[backlot]

I just fought Frank for the first time. A school kid fighting a mobster with dual switchblades? This game is dark. Is it possible to beat him if I buy a bunch of food items or is it too early in the game to take him down?

You need to fight him now to move forward. He's not an optional boss or anything.

[Amir0x]

yeah, most new Earthbound players generally spend a little time leveling up before facing Frank, but it's not too tough.

[Tiktaalik]

I just fought Frank for the first time. A school kid fighting a mobster with dual switchblades? This game is dark. Is it possible to beat him if I buy a bunch of food items or is it too early in the game to take him down? Yeah, our Kay Bees went out of business in mid/late 2003 as well. Me and a friend went to look at the clearance games but didn't find anything great let alone any SNES games, that's an amazing find. Reminds me of a recurring dream I have where I'll be in some remote warehouse or back room of a store and find a box full of valuable retro games. haha

You gotta beat him now. Stack up on hamburgers and maybe grind up a level. Play very conservatively because he can do big damage with a smaaash attack.

I feel like Earthbound is pretty tough in Onett and you likely won't beat areas the first time around. The game doesn't really stay this hard after this town in my opinion.

[Agent Unknown]

Thanks to backlot and Tiktaalik for the advice, going in my fourth round. O_o

[PKrockin]

I'm jelly, OP. I wish I could wipe my memory of this game and play it for the first time again. Glad you like it so far 'cause it gets better. Keep us posted.

The Sharks in Onett is one of the hardest points in the game IMO and one of the few points where you're required to grind a few levels. There is a secret area somewhere nearby that with an item that will help...

[Agent Unknown]

to me it was like a magical moment of a product reaching the perfect customer. I'm the biggest Earthbound fan I know of, and that shit could have ended up in the hands of some thankless little whelp, and the box and contents would have been destroyed. Now it is preserved for all time, my perfect sealed slice of heaven.

I made a similar thread to this one in October after buying a mint and sealed copy of Metroid II:

http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=449379

People thought I was crazy because I bought it just so I could experience opening and playing a pristine copy of the game but I just laughed at them like a madman. But of course I'd never open a sealed Earthbound since it could easily resell for several 1,000 bucks. I may be hardcore but I have my limits. :p

[Agent Unknown]

I'm jelly, OP. I wish I could wipe my memory of this game and play it for the first time again. Glad you like it so far 'cause it gets better. Keep us posted.

I'm gonna keep posting and may post a few more pics here and there. :) I'm fortunate to have most of the summer off so I'm really soaking the game in.

[GSR]

Yeah, the first few areas of the game are probably the toughest, especially if it's your first time around. Stick with it, though - you're in for a treat.

[GooeyHeat]

With Frank, I always leveled up until I learned PSI Rockin (or whatever). Roaming magic butterflies restore PP, so look for those. One PSI Rockin should take down Frank, and another for the boss right after.

[Agent Unknown]

As I said before I'm playing the game on my 42 inch Hitachi plasma using an s-video combo cable and 6 ft controller extension cord. I took a better quality day time pic, the s-video looks really nice IMHO:

With Frank, I always leveled up until I learned PSI Rockin (or whatever). Roaming magic butterflies restore PP, so look for those. One PSI Rockin should take down Frank, and another for the boss right after.

Thanks I'll try that. 8)

[Taco_Human]

I've played this game many times. I never found the need to grind. Having trouble with the sharks in the beginning? Don't forget you can buy equipment at the drugstore. I never found this game grind heavy at all.

Edit: people might not know playing a pirated copy makes enemies spawn far more often.

[Sir Ilpalazzo]

Edit: people might not know playing a pirated copy makes enemies spawn far more often.

Only if it trips the copy protection, which ROMs won't do unless you use codes to trigger it intentionally. The copy protection was meant for pirate cartridges.

[jred250]

When you get to the part of the game where you fight these little round guys, stay for a while and level up. I can't remember what exactly what they are called (Hoppies, Poppies, Bobbies), but they exist to boost you to incredible levels.

[Agent Unknown]

When you get to the part of the game where you fight these little round guys, stay for a while and level up. I can't remember what exactly what they are called (Hoppies, Poppies, Bobbies), but they exist to boost you to incredible levels.

Noted, thanks! Apprx how many/to what level should I spend fighting them?

Next week I'm going on a road trip and will be playing Chrono Trigger DS on my way to my destination (about a third way through the game, been playing it off and on since last May), should feel crazy advanced going back to more dynamic, interactive battles after EB. :p But I'm seriously liking these old school battles, toughens ya up! >:O

[Tenck]

I just saw an ad for a copy that's going for $165. Actually thinking of biting the bullet :lol

The guy lives near me too!

[Tiktaalik]

When you get to the part of the game where you fight these little round guys, stay for a while and level up. I can't remember what exactly what they are called (Hoppies, Poppies, Bobbies), but they exist to boost you to incredible levels.

Fobbys. They are red. You find them in Belch's liar and also way later in the game (orange version).

