How long after EarthBound does Mother 3 take place?

Mother 3 is set in the Nowhere Islands 200 years after Ness‘ adventure in EarthBound, making it a sequel that takes place in a fictional location with a significant time gap from the previous game. The Mother series creator, Shigesato Itoi, has provided this information, giving fans a clear understanding of the timeline between the two games.

Introduction to the Mother Series

The Mother series, also known as EarthBound outside Japan, is a beloved series of role-playing video games that has captured the hearts of many gamers worldwide. To provide a deeper understanding of the series and its timeline, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions that will delve into the world of Mother 3 and its connection to EarthBound.

FAQs about Mother 3 and EarthBound

General Questions

1. Is Mother 3 a sequel to EarthBound?: Yes, Mother 3 is a sequel to EarthBound, taking place 200 years after the events of the previous game.
2. Do EarthBound and Mother 3 take place in the same universe?: Yes, the Mother games all take place within the same timeline and universe, making Mother 3 a part of the same universe as EarthBound.
3. How old is Lucas in Mother 3?: Lucas‘s age is not officially confirmed, but fans assume him to be around 11-13 years old based on the game’s storyline.

Game Development and Release

4. Why was Mother 3 cancelled for the Nintendo 64?: Mother 3 was initially developed for the Nintendo 64, but it was cancelled due to the console’s limitations and the decision to focus on the GameCube.
5. Will there be a Mother 4?: Unfortunately, Shigesato Itoi has stated that there won’t be a Mother 4, making Mother 3 the final game in the series.
6. Why won’t Nintendo make Mother 4?: Itoi became hesitant about creating a fourth entry in the series due to the difficulty of developing the game, eventually deciding that Mother 3 would be the final game.

Characters and Storyline

7. Is Ness in Mother 3?: Ness appears in Mother 3 in a movie playing in the New Pork City movie theater, showing moments from EarthBound.
8. How old is Ness?: Ness is depicted as a 13-year-old boy with psychic abilities referred to as PSI.
9. Do Ness and Lucas ever meet?: Ness and Lucas meet in the Super Smash Bros. series, where they fight against each other or team up in certain events.

Localization and Release

10. Why is Mother 3 not available in America?: Mother 3 was not localized for Western audiences because it “just didn’t make business sense” due to its release late in the Game Boy Advance‘s lifespan.
11. Why is Mother 2 called EarthBound?: Mother 2 was called EarthBound outside Japan to avoid confusion about what it was a sequel to, as the original Mother had not been released outside Japan.
12. Is EarthBound Mother 1 or 2?: EarthBound is the Western release of Mother 2, while Mother is known as EarthBound Beginnings outside Japan.

Series and Game Information

13. Is Undertale a spiritual successor to EarthBound?: Undertale is often considered a spiritual successor to EarthBound due to its charm, soundtrack, characters, and story, which are reminiscent of the Mother series.
14. Why does Ness have powers?: Ness possesses extremely powerful PSI abilities latent from birth that develop as the game progresses.
15. Are Ness and Lucas friends?: Ness and Lucas are not explicitly stated to be friends, but they do interact with each other in the Super Smash Bros. series, and Lucas is a main protagonist in Mother 3, while Ness is the main protagonist in EarthBound.