One thing becomes very apparent when you start playing Earthbound: this is not your average, ordinary role-playing game. There are no swords or magical flames to be found, no medieval kings to converse with, nothing that is even remotely thought of when it comes to your every day RPG. Instead, Earthbound focuses on rather modern type gameplay. The hook is that everything takes place on Earth and you have to interact with people who are earthlings. And oddly enough, this is the reason the game feels so strange.

Right from the get-go, it is up to you to build your party's personas. You must name your hero, his dog, your other party members, your favorite food, etc. All of this has an effect on the way your character is in the game. Your hero and his gang of party members consist of a curious little bunch of kids who must save the world from an alien invasion. One night, a big meteor crashed near your hero's home and it is up to you to get to the bottom of it. And that's how your quest begins.

When you start interacting in the world of Earthbound, you will notice how everything seems like a normal earth day; maybe some things you would even encounter once in a while. You go from town to town, interacting with people who need stuff. You'll also have to rent bicycles and buy bus tickets to travel between the towns. You'll encounter bullies who are threatening to beat you up and you even have to withdrawal you money from an ATM using a bankcard. All the towns and dungeons have a very cartoonish look in a ¾ isometric perspective. But the detail and cute-factor are really effective and accommodate the game's storyline and subject matter perfectly.

Because of the ensuing alien invasion/meteor crash, enemies have infiltrated earth. But instead of taking on dragons or any other fantasy incarnation, you'll be taking on possessed birds and bears, insects and wild beasts. Of course, the farther you get to solving the Earth's problem, the harder the foes get and the more alien like they become. In order to fight the baddies, you'll need to equip yourself with a wide variety of weaponry. What else would a kid use except for a baseball bat or maybe a punching glove? Or how about a cap gun or a slingshot? You don't use magically enhanced weapons, but more realistic, down to Earth weapons.

In case you haven't been able to deduce this for your self, Earthbound is easily one of the most original role-playing games of the 1990s. And it's an extraordinary game to say the least. It's good because it tries to be different by creating an Earth based world and because it has an immersing storyline, witty, humorous and just plain good character development and interactions, stylish weapons and detailed battles. Any RPG fan looking for a totally refreshing and inspiring experience should check this game out. ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

The detail of the hand-drawn towns and characters is great. There were lots of bright and effective colors used and the whole game looks like a cartoon (which is great in this case). Character and enemy animation could have been a bit better, though. ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

The soundtrack ranges from retro styled science fiction soundscapes to uplifting and bubbly music. The sound effects aren't very original but they get the job done. ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

From start to finish, Earthbound grips you and never lets go. The story is very intriguing and the gameplay is top notch. What other game allows you to buy bus tickets and get your money out of an ATM machine? ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

When you finish the game once, there isn't much to go back for; there aren't really any secrets to be found here. But the game is fun enough to go through twice and if you missed any photo opportunities the first time, you can be sure to get them all the second time through! ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide