Localization

This is a sub-page of Prerelease:EarthBound.

Box Art#

Mother 2	EarthBound Box	EarthBound Final

One of the screenshots used on the back of the EarthBound box still has the Red Cross from Mother 2.

Also of note is that Ness seems to be by himself in nighttime Threed, which isn't possible during normal gameplay.

Nintendo Magazine System (UK) Screenshots#

Volume 30 (March 1995)#

EarthBound Beginnings	Nintendo Magazine System (UK) Vol. 30	US Final

It seems that the title screen once resembled that of the then-unreleased English version of the first game.

Nintendo Power Screenshots#

Volume 70 (March 1995)#

Japan	Nintendo Power Vol. 70	US Proto	US Final

The title is still using Mother 2's Gyiyg text, but the game's name has been changed. The title is spelled as one word ("EARTHBOUND") instead of two ("EARTH BOUND"), and the text is slightly higher up than in any of the other versions.

Nintendo Power Vol. 70	Final

An instance of alternate naming: "Escargot" in this build, "Escargo" in the final.

Nintendo Power Vol. 70	Final

The formatting is off, and PSI attacks are still being called "PK" at this point.

For some reason, PSI Rockin' (here called Drill) receives special formatting, just being called "drill" with no PK/PSI descriptor.

Nintendo Power Vol. 70	Final

Bottle Rockets are known by their Japanese equivalent, Pencil Rockets.

Nintendo Power Vol. 70	Final

The quality and formatting of this line is so poor, it seems blatantly clear it hasn't been proofread yet.

An inventory screenshot that borders on being unintelligible, but there's just enough of the letters legible that all items on the list have been identified. They are as follows:

 [Jeff]                           [← →]
Pencil Rocket 5      Boiled egg
Measure              Protractor
Broken Spray         Super Slingshot
Large Amulet         Silver Bracelet
Resurrect Horn       Picture Postcard

It seems that at this stage, many of these are still using their original Japanese names. These include "Pencil Rocket 5" (Big Bottle Rocket in the final), "Broken Spray" (Broken Spray Can), "Super Slingshot" (Bionic Slingshot), "Measure" (Ruler), and "Large Amulet" (Great Charm). It also appears that the Horn of Life was originally going to be called "Resurrect Horn", but was reverted to the original Japanese name before release.

Nintendo Power Vol. 70	Final

Poo's Mirror ability is translated literally as "Transform" here, and enemy-specific contexts (distinguishing "to" from "to the" depending on the enemy) presumably hasn't been added yet. The window for displaying which enemy to attack is shorter like the Japanese version. The Ghost of Starman enemy is called "Starman's Ancestor", which is closer to its Japanese name.

Nintendo Power Vol. 70	Final

In the final, the "Yikes!" flavor text was added. However, in the pre-release, it simply reads "POO turned into Starman's A" (presumably "Starman's Ancestor", with the text not fully loaded yet).

The Japanese "you win" graphic is still in use, rather than the final's "you won".

Nintendo Power Vol. 70	Final

Minor dialogue change.

Nintendo Power Vol. 70	Final

The options are in all-caps for some reason.

Nintendo Power Vol. 70	Final

Formatting differences.

Nintendo Power Vol. 70	Final

The font for the money in the window is oddly-spaced, and "Status" is "Abilities".

Volume 73 (June 1995)#

Nintendo Power Vol. 73	Final

Another formatting error.

Nintendo Power Vol. 73	Final

The dialogue was shortened, or at least, from what can be seen from the screenshot. It is unknown if the repeated text joke was even written by this point in development, or at all.

Nintendo Power Vol. 73	Final

A somewhat literal translation was changed to something a little less exciting for the final.

It seems that the first "Don't Care" option for the PSI ability was also a literal translation (from "Kiai"). It's also missing a space before the alpha (α).

Nintendo Power Vol. 73	Final

The octopus statue is still present, and the machine used to remove it is called the Octo-Eraser.

Nintendo Power Vol. 73	Final

Clarification is made here so it's clear the author of the sign lost his lenses in this desert.

Dr. Andonuts' laboratory has "LABO" above the door, as it did in the Japanese version.

Nintendo Power Vol. 73	Final

A simple wording change, and an extra "the" was deleted.

Nintendo Power Vol. 73	Final

A few periods were removed to prevent a run-on sentence.

Volume 74 (July 1995)#

Nintendo Power Vol. 74	Final

In the final, the "YOU WON!" is cleared before the EXP message is displayed. The word "each" was also added for clarification.

Nintendo Power Vol. 74	Final

The Japanese status icon for crying is still in use.

Player's Guide#

Player's Guide	Final

A bit pointless, but a seemingly intentional double space in the window color text was removed in the final.

Player's Guide	Final

An unnecessary carriage return was removed.

Player's Guide	Final

This line has been entirely rewritten.

Player's Guide	Final

The Ramblin' Evil Mushroom is named "Walking Mushroom" here, which is a more literal translation of its Japanese name.