They seem so obviously easy and so fabulous for EXP I wonder if the devs threw them in hastily at the last minute because their testers complained that that point of the game, or just after was much too difficult. I have died in that area a few times because the crocs hit so hard .

[Agent Unknown]

I just saw an ad for a copy that's going for $165. Actually thinking of biting the bullet :lol The guy lives near me too!

Do it, you know you can't resist. ;)

Fobbys. They are red. You find them in Belch's liar and also way later in the game (orange version). They seem so obviously easy and so fabulous for EXP I wonder if the devs threw them in hastily at the last minute because their testers complained that that point of the game, or just after was much too difficult. I have died in that area a few times because the crocs hit so hard .

Thanks, I'm remembering all this good stuff.

[vid]

Fobbys

Just remember... Foppies are pink and Fobbies are borange! And they're both like glorious experience piñatas!

[PKrockin]

Fobbys. They are red. You find them in Belch's liar and also way later in the game (orange version). They seem so obviously easy and so fabulous for EXP I wonder if the devs threw them in hastily at the last minute because their testers complained that that point of the game, or just after was much too difficult. I have died in that area a few times because the crocs hit so hard .

Actually... I think weak little enemies giving you good exp is almost a theme in this game. lol

[Zuhzuhzombie!!]

Everybody gets stuck on Titanic Ant and Frank their first go.

They are, after all, the third strongest masters in the game.

[Dash Kappei]

Mother 3 is most definitely in my top5 favourite games EVER. I've been playing games for over 30 years.
I've never played Earthbound.

:(

[Kientin]

I would take it a level at a time imo. If you are feeling like Frank is tough, level up and try again. Repeat until you feel like you can stand a chance. I don't think I've ever got PSI Rockin' on Frank, sounds a bit excessive to me.

[PKrockin]

Mother 3 is most definitely in my top5 favourite games EVER. I've been playing games for over 30 years. I've never played Earthbound. :(

Dude

I would take it a level at a time imo. If you are feeling like Frank is tough, level up and try again. Repeat until you feel like you can stand a chance. I don't think I've ever got PSI Rockin' on Frank, sounds a bit excessive to me.

Yeah, I always get it just before the next boss. If you gained a few levels from the Sharks, have the equips from the drugstore, and bought/found a few burgers it should be cake.

[Tenck]

Mother 3 is most definitely in my top5 favourite games EVER. I've been playing games for over 30 years. I've never played Earthbound. :(

Where can we buy Mother 3?

[Dash Kappei]

Dude

I know, right? :(

At one point I was waiting for a VC release for like forever, then when it was clear there was no way of that happening my Wii was hombrew'd and I could have played the game with that (don't have a SFC anymore), but I realized that a huge part of Mother 3 for me was playing it in my bed at night with my Micro and soaking in its atmosphere and writing, like a good book where you fill in missing parts by yourself (the best kind of books!) and that I hate to play jrpgs on anything that's not portable nowadays, mostly because of time constraints. I know Mother 2 of Mother 1 + 2's collection doesn't compare in sound quality to the original EB cart, but afaik you can fix that like they did for the FF GBA games... I wish Tomato would release an alternate translation for Mother 2 or that someone would patch in Earthbound's one :(

Where can we buy Mother 3?

I've got it from Play Asia some 2 years ago more or less, it was also on sale... Good deal.
Remember that you need a flashcart to play it with the (awesome) translation patched in.

[Amir0x]

yeah you really should play Earthbound some time dude. I mean, it's not quite as poignant as Mother 3, but there is some powerful moments in there and it's just a hilarious game with one of the best translations during the SNES/Genesis gen.

[Tenck]

I've got it from Play Asia some 2 years ago more or less, it was also on sale... Good deal. Remember that you need a flashcart to play it with the (awesome) translation patched in.

Thanks!

[Lucent]

I dunno if this was suggested already, but don't carry money on you unless you're going straight to buy something. If you die, you lose like half of it. If you aren't carrying any money and you die, there's no real negative effect from die'n. You get revived and keep your experience and stuff. Only thing you lose is w/e items you might've used (if any).

Yeah, you could always restart from a save, but I think this is a good method for grinding in case you get killed somehow.

And, yes, Onett is def a hard start, but it gets fairly easier down the road, but still not a cake walk.

Worse part of Onett for me is the fight against those eff'n cops...

[xk0sm0sx]

I just wanted to add, one of the best parts of Earthbound for me is just exploring each and every place thoroughly

You will not be disappointed by the amount of secrets and jokes they've scattered in each region, so take your time with the game, don't rush through :)

Oh, and you might want to grind a bit or stock more food after you are done with the first sanctuary, and save. You will be surprised by what you are up against in the next fight...

[Lucent]

I just wanted to add, one of the best parts of Earthbound for me is just exploring each and every place thoroughly You will not be disappointed by the amount of secrets and jokes they've scattered in each region, so take your time with the game, don't rush through :)

When I got this game years ago, it came with the strategy guide. Def one of the best strategy guides ever. Even that was hilarious.

