Kotaku: Mother 3

What Makes the Mother Series so Great?

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EDT

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They may not be chart-toppers - indeed, the third game has never even been officially released in the West - but the Mother/Earthbound series of role-playing games are some of the most revered and cherished of all Nintendo games (at least among certain cliques). More »

Talk Of Mother 4 Doesn't Mean It Will Happen

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 07:50:00 EDT

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Shigesato Itoi, who's perhaps best known in Japan as a copy writer and TV personality, already said that there will be no Mother 4. Making Mother 3 was no easy task. That doesn't mean there still isn't hope - however faint that might be. More »

The Annoying Song That's Plaguing Japan

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:00:00 EDT

On March 11, the Tohoko earthquake and tsunami left the northeastern part of Japan in ruins. More »

Just In Time For Fall, The $400 Mario Sweater

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:00:00 EDT

And it's not just any only $400 Mario sweater, but an officially licensed $400 sweater sold to you via the guy who created role-playing game Earthbound. More »

Oh Mother, This Looks Hot

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:00:00 EDT

It's July. July in Japan means one thing: unbearable heat. It's not exactly the weather for your typical full body costume. More »

From Final Fantasy V to Mother 3, A Brief History Of ROM Hacking

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:00:00 EDT

What to do when your Japanese role-playing games take months, years or forever to get an English translation? Rip the ROM and hack-translate it yourself. 1UP takes a look at the origins and current state of the brute-force, fan-made localization. More »

Happy 20th Birthday, MOTHER!

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:30:00 EDT

The hard-working kids at Starmen got in touch to let us know that today - July 27, 2009 - is the 20th birthday of the MOTHER series, otherwise known in the West as Earthbound. Happy birthday! More »

Get Your Free Mother 3 Handbook

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:30:00 EDT

If you have $20 lying around, and are a fan of Mother/Earthbound, you should definitely pick up the Mother 3 Handbook. If you're a fan of the game and don't have $20...well, lucky you. More »

Mother 3 Handbook Is Sheer Indulgence

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 06 May 2009 03:30:00 EDT

Remember that Mother 3 handbook we told you about? My copy just arrived in the mail. And I'm lost for words. More »

Where Did The Idea For Mother 3 Come From?

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:00:00 EDT

Mother 3? Fantastic game. The game was released way back in 2006, but its creator Shigesato Itoi and Nintendo president Satoru Iwata recently talked about the title — like, what inspired it. More »

Exquisite Mother 3 Statues

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:30:00 EDT

Since Americans can't even get their hands on an official version of Mother 3 the game, there's no hope of seeing much official Mother 3 merch. But unofficial merch? Knock yourselves out. More »

Tecmo: Nintendo Holding Back Fatal Frame

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:00:00 EDT

When asked about when Mother 3 would be coming to the States, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said that wasn't his decision. Japan makes those decisions. More »

Developer Would Like DS Mother 3 For Fans Abroad

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:00:00 EST

GameBoy Advance Mother 3 sadly never got a Western release. That doesn't mean it couldn't possibly get a DS release. More »

Interview With A Mother 3 Fan Translator

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:20:18 EST

Who do you have to thank for that fan-translated Mother 3 patch that made the Game Boy Advance release all English-y? Clyde 'Tomato' Mandelin for one, part of the DIY Mother 3 localization team. More »

Mother 3 Handbook Will Blow Your Baby Blue Socks Off

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:20:00 EDT

What's the perfect companion to the new Mother 3 English-language translation? Why, this unofficial Mother 3 handbook. It's a guide. Made by fans (Fangamer & Starmen). It's a Mother 3 book. It's a work of art. There's professional printing, there are over 200 pages, and there are even clay model replicas of the game's characters sprinkled throughout for colour. Amazing. The book will be released free online next year, but at $20, the tangible product seems a much better investment. More »

Mother 3 Fan Translation Completed

Mike Fahey — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:40:00 EDT

Nintendo didn't seem to keen on releasing Mother 3 for the Gameboy Advance outside of Japans, so a group of fans banded together and took localization duties into their own hands. Nearly two years after the project first started, the Mother 3 fan translation website has launched version 1.0 of their labor of love. Now mind you that actually utilizing the translation requires the use of a ROM, which in turn requires the use of an emulator, which pretty much equals being shady. Pay special attention to the first step listed in the instructions on the web site.

