This week's mailbag topic:

Super Smash Bros.: Melee news, and how EB will be represented in the game.

Got lots of letters about SSB:M. I read all of them. But I obviously can't post them all. Read the comments of visitors, and the tired replies from me.

Well, I really like the 1 player mode Idea. I thought it would be more like I've seen in Melee when I heard about the minigames of SSB. I can't wait to see how Ness will be featured in this way. I can imagine him running through the Starman Base, zapping a golden starman just to see it fade away and me cursing. It'll rock both mine and Alex*'s socks.



I read on Nintendo.com that there's going to be a more indepth one player mode. It'd be similar to a sidescrolling adventure, so we'll just have to see. And keep your socks stories to yourself.

- EBounding

I think this big time around, Ness will be a main character. Mr. Saturn will be the secret hidden character this time around. Since many people liked Ness in SSB, then he will have a lot more options/moves/special-moves this time around. Personally, I think that if Ness gets even more popular through this game, then Nintendo may remake EB64 into EBGC...or something. Why would they showcase a character if it was never to be even seen?



Ness does have at least one extra move right now, with all the others being the same. And the way I see it, if we see an upcoming "Ice Climbers" Gamecube game, it's pretty likely we'll see EarthBound again.

- EBounding

Hey, EBounding happy you got a new job. Also I think that SSB:melee is just what SM.net needed the forums (and site) are buzzing. From what I've seen there is alot of EB stuff up in SSB:M so that is good.



Yes the SSB:M news gave the site a good kick in the pants (and that's good). You can thank Tomato for the insane amounts of SSB:M updates. I think it's amazing how there's always something that comes up to get the "community" moving again.

- EBounding

Yeah, I know you guys are probably sick of me saying how much fun it was to play SSBM while all you get are some little movies of game footage, but I just want to talk a little more.

Okay, SSBM is great. The only 3 things that could make it better would be...

1: Larger fighting areas.
2: Semi-larger B button.
3: A character roster larger then Gaurdian Heros, but that probably won't happen.

About the EB characters, I know Ness can't be the only one. And since he is now a normaly selectable character, Mr. Saturn is an item, and Onnet is a level, the probability of there being EB secret characters increases dramaticaly. If there won't be any more playable EB characters, I can assure you there will at least be collectible EB tropies.



That was from "eduD edisnooM" who provided the site with lots of exclusive footage and information from E3 regarding SSB:M. Thanks again for the info!

- EBounding

Super Smash Melee...where do I begin? I don't own an N64, so my experience with Super Smash is VERY limited. However, I have seem my friends whoop my butt seriously every time they use Ness. And now, a sequel for the GAMECUBE comes out? Three points.
1.Ness looks AWESOME. We all have seen the great graphics capabilities of the GAMECUBE, but Ness excells even what I could think.
2.Okay, a fight in Onett? Now THAT is cool. I think that Saturn Valley or Fourside would be a better choice, but why not the hometown of our favorite hero?
3.What does that Mr. Saturn have to do with anything? Hopefully a playable character, but even if it is just a cameo...

So let's all keep our fingers crossed and hope I can log enough hours to hold my own in SSB 1.



Actually, we're fairly certain that Fourside IS in fact a level. Check it out here. And as for Mr. Saturn, he seems to be a rare item, that you can throw. Not very useful, but they'll probably give him a more meaningful purpose once the game is released.

- EBounding

Ever since SSBM was announced, I haven't been able to tear myself from my computer, because I've been waiting and waiting for more info. Slowly I've been getting it. Perhaps I SHOULD tear myself away today: I do have an exam... But then, I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it, and most of you answers would be Ness and Mr.Saturn related! All those Mr.Saturns wandering around... my head is spinning! What will be next, huh, WHAT WILL BE NEXT?!?!?



Do like I do, and take your Mr. Saturn shaped Prozac. DoInG!

- EBounding

I can't wait until SSBM comes out. Finally another game that has Ness. With Mother 3 being canceled and no new Mother game in development, I seriously doubted that they would add him to SSBM. The best I could hope for is that maybe they are adding him because they are secretly working on a new Mother game:D



It's a conspiracy I tell you. A clever underhanded marketing tactic. Or they could have embellished Ness in there because he's neat.

- EBounding

I think that this is great news for the Earthbound Community. The addition of Ness to SSBM means that there is still hope for Mother 3's release in SOME form.. if nothing more, we still have a 3d Ness and Mr. Saturns. Lets just hope that Nintendo of Japan has SOME dignity and will release Mother 3 in a new form.



Lots of people are thinking that this is a sign to hype a new EB game. This could be true, but even if it isn't, I'm sure SSB:M will be a great game.

- EBounding

I think Melee looks awsome. When I saw the video for it(on the SSBM section in this site) I kept watching it over and over. Anyway, I think that EarthBound will be featured quite a lot, probably to make it up to us for cancelling Mother 3 (Doh!). I was starting to think gamecube was gonna be stupid even though I'm a hardcore Nintendo fan. But now, I'm buying it for sure. I really can't say everything I want to say, so I'm done.



I didn't have to much intrest in the Gamecube until I heard about this. I'm sure a lot of other people feel the same way.

- EBounding

I think I know why Ness's Dad tells you to turn the "power off, instead of just pushing reset". Remember how the old NES games used to tell you to hold in reset while turning the power off, or you might lose your saves? I think that Ness's Dad is supposed to be poking fun at that, but I may be wrong. Also, I just noticed something a little while ago. I've never seen a banner on your site. How does your site stay alive without sponsors? Do you run it off of donations or something? Anyway...keep on EB'n, everyone!

-Kutan the Moogle



I chose this letter to give some variety. Mother and Mother 2 are very similar, and an aspect such as that is just one of the many similarities you'll see in the game. And as for site sponsors, we're currently being funded heavily by our "Money-god" "staffer", Giovanni. Without his exceptionally generous donations, the site would be having a lot more financial problems. So go thank him, or something.

- EBounding