Mother 2 (Earthbound) figures by Banpresto

Here we have some toys that I've been after for a VERY long time. You might recognise this character from the Super Smash Bros. games. Nintendo made the odd decision to include Ness (the chap in the red cap) as a playable character among their line-up of top-tier Ninty characters. He was never a huge star, and even in Japan, didn't receive the attention I (and many others) believe he deserves. He's the hero of a game known as Mother 2 (Earthbound in the US) which was never released outside Japan and the States. Only through PC emulation have I come to know (and adore) this character's tale. He never speaks, he fights with a base-ball bat, and quite often you'll see him eating hamburgers out of trash cans. No, he's not a street-fighting hobo. He's a boy who gets home-sick if he doesn't call his mum. He hasn't seen his father in a long time (always away on business) and lives in a shiny, trippy parody of the US- full of Jazz singers, Mexican immigrants, blues bands, zombies, greedy businessmen and disturbing cults. He is Ness the Brave (as I call him).

And after Ness, we meet Paula. She's sweet, she loves her teddy bear, she is a child-care worker, and she has a habit of getting kidnapped. She is Paula the Sexist Stereotype. She is the healer, and the token female- a look at how women are presented in classic Western tales. She's the damsel in distress, and when she comes into her own, she saves the day in a "womanly" way- taking the necessary actions that elude the more manly characters. She's got tricks up her sleeve. And a super-cute bow.

Then we hear the distant call, concerning a clever boy, son of the famed inventor, Dr. Andonuts. Abandoned at boarding school by his absent-minded, genius father, he has fashioned himself after his dad, making bottle rockets and repairing items (seemingly in his sleep) at such a young age. He is Jeff the Inventor! Still the voice tells of one more to join the party...

In the misty mountains of Generic Asian Country, we see the embodiment of the US interpretation of all things Asian. He gets around in a judo outfit, he meditates on mountain tops, he lives in a palace decorated with gold elephants- and he will go outside the limits of the human mind to unlock his mystical psychic powers... He is... Prince Poo, the Asian!

Finally we come to the fat kid next door. We remember his crazy family; his abusive, thieving, self-entitled parents. He chases money, and power- he is a coward who won't stand up to anything unless he knows he's on the winning side. He shows us that greed and cowardice are the ultimate enemies of truth and courage. But at least he doesn't have his little brother's bowl-cut. Or Jeff's for that matter. He is Porky the Selfish!

Below you can see the whole gang hanging out on my shelf. The models are based on the original clay models that were used in the guide book and associated advertising. These folks are super-cute, and I truly believe that everyone would be better off if they played Earthbound. Or Mother 3.

Do it for the Mr. Saturns. And yourself.

I also used the arrival of these figures as an opportunity to do something I haven't done before. I've made great use of them in the past, and I've wished more of them were HD. That's right. You guessed it. I made an unboxing video! Or two... because they arrived over 2 days. Enjoy! Or don't. Whatever.