish it even after all these years. Something about how the game plays out, story, something I can't place eventually bores me to being no longer motivated to do it and I go onto other games. I appreciate others live and breathe it for some reason, but I just don't.

[wiggyx]

So like 5 years ago I found Earthbound at a little strip mall for thirteen bucks and it was one of my best days. Recently I figured I should actually play it, lol. So over a couple nights after work I played it for a bit. To be honest with everyone....I don't really care for it. I appreciate some of the humor, but the overall gameplay? Meh. The music is good but I'm having a hard time getting into it. I know it's supposed to be one of the best RPGs ever, but it's not doing much for me. I'd have more fun playing Paper Mario or something along those lines. To each their own I guess. Should I give it another chance? Or just accept that I don't like it. On the plus side it's cool to be able to say I have it, there is a good story behind my obtaining it and worst case scenario I can sell it for below market value, make someone else happy and still make a profit.

Yup. This is where I'm at with it. It's not that it's a bad game, just not a great game IMO. Unfortunately the price is absurd for anyone that DOES really like it and wants to pick up a copy. I don't even think the whole SSB cameo is what's feeding the price inflation anymore. I think it's hype building more hype on top of a pile of steaming hype. It's like a giant, out of control snowball IMO.

[recorderdude]

It's coming out on japanese VC soon, so as a rerelease SOMEWHERE it should help lower prices slightly.

With that in mind, if you've got a copy and don't like it, SELL IT NOW. It's quite likely prices will never be as high as they are right now again.

[bb_hood]

It's coming out on japanese VC soon, so as a rerelease SOMEWHERE it should help lower prices slightly.

With that in mind, if you've got a copy and don't like it, SELL IT NOW. It's quite likely prices will never be as high as they are right now again.

If its re-released in Japan ONLY I dont see how that would lower the value. You can get the super famicom version for like 20-30$ but people dont want that cause its in Japanese. If they re-released it in English I would guess it would drop in value PROBABLY, but it might also increase due to a surge in popularity. Alot of people just want the original cart. Generally speaking you are more likely to get a collector to pay 200$ for a loose cart because they think its a rare item.

[recorderdude]

If its re-released in Japan ONLY I dont see how that would lower the value. You can get the super famicom version for like 20-30$ but people dont want that cause its in Japanese. If they re-released it in English I would guess it would drop in value PROBABLY, but it might also increase due to a surge in popularity. Alot of people just want the original cart. Generally speaking you are more likely to get a collector to pay 200$ for a loose cart because they think its a rare item.

As part of the rerelease, it's being temporarily lowered to like 40 yen in a marketing push to encourage people to play it, so a lot of people on starmen have been considering buying it just to be able to say they own it without breaking the bank. So, more or less, justifying emulating the US version. $30 isn't a lot, but it's a considerable amount for a cartridge that won't actually be used, compared to buying one or several physical games you will play. For a fraction of the price, people who know how to regionmod their wiis can legally "own" it and inject the US ROM.

That isn't to say collectors won't still gouge themselves into oblivion, but with non-collector fans thrown out of the mix, it's bound to go down at least a little.

[Damaniel]

I agree with you - Earthbound is *highly* overrated. Not to mention the fact that Nintendo sold a ton of copies on the SNES in the US (almost 150k), so the current price of original carts makes no sense.

[Edmond Dantes]

Hey, if you're looking for someone to sell Earthbound to, there's a guy here with a Link-from-Wind-Waker avatar whose been looking for a copy.

Personally I love Earthbound, although lately I've had a falling out with RPGs in general.

[o.pwuaioc]

I agree with you - Earthbound is *highly* overrated. Not to mention the fact that Nintendo sold a ton of copies on the SNES in the US (almost 150k), so the current price of original carts makes no sense.

I will never understand this. It's nearing $200 now?! A few years ago it was around $50. It should be $5.

