[1989: pp. 30–37]
[2003: pp. 34–41]
2. MOTHER'S DAY
- Area: 16,790 m² (about 10.43 mi²)
- Pop.: 31
- Avg. Temp.: 15℃ (59℉)
- Main Industries: Agriculture & Tourism
[Photo: Overlooking a misty forest with mountains in the background. Caption below:]▲Once you're taking in the gentle green that blankets this town, you'll get the feeling you can see why it has the word mother in its name.
[Jump links coming soon.]
Mother's Day Town
Mother's Day Town Hall
Map
Department Store
Hotel
Hamburger Shop
Hospital
Pippi's House
The Townsfolk
Making Preparations to Set Out
CHECK POINT: Concerning the Game Mechanics
EVENT CHECK POINT
4-Koma (1) by Sensha Yoshida
Mother's Day Town
Formerly a commuter town, now
popular as a tourist city
Green surroundings make for a beautiful garden city. This place developed as a commuter town for people working in Thanksgiving (the next one over), but in recent years, it's been getting more visitors wanting to check out the sightseeing and recreation. It's safe to say the slogan the previous mayor proclaimed — "Let's make this a town that makes you want to whistle" — paid off fruitfully. Beds of red carnations, the Mother's Day symbol, line the streets, offering folks a feast for the eyes. Also, Choux Cream Zoo and Canary Village, sitting on the outskirts, are a must-see of course, but as for the bright forest paths circling all of Mother's Day, you need only walk them to fall blissfully into the mood for a picnic.
Another bragging right this town has is that the
prices are low. This seems to be largely due to the efforts of residents who ask tourists to stay even just a day longer. For the
traveler who says, "I have the time, but not so much the money..." you can color this town a welcome sight.
But even a town like Mother's Day has a side to it they can't be too proud of. A heartless government has been at work for
about two years now (though it may be more accurate to say nothing has been at work). It's so bad even children are fed up with it. Plans to construct an amusement park and lay track for a railroad have been left on the shelf for those two years, and the
management of the public cemetery south of town is as sloppy as can be.
Also, this doesn't have any direct correlation with public administration,
but most recently there's been a string of large incidents shaking up the town's peacefulness. A girl named Pippi has gone missing. The
animals of Choux Cream Zoo have escaped from their cages and are now prowling the neighborhoods.
To add to that, we don't mean to scare you, but you
probably ought to know about the rumor that's currently going around part of the residency: "Z- Zombies have shown up!"
Mother's Day
has gone and turned into a place neither for whistling nor for picnics. A town you should kinda-sorta stay away from, should you be less an adventurer and more a mere traveler. ...
[Photo: Sign describing a historical site called "Garden of the Gods Trading Post"]
▲When you find a sign, be sure to CHECK it. Travel 101.
Mother's Day Town
Hall
The heart of
the town administration,
staffed by three including the mayor
Standing roughly at the center of town is the Mother's Day Town Hall. On the first floor is the reception desk, and the second floor is where you'll find the mayor's office. Some citizens have said: "Our taxes go to luxury pillows for the mayor's afternoon nap, and he keeps buying new ones to replace them", but seeing how the third floor consists of the mayor's private rooms instead of reference libraries, they aren't entirely joking (naturally, the third floor and above is Authorized Personnel Only).
If you happen to want accurate news on the incidents occurring in Mother's Day, you should probably visit the
office first. Mr. Goodman, the current mayor, is just about to finish his first term, so he and his assistant Mr. Abbott will likely be warm and welcoming toward you. His motto is do politics from a velvet chair. Translation: the actual thinking and doing is always a job for his "team players".
Be that as it may, every citizen knows that the town won't get any better if they aren't willing to be team players. The first thing the mayor asks you to do is go to the South Cemetery and find little Pippi. ... So! What should your answer be?
By the way, this is off-topic, but the
secretary at the first-floor counter is quite beautiful, so much so that there are stories of men who come to lobby something, only to be enchanted by her and leave for home after a quick handshake. ...
We recommend going to see her every now and again to see for yourself, even if
you have no business. She might even have some bombshell info to whisper in your ear. ...
[Photo: The historic Cheyenne Building in Colorado Springs¹, a large but quaint building on a street corner. Two cars are parked in front.]▲When it comes to town news, this is the best place to hear it (unfortunately...).
