Mother 3

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Mother 3 is a HAL Laboratory video game, developed by Brownie Brown and released on April 20, 2006 for the Game Boy Advance. It is the third title in the Mother series of games, known as EarthBound outside of Japan. Details of its development were kept secret since it was announced in June 2003 during a Mother 1 + 2 television commercial in Japan. The game has remained near the top of Famitsu's Most Wanted Games list since its announcement, only once falling below number 10 to number 11. Immediately before its release, Mother 3 was the Most Wanted Game in Japan according to Weekly Famitsu [link].

It is also supposed to be the final game in the Mother series, since Itoi has stated on his blog that he does not plan on making Mother 4.

Plot

Lucas standing outside Alec's house.

Mother 3 is set in a land called the Nowhere Islands. Chaos ensues the Nowhere Islands after an invasion by the Pig Mask Army, humans in uniforms that resemble pigs. The Pig Mask Army is named for it's creator, Porky (known in America as Pokey). The Pig Mask Army slowly constructs a police state, while performing bizarre experiments on the land's flora and fauna. The invaders also introduce new technology and infrastructure to the islands. The various chapters of the story record the trials and tribulations of a a boy named Lucas, his family, and friends, who reside in Tazmily Village and band together to rid Nowhere Island of the Pig Army's influence.

Unlike the first two games, the focus is no longer on a group of children. Some chapters put completely different characters in the protagonistic role. For example, in one chapter the main character is a thief named Duster, in another the main character is a monkey named Salsa who is owned by a rich travelling merchant named Yokuba.

Hence the game's slogan "Strange, Funny and Heartrending," Mother 3 sheds the more lighthearted and quirky plotlines of the previous games in favor of a much darker and more emotional story. (Although much of Mother's more strange and quirky elements still remain.)

This game story is "Not-Poetic justice". The boundary of justice and evil is ambiguous. EarthBound and Mother 1+2 is divided into justice and evil. However, Mother 3 is the "Japanese Style Story" which did not divide justice and evil completely but had ambiguity. Moreover, the characters do not seem to be American as they did in EarthBound and Mother 1+2, either -- the characters of Mother 3 are ambiguous but more Japanese than American in nature. Actually, Hinawa seems to be a Japanese mother. Hinawa, Kumatora, etc... are Japanese word.

Characters

– The older twin son of Flint and Hinawa and Lucas's brother. Has orange hair. Claus is energetic and far more courageous than Lucas.

– A strong, rugged cowboy who loves his family above all. Husband to Hinawa, and father of Lucas and Claus. Featured prominently in the cancelled Mother 3 for Nintendo 64. His weapons appear to be large pieces of lumber.

– Loving wife of Flint and mother to Claus and Lucas.

– Flint's faithful dog. Unlike Boney's Mother 2 predecessor, King, he joins the party as a controllable character at many points in the game. Only has one 'weapon', and dog collars usually increase both his offense and defense stats.

– A mountain-climbing thief living in the same village as Flint's family. He has various skills passed down by his father. His weapons are shoes and boots (presumably for kicking).

– A poor, abused monkey working under a crafty man named Yokuba. Resembles the Balloon/Bubble Monkey of Mother 2.

– A tomboyish princess with bright pink hair. The only female party member. A skilled PSI user. She shares characteristics of both to Paula and Poo from Mother 2. Her weapons are gloves and gauntlets. She is apparently the princess of Osohe Castle according to other characters. In Japanese internet community, she is the most popular at EB character.

Gameplay

The battle system used in Mother 3.

Unlike the first two Mother games, Mother 3 starts out very differently. The game is set up into eight different chapters. Instead of focusing on a group of children, it chronicles the story and adventures of Lucas and his family, and the story switches perspective during each chapter. (For example, you play the first half of the game as Flint, Duster and Salsa but take over the rest of the game as Lucas.) Nowhere Island also changes dramatically due to the influence of the Pig Army, transforming from a simple low-tech rural society to a more modern infrastructure that's similar to the first two Mother games. (Hence the game's theme of nature vs. technology) The game also features a more traditional top-down RPG perspective, instead of the oblique projection used in the first two games. Once again, the game retains the Dragon Quest-style battle system EarthBound had (although this time at a much quicker pace), but Mother 3 adds an extra twist in the form of the Music combo system. Depending on how well you press the A Button in-sync to the music (each enemy has their own respective theme song), you can perform up to 16 hits of damaging combos on your enemies. (The game also has an option of letting you practice Music combos on enemies you've already fought.) Enemies can still be approached from behind for a surprise attack (along with the extra added detail of seeing behind an enemy.) The game also retains the rolling HP/MP odometers from the previous game, enabling the player to heal before the counter rolls to 0. Another new addition is the ability to run, by holding and releasing the B Button the player can not only reach areas quicker, but also smash into breakable objects and also immediately take out enemies weaker than yourself.

