Ralackk: Whats it like compared to chrono trigger? That and (some of) the final fantasy series are really the only Jrpgs I've ever played and enjoyed.
Chrono Trigger is an excellent game. It's a bit hard to compare the two, since the style is pretty different. Earthbound takes place in modern-day suburbia (and elsewhere), and doesn't take itself as seriously as Chrono Trigger; you'll battle space creatures, robots and modern art on your quest to put an end to an invasion by an abstract alien intelligence.
Mechanically speaking, the game is simpler than Chrono Trigger; combat is fairly straightforward and plays out on a first-person battlefield over psychedelic music and weird pulsating backgrounds. Graphics are deliberately crude as a sort of throwback to the game's predecessor (Mother), but they have their own charm.
Unlike Chrono Trigger, thematic elements are much more important to Earthbound's story than the actual events that unfold. It has a very unique, almost hazy presentation. Nostalgia, growing up, and the love of family and friends are important themes. Unlike many RPGs, though (even the great ones), it's rarely if ever gushy or prone to purple prose.
My personal interpretation is that Ness has long since grown up, and that the events of the game are shown to the player through the filter of his memories; he's looking back on the adventure that he had many years ago, and we're looking back with him.
As a side note, the English localization is stellar. You'd never know it wasn't written in English in the first place.
It's definitely a niche game. Not everyone will appreciate it.
