Would you honestly still choose EarthBound over any other game? Did you ever?

Well... I do like Earthbound, and honestly, this is the only video game site I actually frequent.

As far as other games go, I would usually choose Earthbound over other games, but I mean, comeon, if you have friends over or something you can't really get them into the game, a setback of most RPG's. However, if I need my EB fix, I can easily put aside any other game, no matter how good, and jut sit back and play some EB. That's one of the best parts about the game. Never really gets boring.

I have recently been playing Chronotrigger for the first time, and it is indeed only my third or so RPG. I'm nearly done with it, and it actually rivals EB in terms of enjoyment in my opinion. For now, I'm currently engrosed in the game, and have set aside my EB for a bit. It doesn't appeal to me so much in that it's a tale of monsters and swords, ect. But the storyline is superb and the heroic aspects of the game just make it more appealing to me.

So that takes me back to the main queston, and I would choose some other games over Earthbound.

However, I enjoy knowing that EB has a retentive quality to it that will make me come back for more, no matter how many other games I play or enjoy, they lack that quality of EB to just play it again and again and enjoy everything about it again and again.

Peace out GiS,
Arad

--Arad



Congratulations on writing a Letter of the Week!

YAY! A winner is you, you is a winner, winner is a you. Uoy si renniw a. EarthBound does have that special quality in that it never really gets boring due to the dialogue, the different ways to approach things, and the totally unique EarthBoundishness to which no other game can be compared. Of course, the excitement of a new game and its quality can be more appealing during a given time. I feel I have the exact same view on this situation as Arad in every way, shape and form. By the way, you don’t have to sign your letters. I get the input from the name forum. Just a friendly reminder. ^_^

--GuyInSummers--

Honestly, I probably wouldn't choose to play Earthbound over any other game. For example, when the new Zelda game comes out, I'd much rather play that than beat Earthbound AGAIN! However, that will pass (eventually) and I'll settle back into my homeostasis of school and play my other games that aren't as single-storylined. This is exactly what happened with Pikmin and Sonic GCN.

Here's where Earthbound comes in. Earthbound seems to be the only linear game that I really, truly and honestly enjoy playing over and over. Zelda 64 (Ocarina-o-Time) for example; I now find the very begining boring. If someone handed me a cartridge with a file just past the Forest temple, maybe, I'd love to play it again, because from there on still excites me (Except for maybe the final battle(s)). Earthbound, I'd say I'm into it by the second time you go to the meteroite, which is only 3 minutes into play time, which is no big deal. So in conclusion, There are many games I'd rather play at any given time over Earthbound, but Earthbound is where I pay Homige. Kinda like my own personal Mecca. That is, If I were Muslim...

--Bluegoo26



The quality of your letter makes me proud to be the Mailbag person. You came within a Hippie's nose hair of winning Letter of the Week this week. As was just mentioned, a brand new game has a sense of adventure and uniqueness, as one never knows what will happen next. The thing with EarthBound is that even though you DO know, it's still fun!

~GiS

When I first meet people, whether online or in person, the conversation usually steers to "What is your favorite ______?", because this helps you to get to know each other. I always try to find a way to let the person know that Earthbound is my favorite game. I was obsessed with it 5 years ago, and I still am. I would even choose it over a potential friendship (maybe not, but this kind of happened). My roommmate (who I got along with splendidly) of 1.5 years got kicked out of the dorms because of some, err, illegal substances that he regularly partook in. Anyway, last semester I got a NEW roommate, and from the start I didn't like him. However, I decided to give him a chance, because I hadn't liked my first roommate in the beginning either. For about 3 weeks I was unsure about this new roommate, I couldn't decide whether I liked him or disliked him, because it would vary. I mean, he was very arrogant and sure of himself, but sometimes he could be allright. One day I started playing Earthbound again, and he walked into the room, looked at the television set for 5 seconds, and then proclaimed "This is SOO gay." Instantly, I was completely certain that I REALLY did not like him. My opinion was reinforced a week later. He was talking to his friend in our room, and he told him "Yeah, that game looks like it MIGHT be decent, but the graphics suck and the music is horrible." I love the music, so again, I was sure that I didn't like him. The rest of the semester proved to me that I was right, he was a bad person who cared little about people and their feelings...he was just the classic jerk. In this case Earthbound proved to be a valid indicator. Anyway, the semester ended, we said our goodbyes, both knowing we would never try to see each other again, and I haven't seen him since. But I know that one day, when both our lives have ended, I will be sitting in Heaven playing Earthbound, and he will be in that fiery world beneath us doing the same. :-)

