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Will there ever be a Mother 3 localization

The past couple of months have been both great and terrible for EarthBound fans. On one hand, we’ve received so much — a huge wave of Porky merchandise and plushes, a bunch of EarthBound icons for Nintendo Switch Online profiles, and even a release of Mother 3 on the Switch’s Game Boy Advance lineup. The problem is that Mother 3 release was only in Japan.

There’s a lot of discussion surrounding a potential Mother 3 localization – it seems to become a talking point every few years, mainly around the game’s anniversary in April. Though there are far more reasons why Nintendo wouldn’t want to release Mother 3 in the west, there are a couple of (admittedly quite hopeful) reasons that a localization is still possible. Today, we’re breaking down all of the reasons why. We’ll be discussing some light spoilers here, so if for some reason you’re avoiding them, please keep that in mind before you continue reading.

Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution

July 12: WayForward has revealed that Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, a game that was originally in development during the Game Boy Advance era, is finally seeing an official launch. It will be available on an actual GBA-compatible cartridge in early 2024, courtesy of Limited Run Games.

Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution was put on the shelf for nearly two decades. Now, however, the once-canceled title will be completed. Shantae creator Erin Bozon, series director Matt Bozon, and programmer Michael Stragey are using GBA-era development tools to authentically complete the handheld experience. There’ll be multiple chapters, numerous towns and labyrinths, six creature transformations, fierce bosses, and a soundtrack from Maddie Lim, plus a four-player battle mode.

Shiny Deoxys Guide Pokemon Bank

A little while ago, we wrote a big list of Shiny Pokemon that will become unobtainable after Pokemon Bank closes. Shiny Deoxys is one such Pokemon, and it’s only obtainable via a limited-time event in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen for the Game Boy Advance. If you’re looking to catch a Shiny Deoxys for yourself, we’ve put together a guide on how to hunt it prior to Pokemon Bank’s closure.

It’s important to note that Pokemon Bank does not currently have an announced closure date. Online services for Wii U and 3DS are set to end on April 8, but Pokemon Bank’s servers will remain open “until further notice”. That being said, we don’t expect them to be open for much longer than an additional year, if that. If there are any Shiny Pokemon you want to hunt in advance, now’s a great time to start.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong graphics comparison

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is back on Switch with a remake of the original GBA game, and a new graphics comparison video shows how the two versions stack up. This comes courtesy of GameXplain.

Not only did the development team update the in-game visuals, but the cutscenes as well. Although gameplay thus far seems to be largely similar to the original, it’s clear by a quick glance just how much the graphics have changed for the new Switch version.

Mega Man Battle Network series ending

After six different entries, Mega Man Battle Network came to an end in 2005 (or 2006 for fans in the west). Masakazu Eguchi, who worked on the series since the beginning, briefly commented on the decision to finish things out in a recent interview with 4Gamer.

Here’s our translation:

Switch Online GBA

Just announced, Game Boy Advance games are making their way to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.

The launch lineup includes Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$, Kuru Kuru Kururin, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. More titles are planned for the future.

game boy micro reggie fils-aime

Despite releasing the DS in 2004, Nintendo wasn’t entirely done with the Game Boy Advance line. The GBA saw another redesign in the form of the Game Boy Micro. As the name implies, it was one of Nintendo’s smallest handhelds ever.

Former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime, who was executive VP of sales and marketing at the time, felt that the Game Boy Micro was a mistake. In his new book, he called the device a “nonstarter”, mentioning how GBA inventory was being cleared out in the US, the buttons were difficult to use, and the screen was too small. Ultimately though, Nintendo of America was “forced to launch the system.”

mother 3 reggie western release

Former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has opened up about Mother 3, and specifically how the title has never been made available in the west.

Reggie released his new book today, and the audio version contains a bonus interview with Geoff Keighley. At one point, Keighley asked if Nintendo felt it just wasn’t worth bringing over.

Reggie said in response:

Mother 3 producer on why it hasn't seen an English release in the west

Mother 3 originally came out for the Game Boy Advance, but only in Japan. Since then, fans in the west have been clamoring for an English release.

Shinichi Kameoka, the producer of Mother 3, recently shared his own thoughts as to why the game has never been localized. As part of a Q& with the Kit & Krysta Podcast, he said:

Following today’s leak regarding Nintendo Switch Online, Twitter user Mondo_Mega has come forward with a list of GBA games that have apparently been tested for the service.

A number of heavy hitters are here. You’ve got top releases from Nintendo like Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Metroid Fusion, Metroid Zero Mission, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, Golden Sun, and Wario Land 4. Third-party games such as Astro Boy: Omega Factor, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, and Mega Man Battle Network 2 were apparently tested as well.


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