This game stinks!
At the time of its release, Earthbound was a game unlike any of the others that came before it. Sure, it includes familiar Role-playing elements such as leveling up and collecting gear, but it does not use the same fantasy-oriented RPG setting that we've become all too familiar with.
Instead of a hackneyed storyline including an orphaned hero in a small village we have Ness: the son of a loving, supportive mother and father. Occasionally, Ness's dad will call him in the middle of a long play session and remind you that taking a break is a good idea, and don't go for too long without speaking to mom or he'll get home sick (I was stricken with it at the absolute worst of times). When fighting angry people or animals, you don't kill them. Instead, Ness assists them in shrugging off the influence of Giygas, an ancient archfiend living in the planet. As a reward for your good deeds, Ness's father deposits money into his bank account.
Some of Earthbound's supporting characters are exceptionally unusual: how many other games come to mind where a man is transformed into a dungeon? Throughout the game many such memorable characters are employed. You'll never forget the first time someone stops to take your photograph and instead of having you say "Cheese!", asks you to say, "Fuzzy pickles!"
Part of the original advertising for this game included scratch-and-sniff post cards that read "This game stinks!" (And boy, did they ever!) I remember when I first saw them turn up in an issue of Nintendo Power, and I was immediately intrigued by a game that didn't boast about how many "exciting" features it had. Upon playing it I realized, a game of this caliber speaks for itself--volumes more than I could ever hope to accomplish in praising it.
The only part of this game that stinks is the end (not the ending mind you, just the fact that there's nothing else to do after you beat it). Nintendo gave up on Earthbound 64 and since that time I haven't heard a peep on whether or not the vastly underrated game would be resurrected. File this one under 'cult-classic', pop it into an SNES near you, and spend a good 50 or 60 hours wallowing in nostalgia.
Normally this is the point where I'd recommend everyone play this game but you know what? Forget what I've been saying this entire review. Lets face it, this game stinks.