[bb_hood]

I will never understand this. It's nearing $200 now?! A few years ago it was around $50. It should be $5.

Thats what collecting SNES games on ebay is all about. People just pay way too much. Over the last 2 years prices for many nes and snes games have gone way up across the board.

[o.pwuaioc]

Thats what collecting SNES games on ebay is all about. People just pay way too much. Over the last 2 years prices for many nes and snes games have gone way up across the board.

Quite a shame. NES is still reasonable, though, for the most part. I just resigned myself to not picking up Hagane or Super Turrican 2 for a while. Hopefully, they'll be a game crash. Otherwise, I may never pick them up.

[recorderdude]

You know the gouging has gone too far when even us collectors hope for their hobby to die. Then again, if everything's worth the same, what's the point in collecting? Might as well emulate at that point if you're in it soely to play the games, maybe get a USB controller for the respective console. The thrill of finding something rare is the biggest part of the hobby, and you enjoy something a lot more when you realize how lucky you are to have it.

There will be a game crash, though. Whenever all the old carts stop working or when most collectors grow old enough that they decide to abandon their collections, or both.

[bb_hood]

I just resigned myself to not picking up Hagane or Super Turrican 2 for a while. Hopefully, they'll be a game crash. Otherwise, I may never pick them up.


These are 2 games that Ive wanted for a long time as well. I feel the exact same way, its just not worth buying them at what they go for. Hagane is quite rare though. I play it on my powerpak and its awesome.

[Tanooki]

You know the gouging has gone too far when even us collectors hope for their hobby to die. Then again, if everything's worth the same, what's the point in collecting? Might as well emulate at that point if you're in it soely to play the games, maybe get a USB controller for the respective console. The thrill of finding something rare is the biggest part of the hobby, and you enjoy something a lot more when you realize how lucky you are to have it.

There will be a game crash, though. Whenever all the old carts stop working or when most collectors grow old enough that they decide to abandon their collections, or both.

Well said. There is no point if something has no value, but only to those who hold the games in monetary value, others value them whether they're $5 or $50 because of what X game gives them in fun value. It is a very sad day and I am one of them too who hopes the hobby eats it as it's gone overboard. I'm in my mid 30s so I was old enough to have the same exact asshat type people ruin two of my childhood hobbies doing all the exact same stuff on the local pre-internet level with baseball cards and comic books. Some saw them as a way to make a quick buck and broke into raising prices seemingly by the month on older stuff, then the newer did it at the manufacturer level due to the buzz, and in time with a few dollar allowance I got priced out of both and used my funds just on games as they didn't get baked. It bugged the hell out of me, but when I wanted to start buying up older issues I missed of stuff like Iron Man, the Punisher and the rest to see them going higher than a new book, then the new stuff hitting $1.25 and shortly after $1.50 then and there I quit never to return. I keep seeing the same behaviors, the same asinine comments of how 'this stuff is unique so it will never happen' shit spewed, and price gouging, the escalations, the proliferation of do it yourselfer retailers local and online, and game companies reacting by raising prices (through DLC on disc or incomplete games with DLC to flesh out stories.) It's all there, and I for one hope for a 1983 like bust to bitchslap the retro market back to reality.

[spman]

Thats what collecting SNES games on ebay is all about. People just pay way too much. Over the last 2 years prices for many nes and snes games have gone way up across the board.

SNES games have never been reasonably priced the way NES games became. At second market stores like Funcoland in the 90's, finding halfway decent SNES games for under $10 was tough. Everything 10 dollars and under was either a sports game, or some serious crap. It remained that way until Gamestop took them over in 2001 and phased out everything older than PS1.

To put it into perspective, you could purchase at least 75% of the entire NES library during this same period for less than $5 a game, and probably 80% of THAT for less than $3, and that includes most of the real classics on that system as well.