Import a copy of the game, if you can find one. It’s not cool to brazenly pirate stuff! Itoi, Nintendo, HAL, and Brownie Brown worked hard on this game. Can’t find a copy? Consider buying some official merch (below).

Mother 3 English Language Patch Hitting This Week

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EDT

Nintendo of America hasn't localized Mother 3 (Earthbound 3). A shame, because the game is fantastic. Good thing that a fan-made Mother 3 translation patch is hitting this week. As game site Phantom Leap points out, it'll on computers via GBA emulators or on handhelds via flash carts. If you're interested in reading a big, meaty review, check out this Insert Credit review from a few years back. Nintendo of America really should've localized this game. Mother 3 Fan Translation [via Phantom Leap] More »

MOTHER Shirts to Hold You Over

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:00:55 EDT

Consider this a consolation prize of sorts. With MOTHER 3 not getting an English language release anytime soon, Kyoto-based shirt maker King of Games has *get this* shirts that should make you feel better! The company's latest line is MOTHER. For those who've never purchased a KOG shirts, be aware they not only look cool as fuck, but they're made from the highest quality material, come in a groovy box and are totally Nintendo approved. Besides MOTHER 3 ULTIMATE CHIMERA shirts, they got MOTHER 1+2 as well. Pre-orders for them kick off October 10th at midnight with shirts shipping in November. They're gonna go fast! More »

MOTHER 3 Character In SSBB

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 06:00:21 EDT

Another character drivels out on Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Yes, that's Lucas from Japan-only GBA game MOTHER 3. From the official SSBB site Smash Bros. Dojo: More »

Mother 3 Comes To... iTunes

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 18:40:16 EDT

While the rest of the Gawker internet family rejoices over the upcoming release of DRM-free, lossless, EMI-published music through iTunes, we Earthbound nerds are in a tizzy over much more enticing iTunes news, the release of two Mother 3 soundtracks outside of Japan. More »

Mother 3 Translation In Action

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:00:39 EST

How's that Mother 3 fan translation coming along? Not bad, as evidenced by the above clip of the Game Boy Advance RPG from Shigesato Itoi and Nintendo. It features little more than a handful of rounds against the "Pining Tor" and obviously needs a little work, but it's heartwarming nonetheless for fans of the series. More »

A Mother Film Years In The Making

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 12:22:16 EDT

Back in 1995, Shigesato Itoi's Mother 2 (known as "Earthbound" in the West) was released for the SNES in America. The film made a huge impact on young Robbie and Jeff Benson, who set off to make a feature film of the game. They didn't get very far. One of the Bensons adds: More »

Make Contact... In English

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 16:22:07 EDT

Earthbound-like RPG Contact for the DS is odd. It should be. The game is courtesy crazy Japanese game studio Grasshopper Manufacture, who also brought us Killer7. The game is getting English localization thanks to publisher Atlus. Game site Siliconera talked with Tomm Hulett, the game's localization director: More »

Clips: Canned Mother 3 Beta for the N64

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 14:22:11 EDT

Here's a look at the Mother 3 game that never was. The title was original planned for the Nintendo 64, but was canned. Rumor has it that the cancellation was due to janky 3D modeling, but this clip looks pretty good. The title eventually found its way to the GBA, finally getting a release earlier this year. Brian Ashcraft More »

Mother's Mother's In-Store Signature

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 16:21:00 EDT

Mother 3 creator Shigesato Itoi's signature has been discovered at retailer Tsutaya in Shibuya. Not exactly huge news, but still kinda neat. (Yes, I realize I have been going on and on about Mother 3 like a bore, but the game is really that good.) Brian Ashcraft More »

