Backlog Club: Week Zero, May - It's Time To Play Earthbound

>Earthbound is a strange, unique, and unparalleled game
I mean sure, if you ignore the sublime masterpiece that is Earthbound Beginnings.

I’m glad earthbound won, both that and undertale are still on my backlog.

I’ve just gotten started on Dragon Quest XI but I’ll put that to the side and get started on this. It’ll be the perfect way to give my D-pad modded SNES-style joy cons a spin!

Backlog count: 792 games

Great, Challenge accepted, I´m in, My vote is for Return of the Obra Dinn.

Earthbound is one of the only games I've played through multiple times. Hope everyone enjoys it as much as I have over all these years!

I'm in on this! I have started Earthbound multiple times, but never finished it. Going to play it on the 3ds!

I like this idea, I'm going to do my own.

I played and completed Super Metriod for the first time a month ago, can see why it's so popular, really enjoyed it.

I'm a bit through Earthbound, but stopped for a little bit, gonna get back on that.

And I must complete Okami.

Aw man. I’m one of those idiots that play games 1 at a time so this is gonna take me a long time!
I’m SO CLOSE to 100%ing ctr nitro fuel and I’m almost done with the story mode in PLA.

@Drew250 792?!?
Man I thought my backlog was crazy!

Is it just me that can't understand the hype of Earthbound? Tried and just couldn't get into it

The pinnacle of video games. I'm a bit of a skeptic when it comes to the whole video games as art thingy, but Earthbound is one of those rare instances where I think the label fits. Americana seen through a quirky Japanese lens - one of the few games that made me cry.
Fuzzy pickles!

@Greatluigi Yes the recent itch.io Ukraine bundle sent it off the charts and with the regular free games from Amazon prime and Epic I’ve come to terms with the number only ever getting bigger.

If I break it down to games I’ve paid for and definitely want to play the number is less than 100. That thought keeps me sane

This is a cool concept! When they added it to SNES Online, that was my first time getting to try EarthBound, but I fell off of it after being swamped with other games. I'm tempted to play along, but I just started playing Legends Arceus a couple weeks ago and have already sunk over 30 hours. I don't often find RPG's that resonate with me. It's a genre that starts to overwhelm me pretty quickly, and I don't know if I can juggle 2 of them at the same time without getting burned out and never seeing them to completion.

My early thoughts on EarthBound from what little I have played--I really enjoy the writing. I knew the game was weird, but I wasn't expecting "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" levels of absurdity. The atmosphere was also super unsettling from the very beginning. I've seen the Giygas final boss fight before, but I had no idea he was an alien and that his invasion is why the game is called EarthBound. That was pretty unexpected.

Some elements feel very archaic, though--even by Super Nintendo standards. There are so many actions mapped to a singular button that you have to select from a drop-down menu. I think they could have easily worked around this. I also don't like how slow Ness walks without the bike, which can be a hassle to use. I've died an absurd amount of times, and I don't like how random the turn-based battles can be. I feel like my attacks miss constantly. I did some research, and apparently some weapons have lower accuracy, but the game doesn't tell you this. I've had to do a heck of a lot of grinding, and it's so hard to avoid enemy encounters because of how slow you are in the overworld compared to them.

I've always loved the general concept behind EarthBound. RPG's almost always have some Medieval setring with mages and the like--even to this day--but EarthBound broke the mold with a game set in the modern era where you battle hippies and order fast food to replenish your health and the like. I think that's absolutely hilarious, and I love the satire. The music is also stellar, of course, but I knew that before I started playing.

I have several gripes with the game and several things I admire. I think it could definitely use a remake with SEVERAL quality of life improvements to make the gameplay less infuriating, but thematically, it's pretty great. I hope to find the time to finish it at some point. I stopped playing a couple months ago--last thing I did was erase the stone pencil and am about to head into the happiness cult or whatever. I haven't forgotten where I left off.

I haven't played this one, and I'm looking forward to it - the rental being more affordable than StS right now!

That being said, I'm fairly certain there's a very pertinent story yet to be told here. How does a character from the Mother series manage to acquire timbits as a favourite food? I'm beginning to worry about the influences Kate is picking up in this country...

Maybe one of these months I can join in. I had no interest in Slay the Spire, and I've already played Earthbound. As for next month's list, I want every game on it but don't have any of them yet, so unless one of them goes on a good sale I'm out next month, too. Sad.

Earthbound has been in my backlog for literal years. My only concern is that I won't have enough time for a long RPG.