But yeah, prices on SNES stuff has always been insane. I remember trading a copy of Megaman X2 or SNES in around 1999 and getting enough in trade in credit to purchase Soul Calibur for Dreamcast brand new as well as an extra controller. Megman X2 and X3 were both sold used for north of $100, they were the two most expensive games on the system at that time and are still in the top 10.

[Steven]

I myself personally LOVE EB. It's crazy to think I was able to buy a CIB copy in 2010 for just $172.
At the time I thought it was a little high (I already had the cart but needed the box, and possibly the guide too IIRC)... but it wasn't long before that $172 looked like peanuts!

I just love the suburban feel + wild various locales thereafter. The game just clicked for me on all levels. I wanna applaud Captain because his post hits my sentiments to a tee.



But yeah, prices on SNES stuff has always been insane. I remember trading a copy of Megaman X2 or SNES in around 1999 and getting enough in trade in credit to purchase Soul Calibur for Dreamcast brand new as well as an extra controller. Megman X2 and X3 were both sold used for north of $100, they were the two most expensive games on the system at that time are still in the top 10.

http://www.rvgfanatic.com/mediac/400_0/media/DIR_1010115/IMG_0153.JPG

http://www.rvgfanatic.com/mediac/400_0/media/DIR_1010115/IMG_0088.JPGhttp://www.rvgfanatic.com/mediac/400_0/media/DIR_1010115/IMG_0089.JPG

There was a time, as "recent" as 5 to 7 years ago, where deals on SNES games were still to be had. Sadly, those days have long been over. Collectors who got back into the scene pre-2008-ish were very lucky. Plenty of good deals back in the "good old days."

[Edmond Dantes]

Earthbound and MUSHA were two games that taught me an important lesson:

If you like a game, or don't like a game now but think it may grow on you, or liked it once but changed your mind but it still has a little value to you... basically, unless you absolutely loathe a game, never ever give away, trade away or sell ANY game you have that you like. Because when you want to play it again, it'll be fucknormously expensive and probably impractical. In fact, buying Earthbound again is why I've made a rule now against buying more games that weren't planned purchases--I have to save up for awhile to make up for the financial hit.

MUSHA might be the last game I take that kind of plunge for, but I'm honestly hoping the market for 16-bit games just plain crashes instead (or if someone is willing to sell me the Japanese version for far less).

[bb_hood]

SNES games have never been reasonably priced the way NES games became. At second market stores like Funcoland in the 90's, finding halfway decent SNES games for under $10 was tough. Everything 10 dollars and under was either a sports game, or some serious crap. It remained that way until Gamestop took them over in 2001 and phased out everything older than PS1.

To put it into perspective, you could purchase at least 75% of the entire NES library during this same period for less than $5 a game, and probably 80% of THAT for less than $3, and that includes most of the real classics on that system as well.

But yeah, prices on SNES stuff has always been insane. I remember trading a copy of Megaman X2 or SNES in around 1999 and getting enough in trade in credit to purchase Soul Calibur for Dreamcast brand new as well as an extra controller. Megman X2 and X3 were both sold used for north of $100, they were the two most expensive games on the system at that time are still in the top 10.

Between 1998 and 2005 when I was collecting only nes and snes I frequented Funcoland so much they knew me by name. The people who worked there would put aside all the nes boxes and manuals for me becuase they knew I went crazy for them and they would always give them to me when they had them. I literally had to beg the store manager to STOP throwing them away. It was one thing that pissed me off more than anything. The manager kept insisting that they just take up way too much space.
SNES games at funcoland were always more expensive than NES and Megaman X2 and X3 were always some of the most expensive ones, if not the most expensive ones. I remember them being in the 60$ range. I do remember buying a mint earthbound cart from funcoland for 35$, and I remember feeling unsure about the purchase becase at the time it sold for the same amount on ebay. At the time it was probably alot of money for me but I really wanted to play it.