Background

Mother 3 was originally announced in 1996 for the Nintendo 64. Development soon moved to the Nintendo 64DD, where it was to be a launch title, but after many delays caused by the inexperience of the development team with the hardware and 3D graphics, it was cancelled in August 2000. The project was revived in 2003, now with 2D graphics in the Game Boy Advance.

Marketing

• On the week of February 7, the Mother 3 slogan and theme song, "Strange, Funny, Heartrending" and "Mother 3 Love Song" respectively, were revealed.
• On the week of February 14, the first screenshots of the title were revealed and a special ringtone of the Mother 3 Love Theme was offered. It is only available in Japan.
• On the week of February 21, three additional screenshots were revealed along with the Mother 3 Deluxe Box.
• On the week of February 28, screenshots featuring a dungeon area and a typical battle screen were revealed. Itoi also stated that, like the first two Mother games, it would be a typical RPG with traditional RPG elements, but with a unique world and story. Two character names were also revealed: Flint and Boney.
• On the week of March 7, a rendition of the world map was revealed.
• On the week of March 14, two more main characters were revealed: Lucas and Claus, Lucas being the younger twin brother and Claus being the older. Itoi also released Mother 3-themed cell phone backgrounds, but only for those with Japanese phones.
• On the week of March 21, Lucas and Claus's family are revealed: their father Flint, their mother Hinawa, and their dog Boney.
• On the week of March 28, the sprites of 14 enemies were presented, and two computer wallpapers, one with the world map and another with Boney the dog walking through a grass background.
• On the week of April 4, various screenshots of many locations were revealed.
• On the week of April 10, along with 12 new screenshots, the game is revealed to be setup into different chapters.
• On the week of April 18, two days before Mother 3 was released, Itoi released a final message about the game.

Connections to Mother 1 and 2

• Ness, Paula, Jeff and Poo never appear physically in the game, since Mother 3 takes place far beyond Ness' time period. (Although they are referenced numerous times in the game.) Also, a few screenshots of the cancelled N64 version may have hinted at Ness' appearnace. Another screenshot from the afformentioned version depicts a devastated Onett(and seemingly Fourside).
• Later in the game, you visit areas in New Pork City that contain many references to EarthBound. A theater shows a movie that chronicles Ness and Co.'s adventures in EarthBound. And later you visit a boat ride that displays many recognizable objects/elements from EarthBound.
• A dramatically-aged Pokey Minch is revealed to be the leader of the Pig Army and the true enemy of the game.
• Many of Mother 1's enemies missing in Mother 2 like the Scrapper, Ghost Armor and Titany return
• Dr. Andonuts also appears in the game, forcibly used to invent for Pokey and the Pig Army.
• At the game's climax, you fight Pokey in a machine very similar to his Spider mech at the end of EarthBound.
• At one point in the game, you visit a Saturn Villiage. It is eventually attacked by the Pig Army.
• There is a restaurant that has waitresses that resemble Pokey's mother.
• Much of the soundtrack contains many recognizable songs from Mother and Mother 2.
• The Mr. T lookalike from Mother 2 makes a comeback.
• Every PERSON in the game has a unique sprite(set),and have a more variety of movement.This is poked fun at(?)in New Pork City were the "Robots" only have a few sprites,most look alike,and only have four basic directions.

Mother 3 Deluxe Box

Reviews

Sales information

Demand for an international release

New rumors in a recent issue (August 2006 issue) of EGM suggest the possibility that Nintendo may compile all three Mother titles onto one DS cart, and could possibly bring this combilation to the US. [link]

Early screenshots

See also

• PSI List (mother series)

References

External links

Official sites

• () [Official site]
• () [1101.com (Shigesato Itoi's website): Mother 3]
• () [SpaceWorld 1999: Mother 3]

• [IGN: Mother 3]
• [GameSpy: Mother 3]
• [1UP.com: Mother 3 Preview]
• [GameStats: Mother 3]

• [Starmen.net: Mother 3]
• [Mother 3 Fan Translation]
• () [Mother Party(Mother-jp.net): Mother 3]