A 1994 Super Nintendo RPG by Ape and HAL Laboratory in which a boy named Ness fights alien tyrant Giygas using PSI powers, baseball bats, and household items.
Setting
EarthBound, known in Japan as Mother 2, abandons the medieval JRPG palette in favor of small-town America. Burger Shop, hippies, and Magicant make up the comic and surreal landscape.
Combat
Battles use a rolling-HP meter, letting players outrun lethal damage before it ticks down. Enemy menus include cultists, hippies, and the obscure Mr. Saturn race.
Legacy
EarthBound’s quirky writing, Penny Arcade-tier humor, and emotional final battle gave it a cult reputation in the West. Ness’s inclusion in Super Smash Bros. introduced the character to a much larger audience.