Thanks to everyone that voted! We have our first Game Club! There were 32 entries and the winner was randomly selected.

The game selection for the month of July: EarthBound

Play how you choose: classic hardware, emulation, etc.

This thread can be used to discuss our time playing the game, questions, etc.

  • TORFdot0@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I emulated earthbound for the first time recently on my phone. I only own a repro cart because I wanted to actually play it before I bought it. I just dumped the ROM from that.

    Anyways, I can’t believe I took so long to play it. I do not like JRPGs, don’t care for the SNES Final Fantasy or mystic quest.

    But earthbound was great. It didn’t take itself too seriously at all during the story but still made you care about the characters. Any time the runaway five (of which there is six of them) appear, it’s an absolute treat. The game doesn’t really explain the mechanics well but it’s not overly complicated so you can beat the game without really needing to know what IQ, Guts, Speed or Luck really do.

    The only thing that I didn’t like is that the game teaches you early on that Paula’s pray ability is basically a 50/50 shot of helping you or hurting you but then it’s required later on in the game. It took me awhile to figure out how to beat an important battle because of that. Though in hindsight it should have been obvious.

    I want to play earthbound beginnings here pretty soon.

    The only JRPG on the SNES that compares to earthbound is SMRPG imo

  • Coniferous@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I’m a BIG Earthbound fan. I don’t know if I have the bandwidth to replay it this month, but for those that are, here are my “notes”:

    • The pacing leaves something to be desired until you hit the third town. It feels a little bit of a slog, but it’s great once you’re past it
    • Talk to people! Knock on doors! Read signs! It’s such a ridiculous game, don’t miss the ridiculousness
    • For what it’s worth, try remembering the context the game came out in. While there’s a decent amount of games out now that have taken inspiration, this really was one of a kind for a long time
    • Check out the amazing strategy guide. I don’t know if it’s vital per se, but it’s such a fun document that to this day I still enjoy referencing it. Related, what happened to all the fun manuals/strategy guides with custom art and everything? Such a loss.

    Hope everyone enjoys as much as I do!

      • Coniferous@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        The short version: no.

        Slightly longer version, with extremely minor spoilers

        There’s four (or five) towns with numbers in their name, but there’s a bunch of other locations. The pacing is a little wonky in the very beginning in part because you’re still assembling your party

  • Tenthrow@lemmy.worldMEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Earthbound is one of those games I played halfway through 10 times, but never finished. Of course I didn’t have a copy when I was a kid.