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Weekly Round-Up #5
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None foundDecember 3rd, 2009 | MOTHER 1, Uncommon Knowledge
In EarthBound Zero there’s an enemy in Magicant called “Groucho”. It’s an odd enemy and sometimes it will simply say “hello” and then leave, but you’ll still get experience from the battle somehow. It’s an amusing enemy, it kind of reminds me of the Walking Bushie in MOTHER 3.

Anyway, I’m sure most people know what the enemy’s name is a reference to, but here’s some info on that plus some more details courtesy of HalfmetalAlchemist:
Hey, there. I have no idea if this is official, but if not, it sure is an interesting coincidence. A while back, my mom borrowed a book from the library, titled “The Best of Groucho” if I remember correctly. I wouldn’t have thought much about it, until I noticed the man on the cover had squared eyebrows, a big moustache, and was wearing glasses. Here’s a photo of him:
I went a little deeper into this, and asked my mom if there was something about him saying “Hello” and then leaving. She responded by singing this song. I just thought I’d let you know.
Keep up the good work on EBC! 😀
I forget what the enemy’s name is in the Japanese version, but I know it’s not Groucho. The enemy still does the same thing, though.
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34 Comments to Groucho in EarthBound Zero
Wow! I knew his face was meant to look like Groucho Marx but I didn’t know about that song! Heh, I wonder what the Japanese dialog said for that line?
![]() | Karma said on Dec. 3, 2009 |
I love how Groucho Marx here, had to be talked about as if he was a forgotten relic from the age of the dinosaurs or something. Like no one knew who this man was until this fascinating discovery came to light. 😛
Makes me feel REALLY old for having several Marx bros films. But then again, so does being a retrogamer in general.
Still, that was really interesting.
I wasn’t even really sure who Groucho Marx was before reading this lol
![]() | LakituAl said on Dec. 3, 2009 |
“I never forget a face, but with you I’ll make an exception”
Or something like that. I don’t quite remember.
![]() | Mr. Crosser said on Dec. 3, 2009 |
Hey, I remember seeing that enemy when I was playing EarthBound zero on a repro cart
I always knew that this particular enemy was designed after Groucho Marx, but the song bit is news to me. The more you know, amirite?
I always saw this guy at the Dylan Dog comics. Check it out!
I didn’t know, back then, that it was an actor. But then i already knew, due to his unique character, that it was a reference of something cultural. XDD
you actually got more EXP if he said hello and walked away then if you beat him
![]() | LucasTizma said on Dec. 3, 2009 |
@Karma: LOL I know, right?! I don’t know really anything about Groucho Marx, but I did figure out that the enemy in EB0 was based off of him. Still, it’s pretty funny that the article was phrased in the context of a “you probably have no idea who this is, but…” 😀
Ha! My friend loves Groucho Marx. I bet he’d get a huge kick out of this enemy. What a clever reference to that song!
Relevant: http://www.entertainmentearth.com/images/%5CAUTOIMAGES%5CEP4701lg.jpg
Groucho Marx glasses
![]() | Darien said on Dec. 3, 2009 |
Yeah, no lie, Karma: people not knowing who Groucho Marx is makes me feel amazingly old. Like when I was listening to “Back in the USSR” with a girl I worked with a few years ago, and she asked me “hey, what’s the USSR?”
Times they are a-changin’.
I knew about the Marx Bros. way before this game, but I didn’t know about the reference to that song. Good find!
![]() | Jeagle101 said on Dec. 3, 2009 |
That explains why Groucho says “Hello” and then leaves. I always wondered why the heck he did that…
Interesting little info like this I always like 🙂
“Times they are a-changin’.”
it’s funny because that song is about not living in the past. and you’re using it in this context to bemoan people not knowing the past
Animal Crackers and Duck Soup are Marx Brothers works of genius. If you guys haven’t watched those films, you should check them out! They’re old but funny.
“Hello, I Must Be Going” is originally from Duck Soup (though I think they used the song on stage in part of their act on Broadway)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6yLRmo7CjU&feature=related
Duck Soup is one of my fave. Marx Bro’s movies of all time :p
I knew that Groucho was supposed to reference Marx, but I thought the whole “hello” thing was just to be funny. Didn’t know it referenced a whole song.
This is exactly why I love the MOTHER series.
@Darien: It’s happened to me to, and I’m only 16. It’s probably because I’ve always been too mature for my age, but still…
Now there’s a man with an open mind. You can feel the breeze from here.
I just checked, and his Japanese name is “Bonus Swoosh”, which connects him to all the other swoosh enemies more, I guess.
![]() | Darien said on Dec. 3, 2009 |
Pooppoop: I’m bemoaning things? Wow, you sure know a lot about me! More than I do, even, since here I thought I was just observing that time sure does go by quickly sometimes.
Ice Sage: Happens to all of us periodically, I reckon.
I feel like I’m the only one who knew about the “hello, I must be going” reference before this post.
it’s funny because now you’re bemoaning my pointing out of your bemoaning while trying to pretend that you never bemoaned anything
![]() | resetsurvivor said on Dec. 4, 2009 |
Groucho Marx was the founder of modern communism.
..er, wait. What are we talking about again?
Wasn’t Karl Marx the fourth brother who preferred politics to show business?
This reminds me of Spongebob… Spongebob, dressed as a ghost for Halloween, says, “Wooo! I’m a ghooost!”. Patrick, with a pair of Groucho glasses on, says, “Haha! I don’t know who I am!!”.
Like everyone else has been saying, this makes me feel oooold. T_T
In the Japanese version, “Groucho” is called “Extra Swoosh” or “Bonus Swoosh” (おまけビューン, Omake Byūn).
Hmm, that’s interesting. So I guess the localizers thought he looked like those disguise/Groucho Marx glasses and dropped the reference.
But in Mother, does “Extra Swoosh” say “Hello” and leave?
“Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.” – Groucho Marx