I like both A LOT, but for different reasons. (I also enjoy Mother 1 for different reasons as well)
I'm going to elaborate on this. Didn't get a chance at the time. Here we go.
Mother 1
- This game gets shit on alot, even by franchise fans. General consensus is that everything this game does, Mother 2 does better. I disagree. I mean, yeah Earthbound is a re-tread on a lot of the same themes, but the atmosphere couldn't be more different.
Everyone always seems to suggest that the Mother series is a parody of the JRPG. I don't think that's true at all. Yes, there is humor, but it is almost always in a sort of tongue-in-cheek sort of way, and mainly derived from the oddness of the enemies more than anything. This couldn't be more truer of Mother 1, which has a surprisingly creepy/oppressive atmosphere. Juxtaposed with the quaintness of the music and graphics and it's surprisingly effective. I love Mother 1's tone. And while it may not be the best looking NES game, I dig it's style.
Could the game have been better balanced? Yes, I guess so. Everyone points out how hard Mt. Itoi is. Personally, I never have had a problem with it, since I just 4th D slip or run past everything. DO NOT ENGAGE and you'll be fine.
There is some neat stuff in here, just saying. Duncan Factory can fuck off into a ditch though.
Mother 2/EarthBound
- For all the shit this game gets for it's opening section, I actually think it's the best part of the game. To further elaborate, what I really like about this section from Onett until the fourth melody. After that it sort of loses some of it's steam until you get the 8th melody. From that point on, this game is just fantastic.
People will knock the episodic nature of the story, but I found it pretty neat. I've always been a fan of Dragon Quest's story structure though. Have an overarching plot tied together by smaller individual vignettes. The quality of the adventures in Earthbound is pretty solid too, again at least until you leave Fourside.
Musically, I think the game's best pieces are re-treads from Mother 1. However, I do think it's strength is in its battle themes.
Mother 3
- This game was a dream game for me. I INTENSELY followed its development during the N64 years. I was devastated when Nintendo cancelled it. So much so, I boycotted the gamecube because I believed they cancelled it in favor of working it.
The moment it was announced as a GBA game, I was so excited. As it became apparent that it was the same story as the cancelled N64 game, even more so. In the end, I think it was probably for the best it came out as a GBA game though I do think certain elements were probably sacrificed in doing so.
I have complaints about Mother 3. The game is certainly not perfect. Certain plot elements could have been elaborated on. The 7th chapter in particular should have been 3 chapters instead. But the setting, characters(both main party and supporting cast), and music are all top notch. I think the battle music isn't the best, but the other music is god tier. That ending is one of the best I've ever seen in game. So much so that I made a painting of the final screen that I hang on my wall(PM me if you want to see it. I don't want to post spoilers here. It's nothing amazing though)
I should go full disclosure: I'm extremely biased about this series. I learned how to read playing Earthbound and reading the players guide that came with it. When I discovered emulation, Mother 1 was the first game I played (though it took me 4 attempts to beat due to me being a dumb ass and overriding my save file with save states). When I graduated college, the very first thing I did was marathon the series. I completed the games in 5 days.