EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype)

A late localization prototype of EarthBound (also known as MOTHER 2 in Japan) for the SNES.
==Notes==
*The ROM's build date is specified in the ROM's header as well as written on the EPROMs themselves. The final Japanese version’s build date originates from the Boot debug menu that remains unchanged in the final US version. As such, the final US build date cannot be determined.
*Note, the checksum specified in the ROM matches the output. Any graphical or sound related glitches are inherent to the prototype itself and are not caused by a bad dump. The dump itself was created using a SuperNT and has been verified multiple times.
*A debug menu can be activated while holding down the L trigger while the game is booting up. Despite having debug enabled by default, the "banana" debug menu isn't included even though it can be hacked back in.
*The final game's anti-piracy checks aren't implemented.
*The "EARTH BOUND" text above the "WAR AGAINST GIYGAS!" screen is higher in the prototype in comparison to the final.
*The title screen is different. The copyright information is written in the text used in the original Japanese release, while the final version uses its own font instead.
*Some of the built-in names are different in the prototype since some of the prompts are still limited to five characters rather than the final's six. For instance, "Sparky" is "Spark" in the prototype.
*The prototype still says "TO BE CONTINUED..." in the end credits just like in the original Japanese version. In the final, it says "The End...?" instead.
*Auto-genders have not been implemented yet.
*Pauses in dialog text doesn't seem to be implemented yet.
*Additional gamepad checks were added to the final version's code that does not exist in this prototype. This was most likely done to hastly fix certain bugs.
*Ness' nude sprites are still used in this prototype.
*The "cold" and "crying" status ailment icons are still the ones used in the original Japanese version.
*The Saturn font lacks spaces.
*Position agnostic quotes are used instead of open/closed quotes like in the final.
*Certain items (like "Multi bottle rocket" and "Pair of dirty socks") use an actual space in the prototype. For the final, a special character is used to represent a space with one less pixel in width to make the item name fit better.
*Most of the graphics in this prototype are still using the versions seen in the original Japanese release.
*There is some graphic corruption in various parts of the overworld for some reason.
*The down walking Ness sprite when he's wearing pajamas is corrupt in the prototype for some reason. His hair was also touched up.
*The ATM machine in Saturn Valley still has "CD" (for "cash dispenser") written on the top. This would be replaced with eyes for the final US version.
*The nurse's headpiece still has the red cross from the Japanese version. This would be changed for the final US verison.
*Different sprite (NPC?).
*Everdred is corrupt in the prototype.
*The art used for the Iron Pencil and Eraser Eraser are different.
*The map for SCARABA has the name "SCARABI" in the prototype instead.
*Localization Changes (nongrammatical):
**Characters:
**Enemies:
**Items:
**Dialog:
==Screenshots==
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 17.46.32.png|Title screen.
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 17.46.43.png|Post title screen staff credits.
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 17.47.32.png|Intro.
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 17.47.55.png|Starting a new game.
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 17.48.06.png|Naming Ness.
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 17.48.19.png|Boot debug menu.
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 17.48.23.png|Sound menu.
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 17.49.52.png|Broken Ness sprite.
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 17.51.39.png|Weird overworld sprite anomalies.
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 17.56.16.png|Battling.
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 17.56.36.png|Overworld (from Boot menu)
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 17.57.12.png|Apple debug menu.
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 17.59.13.png|Gameplay (1).
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 18.00.00.png|Gameplay (2).
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 18.00.50.png|Gameplay (3).
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 18.01.53.png|Gameplay (4).
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 18.02.57.png|Staff credits.
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 18.03.38.png|Cast roll.
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype).2020-05-04 18.07.57.png|Debug menu.
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype)000.png|One of the corrupted graphics located in Onett.
==Videos==
<youtube width="256" height="224">nj9ee6nQDuQ</youtube>
<youtube width="256" height="224">kiLxQXV2-kY</youtube>
==Files==
==Origin==
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype) - PCB front.jpg|PCB front.
File:EarthBound (Mar 27, 1995 prototype) - PCB back.jpg|PCB back.
==Acknowledgments==
*HUGE special thanks to TeeEm, jeffman, and XKeeper for researching and Herringway for disassembling the ROM. Be sure to check out the disassembly here.
*Very special thanks to Mato (Legends of Localization and Starmen.net) for helping us find the right people to give this prototype well needed research.
*Stephan "Archon1981" Reese for allowing us to share and research this very rare gem!
==See also==
*Starmen.net for more Mother/EarthBound research
*ROM disassembly by Herringway
*The Cutting Room Floor (comparisons coming soon
*Original announcement article.