--DaisukeKoushiro



Well, I can't say for sure that this person will burn in $!^@ for disliking EarthBound. However, I CAN tell you that your Mailbag letter was incredily well written and enjoyable to read. However, I realized after I had read it that thought it was long and had perfect grammar, it wasn't quite the solid answer Arad had. But don't give up! Keep trying, and I'm positive you'll win soon.

~GiS

Would I honostly choose EarthBound over any other game? You REALLY want me to honostly say what I feel? No. I wouldn't. There, I said it. I would not choose EarthBound over EVERY other game in existance. That doesn't mean I love it any less, however. It just means that I've found a new favorite. Everyone's fave game changes--before EarthBound I loved Shining Force 2...

But did I ever choose EarthBound over another game? Yes, I did. I chose EarthBound over Zelda: A Link to the Past, Phantasy Star 4, Super Mario RPG, Mega Man X, Mega Man 7, and Chrono Trigger. I was on going to spend the night with my cousin, who also owned an SNES. I had the choice of ONE game I could take with me, and I chose EarthBound. Why? Because EarthBound is my favorite SNES game. It always will be. It gave me a feeling that few games have been able to emulate. The first time I had that 'special feeling' about a game. I'm sure we all know what feeling I'm referring to.

I'm not afraid to say that EarthBound isn't my fave anymore, but there will always be a place in my gamer's heart for the little RPG that's given me such pleasure while playing. Thank you and good night.

--Magnus



Whoa, how did you know it was nighttime here? Are you watching me? Are you in my room? Where are you? I always KNEW you were watching me! That psychiatrist was wrong! HELP ME!

...here, we see the other side of the spectrum. Almost a sort of, “EB, thanks for all the good times and memories” while accepting there are bigger or better things. At least that’s the vibe I got. Forgive me if I’m way off.

~GiS

Would you honestly still choose EarthBound over any other game? This question to many people should be nothing short of a joke! Earthbound defied the laws of Rpgs and its story was amazing! while people were battling out over "territory" and middle age things. Earthbound, brandished a completly new standard ( to me!) This game i would by ten times over. i searched for a long time for mine, and if anyone ever asks me what game to play, i smile and say " My friend, i have a buddy you should meet, he is thirteen, and carries a bat, his name is ness, and he has saved the world"

--NessTheHero



That’s funny, I have that same friend! Have we met? I’m also friends with this little Italian plumber who travels to far away kingdoms to save them from the menace of deadly turtles. Oh, you know him too? We obviously know each other. Anyhow, here we have the complete polar opposite of what we read above. I like different opinions.

~GiS

It's actually funny you have this topic because this situation actually happened with me recently. I just got Mario Sunshine for my B-Day and instead of playing it I instead played EB0 on my PC till 3 AM. Then when i woke up i continued playing it until I finaly beat it, for the first time! Only then after beating EB0 could I proceed onto the not as important brand spanking new Game.

--New Age Retro Poo



Actually, something similar happened to me too. I got Mario Sunshine, and I was going to play it, but while I was waiting for my sister to leave the Nintendo I picked up my Game Boy Advance and started playing Super Mario Bros. Deluxe 2, or whichever one it was that had the SNES Mario game on it. Didn’t come back ‘till the next day. Of course when I finally did play SMS I was addicted.

~GiS

Well, earlier this summer I realized I had a whole lot of money to spend.. and since I don't actually have the EarthBound cartridge and have been playing it on an emulator (bad Pancake!) I have been wanting to get it for a long time. So began my HIDEOUS journey to find a place with the cartridge, and no one had it. ANYWHERE!! ::Cries:: So I got a GC and SSBM with all my monies instead.. but now I am in the process of attempting to get EB with the guide and box on Ebay o_O I WILL NOT GIVE UP BWAHAHA!

--Pancake



My pancake’s good. But he isn’t as good as my corn dog.

