Should a Game Boy Advance EB have new features?

I think EarthBound should definitely be released on the Gameboy Advance. I'm going to college this summer and I packed all of my games away. There are just too many of my brother's friends coming in and stealing old school games that mean so much to me. They have no respect, whatsoever, and games such as my EarthBound, in all its Big-boxed, 2 players guide, mint condition glory will be a devastating blow to me if it were ever to be stolen. I bought this second copy of EarthBound on EBay unopened, since I made the stupid mistake of selling it all those years ago (It's a long story) for about $80. I'm not about to get it stolen. But since I won't be taking my SNES, I would most certainly buy a Gameboy Advance just for EarthBound. It's like I always say: "If EarthBound, Uniracers, or Killer Instinct don't show up on Nintendo's new systems, then I don't want it." EarthBound is definitely that killer app I need to buy a GBA. As far as new features go, I think it should have a "Save Anywhere" feature where you can turn the game on exactly where you left off. Also I'd like to see a 4-player battle mode. You know. Maybe we can see who can effectively use their items and weapons the most. Strategy would be key. Lastly, I would add a 4-player co-op mode. I used to play EarthBound with someone else on the other controller. My friend got two characters and I got two. It was fun. Nintendo would certainly please us hardcore fans of the game and financially, it would be in their best interest. When all is said and done, it's just a port. They've done it with Mario, why not Ness. Oh, and a copy of EarthBound Zero to play through after you beat the game wouldn't hurt either.

--Shiggs the 3RD MiX



Congratulations on writing a Letter of the Week!

Yay, you win! I wish you the best of luck at college. Indeed, the mere portable-ness of EarthBound would add a new life to the gane, and I gaurentee more people will buy it seeings as it's no longer on an old, 'obsolete' system. Now, Save Anywhere would just plain own. However, I think perhaps it would be balanced if you had to purchase something to save away from a phone, or pay money. After all, saving anywhere would make the Scaraba Pyramid of Insane Doom significanly less insane. Depending on what kind of person you are, this could be good or bad. As for 4-player battle, I'm not so keen on the idea, but a co-op mode could be really cool. And who WOULDN'T love EB0 wrapped in the package as well? Anyway, way to go.

Enjoy your branding.
--GuyInSummers--

I think new features would be a great idea, but for EarthBound, they basically aren't nescessary. One thing I would like to see is an easier way to get the Sword of Kings and the Gutsy Bat. All the other "Ultimate Items" in the game are far easier to get. Maybe Starmen DX should drop the Sword of Kings. Also, being able to play the games in the Onett Arcade (and all the other arcades in the game) would be very fun. I'm talking Asteroids and Donkey Kong here. That's what they played in the 90's, right?

If they could manage, a side quest would make the game worthwhile to second time purchasers (the lucky 30 of you out there that own the game for real). The small Valley between Threed and the Dusty Dunes needs a nice cave...

Also, appropriate to a game like EarthBound, a Dialogue Counter should be added. It would tally how many lines you've read from the game. A true EB Master knows what every character can possibly say... or at least someone with lots of time on their hands.

Finally, for the ending, I've always thought too many characters say the same thing. In Happy Happy Village, almost no one changes. Basically, I want my quest to explore the world far and wide after I beat Giygas to be rewarded.

--Fenix



Now THAT's a really cool idea. I'd love to be able to play the games in the arcade. And with a system like Game Boy Advance, that's really a possibility. A dialog counter is great too, and really fits with EarthBound's emphasis on the typical, modern...person. Wow, you have a lot of great opinions. Hopefully there's somebody like you on the developement team!

~GiS

I'm sure we'll all say it should be put on GBA. But as for special features/changes, here's the deal:

There should be none.

