History VideoGame / Mother3

* SkippableBoss: After the TimeSkip, Mr. Passion, the first boss of Chapter 2, returns as the considerably stronger Lord Passion, in the same spot as before. On the other hand, Osohe Castle is completely optional to explore [[spoiler:aside for a small section in Chapter 7]], with everything seemingly looking the same way it did by the end of Chapter 3, and there are no hints that Lord Passion even exists. Defeating him will allow Duster to get one of his strongest weapons, but he can only be fought in Chapter 5 [[spoiler:as he loses access to the Rope Snake afterwards]].

* EasyLevelsHardBosses: It's pretty much agreed, the bosses are probably the hardest part of the game.

* EliteMooks: The Pigmask Colonels

* HijackedByGanon: Sort of. The villain turns out to be [[spoiler:Pokey (Porky) from ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound1994}'']].

''Mother 3'' is the long-awaited sequel to ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound|1994}}'' and the third (and final) entry in Creator/ShigesatoItoi's ''VideoGame/{{Mother}}'' franchise. Like prior games, the game contains [[WidgetSeries weird and quirky writing and gameplay]] which features deft employment of MoodWhiplash in its artistic story, and centers on a young boy with psychic powers and his friends -- but in this game, the time and setting are vastly different, and the threat to humanity is much more ''earthly'' than it was long ago.

* WidgetSeries: ''Annnnnnd how!'' There really isn't another series like ''VideoGame/{{Mother}}''.

** The Game starts with Lucas's family all living happily together [[spoiler: before they're torn apart by the Pigmask army, with Hinawa's death, Claus's disappearance, and Flint all but abandoning Lucas to search for Claus, leaving Lucas and Boney alone.]] During the Final Battle, [[spoiler: the whole family is re-united at the Last Needle, even Hinawa through the means of appearing as a ghost to save Claus, only for them to be separated again for the final time, with Claus joining Hinawa in death.]]

** The Runaway Five in ''[=EarthBound=]'' save Ness and Jeff from the Clumsy Robot by joining in the fray and fighting him, flipping his switch to de-activate him. [[spoiler:[[BigDamnHeroes DCMC come to the rescue]] when Lucas and co. are fighting a HopelessBossFight against the Porky Bots.]]

* FightWoosh: Like ''[=EarthBound=]'' before it, it comes in three colors depending on how you start the batttle. The blue woosh means that the battle will go on as normal. Sneak up behind an enemy to get a green woosh and surprise attack. Red wooshes are when the enemy sneaks up behind you and gets a surprise attack on you! The blue woosh is also used for Boss Battles, but with a different, more dramatic tune.

** Also in Chapter 5, if you talk to a Pigmask in the next Clayman Factory you find, they'll mention how the guy who came up with and made the Claymen is a genius, but they can't remember his name and keep mispronouncing it as "Ando, Antoine, Adamantium, Androggyny". You later find out the scientist's name is [[spoiler: Andonuts, the same Dr. Andonuts from ''[=EarthBound=]''.]]

* ThreeAmigos: Lucas, Duster and Kumatora.

* NostalgicMusicbox: The rendition of the Love Theme that plays [[spoiler: when Lucas and Claus flashback to their parents doting over them as babies during the Final Battle.]]

** Mister Passion will attack you for refusing to listen to his compositions. His BonusBoss form, Lord Passion, will also get violent if you [[FelonyMisdemeanor don't think his new hairdo looks great.]]

* BonusBoss: Lord Passion, Li'l Miss Marshmallow, and the King Statue. Strawberry Slime, the Ghost Knight, and Fish Roe Man as well, though they're more minibosses.

* BossBonanza: [[spoiler:Chapter 8 only featured one small dungeon, the New Pork City Sewers, [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon the Empire Porky Building]] and its basement, and bosses sprinkled throughout. First off is Miracle Fassad in the sewers. After him, there's a BonusBoss, the King Statue, that can be fought in New Pork City itself. After completing the games to see if Lucas is worthy enough to meet Porky, the Natural Killer Cyborg is fought. After a CallBack to the previous two games, the Mecha-Porky bots are fought. Porky then reveals himself and sends Lucas, his party, and Flint to the basement, where there's a short stretch of enemies leading up to the FinalBoss: Porky Minch himself. After beating him, the PostFinalBoss, the rematch with the Masked Man, is available.]]

