I'm having so much fun with this game, and I can't even read Japanese!
So what is the plot? How should I know? I can't read Japanese! But I will tell you what I have so far from translations and cutscenes. It seems that pig-like aliens are trying to make robotic hybrids out of animals on Earth. This game shares many elements with the cancelled Earthbound 64, which shows just how much Itoi wanted this story to be put in his game.
Instead of having one long story, there are many "chapters". With each chapter you play as a different party. In one chapter you control Flint and his dog Boney, in another you play as a theif trying to raid a haunted castle, in another you play as Sarusa the monkey along with his owner, some random rich merchant guy who loves his shock collar remote control. In each chapter, there is also a different "mini-story", as you have probably figured out by now. I was almost in tears in the first chapter, I won't tell you why in order to not spoil it for you.
But Mother 3 has its fair share of the quirkiness that is the hallmark of the Earthbound series. Dragqueens help you in various ways, the pig army suffers plenty of slapstick, and once you've seen Wes dance in chapter 2, you can't go back.
Now lets review why we want Mother 3 in the first place, the battles! The battles take you back. Scrolling health metres, backgrounds that remind you of your "experimenting" in high school, as well as the same victory fanfare music. However, the battle has a new twist, combos. When your character attacks, you hear a little tune. By pressing A at the right moments in a rhythm, you can keep that tune going and make a flurry of attacks. And of course, PSI makes a return, but you can't use it until well into the 2nd chapter. Unlike some Square Enix games, the battles aren't tedious, at least in my opinion. The many unique features of the battling system will keep you hooked.
The graphics are like they should be. The quality of the original Earthbound, but with more frames in each animation. While not the best graphics the GBA can display, these kinds of graphic just scream Earthbound.
Sound is the best you can get on the GBA. The music is excellent and suits with whatever events have or are occurring. One particular area has over 5 different songs, and that was counted at the 3rd chapter.
If Nintendo ever decides to release this game in English, GET IT. If you are really desperate, import it from Japan. If you are really, really, really desperate, you can downlo... well, lets not go there. However, this game is definitely one you can't miss out on.
Unfortunately, Nintendo thinks that many of us don't care about this series. They imported Fire Emblem and some other great Japanese-oriented franchises, so why not this? The only thing keeping me from giving this game a 10 is the language barrier. Did you hear that, Nintendo of America? Please release Mother 3 to us in all its English-language glory.
You can say Mother 3 is like Twilight Princess. Its a title that could save a whole console. The GBA is on its death bed, but it could go out with a bang, like the Gamecube, if NOA would just see the light and let us share Mother 3's sublimity with those in the land of the rising sun.