I mean, seriously, how many of us played SMW on GBA and found it to be extremely easy. Not to brag, but I completelly beat the game (all levels beat and yoshi coins) in one day. And I didn't lower my standards by using Luigi. I mean, seriously, Luigi is a complete embarrasment. Not only can he jump two screen lengths, but he wiggles his feat like the slide-and-jump trick in Super Mario 3. Plus, whenever you get hit by anything as Fire/Cape Mario you turned into Super Mario instead of going back to being tiny. Your reserve item doesn't even fall until you get hit as Super Mario. I can't tell you how mad I would get when I had a feather in reserve, got hit and became Super Mario, then grabbed a feather, turning my reserve into a mushroom.

I could rant all day, but it's obvious SMW was made easier on the GBA. EarthBound should not have a simuliar fate.

Now, Zelda: LttP on the GBA is a different matter. From what I can tell, it's a direct port of the SNES classic. This made me feel warm and tingly inside. They can add all the multiplayer games they want, but as long as the port remains exactly the same, I'm happy.

Who am I kidding, I'd still buy an EarthBound GBA port even if they messed it up with kiddie changes.

--Vinic



I agreed the first time I read your letter, but then I accidently beat the Forest Fortress without getting all the Yoshi Coins. Thank goodness that...well, I shouldn't spoil anything. I don't really think much of Luigi, except that it's very easy to accidently type "Lugia" instead of "Luigi". Hmm...Lugia in a platform game...

...wouldn't work. Cool, but impossilbe. Oh, right, topic.

An unchanged EarthBound WOULD give me a warm fuzzy feeling, but like you said, I'd still buy it if they gave the whole thing a pink color scheme, make Paula hit on Jeff, and made Giygas into Tinky Winky.

~GiS

Well, I would be very happy if some extra goodies were added it, but if it were released on the GBA, I think it would just be a straight port. However, if additions were to be made, I would like the battle scenes to be re-done (they were fine, but, well, there wasn't much animation in them, except for the PSI). This, I am sure, is very feasible, but I suppose an addition like that would take long to do. Some unlockable features and such could be included, but I can't imagine what they would be. Heck, I'd just be happy if they released the game on the GBA. I am quite hopeful about it.

--SirX-Wolf



Here we have another good solid opinion, and SirX also suggests a direct port. Sounds fine to me. Of course some nice new battle screens really would be cool, cool, cool. I personally believe everybody's best weapons shoudl be unlockable. As great as it feels to see that the Starman Super left a present, I'm not a big fan of rare dropped items.

~GiS

I think that earthbouns should be released on the GBA, and one special feature should be that you can take it anywhere..... wait..... thats what the GBA is for. Perhaps the ability to put it into your backpack, and take it to school.... wait.. thats the same idea as before...... ok one more shot. ...... ...... AHA!!!! you shoul be able to tote in around in your pocke....... AH MAN!!!!! i give up!!

--SolarAsthma



Those are some good ideas there! But personally, I think it should run on a special energy source that stops working after a while. It'd be great for Nintendo's business. Then again, I doubt Nintendo would be the ones selling this energy source. Oo, and a little slot where you can plug in a light! Yes! YES! HURRAY FOR TOTALLY ORIGINIAL IDEAS!

~GiS

No.

--No



I finally understand why those opinion questions on your homework always add "Why or why not?".

~GiS

If i had a GBA I would cause it would be awesome cause to see like new towns and stuff. But i think in the game you should make a sk8boarding area in Summers where Ness can do a Tony Hawk Sk8ing session and you have to win to get a prize!! That would be sweet!

--JAXX & HITEK COMIX



Actually, I really, really like the idea of new towns. As long as they keep the old ones. As for the skating...you can always go play Tony Hawk's Pro Skateboarder if you want Tony Hack skate session action.

~GiS

It would be cool if it was on the GBA, because then it would have features like item-trading, or battling against your friends (or enemies ;)). Since Earthbound is becoming more popular (SSB, SSB:M), it'll hopefully make a lot of money and inspire Itoi to make more EB games. Who wouldn't want that?

--Kappo



We see a very popular opinion here. However, I daresay these opinions are mostly inspired by Pokémon. The difference is that Pokémon has 251 creatures with almost 255 attacks and 17 types to match up, along with each individual creature's six base stats and six DV's...while EarthBound has Ness, Paula, Jeff and Poo. Item trade could be interesting, with the exception of those people who would trade for a Gutsy Bat and start the game with it. But I certainly do agree, EarthBound is sure to sell much better now than it did before.