Voted for Obra Dinn next, another game that has been backlogged way too long, though I would encourage people to vote for Paradise Killer, which is one of the few games I have actually beaten this year!

Paradise Killer is by far the best of the game options for next month (yes, I’ve played and enjoyed all of them). Highly recommended. GNOSIA is all right but kind of disappointing ultimately. Paradise Killer delivers on an open world murder mystery premise.

I’ve never got the concept of buying games before I can play them. Outside of rare cases, the games will always be here when you are done with the game you are playing. Plus I don’t waste money on games I might not play.

First time I'm gonna take part in one of these since I actually can play Earthbound!

I don't know if I'll be able to commit to Earthbound this month, since I've already beaten it once and read through the excellent Legends of Localization book about the differences between it and the original Japanese release, but I'd give it a shot. I'd be playing the JPN version though.

Looking more forward to next month because whether we pick Obra Dinn or Danganronpa (the game I voted for), they're on my backlog, as is nearly every game we could have voted on.

@CANOEberry Your profile picture looks so familiar. I'll kick myself if you tell me what it's from.

Whoever came up with this whole concept needs a raise! Such a cool way to engage with the community and knock out our backlogs together!

On that note, I'm excited to take on this challenge! I've had several playthroughs of this game but never finished it, I look forward to giving it another shot!

My favorite game. I started a game of Earthbound Beginnings recently, although this will be my third playthrough of that.

Pro tip to anyone playing Earthbound for the first time: instead of pressing 'A' to bring up your action menu, and then 'A' again to talk or check - pressing the left shoulder button will do whatever the proper action is in one button press.

I applaud this initiative though I don't know if I will be joining for Earthbound. And none of the games for next edition is even in my library! But anything to get people to play the games they own is good to me.

I thought this was a cool idea last month but don’t have much interest in rogulikes so I didn’t join.

However, Earthbound is in my backlog as I have it BOTH on 3DS and Switch and I’ve never beaten it so this is as good a time to join as any.

Is this comment section where we discuss the games at the halfway mark or somewhere else

Earthbound was wonderfull for it's time but I may not have the patience for it now. I voted Gnosia for next game but many of those are sound choices IMO

I'll kick myself if you tell me what it's from.

@TotalHenshin Please don't do that, good fellow! To answer your question - the looming figures in the background are EMMIs (Metroid Dread). The handsome blue furball is a toothberry (last seen in DKC Returns, on the Wii).

Who's the dapper human if your profile? That's a very nice chapeau he's got.

Earthbound is a game I have started multiple times and have just never seen through. I don't know why, I like the characters well enough. The dialogue is fun...but something always stops me from playing through the entirety of it. I'm not sure I'll be able to do it this time but maybe I'll give it another shot.

@CANOEberry
Wait, are timbits a Tim Hortons thing??
In the 90s when RI lost a large local donut chain, Timmy Ho’s moved in for a while. But I don’t quite remember the menu.

Oh, yes, I meant to say I’ll play some Earthbound this month and probably next, as none of those murder mysteries are on my backlog, and I’m too buried in games to justify buying any.

@Anti-Matter Yes, we know you only like kiddie games with shirtless boxers with six packs. You remind us every time there’s an article you don’t care about. Unfortunately, this site isn’t written specifically for your tastes, so to make things easier for yourself and everyone else, you could instead only comment on articles that you actually care about. Just a suggestion.

I love this Backlog Club idea. I’ve got NSO, but don’t think I’d ever be bothered trying Earthbound - but if everyone else is giving it a go this month, then why not!!

This is my first time seeing Backlog Club and this was what made me finally make an account. I LOVE Earthbound but haven't finished it since the 90s. I think this will give me motivation to play through it again and see how everything holds up along with see everyone else's impressions! I'm excited!

Yeah the "best option" is certainly not paying for their barely serviceable online for a 20 year old game.. especially considering you're only renting it.

@Teksetter I've never known Timbits to be associated with anyone but that virally effective prolific donut chain, yes. I believe TH's lawyers would rival Nintendo's in terms of "brand defense" if someone attempted to imply otherwise...

This is the first time I've seen them referred to as "Timmy Ho's", though. That sounds unflattering. Perhaps they didn't make a good impression?

Backlogs shouldn’t be a thing when the Switch has so few quality releases a year.

Great choice! I played it for the first time earlier this year. But will be happy to dip into a bit again even if I don’t have the time to complete it this month.

@Anti-Matter How is that relevant to the post?

