Thread:Mabian/@comment-4383275-20160827050912/@comment-27701762-20160828133320

Fix, I have no issue with you posting in this conversation. I know that Oobooglunk posted the same message on your wall, so if you want to consolidate the conversation here it's fine by me. It's not like I'm using my wall gets a lot of use.

Looking through the resemblances you posted (I have to take you at your word about what's going on, as I've only gone through Earthbound once and have never played the other Mother games), there certainly seems to be overlap.

My question would be: "how far do these resemblances get us?" For a breakdown, here are the following possibilities:

1) These aren't resemblances at all. They just appear vaguely similar.

2) These are resemblances, but there existence is purely coincidental. (i.e. Toby was influenced by the Mother series subconsciously and did not realize he was making things that were so similar)

3) These are resemblances, and Toby made them intentionally. Two possibilities stem from this: A) Toby put them in as a nod to a game series that he loved. B) Toby put them in because he doesn't have much imagination and needed to return to the Mother series to get ideas for his characters.

4) These are resemblances that indicate that Undertale takes place in the Mother universe.

5) These are resemblances that indicate that Undertale takes place in the Mother universe, and provide proof that Sans is Ness.

Since nothing of what you posted (at least so far; perhaps there will be something more in what you'll add) speaks about Sans and Ness, the points cannot pertain the Thesis #5. So we are only able to use them for discussing #1-4. Given how close the resemblances are, we seem to have good evidence that #1 cannot be true. #2 is looks less likely, though it can't be ruled out.

So far I've been trying to push #3A, and these resemblances fall perfectly in line with that claim (they also fall in line with #3B, but I imagine all three of us would reject it on the grounds that we are fairly certain Toby isn't a dullard). I don't see them quite getting us to #4, as we would need something more direct to show that Undertale's world is in fact the same as Earthbound's (which is why the similarity in the overworld is so powerful to that end, though as I argued before it only provides evidence of #4, and not #5).

I'll check back once you've added the other stuff you wanted to, but I felt it was necessary to provide that overview right now.