I actually built most of my nes library from games I got from Funcoland back then. When Final Fantasy Tactics first came out on playstation I bought it at walmart for 40$ and played the shit out of it. It was the only PS1 game I owned and years after I bought it was selling for like 60-80$ at funcoland. This was before the GH version was released. I took it to funcoland to trade it in to buy nes games, and they offered me like over 50$ store credit, which I thought was alot at the time. The dude behind the counter convinced me to keep it because he said its a game alot of people wanted, and so I kept it even though I really wanted to take the store credit they offered. Anyway, a short time later the GH version was released and the price dropped to the point where I could have bought it back for 15-20$ used.

[o.pwuaioc]

Earthbound and MUSHA were two games that taught me an important lesson:

If you like a game, or don't like a game now but think it may grow on you, or liked it once but changed your mind but it still has a little value to you... basically, unless you absolutely loathe a game, never ever give away, trade away or sell ANY game you have that you like. Because when you want to play it again, it'll be fucknormously expensive and probably impractical. In fact, buying Earthbound again is why I've made a rule now against buying more games that weren't planned purchases--I have to save up for awhile to make up for the financial hit.

MUSHA might be the last game I take that kind of plunge for, but I'm honestly hoping the market for 16-bit games just plain crashes instead (or if someone is willing to sell me the Japanese version for far less).
Unfortunately, too many people are catching on to the Japanese market. :/

[spman]

I myself personally LOVE EB. It's crazy to think I was able to buy a CIB copy in 2010 for just $172.
At the time I thought it was a little high (I already had the cart but needed the box, and possibly the guide too IIRC)... but it wasn't long before that $172 looked like peanuts!

I just love the suburban feel + wild various locales thereafter. The game just clicked for me on all levels. I wanna applaud Captain because his post hits my sentiments to a tee.




http://www.rvgfanatic.com/mediac/400_0/media/DIR_1010115/IMG_0153.JPG

http://www.rvgfanatic.com/mediac/400_0/media/DIR_1010115/IMG_0088.JPGhttp://www.rvgfanatic.com/mediac/400_0/media/DIR_1010115/IMG_0089.JPG

There was a time, as "recent" as 5 to 7 years ago, where deals on SNES games were still to be had. Sadly, those days have long been over. Collectors who got back into the scene pre-2008-ish were very lucky. Plenty of good deals back in the "good old days."

That's a hell of a deal on Megaman X2, it still typically goes for $80 or more on eBay now. It's actually my favorite game in that series, the first one is fun but too simple and basic, the third one got too complex and difficult, and all the Playstation Era ones were crap IMHO. I'm happy having the compilation on PS2 however.

[The Adventurer]

As other's have said. Mechanically Earthbound is nothing special. Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6/III were its contemporaries, and those games were redefining the way RPGs were played. Whereas Earthbound was a throwback to the Dragon Quest way of doing things. Earthbound was based much around the primitive process of grinding levels, earning money, beating a boss, moving on to the next town, buying the next level of weapons, and then repeating.

What Earthbound is however, is a work of art. Essays have been written about what Earthbound is about and what it means to play it. Earthbound is an experience, that can't be defined by any one part of itself. Its primitive game mechanics themselves is part of that experience.

[Ninjamohawk]

EB is a love or hate thing. I love it. I reeeeeeeeeeeeally wish I still had mine, because I'd like to say I own it, but I doubt I'll ever have it again. No job, no monies.

Couple years ago outside a pawn shop I found three snes games that, while needing a good cleaning, looked fine and played fine. Ranma 1/2 Hard Battle, Super Metroid, and Mega Man X2. All still in my collection.

I know it's kinda crappy to not bring them into the shop because I had just come out of the shop and they were very very probably theirs or someone's but... the collector in me couldn't. I didn't have those games and two of them are good!

