EarthBound Beginnings/Regional Differences
This is a sub-page of EarthBound Beginnings.
Mother was a major localization milestone for Nintendo of America in 1990. During its conversion to Earth Bound, several improvements were made to make it more accessible for western markets (which at the time was not anywhere near as receptive to the RPG genre as in Japan), as well as many graphical changes and additions done at the leisure of the team. The most major change was the expansion of the ending, which in Mother had been abrupt and visually unceremonious. Also abrupt and unceremonious: the US version's cancellation in 1991. However, Nintendo of America's efforts didn't go to waste in the long run. In an interview with LostLevels.org, localization director and English scriptwriter Phil Sandhop stated that the process made Nintendo of Japan more willing to work with its overseas counterparts to develop games with an international audience in mind, and indeed, many changes made in this game's localization would be incorporated in the Game Boy Advance port featured in Mother 1+2.
When the English version finally got an official release on the Wii U Virtual Console in 2015, all was left untouched from the build that had leaked in 1998. All descriptions here are based on the latter, which was released on the aforementioned platform as the final version.
Title Screen
Mother | EarthBound Beginnings |
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In Beginnings, the intro text was made more grammatically correct and the golden Mother logo was replaced with the red Earth Bound one. However, the original title graphics are still present in the CHR bank used for the intro text; this bank is swapped out and replaced with the Earth Bound CHR bank right before the title screen appears.
Dummied Items
Time Machine
The Japanese version had a "Time Machine" item for sale in Twinkle Elementary School which, if bought, would trigger a short event not present in Beginnings: the player is teleported to the same room directly after Lloyd blows it up with a bottle rocket.
Through some simple hacking to copy the NPC data from the Japanese version into the US one, the event can be restored. Mother 1+2 does not have this item or event, either.
Map
This item is still in Beginnings and is fully functional. Using it simply displays the string "Ninten checked the map."
Friendship Ring
The Friendship Ring (known in-game as FrndshpRing) appeared in the Japanese version. It was useless and did nothing, so in Beginnings it was replaced by the Repel Ring.
Graphic Changes
To do: Add more pictures for examples. |
Characters and NPCs
Beginnings changed the appearance of some characters, although most of the edits were minor (such as the stripe on Ninten's shirt). All of these changes were retained for Mother 1+2. It's interesting to note that a few NPCs like Ninten's mother Carol were edited in order to look less like Peanuts characters. In typical NoA fashion, all religious symbols were removed, including the priest's rosary. Some of these changes were reverted in all versions of Mother 2 and/or EarthBound for similar-looking NPCs such as Ness' Mother and the Return Woman in the Department Store of Fourside and Twoson as well as the salesman of the "For Sale" sign in Burglin Park.
The final two NPCs' edits appear to be little more than stylistic touch-ups.
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Ninten | ||
Carol | ||
Marcie-esque NPC | ||
Pigpen-esque NPC | ||
Priest NPC | ||
Mustachioed NPC | ||
Cool kid NPC |
Church
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The crosses on top of the churches were replaced with a taller, pointier steeple, while the large crosses on the back walls inside were changed to large stained-glass windows. While the steeple is a simple graphics alteration, the stained-glass window was edited on the palette and CHR-ROM level, so attempting to copy and paste the large cross back into Beginnings will result in graphical glitches.
Both of these changes were retained for Mother 1+2.
Funerary Objects
Various death-related paraphernalia was also changed between regions to remove religious imagery:
Mother | EarthBound Beginnings |
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But the overworld graphics weren't the only thing that got changed during the localization process...
Enemies
To do: These need proper rips without the transparency. |
Crow
Mother | EarthBound Beginnings |
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The crow, like the B.B. Gang, had its cigarette removed in the English releases due to NOA's own censorship policies, as well as concerns influenced by California laws during this time as well (to localizer Phil Sandhop's recollection). This change later extended to Mother 1+2 and the Japanese Wii U Virtual Console release.
Gang Zombie
Mother | EarthBound Beginnings |
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The bleeding gunshot wounds on the Gang Zombie were cleaned up, and a tie was put in their place.
