Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

EarthBound Beginnings offers a turn-based combat system that feels both familiar to veteran RPG players and refreshingly unique for newcomers. Random encounters populate the journey, pushing you to balance exploration with strategic use of items and PSI abilities. Battles unfold from a first-person perspective, allowing you to focus on your party’s PSI commands, from offensive “PK Fire” and “PK Freeze” attacks to supportive moves like “Healing” and “Shield.”

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Exploration is just as important as combat. You’ll traverse small towns, winding country roads, and eerie laboratories while interacting with quirky NPCs who offer side quests and tidbits of lore. Shops selling everything from hamburgers to tip-top fringes encourage you to manage your limited inventory wisely. As you earn experience points, your characters grow stronger, gaining higher HP and PP pools that let you unleash bigger PSI attacks.

The pacing strikes a careful balance between challenge and accessibility. Early encounters teach you to juggle offensive and defensive PSI, while boss battles demand quick thinking and resource management. The “auto-battle” option can speed up grinding sessions, but the game’s charm lies in carefully planning strategies to overcome foes like ghostly poltergeists and bizarre mechanical bosses. Overall, the gameplay loop remains rewarding throughout the roughly 20- to 25-hour campaign.

Graphics

Despite its roots on the NES, EarthBound Beginnings delivers a colorful, expressive pixel-art style that conveys both whimsy and suspense. Towns like Podunk sparkle with detailed house facades and quaint signage, while the surrounding forests and roads are filled with charming environmental touches—rustling trees, flickering signposts, and hidden items. Though simplistic by today’s standards, the visuals capture a distinct atmosphere that immediately sets the game apart.

Battles feature large, well-animated enemy sprites that pop against stark black backgrounds. From floating poltergeists to snarling mutant plants, each foe feels memorable. Character portraits flash on screen during critical PSI attacks, emphasizing epic moments like unleashing a multi-hit “Fireball” or rescuing a teammate with “Lifeup.” For an 8-bit title, the game offers a surprising range of color palettes and sprite animations.

Technical limitations are evident—pixel dithering, occasional tile flicker, and a modest screen resolution—but these quirks only add to the nostalgic charm. The user interface is clean and straightforward: menus, health bars, and item icons are all easy to read. Even in 2023, the graphics retain a certain timeless appeal, proving that solid art direction can trump raw graphical power.

Story

The narrative opens in the early 1900s, when a mysterious dark shadow envelops a rural American town and a newlywed couple, George and Maria, vanish without a trace. Two years later, George returns, silent and haunted, while his wife remains missing. This prologue sets a tone of suspense that eerily resonates decades later.

Fast-forward eighty years, and you take control of a young boy whose home is suddenly besieged by a poltergeist. As household objects fly and apparitions swarm, his father sends him to learn the art of psychic defense from his grandfather. Armed with budding PSI abilities, the boy soon crosses paths with three other children: a quiet girl yearning for acceptance, a misunderstood young genius, and a kid embroiled in local gang turmoil. Each character brings a distinct backstory that intertwines with the overarching mystery.

As the quartet journeys across the country—visiting everything from arcane labs to bustling city streets—they uncover subtle links between the modern poltergeists and the century-old disappearance of George and Maria. Encounters with mad scientists and otherworldly beings deepen the intrigue, blending humor, heartfelt moments, and genuine tension. The plot reveals themes of loss, friendship, and the dual nature of psychic power, making for a surprisingly mature story in an era dominated by sword-and-sorcery RPGs.

Overall Experience

EarthBound Beginnings stands the test of time as a pioneering modern-set JRPG. Its blend of whimsical humor, eerie suspense, and heartfelt character moments creates an experience that feels both fresh and familiar. The synergy between PSI combat, world exploration, and a layered narrative ensures you stay invested from start to finish.

While the random encounter rate and grinding requirements may feel dated to some, the game’s steady progression and inventive PSI techniques keep battles engaging. The charming pixel art and memorable enemy designs complement a soundtrack that ranges from jaunty town themes to unsettling boss tunes, reinforcing the game’s offbeat identity.

For players seeking a classic RPG that delivers an engaging story, distinctive modern setting, and strategic turn-based battles, EarthBound Beginnings remains a must-play. Whether you’re revisiting it for nostalgia or discovering it for the first time, this title offers a captivating journey into a world where psychic powers and small-town mysteries collide.

Retro Replay Score

7.3/10