** At the beginning of Chapter 5, you can backtrack to Osohe Castle and defeat [[BonusBoss Lord Passion]]; for doing so, you'll get the Mystical Shoes, which will last Duster all the way through to Chapter 7, if not the rest of the game.

** There's also no indication anywhere in the game that revisiting Osohe Castle in Chapter 5, to fight a BonusBoss, will yield any kind of reward.

* HPToOne: The New Year's Eve Bomb (which is one of two ways to defeat a certain BonusBoss [[note]]you can use PK Flash, but it will be harder unless you get lucky[[/note]]) has this effect. Sometimes it's a dud, and it never works on bosses except for the King Statue.

* PermanentlyMissableContent: If you don't go all the way back to Tazmily and fight [[BonusBoss Lord Passion]] during Chapter Five, say goodbye to Duster's DiscOneNuke weapon forever.

** The process of learning new PSI abilities is deliberately evocative of menstruation; Lucas and Kumatora suddenly get a high fever, which temporarily disables the run feature, as the party can't move around too quickly without agitating them. After walking around enough, the fever dissipates and the PSI ability is learned. The metaphor is further heightened by the fact that Lucas doesn't learn PSI until after the TimeSkip -- puberty typically begins later for AMAB kids.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The room in the Empire Porky Building dedicated to his 'biggest fans'. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jISrQF44_ww Just listen to that music]]...
* TheDogBitesBack: [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts to Porky.]]

%%* MouthFlaps

* MouthFlaps

* HurtingHero: That'd be grossly understating it...

* The Awesome Equipment, meant for Lucas. One being a rare drop.

* HPToOne: The New Year's Eve Bomb (which is one of two ways to defeat a certain BonusBoss [[note]]you can use PK Flash, but it will be harder unless you get lucky[[/note]]) has this effect.

* InfinityMinusOneSword: The Real Bat for Lucas (also comes with 50 Extra PP), and the Ultimate Shoes for Duster. They can be found in presents without needing to roll with low drop rates.
* InfinityPlusOneSword: The Mystical Stick for Lucas, Mystical Gloves for Kumatora, and Mystical Shoes for Duster, all granting bonuses to HP, PP, IQ and Speed along with Offense. With the exception to the Mystical Shoes, which are obtained from beating Lord Passion, they have a low drop rate from enemies in chapter 7.

* InHarmonyWithNature: Tazmily Village.

* JokeItem: Lucas and Kumatora both can get the Fake Bat and Fake Frying Pan respectively, as nods to them being the [[SpiritualSuccessor successors]] of [[VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings Ninten and Ana]] and [[VideoGame/EarthBound1994 Ness and Paula]], due their roles as TheHero and {{The Smurfette| Principle}} who are the CombatMedic and BlackMage respectively. They even change their instrument sounds when they attack in battle, Lucas's becomes a Wooden Block, and Kumatoras' a Jaw Harp.

* JustAMachine: [[spoiler:Porky believes that the Masked Man is nothing more than his robot slave and has no humanity left in him.]]

* ThematicSequelLogoChange: The logo is chaged into a combination of wood and metal, with the globe that makes the "O" of previous games being replaced by a metal sphere, to represent the Pigmasks' encroachment on nature and their UnwillingRoboticisation of its wildlife. This also factors into the plot, [[spoiler:as after the game ends and the world is remade]], the logo changes to be completely wooden, with the metal sphere having turned into a realistic picture of the Earth, as opposed to the stylized versions of previous games.

''Mother 3'' is the long-awaited sequel to ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'' and the third (and final) entry in Creator/ShigesatoItoi's ''VideoGame/{{Mother}}'' franchise. Like prior games, the game contains [[WidgetSeries weird and quirky writing and gameplay]] which features deft employment of MoodWhiplash in its artistic story, and centers on a young boy with psychic powers and his friends -- but in this game, the time and setting are vastly different, and the threat to humanity is much more ''earthly'' than it was long ago.

** The Franklin Badge, much like in ''VideoGame/{{Mother}}'' and ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'', allows Lucas to reflect all lightning-based attacks back to whoever used them. [[spoiler:Claus uses it for tragic results.]]

* BlackBeadEyes: Much like in ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'', the artistic style in this game means that almost every human character has little black dots for eyes.

** And to top it all off: [[spoiler:The ending credits music contains the Eight Melodies from ''VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings'' and ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'', as well as the ''Mother 3'' Theme of Love.]]

** The Hall of Memories is one big CallBack to ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'', featuring several objects and characters involved in said game, and they even have the exact same sprites.

