Earthbound gets rated by the ESRB

by David Hinkle { May 2nd 2008 at 12:45PM }

We hope you have a fresh pair of underwear on, because you're about to suffer a heart attack: Earthbound has been rated by the ESRB for Wii. That pain in your chest? That's your heart exploding. Welcome the sensation. It's a sign of victory!

Now that the game has been rated by the ESRB, it's likely to show up on the Virtual Console sometime in the immediate future. We'll settle for no less than this Monday, but in all probability, we won't be that lucky. Stay tuned to Wii Fanboy in the coming weeks for an announcement on when you can spend your money on this Virtual Console game.

[Thanks, Brandon!]

Tags: earthbound, esrb, rpg, snes

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

PrinnyDood @ May 2nd 2008 12:51PM

what What WHAT!

AwesomeNESS!

seetrapp @ May 2nd 2008 8:19PM

Earthbound rated by the ESRB? Nintendo DISCUSSING storage solutions? WHAT IS HAPPENING? I'M SO AFRAID!

Hughesmar @ May 2nd 2008 1:07PM

What's the deal with this game? The only thing I know about it is the massive amount of fanboy hype that it gets. Why was it so great?

sketchampm @ May 2nd 2008 1:23PM

The kooky soundtrack, charming characters and increasingly bizarre settings aside, it had some of the most brilliant writing in a video game. It was witty, sharp and very funny, especially for it's time. The gameplay was also quite addictive.

Play it, but if you play it- play it to the very end.

capt.strugglebunny @ May 2nd 2008 1:17PM

Probably the amount of charm and personality this game has. I never got to play the game when it first came out, but did go through most of it on a ROM with an emulator a few months ago (the horror!) It plays like a every other Japanese RPG you've ever played, but it has a really fun script with cool characters.

TheWarlock @ May 2nd 2008 1:18PM

I would rephrase that question so as to not get tortured verbally by the onslaught that is the NWF argu-guild [current member]. *backs into shadows to avoid crossfire*

Giggity @ May 2nd 2008 1:20PM

It was an Amazing Game

It was a game with an amazing soundtrack and had NPC's and cut scenes that kept you entertained the whole game through. Though the battle system was nothing too special (like old school dragon warrior style) it never seemed to get old. The story is great and the characters are all unique and add their own small bits to the story.

capt.strugglebunny @ May 2nd 2008 1:23PM

Oh yeah, I totally forgot about the music. Completely amazing (and remember I only played this like 15 years after it came out so no rose-colored glasses for me.)

SoshiKitai @ May 2nd 2008 8:03PM

It's different. And fun. Possibly even silly.
Plainly put.

capt.strugglebunny @ May 2nd 2008 1:15PM

This game definitely has a super amount of charm. Too bad I could never beat it. The 1000 tough freaking characters you have to face before the end boss with no way to resupply on items kinda ruined it for me :(

GatorSax2010 @ May 2nd 2008 1:15PM

Awesome! I finally get to see what all the fuss is about. You'd better believe I'll be getting this.

Jumbo @ May 2nd 2008 1:16PM

When did this game get popular?

I bought it new for 10 bones a few years ago.

When did it suddenly become the greatest thing of all time ever, when a few years ago no one would buy it and it was on clearance EVERYWHERE.

Orion @ May 2nd 2008 1:40PM

uh.. not "EVERYWHERE" unless a "few years ago" means at the end of the Super Nintendo's life cycle. This game is fairly rare, and usually fetches 50 dollars or more used without a box. if you got this for 10 dollars (or bones lol) anywhere from the year 2000 to present, you got a steal.

And no offense, but even if Earthbound was cheap as dirt, does it mean it's a bad game? Super mario brothers are less than a dollar half the time and it's still one of my most treasured and favorite game.

Orion @ May 2nd 2008 1:41PM

Orion @ May 2nd 2008 1:42PM

sorry about the double post bud. wiifanboy had a hickup there it for a sec.

Jumbo @ May 2nd 2008 2:00PM

Cheap does not mean bad... but the fact that nobody wanted it says something...