Kelly, Nancy, and Juana
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Kelly | ||
Nancy | ||
Juana |
The three female robot enemies had the lighting on their breasts adjusted to remove their nipples.
Dr. Distorto
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A small red spot (bloodstain?) was removed from Dr. Distorto's lab coat.
Shroudley
Mother | EarthBound Beginnings |
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The dripping blood was removed from Shroudley's hands and around his feet.
B.B. Gang
Mother | EarthBound Beginnings |
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The Black Blood Blah-Blah Gang members joined the D.A.R.E. program.
B.B.'s Boss
Mother | EarthBound Beginnings |
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Teddy B.B.'s Boss no longer brandishes a knife during battle.
Bug Fixes
Bread Crumbs
A glitch involving the use of the Bread Crumbs item was fixed for Beginnings and Mother 1+2. One of its main uses is to bypass the rock sealing Giegue's lair, which doesn't normally open until you get the Eight Melodies, a glitch that is used in speedruns of the Japanese version.
Flea Bag
In the Japanese version, it is possible to abuse the Flea Bag item on R7038XX, dropping his offense to the point where he cannot kill EVE, and staying alive until a total of 255 turns have passed (in all versions, the game is programmed to automatically end any battle after 255 turns, declaring it a draw {using text not seen anywhere else} and dumping you back onto the map). Upon doing this, the event for EVE dying and giving you the melody happens, but she also remains in your party - something which isn't supposed to happen, mainly because she's obscenely strong.
Beginnings and Mother 1+2 fixed this by giving the R703X-series robots immunity to the Flea Bag's effects.
Misc.
Location Names
A vast majority of the names of locations were changed from the Japanese version to Beginnings. To quote the localization producer:
"Itoi originally wrote them to sound friendly. I don't believe that towns named after holidays was friendly. Matter of fact I thought it sounded stupid and thought older players would really be turned off. I wanted it to be enjoyable for all ages."
— Phil Sandhop, localization producer. Interview by Jonathan Wirth of the Lost Levels.
Mother | EarthBound Beginnings |
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Mother | EarthBound Beginnings |
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Mother's Day | Podunk |
Thanksgiving | Merrysville |
Santa Claus Station | Union Station |
Halloween | Spookane |
Easter | Youngtown |
Valentine | Ellay |
Holy Loly Mountain | Mount Itoi |
Menus
The menus have some more options in Beginnings and Mother 1+2, such as more speed levels. The world map is also not an option and rather a separate item in the Japanese release, found in the basement (and replaced by Bread in Beginnings). The order of learned PSI is also different.
To do: PSI learning comparison. |
PSI | Ninten | Anna |
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LifeUp α | 3 | |
Hypnosis | 4 | |
Healing α | 5 | |
DefenseUp α | 7 | |
DefenseDown α | 9 | |
4th-D Slip | 11 | |
PSIShield α | 13 | |
QuickUp | 14 | |
Healing β | 16 | |
OffenseUp | 18 |
Quick Status window
On the main HUD (at the bottom of the screen when the command window is open and during battle), the stats were rotated so that Level is first in the US version (compared to last in the Japanese version). This was possibly so that the character names could be extended an extra character (from 6 to 7) without touching the stats (since Level is only two digits).
Look
In-game item descriptions (the Look command) were added for Beginnings and Mother 1+2.
Mother | EarthBound Beginnings |
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Setup
A setup option was added in Beginnings. It lets you change the button assignments and the text speed throughout the game.
Party Member Status Color Backdrop Position
Beginnings changed the position of the critical condition and fainted status colored backdrop to the HP number. In the Japanese version, this position was in the party member's name.
Mother | EarthBound Beginnings |
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Check Blurbs
In Beginnings and Mother 1+2, checking an enemy in battle will display that enemy's stats as well as a short description. In the Japanese version, only their stats are displayed.
Mother | EarthBound Beginnings |
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Melody Backdrop
A rolling background effect, not present in the Japanese version, was added to Beginnings when learning a melody. This was programmed into the subroutine that plays music: any values containing one of the melodies will use the background whenever they are called, and revert when the song changes. In Mother 1+2 the lines were made wavy, most likely to reduce the risk of seizures.