If Mother 3 Had Another Dimension

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 16:22:53 EDT

A Japanese fella with loads of free time and Maya skills to boot has rendered the 2D Mother 3's world in 3D. Neat stuff, and even the battle scenes (which I abhor) look great. Still haven't finished Mother 3 yet (I'm slow, sue me), but I am totally lovin' the GBA title. In fact, because it is a Game Boy Advance title, I perhaps am enjoying the experience even more. It's intimate. Personal. Wonderful. Brian Ashcraft More »

Mother's Mother Says What Makes Him Tick

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 08:22:21 EDT

Game designer, t-shirt designer, TV commentator, copywriter, tomato juice bottler. Mother (Earthbound in America) creator Shigesato Itoi does it all it seems. (And does it damn good.) In an sit down with the online Ping Magazine, Itoi sums up his M.O. by saying: More »

Mother 3 Europe Only?

brownlee — Mon, 15 May 2006 17:40:41 EDT

Hello Central... Give me Doctor Saturn! For you Earthbound fanatics, good news! An English translation is coming our way. More »

Mama Mia, No More Mother!

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 04 May 2006 10:24:47 EDT

Mother of all Mother games Shigesato Itoi has announced that Mother 3 will be the last installment in the series. More »

Micro Sound Crappy? Too Small? Here's Help

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 02 May 2006 17:22:27 EDT

Mother 3 On Sale In Japan

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 09:21:25 EDT

Today, the feverishly anticipated Mother 3 drops here in Japan. The game has received solid scores from Famitsu, getting a 10, 8, 8 and a 9 respectively. The mag also says the RPG is the most wanted title in Japan. Dubbed Earthbound in the West, the latest installment in the Mother series is currently Japan-only. More »

Shigesato Itoi Speaks!

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 11:22:47 EDT

Mother's mother Shigesato Itoi has posted an interview on his site, Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun. What did he have to say? Three years ago, when he was in Kyoto on business, Itoi took a cab with Nintendo's Satoru Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto, who asked if it would be possible to put Mother 3 on Game Boy Advance. (Not "Aren't you going to make it?" or "Please make it.") Happy, Itoi responded that it was possible. And thus, Mother 3 for the GBA was born. He goes on to talk about taking a month, finding himself and knocking out the script. Further interviews are planned with Itoi revealing more about the creator and the game, which swoops into Japanese retailers this Thursday. More »

Mother 3 Japanese TV Ad

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 10:22:55 EDT

The lovely Kou Shibasaki gets all emotional in an ad for the Game Boy Advance title Mother 3. I dig Shibasaki. I dig Mother. But, this dreary commercial in which she talks about the RPG's emotional power is the pits. More »

Mother 3 Screens

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 04:23:52 EST

Here's a peak at the resident genius Shigesato Itoi's long-awaited Mother sequel for the GBA. The groundbreaking RPG series is known as EarthBound in the West and follows a psychic boy out to save the world. The carrot-roping Mother 3 screens come via the game's tease site and look like delicious fun. More »

Mother 3 Bribes Fans with Presents

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 11:22:17 EST

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In an effort to tease and torture, a new Mother 3 site has launched, which will drop hints about the GBA title until the April Japan release date. These hints come in the form of presents. Two are up so far. The first one says "Odd and Interesting, then Sad." The second is a sound clip of the game's theme song. Expect more carrot-roping in the coming weeks. More »

Mother 3 Gets Release Date

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 13:20:24 EST

Shigesato Itoi's long-awaited sequel will hit the Game Boy Advance in Japan on April 20th, right before the spring Golden Week holidays. The game, known as Earthbound in the US, will feature twice the scenario work as the prequels. Cue the happy music and obligatory "schweet." More »

Mother 3 GBA Site Up, Reveals Little

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 08:22:18 EST

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A logo, a price and a release date. That's all Nintendo of Japan is providing us about the upcoming Mother 3 game. The game will go on sale in 2006 for 4,800 yen. Shigesato Itoi, the game's creator, is equally reticent, posting this on his blog: More »