* CanineCompanion: Boney expands on King's role at the beginning of ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'' by being a near-permanent party member from Chapter 4.

** [[spoiler:Porky's]] room in Thunder Tower has a few too. The Teddy Bears that were NPC party members in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound|1994}}'' ("You almost feel like it could take your place for you"), and a jukebox that plays the shop and hotel themes from ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound|1994}}.''

* DistantSequel: ''Mother 3'' is set an indefinitely long amount of time after the events of ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994''; by this point, [[spoiler:the world already experienced an apocalypse, with the survivors deliberately erasing all of their memories about life before the cataclysmic event.]]

* [[DubNameChange Fan Translation Name Change]]: Yokuba to Fassad, "Yoshikoshi" to "Violet", "Tamekichi"/"Umemaro" to "Lucky"/"Gorgeous", and many more (mostly in an attempt to mimic ''[=EarthBound=]''). Hinawa was almost changed to Amber to retain the ThemeNaming with Flint, but was ultimately left as Hinawa due to ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Brawl'' using that name.

* GagNose: Like in ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'', the Mr. Saturns have amazingly bulbous noses.

* HappyEndingOverride: This entire game essentially serves as one for ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994''. [[spoiler:If this game actually takes place after ''[=EarthBound=]''.]]

* HeroicMime: Played with even more than in ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'': the role of protagonist is shuffled around between characters [[spoiler:before the TimeSkip]], and whoever holds it at the moment is silent, but these characters are perfectly talkative when someone else is in the lead. The exception is Salsa, who never talks at all. Granted, he's a monkey.

** In Chapter 2, if you talk to one of the Pigs, he'll say "Oink-Oink-Oink-Oink-Oink-Oink-Oinka-Oink! (My Rendition of a Battle Fanfare.)" Sounds similar to a certain famous [[VideoGame/FinalFantasy victory fanfare, wouldn't you say?]]

** As in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound|1994}}'', there are various musical references: for example, two enemies are named Rock Lobster (after a song by [[Music/TheB52s The B-52's]]) and [[Music/TheBeatles Gently Weeping Guitar]].
** Lucas and Claus are named for the twins (Lucas and Claus) in ''[[Literature/TheBookOfLies1986 The Book of Lies]]''.

** Creator/ShigesatoItoi [[WordOfGod has stated]] he named the twin protagonists after the twins from ''[[Literature/TheBookOfLies1986 The Book of Lies]]''.

* SkyscraperCity: New Pork City, especially notable in the Smash Bros. Brawl version. You have to climb your way up the tallest building as well, the 100 floor skyscraper.

--> ''"The Funshine Sorest is on fire!"''

--> '''Lucas:''' "N-n-n-no! He didn't [[spoiler:take Dad's homemade knife and go into the mountains to kill the Drago!"]]
--> '''Alec:''' [[LampshadeHanging "It's a good thing you raised him to be honest, Flint!"]]

* [[TalkingAnimal Talking Animals]]: You come across a bunch of talking critters throughout the whole game. One you come across often is the [[SavePoint Save Frog.]]

** [[spoiler:For EarthBound Players at least entering Saturn Valley reveals this games connections to EarthBound.]]

* GameGourmet: Initially, given the setting, your diet consists of things like nuts, mushrooms, beef jerky, and cheese. Not long into the game, though, come bags of pork chips, lootable from defeated Pigmask soldiers, marking the beginning of the end of the simple life that defines Tazmily Village up until then with the first processed foods since [[spoiler: the end of the old world]].

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* SurpriseCreepy: The simple graphics belie quite the at-times terrifying tale. The game's at least nice enough to put the first swerve at the end of the prologue, at least.

** Duster's weapons are ''shoes'' and he attacks by kicking. His disability is a [[IncrediblyLamePun club foot]], yet he is not hindered by his crippled leg because that is how god-tier badass he is.

** To a rather lesser extent, there's also the Courage Badge. [[spoiler:It turns out to be [[VideoGame/{{Earthbound}} the Franklin Badge.]] And if you take the appearances of the Franklin Badge in previous games to heart, this could be a series-wide ChekhovsGun.]]

* NobodyPoops: Like in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}'', averted, and how! Toilets (and people using them) are everywhere. There's even a dungeon made of them [[spoiler:in the Empire Porky Building]], and you can find many Pigmasks doing their "business" there. [[spoiler:Beware the [[LethalJokeCharacter PK Starstorm-using Men's Room Signs]], though!]]

* PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo: There's a film in New Pork City depicting actual scenes from ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}'' at one point, obviously prominently featuring Ness and company.

** In the {{W|ildMassGuessing}}MG vein, there's [[spoiler:Li'l Miss Marshmallow for Electra, Pokey's human maid in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}'']], [[AllThereInTheManual as revealed by the enemy notes.]]

* SavePoint: In the form of various frogs, who also inexplicably take the place of the ATM machines from ''VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings'' and ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}'' once money comes into play.

** As in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}'', there are various musical references: for example, two enemies are named Rock Lobster (after a song by [[Music/TheB52s The B-52's]]) and [[Music/TheBeatles Gently Weeping Guitar]].

** [[Music/{{ACDC}} DCMC]], anyone?

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Despite being a Japan-only game, there are multiple English names used in the fandom for the same things due to a combination of the 1997-1999 ''[=EarthBound 64=]'' coverage, ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'', Clyde Mandelin's translation and attempts by other fans. For example, the Mandelin translation follows the lead of ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' and uses the proper translation of [[spoiler:Porky's name, instead of using the erroneous "Pokey" spelling used in ''VideoGame/EarthBound'''s official translation]].

* TwoPartTrilogy: In terms of continuity and the battle system, ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' and ''Mother 3'' are one of these. This game has more {{Continuity Nod}}s to ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}'' than ''VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings'' had in the latter two games. However, the first game and the second are also a TwoPartTrilogy, in terms of the [[{{Eagleland}} setting]] and being an AffectionateParody of ''VideoGame/DragonQuest''. Plus, some enemies from ''[=EarthBound=] Beginnings'' make an appearance in ''Mother 3'' after not appearing in ''[=EarthBound=]''

* WhenTreesAttack: The Tree and Tender Loving Tree. True to the grandest of ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}'' traditions, they catch fire and explode when defeated.

* AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield: Like in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound1994}}'', every battle has a colorful moving background.
* AmbidextrousSprite: Averted with the Return of Octobot enemies based on the Octobot from ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound1994}}''. Their right-facing sprite shows off their shiny metal half, and their left-facing sprite shows their dingy metal half.

** One of Salsa's skills is to "apologize profusely" to the enemy. This is a [[ContinuityNod nod]] to one of Porky's totally useless actions when he's your party member in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound1994}}''.

* ArtStyleDissonance: Even more so than in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound1994}}''.

* BedsheetGhost: The Stinky and Friendly Ghosts in Osohe Castle. Notably, the former had an appearance change from ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound1994}}'' -- in that game, Stinky Ghosts were devilish-looking ghosts living in trash cans, while these are based on the Zombie Possessor.

** Then the D.C.M.C. show up during the [[spoiler:Mecha-Porky]] fight to save the day, just like the Runaway Five in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound1994}}''.

* BottomlessBladder: Well, obviously you won't actually need to "go", but just like in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound1994}}'', there are bathrooms available that are simply always occupied. Parodied to the extreme with [[spoiler:Porky]]'s "All-You-Can-Pee Toilet Dungeon".

* ContinuityNod: Both of the previous games in the series are repeatedly referenced, most notably on the boat ride in New Pork City. Also, of course, the fact that [[spoiler:the theater in New Pork City plays a film consisting of the important moments from ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound1994}}''.]] There are also three residents of Tazmily who look like Jeff, Paula, and Picky.

** One of the Saturns in Saturn Valley sells [[VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings Strawberry Tofu]] (which was previously localized as [[VideoGame/{{EarthBound1994}} Trout Yogurt]]).
** [[spoiler:Porky's]] room in Thunder Tower has a few too. The Teddy Bears that were NPC party members in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound1994}}'' ("You almost feel like it could take your place for you"), and a jukebox that plays the shop and hotel themes from ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound1994}}.''

* CreepyCockroach: The giant roaches from ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound1994}}'' are back.

* CurtainCall: The game has a character roll at the very end right before the production credits, just like ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound1994}}''.

* AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield: Like in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}'', every battle has a colorful moving background.
* AmbidextrousSprite: Averted with the Return of Octobot enemies based on the Octobot from ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}''. Their right-facing sprite shows off their shiny metal half, and their left-facing sprite shows their dingy metal half.