[InfectedZero]

Yeah!!!!!!! Here is my piece from the MS Paint thread ;)

[aett]

I play this game almost annually. I always grind a few levels for the Sharks, and then I grind a few more levels when I get to the Fobbies in a certain base, and after that it's smooth sailing for the rest of the game.

[Amir0x]

Yeah!!!!!!! Here is my piece from the MS Paint thread ;)

it's so weird how Earthbound fans are. I mean, here on GAF Earthbound fans are dedicated enough for there to be not one but two pieces of Giygas final battle MS Paint art from two independent fans, and I'm another Earthbound fan who contributed my own piece of MS Paint art from the series:



Earthbound fans are hardcore yo

[xk0sm0sx]

I was thinking if that actually was the image in the game, then I realized you can pick other names for your character...

[Agent Unknown]

So I bought all the equipment in the drugstore then grabbed a couple of hamburgers and Frank went down fast and I took down the Frankystein 'bot on my first try, wow!

[Dash Kappei]

yeah you really should play Earthbound some time dude. I mean, it's not quite as poignant as Mother 3, but there is some powerful moments in there and it's just a hilarious game with one of the best translations during the SNES/Genesis gen.

I swear to god, the main point is that I can't play it on one of my portables. I can't imagine ruining a Mother game playing it in bite-sized chunks of 1 hour every two or three days... I used to play Mother 3 each night for two hours straight at least, something that no game has come close to have me do that ever since. So I'm still waiting for that day where such thing will be possible.

[Agent Unknown]

Well, I'm proud to say I beat the Titanic Ant on just my second try. Giant Step cave was a cool area. I love how you have to go through an old, beat up locked maintenance shack to get there, it's little touches like that which make the game's world feel real and relatable.

Not looking forward to the police fight as I hear it's pretty hardcore frustrating.

[quinntendopower]

any big battle you lose is only a level or two's worth of work to make it doable.

probably my favorite rpg. the setting and places you go are so much fun, and it's as traditional as JRPG's get.

[Rash]

Not looking forward to the police fight as I hear it's pretty hardcore frustrating.

Really? Lifeup and Rockin' got me through it quite easily.

[Agent Unknown]

Really? Lifeup and Rockin' got me through it quite easily.

Ok cool.

I love how my first Psi attack is named after my favorite thing (Shmups/2D shooters) so now I have "Psi Shmups" as a power. (is that what Rockin' actually is?) Oh and lol at this:



Time to rumble!

Edit: Police fight was waaaaay easy, people overhyped that one. Maybe if these cops played more Gradius and Do Don Pachi the Psi Shmups attack wouldn't have taken them out so easily. *snicker*

[BobTheFork]

I've played it so much I still have all the benchmarks in my head of what level to be at or what spell to learn at every part of the game. I remember once I didn't get the sword of kings...ever. I got to level 99 with everyone and played another few hours before I said fuck it and left. Another time I got 5 sword of kings before everyone hit 80

[Agent Unknown]

In the middle of exploring Twoson. I invested in both Orange and Apple kid's research. Orange kid (who seems to be all the rage with the girls) gave me the Suporma. I used it and it played some "song" and then broke right away. Is this just a joke item or did I waste a one time piece of equipment that could've helped me later?

[Pyronite]

In the middle of exploring Twoson. I invested in both Orange and Apple kid's research. Orange kid (who seems to be all the rage with the girls) gave me the Suporma. I used it and it played some "song" and then broke right away. Is this just a joke item or did I waste a one time piece of equipment that could've helped me later?

Oh man. You're making me nostalgic. :'(

<3 Apple Kid

[Agent Unknown]

Sorry to bump but if anyone has an answer to my item question above I'd appreciate it.

In other news I am now officially absorbed and in love with this game.

[Seraphis Cain]

Sorry to bump but if anyone has an answer to my item question above I'd appreciate it. In other news I am now officially absorbed and in love with this game.

Nothing the Orange Kid gives you is ever useful.

[PKrockin]

In the middle of exploring Twoson. I invested in both Orange and Apple kid's research. Orange kid (who seems to be all the rage with the girls) gave me the Suporma. I used it and it played some "song" and then broke right away. Is this just a joke item or did I waste a one time piece of equipment that could've helped me later?

You just made the game unbeatable, the final boss is only weak to the theme song of the great genius and ladies' man, the Orange Kid.

[Agent Unknown]

Nothing the Orange Kid gives you is ever useful.

Thanks.

You just made the game unbeatable, the final boss is only weak to the theme song of the great genius and ladies' man, the Orange Kid.

Har har. :p

[Agent Unknown]

I just rode an escalator in a department store.

In a video game.

This game never fails to surprise me. lol

[Linkhero1]

Maybe I should give this game another chance. It's sitting on my shelf somewhere...

[Agent Unknown]

Maybe I should give this game another chance. It's sitting on my shelf somewhere...

I'm only on the second area and it's brilliant. How long have you owned it?