The Joys Of Spreading Earthbound
This is my first article. Let's hope it's a good one. In this article I am going to write about spreading Earthbound awareness to the gaming community. I have had one experience of this that stands out in particular; my little sister. I have been playing RPG�s for a long time. I started with a really old game for NES called "Dragon Warrior"; I was about 7 years old at the time. Through the years of my gaming I realized quickly that RPG games were my favorite type. I always used to explain them as being a bit like reading a book; they usually had many characters and complex storyline that you can look forward to and follow along. I also remember the first time I was lucky enough to have Earthbound spread to me by a good friend. I even remember seeing Earthbound in the stores. All I remember is seeing a big expensive box with lots of colours. I didn't pay much attention to it because I didn't have a SNES at the time.
Three years ago I was (and still am) an avid player of Super Smash Bros. For the N64. I remember seeing Ness after I got him and wondering who he was. A year or so later my friend kept talking about a game he borrowed off of one of his buddies called "Earthbound". He said "Remember Ness from smash bros.? That's what game he is off of, Earthbound". He kept saying how fun and good the game was and I finally decided I wanted to see it. After all, it was an RPG that I hadn't tried. So one night when my parents were away, I invited him and his SNES over to my house. We sat in my room playing Magic: The Gathering for a few hours when the subject of Earthbound came up. We forgot all about Earthbound, our minds were on sorcery spells and magical creatures. We decided to go downstairs and hook up the SNES and play Earthbound. He let me start a new game and I remember me thinking the naming sequence right at the start was really cool (If you listen really carefully when the messed up music and sounds comes on when naming Ness, you can hear the beginning of the Monty Python theme music!). We had lots of fun that night what with the comedy of some of the lines ("Let's blow this popsicle stand!") and Ness with his bed head. That's the unique thing about Earthbound; it can be really funny and goofy but serious and enthralling at the same time. Whenever I recall the night when Earthbound was spread to me, I always think of Ness in his pajamas looking into the starry night sky of the Onett suburbs. I don't know why, but that image sure is burnt in the back of my head.
My little sister has never really taken much interest in my video games. Every time I ask her if she wants to start a file in one she either doesn't want to or does and loses interest fast. She would watch my progress through Chrono Trigger with some excitement, but that's about it. However, when she saw me playing Earthbound, she actually asked me if she could start a file. I said "sure" and went over to a friend's house for the night. When I got back the next day she came downstairs and said "Hey! I beat belch!". I was amazed that she made it this far in the game over one night let alone play one of my RPGs for more than ten minutes! Soon it was "Hey Geoff! I'm in Moonside!", and before long she beat the game. I was really surprised that she took interest in one of my golden favorites. Is it because Ness and the gang are kids and she could relate to them? Who knows. The other day I heard her telling a bunch of her little friends all about Earthbound and they were soon outside playing with bats and yo-yos. I felt very satisfied at this, it feels good to spread the awareness of a gem such as Earthbound, especially with all the hype of new systems and games nowadays. I'm sure I am not alone on this, I bet there are many people here that have experienced the joys of spreading Earthbound.
This is my first article. Let's hope it's a good one. In this article I am going to write about spreading Earthbound awareness to the gaming community. I have had one experience of this that stands out in particular; my little sister. I have been playing RPG�s for a long time. I started with a really old game for NES called "Dragon Warrior"; I was about 7 years old at the time. Through the years of my gaming I realized quickly that RPG games were my favorite type. I always used to explain them as being a bit like reading a book; they usually had many characters and complex storyline that you can look forward to and follow along. I also remember the first time I was lucky enough to have Earthbound spread to me by a good friend. I even remember seeing Earthbound in the stores. All I remember is seeing a big expensive box with lots of colours. I didn't pay much attention to it because I didn't have a SNES at the time.
Three years ago I was (and still am) an avid player of Super Smash Bros. For the N64. I remember seeing Ness after I got him and wondering who he was. A year or so later my friend kept talking about a game he borrowed off of one of his buddies called "Earthbound". He said "Remember Ness from smash bros.? That's what game he is off of, Earthbound". He kept saying how fun and good the game was and I finally decided I wanted to see it. After all, it was an RPG that I hadn't tried. So one night when my parents were away, I invited him and his SNES over to my house. We sat in my room playing Magic: The Gathering for a few hours when the subject of Earthbound came up. We forgot all about Earthbound, our minds were on sorcery spells and magical creatures. We decided to go downstairs and hook up the SNES and play Earthbound. He let me start a new game and I remember me thinking the naming sequence right at the start was really cool (If you listen really carefully when the messed up music and sounds comes on when naming Ness, you can hear the beginning of the Monty Python theme music!). We had lots of fun that night what with the comedy of some of the lines ("Let's blow this popsicle stand!") and Ness with his bed head. That's the unique thing about Earthbound; it can be really funny and goofy but serious and enthralling at the same time. Whenever I recall the night when Earthbound was spread to me, I always think of Ness in his pajamas looking into the starry night sky of the Onett suburbs. I don't know why, but that image sure is burnt in the back of my head.
My little sister has never really taken much interest in my video games. Every time I ask her if she wants to start a file in one she either doesn't want to or does and loses interest fast. She would watch my progress through Chrono Trigger with some excitement, but that's about it. However, when she saw me playing Earthbound, she actually asked me if she could start a file. I said "sure" and went over to a friend's house for the night. When I got back the next day she came downstairs and said "Hey! I beat belch!". I was amazed that she made it this far in the game over one night let alone play one of my RPGs for more than ten minutes! Soon it was "Hey Geoff! I'm in Moonside!", and before long she beat the game. I was really surprised that she took interest in one of my golden favorites. Is it because Ness and the gang are kids and she could relate to them? Who knows. The other day I heard her telling a bunch of her little friends all about Earthbound and they were soon outside playing with bats and yo-yos. I felt very satisfied at this, it feels good to spread the awareness of a gem such as Earthbound, especially with all the hype of new systems and games nowadays. I'm sure I am not alone on this, I bet there are many people here that have experienced the joys of spreading Earthbound.
