EarthBound (Boss Fight Books)

EarthBound is a game that holds a special place in the hearts of many gamers. Originally released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo, this quirky RPG quickly became a cult classic, with its unique setting, lovable characters, and unforgettable soundtrack. And now, with the release of the Boss Fight Books edition, fans can delve even deeper into the world of EarthBound and discover what makes it such a beloved game.This book is a must-read for any fan of EarthBound. It provides a fascinating look at the making of the game, from its initial conception to its eventual release. The book is written in an engaging and accessible style, making it an easy read for anyone, even those who may not be familiar with the game.But the real value of this book lies in its analysis of EarthBound. The author takes a deep dive into the game's themes and mechanics, exploring what makes it such a unique and memorable experience. From the quirky characters to the bizarre enemies, the book provides a comprehensive look at what makes EarthBound stand out from other RPGs.One of the things that makes EarthBound so special is its soundtrack. The book does an excellent job of exploring the music of the game and how it contributes to the overall experience. The book includes a detailed analysis of some of the most iconic tracks, providing insight into how the music was created and how it fits into the game's narrative.Overall, EarthBound (Boss Fight Books) is a must-read for any fan of the game. It provides a comprehensive look at what makes this quirky RPG so special, from its unique setting and lovable characters to its unforgettable soundtrack. So if you're looking to take a nostalgic journey back to the world of EarthBound, this book is the perfect companion.

Earthbound was a big part of my childhood too. I already knew most of the quirky antidotes and backstory to the making of this game, but it was nice to read about this SNES masterpiece from another person's point of view.I enjoyed it.

First of all, yes this is a memoir, and yes it gets deeply personal. So, if you are looking for a book that is a "making of the game" behind-the-scenes story, or fraught with fan theories, or a drawn out plot rehashing, this is simply not the book for you. Instead, Baumann does something here that is more important. He draws a line through his life, making connections to his experiences playing EarthBound as a child and as an adult. Baumann isn't stretching the game to fit his narrative, this is precisely what makes EarthBound a great game. Ness and his friends are children, and we experience EarthBound through their eyes. They aren't boldly and blankly heroic. They get captured, defeated, homesick, heatstroke, and flat out scared for their lives. In that way they are just like us. Life is not easy, and everyday it takes courage to survive and to thrive, courage above all against unthinkable odds, against inevitable tragedy. As Buzz Buzz tells Ness, it takes "wisdom, courage, and friendship". This is the lesson of EarthBound, and the guiding force behind Baumann's book, which is further elevated by his fascination with spirituality, philosophy, and ecology. While my life and upbringing couldn't possibly be more different than Baumann's, we are connected by our common love for this game. I played it feverishly as a child, have revisited it many times as an adult, and like Baumann I have often felt like I was wandering around the the desert searching for something that "feels like" Earthbound. That feeling we all feel when playing this game is the same feeling we have when we close our eyes and hope, pray, meditate -- that feeling is a connection to the universe, the world, and to each and everyone else, and each and every thing. EarthBound is special in that way: it is ours individually, and it is ours collectively.

I expected this book to be just a collection of self-important memories artificially strung together to capitalize on shared nostalgia for the purposes of the author's ego. Instead I get an incredibly well articulated, relevant, and amazingly poignant homage to the impact of Earthbound with plenty of researched factoids and nerdy stories of the game's development that even fanboys like me may not have known. In short, Ken Baumann's book about Earthbound is exactly what a game like Earthbound deserves: a respectful exploration of the game, stories of a personal connection with the game, and the literary chops to package it all together into something wholly remarkable.If I may be guilty of ego myself, I must say Kenn Baumann has done with Earthbound what I've done with In Lieu of Emo I Listened to the Metroid Theme, only more impressively and more seriously (and with many more pages, deservedly so).

Ken Baumann's "Earthbound" succeeds at two very different things. First, it made me care about a game that I've (still to this day) never played. And second, it successfully set the tone for the entire series of Boss Fight Books that have been published in the years since.It doesn't matter of Earthbound is your favorite video game of all time, or if you've never played a nanosecond of the SNES classic. If you use video games, books, music, films, or television shows as a time machine to travel back to your youth to connect with certain moments in your life, then you will relate to—and appreciate—Baumann's tale.I became enamored with Baumann's writing as he takes the reader on a play through of the game he loved as a child, and soon the absurdity of the 16-bit title becomes a mirror of the absurdity that surrounds him in the real world. When you start any video game, your character is given a mission and a goal and over the course of the story the protagonist changes (ideally for the better). Following Baumann as he embarks on his own hero's journey to complete Earthbound is just as enjoyable as it is voyeuristic.Recommended.