Play Mother (J) Online

Mother, known as EarthBound Beginnings outside Japan, was a role playing game released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989. Developed by Ape and published by Nintendo, it arrived late in the NES lifecycle, offering a different kind of adventure compared to the platformers and action titles that dominated the system. The game presented a modern, almost suburban setting that felt unusual for the time.

You control Ninten, a young boy who explores his neighborhood and beyond, eventually recruiting other children to help him. Your main goal is to investigate psychic phenomena and locate eight magical melodies. Gameplay involves navigating the world screen by screen, engaging in turn based combat against odd enemies like stray dogs and runaway cars, and using a variety of PSI abilities. The pacing is deliberate, and the random encounters can make some areas feel grueling. It feels like uncovering a strange, personal story that was hidden in plain sight.