The following content may induce seizures and has been hidden by default. Click to reveal: | ||||||
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Maps
Beginnings and Mother 1+2 contain simplified versions of the Underground Stream (in the Magicant wells) and the path to Mt. Itoi, as well as the layout of part of Spookane.
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Mother | EarthBound Beginnings |
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The summit of Mt. Itoi was also considerably revised. The rock graphic obstructing the final layer was changed, and a final, Starman-infested path is added between the outer summit and the cave where Giegue is fought. Additionally, the cave containing the kidnapped adults from Youngtown is moved up to this pathway, and is accessed via a small fork in the road. In the Japanese release, the party finds the imprisoned adults shortly before the cave where the Sea Pendant is located, between two clusters of rocks (incidentally, this also means that the player can bring EVE to the prison in the Japanese release, but not the English one). Because the climb up Mt. Itoi features multiple diverging paths, it's possible for the player to trek from the base of the mountain to the summit without ever encountering the imprisoned adults in the Japanese version, whereas it's much harder to miss in Beginnings and Mother 1+2.
To do: Add the other maps for Mt. Itoi. |
Run
Beginnings and Mother 1+2 added a run button, which by default is set to B and R, respectively. According to Phil Sandhop, the localization producer and English script writer for the US version, the running feature was originally added for debugging purposes (hence why it simply runs the overworld at double speed in Beginnings) but ultimately got retained as a legitimate game feature at his request.
Magicant Men
Two of the NPCs in Magicant were substantially changed. One of them is the man who appears in the fountain: he cures ailments in the Famicom version, but acts more like an ATM in Beginnings and Mother 1+2. In the Japanese version, he asks "What do you need?" and the choices "Cure Poison" and "Soften" appear. This change makes him more useful, since you can simply return to the hospital in town to cure those status conditions.
Mother | EarthBound Beginnings |
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The other is the Forgotten Man: in the Famicom version, should a player answer one of his questions wrong, they're warped right back to the beginning of Magicant. In the Beginnings and Mother 1+2, he simply ends his dialogue, allowing one to quickly start his prompt over again.
Endgame
To do:
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After the R7038 battle, you appear at the Doctor's house near the foot of Mt. Itoi, with Teddy injured on a bed, unable to continue. Beginnings re-positions Teddy on the bed.
In the Japanese release, upon learning the seventh melody, you are automatically warped back to Queen Mary, who remembers the eighth melody on her own; afterwards, the party is teleported to George's gravestone on the summit of Mt. Itoi. Beginnings requires you to collect the eighth melody and return to Queen Mary yourself. The dialogue associated with the Japanese version of events is in Beginnings, but unused.
Ending
The ending was heavily revised for Beginnings. In the Japanese version, the party simply faced the screen as the credits rolled behind them. In Beginnings, meanwhile, the game cuts to an epilogue that explains the fates of the imprisoned adults and the game's playable cast, which is followed by a cast reel, a revised credits sequence, and a new post-credits scene setting up a sequel (though the actual sequel has no relation to this hook).
This said, despite the change, there are a few errors in the ending: the heavy NPC who had changes done to his sprite in the US version uses his original Japanese sprites, and Ninten's sister Minnie uses Mimmie's pink color palette rather than the red palette she wears throughout the game.
Mother's credits theme became the epilogue and curtain call theme in Beginnings, with a slight rearrangement that gives it a more fleshed-out and joyful sound, and comes to an end instead of looping. The credits feature an all-new extended version of the Airplane theme, which includes parts of the Youngtown/Easter and Eight Melodies themes.
Mother | EarthBound Beginnings |
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The revised ending was retained in Mother 1+2, albeit with some further touch-ups. Minnie is now properly colored red, though the heavy NPC still uses the wrong sprites. Due to the GBA's smaller resolution, the cast reel now has the game's characters walk along the top of the screen rather than the lower margin, which retains Ninten's sole line of dialogue. The original arrangement of the ending theme is retained, and the credits omit the remixed Airplane theme in favor of reusing the train theme, "The Paradise Line".
EarthBound Beginnings | Mother 1+2 |
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