[Photo: An open filing cabinet]
▲The famous "File of the Shelved"
[Photo: Older, tough-as-nails-looking man with a cowboy hat]
▲Will he be re-elected!? Mr. A. Goodman, the Mother's Day mayor.
[Photo: A pretty receptionist doing desk work]
▲The beautiful secretary on the first floor won runner-up for Miss America five years ago.
[Illustration: Mother's Day map. Some areas are labeled with names exclusive to this map. Starting with the well-known names:]
My Home, Pippi's House, To Zoo, To Canary Village, To Thanksgiving, Hamburger Shop [erroneously attributed to the most northwestern downtown building instead of just west of Town Hall], Hotel, Town Hall, Dept. Store, Hospital, To Cemetery[The exclusive names are:]Laura's Woods [for the two sections of forest surrounding the path to Canary Village]Franklin Woods [for the forest south of the pond by Pippi's house, which also borders the northeast section of town]Carnation (Main) Street [for the section of road in front of the Department Store and Town Hall]Southwood [for the forest east of the path leading to South Cemetery]
Department Store
A grand
shopping center with five floors
The building is to the right of Town Hall, easily spotted by the letters "DEPT." The nice thing about department stores is you can take your time and have fun window shopping, even when there's nothing in particular you want to buy.
Let's walk through it in order, starting with the first
floor. Here, instead of a sales counter, you'll find Customer Service. If you have something you don't need
anymore, even if you didn't get it at this store, this is the place to take it. They'll accept returns on almost any item at half the listed price.
To the right of the counter is the public
phone, which costs a dollar per call. You can also use a Telephone Card. Your dear old dad hopes and prays for your safety as you travel and never misses a transfer of pocket money, so let's let him hear
your spirited voice. It's also good to let him know things like how far you've traveled and how much
you've grown. He'll probably record it down (Save) for you, with all your ducks in a row. A father and a phone... both are handy to have, both are appreciated.
To the left of the counter is the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM). It's on an online network with the ATMs in every other town. If you insert your ATM Card, the machine will ask you if you want to withdraw money or deposit it, so all you have to do is answer with the keypad and punch in the amount. It doesn't require a handling fee, so use it as a substitute wallet. Not Carrying a Lot of Money On You is an ironclad rule of travel (don't just take our word for it, it says so in every other travel guide too).
The
second floor is the Drugstore. Right now you're in tiptop shape, but you never
know what will happen from here on out. Better to have Ointment than be sorry. ...
The
third floor is the Sporting Goods store. Even if you don't have much money to throw around, you
can at least buy the Battered Bat — even it can make a
hit. You may not have a baseball game to play, but you can use it for self-defense.
The Food Court is on the fourth floor, where the Bread is a hot product. Playing "Ninja", wherein you scatter Breadcrumbs as you walk so you don't get lost in the forest, is all the rave, so Bread's flying off the shelves. Of
course, it's a good idea to EAT it too.
The Pet Shop on the fifth floor is in a business slump at the moment. It sounds like the small animals they sell just up and escaped one day. They do have one remaining canary chick listed at $85, but now is probably not the time to do business.
[Photo: ATM]
▲Apparently even handy ATMs are unpopular with old folks.
[Photo: Pay phone]
▲Forget about lengthy phone calls.
[Photo: Retail worker with pallets of stock, taking inventory]
▲Returns are accepted on the first floor.
---------- Dept. Store Shopping List ----------
ITEM PRICES
5F Pet Shop
Baby Canary: $85.00
4F Food Court
Orange Juice: $5.00
Bread: $30.00
Sports Drink: $75.00
3F Sporting Goods Store
Battered Bat: $80.00
Slingshot: $120.00
Ordinary Bat: $500.00
2F Drugstore
Antidote: $20.00
Asthma Spray: $148.00
Ointment: $194.00
Bug Killer Spray: $300.00
1F Customer Service/Public Phone
Cash Service-------------------------------------------------------------
Hotel
A super-affordable hotel popular with
students and backpackers
Overlooking North Main Street is a quaint little hotel. I can't say it's first-rate, but it's popular as a home base for patrons of Choux Cream Zoo or Canary Village. With accommodations at $39 per night per person (and that's with the tax and service charges), it's very fair-priced. Check-in is on the first floor at the front desk. You're also free to tour the vacant rooms.
The most
important thing in your travels, even moreso than money, is your body's condition. You can recover stamina and vitality by getting enough sleep, so you'll want to make it a habit to check in a little ahead of time when you get tired.
