EarthBound rated by ESRB for the Wii

by Ross Miller { May 2nd 2008 at 5:00PM }

Mother fans, rejoice! EarthBound, also known as Mother 2 and the only game of the series to be released in the US, has been rated by the ESRB for the Wii. While that seems to be a good indication the game is bound for the Virtual Console, we're not going to make that leap without an official confirmation from Nintendo. Besides, given the rabid fan base of the game here, we're half-serious when we say we suspect Nintendo might consider selling the game unchanged for $50 on a disc. We guarantee it would sell like gangbusters.

An ESRB rating is the only outside hurdle the Nintendo-owned property to putting it on the Virtual Console (if that's the route they take). Now wouldn't that make for a clever Mother's Day gift, hm?

[Via VC-Reviews; thanks, Jango311]

Tags: earthbound, esrb, mother, nintendo, virtual-console

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Fernando Rocker @ May 2nd 2008 5:04PM

Mother 3, please =(

Fernando Rocker @ May 2nd 2008 5:06PM

Or any Mother game for the WiiWare instead of the Virtual Console, with updated graphics, like Dr. Mario.

But with a translated Virtual Console version of Mother 3 is enough.

=p

Curtis the Claw:XBL - supapaypamawio @ May 2nd 2008 5:25PM

I could use some more Lucas.

Avoli @ May 2nd 2008 7:55PM

Oh yes please!! It would beat waiting for a translated ROM.

BPM [SSBB: 5026 4120 1186] @ May 3rd 2008 12:06AM

I'd love for the rumor of a "EarthBound DS compilation" to come true. I do a lot of my gaming on my portables (DS and PSP) now, just because of how conveinent they are.

Both MOTHER ("EarthBound Zero") and MOTHER 2 (EarthBound) were officially translated (with the former not being officially released), so the only burden would be translating MOTHER 3. And with Nintendo's crack team of localizers (hurrr), I'm sure that'd be no problem.

FUN FACT: The version of MOTHER on the GBA compilation MOTHER 1+2 is a retranslated version of "EarthBound Zero." EBZ contained a lot of new features (i.e. a run button) and censored graphics not present in the Famicom MOTHER. The GBA version has all of these features and changes.

i_hate_mtv @ May 3rd 2008 10:26AM

Earthbound Wii, with Ness included.

Make it happen, Nintendo.

4MyFriends @ May 3rd 2008 10:45AM

Would never happen, they wouldn't make a profit off it. Hell, this doesn't mean Mother2 is coming to the VC anytime soon.

Paul @ May 3rd 2008 11:22AM

Agreed. Although a release for a good game that didn't get much exposure is great, we would like to see a sequel Nintendo.

Lonecow @ May 2nd 2008 5:05PM

FINALLY!!!!! ABOUT TIME YOU GOT YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR COLLECTIVE ASSES NINTEN....

Oh wait I don't care about Earthbound. Those fans have been rubbing off on me I guess. Good for them.

Fernando Rocker @ May 2nd 2008 5:07PM

"... Oh wait I don't care about Earthbound..."

Whaaa...?

tmacairjordan87 @ May 2nd 2008 5:12PM

I played it on my emulator and I don't see what the big deal is either. I was always more of a chrono trigger and super mario rpg guy.

Eleniel @ May 2nd 2008 5:39PM

Dude. Prophetic space-bee that gives an apocalyptic deathbed speech after being swatted. What more could you ask for?

Yourself @ May 2nd 2008 5:41PM

SMRPG is awesome too, but Earthbound truly deserves its place in video game history. It intoduced or brought to the forefront plenty of clever RPG elements that have been summarily ignored by the Japanese development mainstream.

Unique setting? Check.
Humor? Jesus Christ check, in spades.
No random battles? THANK GOD CHECK.
Auto-fights enemies too weak for you? Check.
Tosses out the tired and lame element system? Check.
David Bowie references? You never thought so, but check.

Any self respecting RPG fan owes it to themself to get this game.

goboColossus @ May 2nd 2008 5:41PM

Themagnificant three! Chrono Trigger, Super Mario RPG, Mother 2 - they work off each other to form the great RPG triangle!

One game could not survive without the other, and one person could not survive having played an incomplete triangle.

Fernando Rocker @ May 2nd 2008 5:44PM

I don't think is a triangle... you missed Secret of Mana and Final Fantasy VI =p

Alex M @ May 2nd 2008 5:54PM

Word.

Lifted 0ne 4l9 (NDF) (MSDF) MKWii 0903-3125-3021 @ May 2nd 2008 6:03PM

Damn right secret of mana belongs in that group thankyou fernando, they need that shit on VC now,that was my favorite RPG of all time man, oh man i'm drooling of secret of Mana and secret of Evermore on VC

Curtis the Claw:XBL - supapaypamawio @ May 2nd 2008 6:09PM

What sucks is that Square will probably never release anything good on VC because they could just rerelease it on DS or PSP for full price and still sell just as much.

BPM [SSBB: 5026 4120 1186] @ May 3rd 2008 12:08AM

Screw Mario RPG. There, I said it.

I am a long time Mario fan, and DO love the game, but screw it. EarthBound is better.

EB or CT, though? Now that's a tough choice.

Hot$auce_Magik @ Jun 20th 2008 1:35PM

BLASPHEMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ May 2nd 2008 5:07PM

Yeah seriously, me too. Huge Ness fan because of Smash, but can't say I'm familiar with this game.

Good to see it looks like some good VC titles are out lately, had a good time with River City Ransom the other night!

Fernando Rocker @ May 2nd 2008 5:10PM

Oh, I recommend you to play EarthBound.

Give it a try on an emulator. You will love it. Well, only if you like RPG's.

=p

Curtis the Claw:XBL - supapaypamawio @ May 2nd 2008 5:30PM

I don't think you can really qualify as a huge Ness fan without even playing the game he's from. That's like saying your a huge Mario fan yet you've never played a Mario game.

Naota @ May 2nd 2008 9:41PM

You heathen! Ah well, whatever, get it on the VC when you get a chance will ya?

Tomoki @ May 2nd 2008 5:09PM

anyone who's anyone has been using the twilight hack to play earthbound on their wii forever. why pay exorbitant rates for the VC version when it's identical to any rom you can find floating around?

Lonecow @ May 2nd 2008 5:13PM

See GTA IV is a bad influence. It is teaching our... bloggers to steal games!

Damn you GTA IV, and WWI target practice dummies. You are all to blame!

Eleniel @ May 2nd 2008 5:39PM

$5 is an exorbitant rate?

StrangeBum @ May 2nd 2008 5:38PM

I don't quite understand why this comment is being so low modded. I personally was excited about the TP hack on the Wii, for more reason than just playing an emulator of course, such as the Linux capabilities and homebrew.

But what's wrong with putting an emulator on the Wii and not paying for the games via Virtual Console?

Or is it low modded because it came off somewhat pretentious?

JakubK666 (Ninja Defence Force) @ May 2nd 2008 5:39PM

Even though you're going to get downgraded to hell, I agree.It's not about legal issues as much as the fact that Nintendo would probably force us to shell out $20 bucks for a ten year old game.

Yourself @ May 2nd 2008 5:45PM

Though plenty of people have differing opinions on the issue, there's a simple answer to "what's wrong with putting an emulator on the Wii and not paying for the games via Virtual Console?"

It's illegal.

Why is that so hard for people to get through their heads? Some people are just uncomfortable with breaking the law, or hell, they just don't want to. I don't get what's so terrible about that.

Lifted 0ne 4l9 (NDF) (MSDF) MKWii 0903-3125-3021 @ May 2nd 2008 6:17PM

yourself,

Law shmaw, just cuz theres a law for something doesnt mean its right, not referring to emulation per say but laws in general, i refuse to conform my life to how uncle sam says i should live it fuck that, there are plenty of bullshit laws out there and if you dont think so your an idiot, and what is this TP hack i havent heard of it before which is surprising.

