Story behind "Earthbound 0?"

[Ninja Blacksox]

So my friend and I have been debating something... I've always thought that the Nintendo World Championships 1990 cartridge is considered the trul "holy grail" of NES cartridge collecting... However, my buddy seems to think that a prototype, english-language port of the Japanese "Mother" takes the cake... Can anybody tell me the story behind this game? I'm well aware that no versions of the "Earthbound" franchise hit U.S. shores until the release of the SNES RPG with the ginormous box... Anybody care to step in and settle this thing for me? Thanks very much!

-Dave

[Daria]

Earthbound for the NES was going to be released in America but the project was scraped at the last minute. A finished prototype cartridge does exist (ok according to RPGclassics.com a couple prototypes), sold for lots of money in an auction (probably ebay), the rom community (Demiforce) gathered up some funds ($400) and paid the new owner of this one of a kind game for the rights to dump the ROM image and pass it out over the internet.

That's basically the story anyway.
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[portnoyd]

The story can and will differ depending on who you ask, as will their opinion on if the original proto is legit.

The NWC is still the NES Holy Grail.

dave

[norkusa]

I know the kid that originally bought the Earthbound proto (for $1,000 *AFTER* it was already dumped). 5 or 6 years ago, I traded him something like 40-50 boxed NES games for a mint & complete Bubble Bath Babes. His old web site is still up too and has the story of how he bought the cartridge. Check it out:

http://www.fossilweb.com/Nintendo/earthbou.htm

And I agree with Portnoyd, the NWC is the true Holy Grail of the NES.

[SoulBlazer]

I never did finish playing Earthbound Mother. It's hard to figure out, and I got stuck soon in.

[goatdan]

Considering that Earthbound Zero is a prototype game and the NWC carts were actually "produced" for all practical purposes the NWC carts are the holy grail.

Earthbound Zero suffers from the fact that it isn't laid out quite as nicely as Earthbound and it is easier to get stuck. I've played it for a few hours and I love it just like I love Earthbound, but I have wandered around a lot in Zero and not really known what I was doing. Regardless, it would have been an awesome addition to the NES line up, even if the graphics weren't Super Mario Brothers 3 quality...

And I still want my stupid Earthbound 64! That's the only reason I bought the stinking N64!

And... There is supposed to be a GBA game that will be released rather soon of the original Earthbound and Earthbound Zero on the same cartridge :D Might actually pick myself up a GBA just for that!

[EnemyZero]

nintendo did say last year a new EB game for GC was being talked about, but who knows

[Daria]

even if the graphics weren't Super Mario Brothers 3 quality...

I really wish people wouldn't make comparisons like that. Earthbounds graphics aren't "bad" they're stylized to look like a child's drawings. In that sense I think Earthbound has wonderful graphics because they fit the atmosphere of the game perfectly.
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[goatdan]

even if the graphics weren't Super Mario Brothers 3 quality...

I really wish people wouldn't make comparisons like that. Earthbounds graphics aren't "bad" they're stylized to look like a child's drawings. In that sense I think Earthbound has wonderful graphics because they fit the atmosphere of the game perfectly.

I stated that not because that is what I think of the graphics, but only to state Nintendo's "reason" for not releasing Earthbound Zero on North American shores.

I adore the graphical quality of both games and wouldn't want them to have changed that at all.

[Jorpho]

And... There is supposed to be a GBA game that will be released rather soon of the original Earthbound and Earthbound Zero on the same cartridge :D Might actually pick myself up a GBA just for that!

If I am not mistaken, said game has been out for many months at this point.

It will be OK that Nintendo did not bring it to North America, so long as they do not do the same with Mother 3.

[chrisbid]

Regardless, it would have been an awesome addition to the NES line up, even if the graphics weren't Super Mario Brothers 3 quality...




slightly off topic, but am i the only one that thinks that Mario 2 looked better than mario 3?

back on topic, the NWC is still the holy grail, in that it was actually produced and given to people outside of Nintendo

[goatdan]

If I am not mistaken, said game has been out for many months at this point.

It will be OK that Nintendo did not bring it to North America, so long as they do not do the same with Mother 3.

:eek 2:

Nintendo better bring it out over here!!! I've been looking forward to it big time! That's really crummy news. :( At least I didn't but a GBA yet because of it.


slightly off topic, but am i the only one that thinks that Mario 2 looked better than mario 3?

I personally thought that Mario 2 played horribly (which I know is not shared by everyone, but is what I think) and because of that alone I do feel like Mario 3 has nicer graphics.