** One of Salsa's skills is to "apologize profusely" to the enemy. This is a [[ContinuityNod nod]] to one of Porky's totally useless actions when he's your party member in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}''.

* ArtStyleDissonance: Even more so than in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}''.

* BedsheetGhost: The Stinky and Friendly Ghosts in Osohe Castle. Notably, the former had an appearance change from ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}'' -- in that game, Stinky Ghosts were devilish-looking ghosts living in trash cans, while these are based on the Zombie Possessor.

** Then the D.C.M.C. show up during the [[spoiler:Mecha-Porky]] fight to save the day, just like the Runaway Five in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}''.

** And to top it all off: [[spoiler:The ending credits music contains the Eight Melodies from ''VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings'' and ''VideoGame/EarthBound'', as well as the ''Mother 3'' Theme of Love.]]

* BottomlessBladder: Well, obviously you won't actually need to "go", but just like in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}'', there are bathrooms available that are simply always occupied. Parodied to the extreme with [[spoiler:Porky]]'s "All-You-Can-Pee Toilet Dungeon".

* ContinuityNod: Both of the previous games in the series are repeatedly referenced, most notably on the boat ride in New Pork City. Also, of course, the fact that [[spoiler:the theater in New Pork City plays a film consisting of the important moments from ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}''.]] There are also three residents of Tazmily who look like Jeff, Paula, and Picky.

** One of the Saturns in Saturn Valley sells [[VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings Strawberry Tofu]] (which was previously localized as [[VideoGame/{{EarthBound}} Trout Yogurt]]).
** [[spoiler:Porky's]] room in Thunder Tower has a few too. The Teddy Bears that were NPC party members in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}'' ("You almost feel like it could take your place for you"), and a jukebox that plays the shop and hotel themes from ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}.''

* CreepyCockroach: The giant roaches from ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}'' are back.

* CurtainCall: The game has a character roll at the very end right before the production credits, just like ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}''.

* DistantSequel: ''Mother 3'' is set an indefinitely long amount of time after the events of ''VideoGame/EarthBound''; by this point, [[spoiler:the world already experienced an apocalypse, with the survivors deliberately erasing all of their memories about life before the cataclysmic event.]]

* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: There's a restaurant in New Pork City run by robotic versions of [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/EarthBound Lardna Minch]]]]. [[FreudianExcuse Yeah]]...

* FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon: Deftly subverted. Throughout the entire game, [[HeWhoMustNotBeSeen we have no indication as to what the Big Bad looks like, other than the fact that he's]] [[spoiler:Porky]] from the [[VideoGame/EarthBound previous game]]. Come the final chapter, and we're taken to New Pork City, and his face is absolutely everywhere. He still looks exactly the same as he always did, like a less-than-intelligent but still normal pre-teen kid. Then, you confront him, and this is actually the case; he hasn't changed a bit since the final battle with Ness. [[spoiler:Psych! ActuallyADoombot! Turns out, Porky ''has'' changed appearance since his blond bowlcutted days. [[BodyHorror Oh boy, has he changed]]...]]

* GagNose: Like in ''VideoGame/EarthBound'', the Mr. Saturns have amazingly bulbous noses.

* GrandFinale: And ''how!'' It's no coincidence that the credits song, "16 Melodies", is a medley of the three main themes of the ''VideoGame/{{Mother}}'' series ([[VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings Eight Melodies]], [[VideoGame/EarthBound Smiles and Tears]], and [[VideoGame/{{Mother 3}} Theme of Love]]).

* HappyEndingOverride: This entire game essentially serves as one for ''VideoGame/EarthBound''. [[spoiler:If this game actually takes place after ''[=EarthBound=]''.]]

* HeroicMime: Played with even more than in ''VideoGame/EarthBound'': the role of protagonist is shuffled around between characters [[spoiler:before the TimeSkip]], and whoever holds it at the moment is silent, but these characters are perfectly talkative when someone else is in the lead. The exception is Salsa, who never talks at all. Granted, he's a monkey.

* HijackedByGanon: Sort of. The villain turns out to be [[spoiler:Pokey (Porky) from ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}'']].

* JokeItem: Lucas and Kumatora both can get the Fake Bat and Fake Frying Pan respectively, as nods to them being the [[SpiritualSuccessor successors]] of [[VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings Ninten and Ana]] and [[VideoGame/EarthBound Ness and Paula]], due their roles as TheHero and {{The Smurfette| Principle}} who are the CombatMedic and BlackMage respectively. They even change their instrument sounds when they attack in battle, Lucas's becomes a Wooden Block, and Kumatoras' a Jaw Harp.

