In an announcement during today's Nintendo Direct, Nintendo confirmed the inclusion of Mother 3 in the Nintendo Switch Online lineup. However, the excitement surrounding this revelation is accompanied by a significant limitation: Mother 3 will remain a Japan exclusive, with no official translation for international audiences.
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Japanese Exclusivity Persists
The inclusion of Mother 3 in the Nintendo Switch Online library was revealed exclusively during the Japanese version of the Nintendo Direct. Notably, this information was omitted from the western editions of the event, resulting in delayed awareness among non-Japanese fans.
Despite the potential workaround of creating a Japanese Nintendo Switch account, the absence of an official translation poses a language barrier, preventing non-Japanese speakers from experiencing the acclaimed RPG on their consoles.
A Cult Classic Hindered by Linguistic Constraints
Mother 3, recognized as the third installment in the globally acclaimed Mother series and known as EarthBound outside of Japan, offers players a distinctive narrative. The game follows a young protagonist on a quest to save the world from an unconventional, pork-themed army. Despite its widespread recognition and the inclusion of its character, Lucas, in the Super Smash Bros. roster since the Wii era, Mother 3 has persisted as a regional exclusive in Japan, lacking an official translation for an extended period.
Presently, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can access the preceding titles in the Mother series - EarthBound Beginnings for the NES and EarthBound for the SNES. These titles, celebrated for their contemporary settings, diverse character dynamics, and unique art design and music, are available to a global audience. However, the elusive Mother 3 remains inaccessible to non-Japanese speakers.
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