Yourself @ May 2nd 2008 6:28PM

As well-articulated and intelligently delivered as your point may be, you'll note that it in no way conflicts with what I said. I said "Some people are just uncomfortable with breaking the law, or hell, they just don't want to. I don't get what's so terrible about that." Some people as in not everyone. As in I'm not condemning either side, I just don't understand why some idiots think that some laws are empirically unjust and should be completely ignored.

tmacairjordan87 @ May 2nd 2008 7:53PM

I kinda have a double standard in pirating games. I don't mind doing it for old games like SNES and even N64 games cause they're not being sold new in stores therefore it's not hurting the company by pirating them, only stores like gamestop (whom I enjoy hurting, even if it's just a little).

I won't do it for new games though.

eomalley @ May 2nd 2008 5:11PM

I hope this happens, either for the VC or as a game. I played this game back on the SNES but never got far. I really want to play it again.

Mr Khan @ May 2nd 2008 5:12PM

Finally. One of the last three VC games i plan on purchasing (unless Nintendo acts on their study of the memory shortage), aside from Master System Shinobi and Majora's Mask

However, my overcrowded gaming schedule is somewhat bothered by this

Fernando Rocker @ May 2nd 2008 5:14PM

I want Super Mario RPG... but I would prefer a DS version.

I want to fight against the Axem Rangers again =p

samfish @ May 2nd 2008 5:13PM

This game is amazingly charming and engaging, and I've only seen/played a little bit of it. I'd definitely download it if it ever came to the VC.

Now then, let's work on getting Illusion of Gaia up next, shall we, Nintendo?

Fernando Rocker @ May 2nd 2008 5:15PM

Oh yes, Illusion of Gaia is amazing. That game brings me so many nice memories.

=)

Curtis the Claw:XBL - supapaypamawio @ May 2nd 2008 5:33PM

Illusion of Gaia was pretty good, I remember playing that on the SNES forever. I don't think I ever beat it though:(

Fernando Rocker @ May 2nd 2008 5:39PM

I did finished Illusion of Gaia. But there's a game I didn't beat: Secret of Mana =(

Curtis the Claw:XBL - supapaypamawio @ May 2nd 2008 5:41PM

AAAAHHHHHH I've been sitting on the edge about buying a new PSP after I sold my old one due to lack of games. I think I need to get one though for some portable Illusian of Gaia and Secret of Mana.

Tuatara @ May 2nd 2008 5:58PM

Samfish, I've always found you witty and humorous, but now that I know you like Illusion of Gaia, I think I love you.

Sesur @ May 2nd 2008 7:47PM

anyone beat Secret of Evermore? I loved that game.

McCartier @ May 2nd 2008 5:19PM

no thanks. mother 3 please.

eldee @ May 2nd 2008 5:19PM

one of my favorite games of all time.. i still remember all the magazine articles with screenshots of Earthbound 64 (that never saw the light of day)..

(here's a youtube of an Earthbound 64 beta, looked pretty sweet):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pcd9VnnXSQ

vgxtremist @ May 3rd 2008 3:31AM

Holy crap, I remember the E3 previews for EB 64 in my Nintendo Powers and remember being so hyped for it and then found out it was canceled, I was pissed the rest of the day!

TheOverlord#2 can has Mario Karts?(MK:2578-3517-9859) @ May 2nd 2008 5:20PM

You stole my comment, Ross Miller! Earthbound releases: MOTHER's Day '08!

I wanna play Earthbound so bad! And as far as more MOTHER games on the VC, You'd better hope for MOTHER and not MOTHER 3. M3 is out on GBA, but I think http://www.starmen.net has a (fan-made)translation.

MOTHER came out for the NES and would need to be translated before you could see Earthbound Zero too.