* LaterInstallmentWeirdness: The game is this to the ''VideoGame/{{Mother}}'' series. Not only do you start off on a rural town on a group of Islands that aren't remotely like a Modern Era continent that resembles America, and the fact that there isn't even a concept of Money in your hometown, [[spoiler:the villains aren't aliens from outer space, they're ''humans'' who've been corrupted by their own greed and selfishness that are working for the BigBad in order to industrialize the Islands.]] You don't play as the true main character until Chapter 4, and even then the main party doesn't consist of four kids anymore, but of a [[KidHero Kid]], [[ABoyandHisX his Dog]], and [[AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent a Thief and Princess]] [[IntergenerationalFriendship who are way older than him]] (the former an adult and the latter a teenager). Each character who dons the role of the main character for each part of the game are [[HeroicMime Silent Protagonists]], but the game fully acknowledges and shows you that when they're not in that role, they all speak normally like any other NPC and have their own personalities, including main protagonist Lucas. That being said, even while in this role, all of the characters still react to the situations around them and don't just act like a blank slate, such as when [[spoiler: Flint lashes out at the villagers after he finds out his wife is dead]] or when [[spoiler: Salsa starts crying because of the abuse Fassad puts him through.]] This is most notable with Lucas in particular, as his sensitive personality bleeds through his silent exterior during particular (especially emotional) moments of the game despite him being this, completely changing the formula that Ninten and Ness set before him. And lastly, the game deconstructs the ArtifactTitle that ''[[VideoGame/EarthBound Mother 2]]'' brought to the series, by [[spoiler:having Lucas's own Mother be a focal part of the story through her death, and how that event sets the tone of the story and influences the actions of the characters from then on, as well as her role in the Finale.]] Overall, the world and setting are much more medieval and fantasy inspired than before, deconstructing the series to the point of bringing it back to more traditional EasternRPG roots like ''Franchise/FinalFantasy''. Which is to be expected, when you end up deconstructing a game series that is known for deconstructing the RPG Genre to begin with.

Nintendo's refusal to release the game outside of Japan (as not only did ''[=EarthBound=]'' horrifically undersell in North America, but the GBA was also all but dead in North America and Europe by the time ''Mother 3'' released - in the Western market, Nintendo had effectively put an end to releasing first-party games for the system, with much of the GBA's releases around this time being nothing more than film tie-ins and other licensed games) led to drastic measures-- which, in this case, means an English-language FanTranslation which took two years to complete, releasing in 2008 (by which point the GBA was no longer getting new releases; the system would be officially discontinued two years later). The translation would later receive an update in 2014, fixing up minor typos, grammatical errors, and bugs; it can be found [[http://mother3.fobby.net/ here]], though you'll need an official copy of the game to play it. As it stands, the translation is currently the only way to ever play the game in a language that is not Japanese. For ease of reference, this unofficial translation is the primary source for tropes.

* JokeItem: Lucas and Kumatora both can get the Fake Bat and Fake Frying Pan respectively, as nods to them being the [[SpiritualSuccessor successors]] of [[VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings Ninten and Ana]] and [[VideoGame/EarthBound Ness and Paula]], due their roles as TheHero and TheChick who are the CombatMedic and BlackMage respectively. They even change their instrument sounds when they attack in battle, Lucas's becomes a Wooden Block, and Kumatoras' a Jaw Harp.

* PsychicPowers: Being a staple of the ''VideoGame/{{Mother}}'' games, this is a given with the Protagonists. This time around the Psychics are [[TheHero Lucas]] and [[TheChick Kumatora]].

Nintendo's refusal to release the game outside of Japan (as not only did ''[=EarthBound=]'' horrifically undersell in North America, but the GBA was also all but dead in North America and Europe by the time ''Mother 3'' released) led to drastic measures-- which, in this case, means an English-language FanTranslation which took two years to complete, releasing in 2008 (by which point the GBA was no longer getting new releases; the system would be officially discontinued two years later). The translation would later receive an update in 2014, fixing up minor typos, grammatical errors, and bugs; it can be found [[http://mother3.fobby.net/ here]], though you'll need an official copy of the game to play it. As it stands, the translation is currently the only way to ever play the game in a language that is not Japanese. For ease of reference, this unofficial translation is the primary source for tropes.