Shigesato Itoi
Image: Nintendo

The Mother series is perhaps most notable for breaking from JRPG tradition by telling a tale led by children in the modern day. The quirky humor present is an additional bonus, setting the whole experience in a rather bizarre and somewhat dry tone. At any rate, there are plenty of reasons to like the Mother series, and the creator of the games recently gave his two cents as to why the series has such a passionate following.

Game Watch – a Japanese gaming publication – recently got in a quick interview (kindly translated by the folks at Tuxedo Unmasked) with Itoi at a Mother event in Japan and he had this to say when asked what makes the series popular:

It's the connection with modern day life and modern day places, I suppose. When you're suddenly told "It's dinner time!" right in the middle of playing "Dragon Quest," you're taken out of the setting, but it's different with MOTHER. I think it's good that it's tied to modern day life.

He was also asked yet again if there's a Mother 4 on the way, but he openly shot that down:

I'd love to run a marathon while holding my breath, but as with MOTHER 4, that's just not feasible. People in America are always saying that "4 is on its way to being made," but that's simply a rumor. (laugh) I can't even imagine how difficult it would be now. Of course, only showing the very fringe elements and giving the impression that it was being worked on was something I did thoroughly with MOTHER 2… and 3.

Ah, well, we always have the fan game.

What do you think? Why do you enjoy the Mother games? What would you like to see out of a Mother 4, if it ever happened? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

[source tuxedounmasked.com]