---------- $39.00 Per Person Per Night ---------
Hamburger Shop
The countergirl's smile alone makes you
feel like you're getting a good deal
Next door to Town Hall is the Mother's Day branch of a worldwide-beloved hamburger chain. The catch phrase, 120% BEEF®, may make you go "yeah, right", but it certainly gets full marks on volume. If you buy one for takeout, you can enjoy an easy lunch, no matter where, no matter when.
Even if you're too broke to afford so much as French Fries, you could probably buy at least an Orange Juice, at one for $5. I mean, it's not like the countergirl's going to adjust her smile depending on your order.
And finally, allow us to introduce you to
this hamburger chain's poorly-thrown-together TV spot. It takes place in a forest, where a vacant-eyed man is standing alone.
"O God in Heaven!" he cries. "I'm going to pass out from starvation! If only I had a 120%
BEEF® right now, just one, this never would have happened. ..."
And then thud, down he goes.
---------- Hamburger Shop Menu ----------
FOOD PRICES
Orange Juice: $5.00
French Fries: $15.00
Hamburger: $25.00---------------------------------------------------------
Hospital
There are only
four beds, but the director
is noted as being a top physician
The tallest building on the south side of Main Street is the Mother's Day hospital. Go in through the entrance, and there's a visitor reception counter. In back is the examination room. Also, on the second floor are the sickrooms, and you could say that their system for admitting emergency patients is flawless.
You don't want to have to rely on a hospital if you can help it, but you're traveling. Illness and injury come with the territory. When you're worn down with fatigue, or you're under the weather with a cold, get a checkup ASAP. Once you emerge from the examination room, you should be totally back in action. The fee for one checkup is $25.
Also, you should keep in mind that Mother's Day and all of its neighboring towns have a unique medical system. Let's say, for instance, a friend you've been traveling with falls prey to a condition so critical (due to, say, sudden illness or grievous injury) that they lose consciousness. ... An ambulance will show up, but you can't ride with them for now. No need to worry, though! What you ought to do, instead of going to pieces, is put your trust in the doctor. And, after coming up with your friend's in-patient expenses, head for the hospital. Once you settle payment at the visitor reception desk, your friend should be right back to health. In Mother's Day's case, the expenses for hospitalization and treatment come to $125.
Now if you, Heaven forbid, end up in the critical condition of Unconscious... well, you just hope and pray it's only a dream.
[Photo: Close-up of a downtown apartment-esque building exterior — a front door and windows with ivy hanging down the wall]
▲With the atmosphere as good as it is, take care not to use the hospital as a substitute for the hotel.
---------------------------------------------------------------Check-up Fee (Per Person): $25.00In-Patient Expenses (Per Person): $125.00---------------------------------------------------------------
Pippi's House
A small
suburban house right
next to a flowing creek
En route the direct path that connects your home with Mother's Day town is another house. Here lives the most sprightly girl in the area. She's Pippi, the "good little hellion". She may not be the mightiest in the world, but her love of adventure and her long stockings make her just like the famous Pippi.
We'd recommend you meet her if you could, but the thing is, little Pippi is currently missing. She must have gotten lost somewhere chasing around butterflies and lizards like she always does.
Pippi's mom, the
most sprightly adult in the area, is beside herself with worry. Well, someone who understands the mind of an adventurer should be able to track down a little adventurer. You heard right — it's times like this when your strength may be needed. The experience of rescuing little Pippi will be a definite help to your journey.
This kindhearted girl might even give you her precious
Franklin Badge as a symbol of friendship. You're bound to be such close friends with Pippi that she does that.
The cheerful atmosphere that Mother's Day town overflows with is on display in the equally sunny personalities of its residents. When you're stumped as to where a good place to go is, don't hesitate to ask a townsperson. They're sure to politely tell you, with a kindness that stops just short of sticking their nose in your business.
The Townsfolk
The kind
residents will give
travelers a warm welcome
The cheerful atmosphere that Mother's Day town overflows with is on display in the equally sunny personalities of its residents. When you're stumped as to where a good place to go is, don't hesitate to ask a townsperson. They're sure to politely tell you, with a kindness that stops just short of sticking their nose in your business.
Also — and this fact isn't confined to this town — should you find a house with a round door, you should give them a visit. Apparently, there's a custom where the households that give even strangers a warm welcome will make their doors round.
Although
there's been a breakout of incidents in Mother's Day as of late, the townspeople never even lose their smiles. One imagines they're being real troopers about that.
However, you do not want to let your guard down. There is, after all, news
that nobody would want to believe: that a pair of zombies posing as residents have slipped into the streets. ...
[Photo: Exterior of an old-fashioned mirrors and crafts shop]
▲The townsfolk's smiles are the best souvenir.
Making Preparations to Set
Out
For those who have no idea where to go from here
It's my guess that you're now informed on what kind of town Mother's Day is. Well, where should you go next? There's no right or wrong answer.
See, the road on your
adventure doesn't come without its forks. Upon leaving the Mother's Day Hotel, you may have no idea whether to go right or left. When that happens, you'd do well to pull this guidebook
from your pocket and thumb through its pages. Canary Village. The South Cemetery.
Choux Cream Zoo. There are a whole bunch of places you should go. Where you head first is
up to you.
Also, if you're thinking of exploring a place that's hardly
known to anyone, have I got the spot for you. Walk due northeast from Mother's
Day and cross two bridges, and soon you'll hit a dead end encircled by cliffs.
And there you'll find a cave. Summon the courage and set foot inside... and there just may be, waiting for you, a rock of such curious color and
shape it's simply out of this world.
Now, you
may be thinking you don't have time to make a senseless side trip like that. However, you didn't have to take a single step outside your home. The very act of starting your adventurous travels the way you did is just one big, magnificent side trip in and of itself. The right side trip is sure to build character.
Either way, everything that happens from
here on out will probably be a first-time experience for you. Around town are Stray Dogs and Crows who will attack you. If you can believe it, even
humans will raise their mattocks against you. ... But they're not enemies in the least. They're
only being controlled by some tremendous power.
Doing battle with them is unavoidable if you want to protect
yourself. However, I want you to remember
something.
That is, these aren't battles to beat them up, but battles to save
them.
- Matsuo Haizen
[Photo: College-age man with a hefty backpack]
▲Until you make friends, you fly solo.
By playing around through Mother's Day, we can review the game's basic mechanics. Let nothing go unCHECKed!
Confirm your Current Location
with the Map and Signs
The world of MOTHER has a vast map. To make sure you don't lose yourself in this
world, it's important to always check your current location.
To do this, go to "Map ➝ USE" and you're good to go. Also, if you CHECK the signs by the wayside, you can learn of branching paths.
To do this, go to "Map ➝ USE" and you're good to go. Also, if you CHECK the signs by the wayside, you can learn of branching paths.
[Screenshot dialogue box:]"Choux Cream Zoo: West 700 meters"▲If you find a sign, take a moment to CHECK it.
Manage Money with the ATM Card
[Screenshot dialogue box:]It's nice that they installed a machine that can withdraw savings, but you need a PTA Card or something to make a withdrawal. Not very handy, if you ask me.
The hero and his party use an ATM Card to manage money. The way you get money works like this: you defeat enemies and Dad will transfer an amount that corresponds to the battle. The ATM, in most cases, can be found on the first floor of a department store.
Stuff About Money that's Good to Know
- If you lose consciousness, your cash on hand will be cut in half. It's best to carry as little on you as possible.
- The department store will refund your GOODS at half the price you bought them.
For Recovering Stamina and Force of Will, There's Eating, Sleeping...
[Screenshot dialogue box:]Oh, dear me, you look pretty scraped up. ... NINTEN, I'll fix you that OMELETTE you love.
The typical ways to recover the party's HP and PP include: (1) Eating Mom's cooking at home; and (2) Staying the night at a hotel.
If a friend
loses consciousness, the correct thing to do is visit the hospital: not to have them looked over, but to visit them.
[Screenshot dialogue boxes and caption:]Orange Juice
Bread
Sports Drink
Welcome.
What can I offer you?
▲There are also a number of GOODS that will recover a fixed amount of HP.
Saving Your Game
is Done on the Phone!
[Screenshot dialogue box:]Let's see, to get to the next level...NINTEN: 47Incidentally, what do you need from me?▶Record Nothing, really
Saving your play data is done when you get ahold of Dad on the phone. That's not to say phones are everywhere, so you're best off making sure to save when you find one, like at a department store.
Also, if two hours go by after starting play, no matter where you are, you'll get a call from Dad.
[Screenshot: Ninten has just reached Magicant. Dialogue box and caption:]Maybe I'm intruding, but how about taking a short break?
