Games

EarthBound

HAL Laboratory, Ape

1994•Strategy•PEGI 12•About 25 hours

Taste attributes: actionadventuredramafantasyscience fictionanimalsdetectivemartial artsmonster/alien/supernaturalrobots/ai/spacevehiclesfastfresh & originalunsavouryimaginaryglossybig & variedemotionally undemandingall consuming questcomplex relationshipfighting evilfish out of water/culture clashhuman spirit/resilience/survivalinjustice/tragedy/vengeancerescue/escape/jeopardyself destruction/implosionsocial commentaryunderdog triumphs

See which match your taste

Boxlist takeOtherworldly and expansive: a low-key strategy game, fast rather than slow-burning. Best if you like spectacle over intimacy.

Pace: very fast · Originality: very fresh · Tone: dark · Weight: balanced · Realism: imaginary world · Story: balanced · Structure: balanced · Look: very glossy · Scale: big and varied · Emotional punch: very undemandingHow we score

IGDB rating

91 / 100

577 ratings

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Based on your film and TV taste: games are matched on the same ten characteristics, with your own match bands.

About This Game

A turn-based JRPG and sequel to the then-Japan-only Earthbound Beginnings (1989) in which Ness, a young boy living in a land based on the USA, leaves home to go on an adventure through strange locations, get to know quirky characters, and defeat an unknowable alien threat called Giygas while facing up to the realities of growing up and becoming familiar with the real world.

Summary: IGDB

Story

The story begins when Ness is awakened by a meteor that has plummeted to the earth near his home, whereupon he proceeds to investigate the crash site. When Ness arrives at the crash site, he finds a police roadblock and Pokey Minch, his friend and neighbor, who tells him to go home. Later, Ness is woken up again by Pokey knocking at his door, demanding help to find his brother Picky. They find him asleep behind a tree near the meteor and wake him. Then the three encounter an insect from the meteor named Buzz Buzz, who informs Ness that he is from the future, where the "universal cosmic...

Characteristics

Where this game sits on each taste spectrum

SlowPACEFast

FamiliarORIGINALITYOriginal

DarkTONEWholesome

LightWEIGHTINESSHeavy

FantasyREALISMRealistic

SimpleINTRICACYIntricate

Non-LinearLINEARITYLinear

UnderstatedSTYLEStylised

IntimateSCALEEpic

RestrainedEMOTIONIntense

Genres and themes

ActionAdventureDramaFantasyScience fictionAnimalsDetectiveMartial artsMonster/alien/supernaturalRobots/ai/spaceVehiclesAll consuming questComplex relationshipFighting evilFish out of water/culture clashHuman spirit/resilience/survivalInjustice/tragedy/vengeanceRescue/escape/jeopardySelf destruction/implosionSocial commentaryUnderdog triumphs

Keywords

AliensGhostsMartial artsDinosaursTime travelInvasionTurn-basedRobots

Where to play

Nintendo eShop

Details

Developers: HAL Laboratory, Ape
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: 27 August 1994
Series: Earthbound
Platforms: Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Wii U, New Nintendo 3DS, Game Boy Advance, Super Famicom
Modes: Single player
Perspective: First person, Bird view / Isometric
Time to beat: 25h normally
Age rating: PEGI 12
Taste scores: How we score
Source: IGDB

How game matches work

Games are scored on the same ten characteristics as films and matched with the same formula and your own match bands, from your film and TV taste. Game scores are estimates, made by fixed rules from IGDB genres, themes, keywords and descriptions.