~GiS

Of course, EB should be released on GBA! I might even actually buy a GBA just to play EB in class! Heh.

Of course, they should add some extra features to increase replay value. One good idea would probably be an official New Game+ mode. Of course the game would become ludicrously easy, but it would make it really easy to play through the game again and absorb the story more easily. Perhaps they could even add a 2nd Quest, much like in the Legend of Zelda for NES. I know that will never happen since the creators would have to be recalled and so much of the game's content would have to be edited, but it would make EB so much cooler.

If the GBA cartridge format is large enough to support two versions of a game, I think they should combine Mother 2 and EB on one cartridge. I think the fact that many PS2 games come with an option to play in English or Japanese is evidence enough that people want to learn Japanese.

I can't think of anything else. :(

--Chibi



Don't be sad, Chibi. You've thought of a good stash of ideas. I wish I could play EB in class too. Unfortunately, one of my teachers I swear has a psychic talent when it comes to rulebreakers. Yesterday, all of a sudden, he correctly called out the names of seven students who thought he hadn't noticed they were chewing gum. So he could probably SMELL my GBA before I got on the bus.

We see here again the suggestion of adding EB and EB0. This would be my personal most wanted feature. I don't know about a New Game +, but a 2nd Quest would rule beyond ruling.

~GiS

I would love for EarthBound to be released on the GBA. It could bring us one step closer to Mother 3. I think that a few features could be added such as a photo album where you could view the different pictures taken throughout the course of the game. I also think that a multiplayer mini-game involveing Mr. Saturns and Foppys would be cool. So in short, EarthBound for the GBA would rock!

--Flying Zamboni 2



Anybody who doesn't think a Mr. Saturn and Tenda Minigame or two wouldn't be the TOTAL heap of coolness can chew my pillow. Awesome idea.

~GiS

I don't believe a new Earthbound game should be released on Game Boy Advance. If anything it should be released on GCN. Why? Well the "generation" that played Earthbound that were addicted, were probably 11-12 at the time Earthbound was released along with younger players with the odd older one playing SNES at the time. Well now years later the still addicted Earthbound players have grown and aged a bit less then a decade. Most of these older addicted Earthbound players dont have game boys and would probably prefer a stationary gaming machine that delivers quality. As most of these "veteran" Earthbound players are in their late teens or early twenties they probably could afford GCN and earthbound. I think an Earthbound for cube would definitley be a system seller. But if released on GBA I might have to pick one up with the system. Also new features would be a must to contain interest. Say for example switching wardrobe or guest tag alongs, whatever. But thats my thoughts and I'm stickin to it.



An interesting judgement, though maybe not completely correct. I played EarthBound the day it was released, and I'm still quite non-old. I suppose college students might actually perfer a portable, while high school kids probably really would rather have it on Gamecube. Now, a wardrobe change is actually a very unique and cool idea. I like it when games pay special details to little things like that.

~GiS

Actually, I would like to see a restoration project on the game. Alot was changed from Mother 2 to Earthbound when it was being translated. I would like to see them put back the things they removed to begin with. I wonder if they put in alcohol instead of coffee and Ness' Nudity in magicant that they took out (Among alot of other things)would they need to give it a different rating?





With some of the changes from Mother 2, I daresay EB would be given a teen rating. Mild language, nudity and alcoholism tend to be the rating board warnings on a lot of R-rated movies. I suppose that when the nudity in question is that of an inch-tall sprite, the rating wouldn't be that harsh. And there's always Lardna cursing Buzz Buzz to...down there.

~GiS

Excellent! Excellent! Truly excelent! Much better than last week! I got so many replies, and they were all so awesome! It was a really hard choice. I hope you'll all keep up the incredibly good work. Remember folks, the Mailbag guy is me, but the Mailbag is all YOU! ...ick, that sounded like a PBS public service announcement or something. Oh well. Until next week!