Mother 3 and EarthBound 64 Similarities

The information we do have is that it will incorporate bits and pieces of the abandoned EarthBound 64, the scrapped title that was in development for the Nintendo 64 disc drive add-on device. Itoi once stated the game is vastly different than its earlier counterpart, but some evidence suggests there are many similarities.

By taking a look at the promo screenshots released for the original title and comparing them with the screens for Mother 3, it's possible to note some common elements between the two. Using this knowledge and drawing from experience playing the Mother video games, we can make some educated guesses as to what the upcoming Mother 3 game (which may or may not see an English release) can include.

Speculation

Yes, everything below is to be taken as speculation, not facts. Many of the early EarthBound 64 screenshots could have been changed even during the short development of that game, so the facts are quite slim.

Know more? Feel free to add a comment to give us your information.

Playable Characters

Mother 3 shows a young boy -- who bears a striking similarity to Ness, except without a cap -- and a dog in several scenes in the center of the image. This leads us to presume he is the main playable character in the story. He doesn't appear in every screenshot, however, leading us to believe there will be several instances where the player will control other characters.

The Cowboy

The cowboy character Flint appears in similar scenes in both versions. He was apparently a playable character in the N64 version.

The Dog

There is a connection between Flint and the dog as well. The dog appears with the supposed main character in the Mother 3 screens and is shown in the same screenshot with Flint in the N64 version. Does the dog befriend Flint and then the main character?

Strange Girl

Is this the same girl? She is a party member at some point and is shown being dragged off by a strange creature.

Ghost Man

The male character in the center appears both as a party member and alone. He bears a resemblance to the ghost shown in the N64 version.

Ness?

Is this Ness, the star of EarthBound/Mother 2? Their shirts do look very similar, except this kid doesn't have a hat like how Ness does. The shot is likely a very early screen that was made before the storyline was firm.

Notes: Some screenshots were taken and altered from ign.com, one of the only sources for the original EarthBound 64 images.