I'm not saying it was a bad game... I just dont get where the fanboyism comes from... it was probably one of the least popular games on the system... Stores were ditching it as soon as it came out for 10 bones in a giant box with a guide book.

For 50 bones, I'd ditch my book and game... I even have the box.

Orion @ May 2nd 2008 2:02PM

Well do it before the VC game comes out, or there might be less demand.

There is this magical place where people offer you high prices for your used junk *COUGH EBAY COUGH* try there bud :)

Undead Priest @ May 2nd 2008 3:24PM

Earthbound was released near the end of the SNES's life cycle and was pretty much buried under the N64/PS1 hype.

HellsHammer @ May 2nd 2008 3:29PM

Yeah, and when ps2 was released I got four black label copies of Final Fantasy 7 for $5 a piece. Price doesn't judge quality.

Earthbound is one VC game that NEEDS to be released. I hope Nintendo doesn't beat around the bush with this one. I'll go insane.

HellsHammer @ May 2nd 2008 3:32PM

Jumbo: If you're serious, I'll buy it right now. email me. blackenedrats@hotmail.com

Haohmaru @ May 2nd 2008 3:32PM

I rented it when it first came out years ago, but never bought it to own. You're right; it didn't sell very well, but it was definitely a real hidden gem. I loved playing through it when I was in middle school and I look forward to doing so again. As for the sudden popularity, I guess you have to remember that this IS NWF, a website devoted to Nintendo gaming, and at least a fairly large portion of readers are going to be familiar with most Nintendo games.

TheWarlock @ May 2nd 2008 6:16PM

You see, fanboys are prone to used-game[used to be alright, now is GREAT] praise. Plus, in time, these awesome games become what are known as Masterpieces.

SoshiKitai @ May 2nd 2008 8:06PM

You see... we all loved it... we all did.
Then after all these games appeared and new systems... claiming to have the BEST OF THE BEST.

And then someone mentioned "You know what was so quirky, it was awesome? ... Earthbound." .... then we all went like "OMG! I REMEMBER THAT GAME! THAT GAME WAS AWESOME! IT WAS AMAZING! IT WAS FANTASTICAL! IT WAS LIKE A NEW FORM OF SLICED BREAD!!!"

TheWarlock @ May 2nd 2008 11:17PM

@Soshirino

Holy crap, how in the hell did you know what was running through my mind?! Wow, you really ARE psyhic! I was TOTALLY thinking that when I got Earthbound, man, that's talent. It truly is... talent. That's really, errr, that's really good.

Shogan @ May 3rd 2008 7:52AM

What happened was this. The game came out when the bigger systems had launched, and the SNES had been pushed aside by many people. I personally barely remembered it until a few years back when people started talking about Mother 3 (I think). I figured, like anything else, it was nostalgia for an old and tired game.

My God, I was wrong. I also played a bit on an emulator, and fell in love with the game. So much so, I couldn't allow myself to play it on an emulator, and have been waiting patiently for it to be released in any form, on any Nintendo system. This game is right up there with Super Metroid as one of the absolute best of the 16-bit era. Like has been said before, it's charming, funny, unique, and the story will suck you right in. Everyone should play this, and the number of games I can say that about... I can count on one hand.

Phil @ May 2nd 2008 1:16PM

I can has Super Mario RPG?

Phil @ May 2nd 2008 1:16PM

I can has Super Mario RPG?

TheWarlock @ May 2nd 2008 1:16PM

Man, that massive coronary hurt! Well, at least I'll be getting EarthBound soon. IT'S ABOUT FRAKKIN' TIME.

coleduke @ May 2nd 2008 1:18PM

I think the internet just exploded.

Hopefully this won't go the way of Super Mario RPG where they rate it, and then it mysteriously just disappears and no one at Nintendo will speak up and tell us why we're getting screwed.

Kenology @ May 2nd 2008 3:05PM

Square might have something to do with Super Mario RPG bein' put on the backburner. I know Ninty published it, but there might be some politics involved.