▲After two hours, even clear out here a call will somehow come through. ...
Breadcrumb-Warping:
It's Handy, it's Dandy!
[Screenshot dialogue box:]You can EAT Bread, but I bet if you tore it into crumbs, you could also mark your trail. ... That's probably none of my business, though.
USE the Breadcrumbs, and you can instantly return to where you started scattering them.
Breadcrumbs can be scattered at the same number of warp points as you have party members. If there's three of you, you can even warp different ways. It's a handy technique, for both escape and assault!
Breadcrumb-Warping
Warnings
- Each person can
hold only one Breadcrumbs
- You cannot warp using Breadcrumbs in sections you took the railway to get to.
- It's impossible to Breadcrumb-Warp between Magicant and the real world.
EVENT CHECK POINT
Mother's Day will be your hub when you venture the surrounding area. It also has a good number of in-game check points.
Here, I will introduce these points, listed by how far you are in the game.
First Things First:
❏ Did you meet the mouse who gives you a hint?
❏ Did you go to
Town Hall and meet with the mayor?
Before You Go to
Canary Village:
❏ Did you get the Baby Canary on the 5th floor of the Dept. Store?
Before You Go to
Choux Cream Zoo:
❏ After rescuing Pippi, did you take her to Town Hall and get the Zoo Key?
After Martial Law Has Been Lifted:
❏ Do you have your Great-Grandfather's Diary on hand?
❏ Did you get the Franklin Badge?
How to Get the Baby Chick
[Screenshot dialogue box:]Want to buy it?Okay! How does $85 sound?Not even for free? Here, take it.
At the pet shop, even if you don't have money, when you're asked "Want to buy it?" answer YES and then NO, and you will get it for free.
How to Get the
Zoo Key
[Screenshot dialogue box:]Okay, here's the key to the zoo.
Take Pippi to the mayor and the key is yours. His assistant will practically force the thing on you.
How to Get the
Badge
[Screenshot dialogue box:]Oh, you're brave. It would sure be nice to meet again sometime, somewhere, wouldn't it?▶YES NO
In case you didn't get the Badge in the cemetery, go to Pippi's house. If you talk about different things there, it's as good as yours.
Area's Main Enemies:
Young Man [Hippie], Middle-Aged Man.
Enemies of the Zombie variety also make appearances south of town.
[4-Koma:]
MISO (Bean Paste)
MISO (Bean Paste)
Sensha Yoshida
1)
Mom: "I made you your favorite BEAN PASTE while I was waiting for you."
Ninten: "Yay!"
SFX: Munch munch
2)
Mom: "Look how badly hurt you are... well, go on, dig in to your BEAN PASTE."
Ninten: "...Yay"
SFX: Lick lick
3)
Mom: "Welcome home! I made a whole lot of BEAN PASTE, so eat up!"
4)
Mom: "You sure do love your BEAN PASTE, don't you?"
Ninten: "...Why'd they hafta enter 'BEAN PASTE', of all things...?"
SFX: Pufth
(Names Entered)
(N) Kazuma (L) Malt (A) Mineko (T) Dry (F) Rice
1)
Mom: "I made you your favorite BEAN PASTE while I was waiting for you."
Ninten: "Yay!"
SFX: Munch munch
2)
Mom: "Look how badly hurt you are... well, go on, dig in to your BEAN PASTE."
Ninten: "...Yay"
SFX: Lick lick
3)
Mom: "Welcome home! I made a whole lot of BEAN PASTE, so eat up!"
4)
Mom: "You sure do love your BEAN PASTE, don't you?"
Ninten: "...Why'd they hafta enter 'BEAN PASTE', of all things...?"
SFX: Pufth
(Names Entered)
(N) Kazuma (L) Malt (A) Mineko (T) Dry (F) Rice
[These are the names Sensha Yoshida entered for the characters and favorite food when he played the game. This theme continues throughout the book wherever a staff member or someone else notable comes in and contributes their thoughts. In the original Japanese, each entry is symbolized by one kanji character: those for "Me", "Friend", "Girl", "Strong" and "Favorite", which of course respectively refer to Ninten (N), Lloyd (L), Ana, (A) Teddy (T) and Favorite Food (F). I'm choosing to simplify things by using the first initial of each default name.]
---------------------------------------------
¹The Cheyenne Building: Thanks to Biozilla for digging into this and finding it for me.
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