I wish you luck. Hope you find a good dead on EB. Every good little boy and girl (and every pancake, good or bad) deserves their own copy of EarthBound to love, cherish, and smother with affection.

~GiS

SSBM and ... um ... SSBM?

--SCPH



It’s hard to deny the awesomeness of SSBM. It is perhaps a game I would choose over EB. But not forever. Your second choice is quite good as well.

~GiS

"HEY NOW YOU'RE AN ALL STAR!"

'THIS MUSIC REALLY GETS ME PUMPED!'

*SLAM DUNK, 3 FOOT HOOP!*

"KIDZ BOP R00LZ!!!!!"

...

As for the topic, no, and no. EB's great but gets owned by some other games.

--waffy



As for the song, no, and no. Those songs are great but the kids sound like baby hamsters on helium. Oh, now THAT sounds like a great band. Ph33r t3h h4mst3rz. For those of you that haven’t actually tried inhaling helium, you have to at one point in your life. You really do sound like a chipmunk. …so then why did I say hamster? Oh, well. It isn’t important.

~GiS

I have chosen earthbound far over many games including the entire square line up ( well....except chrono trigger I as well as many can't decide) zelda 1-4, megaman, and Lord of the rings(LOTR actually was a game on snes a good one but entirely destroyed the story line). EarthBound truely has captured my mind and is Beating it over and over with bats consiting of strange battle backgrounds, enemies, PSI, charachters, alking animals, and items. I may never choose a game over EarthBound...unless M3 comes out.... Oh well If I mis-read the topic fill my e-mail with messages consiting entirly of cheese and angry letters.

--Link06215



Unfortunately you didn’t misread it, so I have nothing to do with all the e-cheese was going to stuff into angry emails. Now my outbox smells an open-air provolone market in Arizona. It’s impressive how many games you have let be defeated by the power of Ness and his friends. EarthBound forever!

~GiS

I like to play EarthBound with one hand. I use my left hand to manipulate the directional pad, select, and L, and I get along with the game just fine. But I can never figure out what to do with my right hand while I'm playing. Got any suggestions?

--SimonBob



Pat a monkey. Write your inaugural address for when you become President. Eat pizza in the morning, pizza in the evening, pizza at suppertime. Wave to your grandmother. Punch a piece of metal. Flush the nearest toilet. Practice singing the national anthem in sign language. Point at things. Move a sock puppet. Invent a perpetual motion device. Tap dance. Fly. Or, you could just rest it on the unused side of your controller. Works for me.

~GiS

Of course! I'd choose it even over Starfox, Metroid Prime, or Sunshine (Shine get!). I've loved it since I got it. I want to build an Earthbound Shrine...

--Michael



EarthBound shrine... I have a bad / good feeling that’s been done... many times. Shine get!

~GiS

Maybe, but I honestly think Super Mario sunshine was a little bit more fun when I played it for the first time.
by the way, EARTHBOUND IS YOUR GOD, but you already knew that. :)

--OmniPenguin



If EarthBound was my God, I would consider seeing a small, fat green caterpillar a miracle. However, seeing as that I have a phobic fear of most insects, chances are this unfortunately is not the case. How disappointing.

~GiS

Of course!!! Earthbound is the best!!! Of course, if the new one does come out I won't be able to play it but I'll buy the game none the less in hopes of finding a more rich friend who has the system it comes out on...

You can never replace a classic like Earthbound. All the beatle references and the likes, it was the best of it's time and it's my favorite game. It was the only game I bothered to try and finish.

--oni-chan



We all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine. Good old EarthBound. One of the elements I found truly great about EarthBound is that the game truly grew with me. The first time I played, I laughed at the fart jokes and general insanity. I quickly understood the puns and popular jokes being thrown around. By the time I had the game for a year or so, I caught a lot of the plays on words and clever irony. I’ve been with EB for a long, long time.

~GiS

Yay! Yay! More great goodness! I was very pleased with the outcome of this week's Mailbag. I got some incredible responses, my usual amount of submissions, and saw great potential. Keep up the good work, everybody! I mean it! You all rule. This is happy Mailbag dude-type person, signing off. Now, for some Super Mario Sunshine, followed by EarthBound. Yum.