SovietDancnBear @ May 2nd 2008 1:48PM

Great game, its a pick up for any JRPG fans out there. Still have my SNES cart of it.

Orion @ May 2nd 2008 1:35PM

I've wanted to play this game for years, but passed it up as I didn't want to spend 50+ bucks for it used. 8 however, is a great price!

It's good that they are doing this, so that new gamers have a chance to see where a certain Smash Brothers character comes from :).

Synergistic @ May 2nd 2008 1:41PM

These tears running down my face?

Tears of joy.

Timdogg @ May 2nd 2008 1:42PM

I just played this game for the first time ever over the last couple months on an emulator. It was a pretty cool game!

I am not sure that I will get it on VC though, seeing I beat it yesterday.

MasterInsan0 @ May 2nd 2008 3:20PM

Buy it anyway. Not only will you be supporting the Earthbound community (which has been getting screwed by Nintendo until now), but you'll also feel a little less guilty for pirating a great game. =P

Timdogg @ May 2nd 2008 3:32PM

That is a pretty solid point...I am the broke though :(

Sonic_13 @ May 2nd 2008 1:45PM

Wow. I never got the chance to play the game, but even I am really excited for this. I will be one of the many people who downloads it the day it comes out.

Let's just hope it is soon. Unfortunately with the upcoming launches of Wii Fit and WiiWare, a mega-title like this probably won't be released in the next few weeks (unless Nintendo wants to make this month the best month ever).

White Rose Duelist @ May 2nd 2008 1:49PM

I can has Mother 3 now plz?

Sean @ May 2nd 2008 1:58PM

Wow. $50 for a cart?

I bought mine off of eBay in 2002 for like $20 bucks. Earthbound hype only really kicked into overdrive when Mother 3 dropped in Japan.

As late as 2004, I saw carts going for $20 bucks on eBay.

mrtaco @ May 2nd 2008 3:38PM

And right now, they are going for $75 to more than $100

AlgusUnderdunk @ May 2nd 2008 2:03PM

Amusing irony:

When I originally bought this game for the SNES, I purchased it from a Drugstore, not a game shop or toystore :D

CJC @ May 2nd 2008 2:21PM

Sweet Zombie Jesus, YES.

Asok @ May 2nd 2008 2:25PM

HELL YEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS i thought this would never happen oh god oh god caffeine rush

Tomba42 @ May 2nd 2008 2:45PM

I got it at a Best Buy years later myself; I was weirded out to see an SNES game (possibly the only one they were still selling) and an SNES game I'd remembered Nintendo Power having a weird promo for years ago..scratch and sniff stickers that smelled awful on purpose.

It was only 10 bucks with the book for me, yeah. At the time I'd recently played Mario RPG and Chrono Trigger, and was getting into RPGS, so I picked it up because it was one.

I still love it now because it was brilliant and finding it was one of the luckiest days of my gaming life.

Alex @ May 2nd 2008 3:03PM

OH MY GOD! I JUST SHIT MY PANTS IN EXCITEMENT!

smort @ May 2nd 2008 3:19PM

Shit. First I blew 30 dollars I had waiting on my wii for a decent release to come out for a couple games I had mild interest in, and as soon as I spend it, River City Ransom comes out. Then, once I buy that, this happens.

TheOverlord#2 can has Mario Karts?(MK:2578-3517-9859) @ May 2nd 2008 3:35PM

No words can explain the joy I have. :D

MY $8 IS WAITING FOR YOU NINTENDO!!!!!

Now for SMRPG...

jan_halmes @ May 5th 2008 8:38AM

Looks like that Nintendo Power poll maybe worked.

As for why this game didn't sell the first time around, there are three simple reasons.

1) It was a new intellectual property

2) It cost $80

3) It's ad capaign slogan was "This game game stinks".

So yeah, put those factors together and you get a game that no one wanted to take a chance on.

Johivin @ May 2nd 2008 3:56PM

I predict that this game will drop around the time that Nintendo announces that they will be bringing Mother series to the DS (as either the individual games or as a combo), if not that a new Earthbound game is in the works.

On topic... This news is excellent.