[Nesmaster]

X2 and X3 are such great games it is a shame they aren't more accessible in terms of price. I had a copy of both but sold them 6 years ago. Fortunately the japanese versions are much cheaper and all you really miss out on is the "thin" story if you've never played them. I have so paying the $19 and $29 for X2 and X3 respectively I'm fine with (got em on ebay last week). Rockman 7 was also around $10 compared to $100+. Great without going the SD2SNES route. X is easier to get but complete NA copies are on the rise of that too.

As for EB, I rented it when it first came out and it came with the guide. I was 7 and didn't even know what an RPG was or played one before. EB hooked me because it was so different and the charm even back then was standout. I would play Super Mario RPG the next year and have the same effect, and got my own copy of that. It wasn't until late 99 or sometime 2000 that I found EB new on Walmart clearance for $29. Snatched that up and played through it twice since, and about half of the injected Wii rom. I still have it, complete but missing scratch cards from the guide and it'll never leave my collection. It was the last SNES game that particular Walmart had and from what I remember just showed up one day. Buried in the stock room perhaps!

[wiggyx]

Quite a shame. NES is still reasonable, though, for the most part. I just resigned myself to not picking up Hagane or Super Turrican 2 for a while. Hopefully, they'll be a game crash. Otherwise, I may never pick them up.

Yup, same here :( Along with Wild Guns, Metal Warriors, and a few others that have just become outrageously pricey.

[FrankSerpico]

Unfortunately I think the "crash" as far as prices was around 4 years ago when the economy tanked. Most prices on anything from the 16 or 8 bit era seem to have been steadily rising for the past two years or so

[vrikkgwj]

Unfortunately I think the "crash" as far as prices was around 4 years ago when the economy tanked. Most prices on anything from the 16 or 8 bit era seem to have been steadily rising for the past two years or so

I remember paying $90 for EB complete in the box with the guide on eBay about 6 years ago. I thought that it was an insanely high price, but compared to now...

Yeah, it's crazy. I love Earthbound, though. It's my favorite game of all time, and I want as many people to play it as possible - I just wish the buy in cost wasn't so high.

[M.Buster2184]

Earthbound and MUSHA were two games that taught me an important lesson:

If you like a game, or don't like a game now but think it may grow on you, or liked it once but changed your mind but it still has a little value to you... basically, unless you absolutely loathe a game, never ever give away, trade away or sell ANY game you have that you like. Because when you want to play it again, it'll be fucknormously expensive and probably impractical. In fact, buying Earthbound again is why I've made a rule now against buying more games that weren't planned purchases--I have to save up for awhile to make up for the financial hit.

MUSHA might be the last game I take that kind of plunge for, but I'm honestly hoping the market for 16-bit games just plain crashes instead (or if someone is willing to sell me the Japanese version for far less).

I've contemplated selling Earthbound. Somewhere in my mind I think if I sell it for a lower than average price it would help bring down the high price people continue selling it for, but I know I'm being delusional. On the other hand, a lot of you are making me reconsider selling it. Maybe in a couple years I'll try playing it again, and I can only imagine I'd have a hell of a time tracking it down.

[Tanooki]

With a game at the price it is, and definitely looking not to go down due to herd level stupidity abound, if you have even the slightest of worries or doubts don't sell it as you'll regret it. I know I did after letting go of my second copy so I just wrote it off until I accidentally bumped into a $2 copy of it last year in a pile of clothes. Sure I really could use the dough, and I'd probably enjoy another expensive game more in the same general price range but it just feels wrong so I keep it.

[Polygon]

I'm in the same boat, save for the fact that I don't own a copy. I've tried playing it and I can't get into it either. I was pretty disappointed since everyone said it was such a great game. I just look at it this way, it just means that I'll have more money to spend on games I know I want.

[Edmond Dantes]

I've contemplated selling Earthbound. Somewhere in my mind I think if I sell it for a lower than average price it would help bring down the high price people continue selling it for, but I know I'm being delusional. On the other hand, a lot of you are making me reconsider selling it. Maybe in a couple years I'll try playing it again, and I can only imagine I'd have a hell of a time tracking it down.

Really about the only way I could see Earthbound's price crashing is if

1) Some eccentric millionaire buys up ALL the copies offered online.
2) holds them for a month
3) Sells them all for $5 apiece, regardless of condition, BIN.

Yeah, never gonna happen.

[xelement5x]

Really about the only way I could see Earthbound's price crashing is if

1) Some eccentric millionaire buys up ALL the copies offered online.
2) holds them for a month
3) Sells them all for $5 apiece, regardless of condition, BIN.

Yeah, never gonna happen.

I'm confident a digital re-release would definitely impact prices, but that's about as plausible as your scenario apparently :D

[jperryss]

I'm confident a digital re-release would definitely impact prices, but that's about as plausible as your scenario apparently :D

I'd be curious to see if re-releases for Chrono Trigger and FF4/6 have affected prices of the originals. They've been released, what, four times each?

[mightykendar]

Personally, I've always loved Earthbound, although I can certainly see where people might be a bit polarized regarding it. Fortunately, I still have the original copy that my brother and I got in the mid-'90s, so I've never had to worry about dropping a large sum of money on it. I can understand how the excessive hype surrounding a game that people are willing to drop $200+ on might lead to disappointment. I think it's fantastic, though; the quirky humor, pop-culture references, and excellent soundtrack are particular highlights for me.

This reminds me, I haven't played through Earthbound in a couple of years, and it might be just about time to start a new game! :D

[SOL BADGUY]

I love the graphics, theyre so charming, I wish more games looked like it.

[spman]

I'd be curious to see if re-releases for Chrono Trigger and FF4/6 have affected prices of the originals. They've been released, what, four times each?

They have, there was a time when FF3/6 and Chrono Trigger were $80+ titles, now they're worth maybe half that, although Chrono has started to go back up again for some reason. Same thing goes for Final Fantasy 7, following the release of that FF7 movie and the PS2 games, the price peaked at over $100, but has since dropped to around $30.

[Tanooki]

I'd be curious to see if re-releases for Chrono Trigger and FF4/6 have affected prices of the originals. They've been released, what, four times each?

It did for a time when it came out, or at the least halted the growth of their value for a stretch. A great example of a download screwing up the value of a supremely highly sought game was when FF7 was not yet on PSN and people paid like $70+ for the game a few years back, more if it was sealed, even more if it was black label. When the $10 PSN download hit, the game went into the toilet for a couple years coming down into that $20-25 range. Given the rabid blind love Earthbound gets just like the irrational love FF7 gets from all the media brainwashing Sony/Square did in the day I think you'd see a similar effect. Both have rabid supporters, both aren't the prettiest to look at, and both are mediocre titles so perhaps it would have a correlating dip in price.

[Mzo]

It's a well-known secret that Earthbound really isn't the best RPG ever.

It's charming and pretty unique, though. Not worth anywhere near the $200 that the 40+ auctions up on eBay at any given time (zomg rare!1!) would have you believe.

[M.Buster2184]

I definitely remember Chrono Trigger being in the $60-$80 range, now I feel like if you look hard enough you can find it in the $40-$50 range. I'm sure the DS release didn't help with the value. As far as Earthbound, is it really selling for $200? That seems ludicrous. I though it was going for around $100.

[Videogamerdaryll]

$50.00 Shipped

I actually had to try,test this game when I had a copy in hand as I might not have the chance again..and ,well..It wasn't worth the Big Bux it goes today for,.. in Gameplay................. but I enjoyed the game...

I would not mind having the worst,banged up copy just to play it again..

and it's a type game I don't usually play...

[eskobar]

I had the game and I really really enjoyed every whacky detail about the game. My sister would love to have one and play it, but at 200 usd ... it can't happen.

If you wanna help a 22 year old gal and you still have the game and want to sell it, please think about her :)

nice thread