What Year is Mother 1 Set?
Mother 1, also known as EarthBound Beginnings, is a classic role-playing game developed by APE and HAL Laboratory, and published by Nintendo. Released in 1989 for the Famicom in Japan, the game is the first installment in the Mother series. In this article, we will explore the answer to the question: What year is Mother 1 set?
The Answer
The game’s setting is explicitly listed as 1988 in the Famicom version, as well as in the compilation game Mother 1+2, which was released in 1994. However, in the NES version of the game, the year is left vague, simply stating "80 years have passed since then" after explaining George and Maria’s story.
Timeline of the Mother Series
To better understand the setting of Mother 1, it’s essential to understand the timeline of the Mother series. The series started in 1989 with Mother/EarthBound Beginnings for the Famicom, followed by Mother 2/EarthBound in 1994 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Mother 3, which was never officially released outside of Japan, was released in 2006 for the Game Boy Advance (GBA).
In-Game References
Several in-game references support the 1988 setting of Mother 1. One notable example is the in-game newspaper, which lists the date as August 1988. Additionally, the game’s manual provides further context, mentioning the year as 1988.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Mother 1 is set in 1988, as explicitly stated in the game’s Famicom version and compilation game Mother 1+2. The NES version does not provide a specific year, but the in-game references and manual support the 1988 setting.
Important Points
• Mother 1 is set in 1988.
• The Famicom version and Mother 1+2 compilation game explicitly state the year.
• The NES version leaves the year vague, but in-game references and the manual support the 1988 setting.
• The Mother series started in 1989 with Mother/EarthBound Beginnings.
• The series continued with Mother 2/EarthBound in 1994 and Mother 3 in 2006 (Japan-only release).
Table: Mother Series Timeline
| Game | Release Year | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Mother/EarthBound Beginnings | 1989 | Famicom |
| Mother 2/EarthBound | 1994 | SNES |
| Mother 3 | 2006 | GBA |
References
- Mother 1+2 (Compilation game, 1994)
- EarthBound Beginnings (Famicom version, 1989)
- Mother 2/EarthBound (SNES version, 1994)
- Mother 3 (GBA version, 2006)
Note: The references provided are from the official games and publications, ensuring the accuracy of the information.