The very first interview about MOTHER 3 has been discovered in the July 1996 issue of Dengeki Nintendo 64! Satoru Iwata gives his impressions on the series and discusses what this MOTHER on the Nintendo 64 will be like, how it will be similar to the rest of the series, and what will be different from other entries.

The following are scans of the interview with Satoru Iwata from that July 1996 issue of Dengeki Nintendo 64 and a translation of the interview. These scans’ discovery and this interview’s translation is by Kody NOKOLO. Please credit MOTHER FOREVER and Kody NOKOLO if you report or repost these scans and their translations.

All of the information about MOTHER 3 has been fully translated, and the sections that talk about other topics are briefly summarized.
Now, let’s begin!

How will MOTHER 3 subvert player expectations?

Though we aren’t able to show any screenshots at this point in time, I think MOTHER 3 will subvert player expectations in various ways.

By that, I mean how the MOTHER series subverts expectations with aspects that are expected and unexpected. When it comes to that subversion, that was one direction that really distinguished previous titles. That kind of direction had an obvious significance to players, but those who have wanted more have been limited. We definitely want to continue that kind of aesthetic and worldview, but we don’t have anything more to talk about at this point.

What is going to change and what is going to take precedence?

First, you should ask “what is a common trait of the MOTHER series?” I think it’s Itoi-san’s writing. That is, it plays a huge part in developing the game’s scenario, but the most important part of it isn’t in the details, it’s in the depth of how that language is used. We wouldn’t change that part of the series. 

When it comes to more details about how MOTHER 3 is connected to the series, an example is how the appearance of Porky from MOTHER 2 will play an important role in the game. That might mean other unexpected characters could make an appearance…

There will be a ton of other changes, like the setting of the scenario. You might assume that since MOTHER has had a contemporary setting up to this point, then this would be the case in MOTHER 3… But that’s top secret for now.

What’s fine to say about the protagonist? For now, we’ll say “a protagonist doesn’t necessarily need to be limited to one person.” I bet you’re probably wondering about it like, “Huh!? Not a standalone protagonist?”

Games on the N64 Disk Drive

(Summary) The N64DD allows games to use more polygons, so they’ll have better graphics that improve the gameplay in their worlds.

How does playing MOTHER 3 feel?

Games now are flashy, they take stimulating directions. We won’t deny it, MOTHER 3 also takes this direction. All we can say is we want to offer a viscerally pleasant feeling to players.

For example, the RPG overworld movement and battle controls are still being completely made. Both the movement and battles just haven’t been finished. They’ll be fun in themselves, though. Character movement will have a pleasant feeling to it. You’ll also be able to have fun looking at the abstract visuals. We want to have these kinds of things in the game.

Kirby’s Dream Course Title Change!?

(Summary) Kirby’s Dream Course was a puzzle game for the Super Nintendo, but now it’s become more like F-Zero or Mario Kart. 4 people can play at once. It uses the control stick and one button: A, B, or the trigger. You can use the trigger and control stick if you’re left handed or A/B and the control stick if you’re right handed.