@ATaco Same. Emulated it many times and even bought it for 3DS. Can't get through it.

Gleargh... I've always wanted to play this game, but I don't know if I want to pay for Nintendo Online for one month since I have so many other things I'm trying to un-back-log before Xenobarf 3 comes out. I'm sort of tempted to just buy it on my 3DS but it's kind of 'spensive for a game I might not get around to... and also I'd have to play it in Japanese which requires more thinking than I care to do on my daily commute. LIFE IS HARD.

I have been meaning to play this for ages, this gives me the perfect reason to join in. Thank you backlog club. The excellent Witcher 3 DLC (finished Heart of Stone, just started Blood and Wine) can wait another month!

I absolutely love this series (backlog club) it forced me to beat a run of slay the spire and tackle some others i've been neglecting. Looking forward to finally sitting down with earthbound.

Earthbound has been on my NSO priority list ever since it dropped. I forced myself to play Earthbound: Beginnings first though, and that kind of burned me out for a bit, so this is a great opportunity to return and finally play Earthbound!

I didn't participate in Backlog Club last month, as I have already played a crap ton of StS (and beaten the heart with at least the first three characters - I can't recall if I ever beat it with the Watcher), but I'm happy to report that I successfully completed three backlog games! Super Mario Galaxy, Axiom Verge 2, and (most importantly) Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition.

I'm currently working my way through Pokemon Legends: Arceus (and having a grand old time), but I should definitely have time/space for Earthbound too!

Also, super excited that Return of the Obra Din is an option for next month - that game has also been a high-priority backlog game of mine for a while now...

@CANOEberry Yes, both looked familiar, but not in the same realm.

The man in my profile pic is the inimitable Andre 3000 from the disbanded rap duo Outkast. Thanks for asking and answering.🙂

@CANOEberry
Thank you for verifying! I haven't seen timbits in a video game or real life in decades and needed that memory refresher.

My last trip was probably in 2005, not long before Timmy's retreated from our area down here. As I recall, their baked goods and sandwiches were adequate, but the coffee really turned off most people. Locals would bypass Tim's and drive an extra 2-3 miles to the nearest Dunkin Donuts to get their caffeine fix. The area is saturated with donut places, so they just never got a foothold.

The Timmy Ho's nickname probably wasn't so prevalent - it just stuck in my small group of friends back in the day.

I voted for Orba Dinn, I bought it a few month (years?) ago, but it's in my backlog. I've never touched it lol.

I'm not sure if I'll play it next month, because I'm on a big game from my backlog : Xenoblade Chronicles. I bought in for 10€ during a sale. And I never really got to play it until last week. I did play trough the first town but it didn't clicked to me back then, plus it was a time when I couldn't really play from home.

Most of my gaming was on handheld (3DS and Vita, and Switch a bit later). But I finally returned to it, and I'm really glad I did. I really like it. The bad news is that now I've added two massive games to me already huge list of games to play. Xenoblade Chronicles X and Xenoblade Chronicles 2,plus the third game is coming...

So many games, so little time. Obra Dinn definitely is on my to-do list though. It looks like an amazing game.

I voted for Genesis Noir as I have it and have never even loaded it up. But my god if you haven't played Return of the Obra Dinn yet you simply must.
I've just started playing Vampyr, which looks like it is going to be great fun. I've started out trying to resist the urge to chow down on innocent civils for the sweet, sweet upgrade points.
As for Earthbound, I've tried it so many times but I just get put off by the need for grinding, I'll give it a fair go this time, but if it doesn't hit me this time I don't think I'll ever finish it.

Earthbound was amazing and I finished it a few times. I'm playing it again because I came across this club. I'm currently just starting control of 3rd character and making my way south

Can we keep track of how many bathroom jokes there are?

I’ve never played Earthbound (despite buying on virtual console many years ago) so this is a good reason to give it a go.

I don’t have any of the games on next months list but that’s ok, gives me more time to finish earthbound (after wrapping my current Skyrim quests)

Actually, after starting Earthbound earlier this week, I didn't really feel like playing it again, so I'll play something similar this month that I've had on the backlog.... Mother 3! 🥳

@ViewtifulJohtun oh goodness, Blood and Wine is maybe the MOST gorgeous part of The Witcher 3. Maybe I should replay, since I never finished Hearts of Stone...

I’m a bit slow here, but have been playing Slay the Spire a little and have now finally started Earthbound for the first time. Have played Beginnings a bit though. Probably sit out the next backlog game though as I don’t own any of them. Keep up the great work Kate!