Well, howdy there! Let’s yak about this Earthbound game, you know, the one them youngsters are always goin’ on about. Heard tell it’s somethin’ special, so I figured, why not? Now, they say when you start this here game, it asks you all sorts of questions, like what your favorite grub is and what your favorite… thingamajig is.

Favorite Grub? Who Cares?

First off, they got you pickin’ your favorite food. Honestly, makes no lick of difference to me. Back in my day, you ate what was put in front of ya, and that was that. No fussin’ and choosin’. But these game folks, they want to know! Some say pickin’ a certain food changes somethin’, but I reckon it’s all hogwash. You pick what you pick, and that’s the end of it.

Now, This “Favorite Thing” Business…

Here’s where it gets a bit more interestin’, I guess. They ask you about your favorite “thing.” Now, what in tarnation does that even mean? Is it a thing you eat? A thing you hold? A thing you do? Makes a body scratch their head, it does. I heard some young’uns pickin’ stuff like “honey” or “rockin’.” Honey? Sounds sticky. Rockin’? Like dancin’, maybe? Who knows!

• One fella said he picked “don’t care,” and the game gave him “Rockin’.” Well, ain’t that somethin’.
• Another one went with honey, but wasn’t sure if it meant a food or just somethin’ you like.

Does it Matter, You Ask?

From what I gather, this favorite thing ain’t gonna make or break your game. It changes somethin’ called your “PSI attack,” which sounds fancy, but it ain’t nothin’ but a name change, far as I can tell. So you could pick “muddy boots” for all it matters, and it’ll just change the name of your little magic trick.

Earthbound, Earthbound… What’s All the Fuss?

Now, I ain’t played this Earthbound game myself. Too busy, you see, with the chickens and the garden and whatnot. But from what I hear, it’s a real hoot. Got funny characters, a strange story, and it makes folks think. Guess that’s why it’s so popular. Even got them game makers makin’ other games like it. Seems this “favorite thing” part just adds a little bit of your own flavor to it, you know? Like puttin’ your own special spice in the stew.

It’s About the Story, They Say

These youngsters, they keep sayin’ it’s all about the story and the characters. Like Ness’s mom tellin’ him to go eat some “nuns” and go to bed. Now, I don’t know about eatin’ nuns, sounds mighty strange to me. But I guess that’s what makes this game special. It’s different. It ain’t afraid to be silly and weird. And maybe, just maybe, that’s why folks love it so much.

In the End…

So, this favorite thing thing… it ain’t a big deal, see? It’s just a little somethin’ to make the game feel a bit more like your own. You pick somethin’ that makes you smile, or somethin’ that makes you think, and that’s good enough. Don’t go losin’ sleep over it, that’s for sure. Just play the game, have some fun, and don’t worry too much about what your favorite thing is supposed to be. It’s your thing, after all, ain’t it? You pick what you like and that’s that.

Just Like Pickin’ a Good Pair of Overalls.

It’s like pickin’ a good pair of overalls. You want somethin’ comfy, somethin’ that fits, and somethin’ that makes you feel good. Same goes for this favorite thing, I reckon. Pick what feels right, and don’t look back. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I got to go check on them chickens. They’re makin’ more noise than a bunch of gossips at a church picnic!

Tags: Earthbound, Favorite Thing, PSI Attack, SNES, RPG, Ness, Game Mechanics, Storytelling, Video Games, Retro Gaming