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]
Comments 39
I don't mind for mother 4.....but I do wish that 3 would be ported to the west after getting the first one here.
I think it's inevitable that Mother 3 will be released in the west, but it might be wishful thinking on my part. I assume it would be on the Wii U vc since they won't put GBA games on the 3DS VC anymore. I'd love a 3DS "remake" or rerelease. Anyway, this snippet is interesting, and kind of sad. I think a new Mother game would be awesome. He mentions the game setting and its similarity to the modern real world, it reminds me of the Persona series, which also does that really well.
I thought the images/video of the Nintendo 64 Mother game looked really cool, so I'd like to see a 3D version of the game, but I'm pretty sure that won't ever happen.
Oh that is terrible. Mother 2 and 3 were one of the best games I have ever played. I was really hoping for a new game in the works but I guess not. Though I am actually looking forward for the fan game. Its made by true Mother fans and they have everything spot on.
There isn't really a need to have a next installment. The games are fine as a trilogy and it would be pretty hard to think of a story that would continue from Mother 3 either directly/indirectly. Plus there's always the fan game if fans are really itching for a new one, it looks promising and good.
Just let the poor man go! He can't localize Mother 3 when he's asked about Mother 4 every single second of his life, you know. Just go and play Undertale for the 100th time while waiting for either a western Mother 3 or the fan-made Mother 4. Whatever comes first.
Porting 3 to the Wii U VC is about all we can hope for, but that would require EFFORT on Nintendo's part. So it's a stretch.
Leave the man already. He has stated for years that he is not in the mood to make another one, he feels that 3 is a proper ending to the series, and I agree with him, that game has literally the best ending for a saga that I've seen in my entire life, it's a very open ending, everything resets and it's up to you to imagine the rest of the "new" story.
As for the fan-made 4.... I don't know why, but the game appeals to me as "bland", the characters look like they are trying so hard to be so Itoi-like, that they look like rehash clones of mother 1-3. I know that they are trying to respect the original series, but at least they could try to come up with fresh ideas, but that's just me.
No Mother 4?!
Awwwww....
Well, hopefully Nintendo eventually localizes Mother 3, so it will keep the fans calm.
Can people just stop dogging the guy for something he's made quite clear that he does not have any intention of doing? This is getting way out of hand.
@Iggly He made sure that there's no way of continuing the original series. Itoi ended it on such a high note and with a very conclusive ending that I cannot imagine a way that he could continue either Ness or Lucas' story. In the year 2030, when he finally feels like working on Mother 4, I think that he would create a brand new story and start another arc from scratch than rehash the same story.
@TheRedCap30 Agreed.
Well then... I'm still waiting for the good looking fan-made Mother 4 which was schedule for this year...
Oh my Arceus, just stop asking about 4 already! It's getting really annoying. If you want 4, play that fan-game, it looks good.
I wonder why he thinks it would be so difficult to make another game, todays advancing tech? A download version of the game could be a good option or maybe even a portable version might be less taxing.
I'd love to have Mother 3 out here on 3DS.
Mother 3 was so beautifully ending it all, stop asking for another one. Fan Mother is cool enough and there are other stories to witness.
@Morph His mindset doesn't have anything to do at all with technology, but with creativity. He feels that there isn't anything new he can add or create for the Mother series, therefore, he doesn't want to do something related to it, simple as that. I respect the man for that, instead of milking the Mother series to death (looking at you square enix with crappy modern final fantasy), he kept it short and sweet; otherwise the series wouldn't be so alluring and mystical as it is today.
I thought an article was just published a couple weeks ago about this? Does it really need to be reported every time the man gets asked this same question and gives the same answer?
Okay, we get it! Mister Itoi doesn't want to make a new Mother himself. But other people at Nintendo can. I hope that will happen someday. I rather have a new, very good Mother then yet another truckload of halfbaked Mario-related titles.
The huge amount of respect I have for Itoi only increases every time I hear him talk. He is most definitely a guy who is proud of his creations and won't rush ahead and tarnish them by making cash-ins, and that's why I am very happy to consider myself a big fan of his work. Other developers really should follow suit and not be at the beck-and-call of greedy publishers demanding their yearly re-hashed franchises. Though I will echo the sentiments of others here, Mother 3 is coming out on the eShop in Japan soon, so it really should come out elsewhere too, it's about time.
Instead of asking for a Mother 4, how bout just ask him if he would like to remake all of them. He can't continue the series anyways so just have him remake the games again in 3D for the newer generations.
@TheRedCap30 Precisely (on the fan game being called something else). That would also mean they'd be free to actually bring it to Nintendo platforms.
If he is done with MOTHER, then let it be. No need to constantly bug him about it. I can't blame him, considering how much time and dedication he put into those games.
How many times does he have to repeat himself? Mother 4 isn't going to happen. It sucks, but Itoi is done with the series. Plus, does it really need a 4th one?
I wish all the people begging him to make Mother would STFU and leave him alone on that subject. He's stated many times he doesn't want to and doesn't have the creativity to do another Mother game.
Stop beating a dead horse already.
I just want Mother 3 ported to the west.
I have no problem with Itoi being done with Mother, but I do have a problem with Nintendo not continuing the series without him. If it is that big of an issue, spin the project off into another titled series that pays homage to the original while keeping that 60's Americana image.
Then why not remake the first 3? Whether it be 3D Models and Environments or just HD Sprites, you could satisfy the fandom that way.
@Artwark Completely agree. I'd love a Mother Trilogy to be released on Wii U or 3DS. Or even NX.
Just give us Mother 3.
Ah well its his series so he is free to not make Mother 4 if he pleases.
It's not like he has to continue on from 3. You people do know that reboots or separate stories all together are acceptable and don't mess with a previous trilogy, right?
I still need to beat Earthbound.... 😩 I hope they bring 3 to America soon, and if Nintendo really wants a new Mother game, just have someone new make it. Do it in 3D if it ever happens.
I wish Mother fans would leave him alone about this... He isn't even a game dev...he is a writer mainly...the last thing he even cares about is a game series that he completed the story for.
@fiendcodes With the looks it had back then when they were announcing the game on N64. (yes, I am still not over all those N64 cancelled games)
I can't wait for this to never happen so we can have an article and a comment fight about it once a month until all Mother fans are dead.
It's confirmed, Mother 4 is on its way!
I think if we got a translation of Mother 3 (surely Neo Earthbound in Europe) then that complete trilogy would be more than enough for that world and setting.
Hopefully Nintendo will not throw a C&D at the Mother 4 Fan Game since Itoi himself gave it his blessing.
I've said this before, but I'm glad they're keeping it a trilogy. Without Itoi, I don't think Nintendo would put out a very worthy installment. The passion just wouldn't be there, and we'd probably just end up with another Sticker Star situation.
I'm eagerly awaiting the fangame, though, as I can tell it's at least made by people who seem to live and breathe MOTHER.
Poor Itoi, I seen dead horses that get harassed less than he does.
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