Giygas

Giygas
Series	EarthBound
First Appearance	EarthBound Beginnings (1989)

Giygas (Giegue in EarthBound Beginnings) also romanized as Gyiyg<sup>(JPJapanese: ギーグ

Romaji: Gīgu)</sup>, is the main antagonist of EarthBound Beginnings and its sequel EarthBound. In both games, he's an alien being of vast power, ready to conquer Earth by impacting people and animals as well as sending Starmen, UFOs and other robot/alien-like enemies to the protagonist.

It is known Shigesato Itoi, the producer of both games, was inspired by a film to make Giygas's speech in EarthBound. He'd mistakenly entered an adult movie theater and caught a glimpse of a rape scene from Kenpei to Barabara Shibijin <sup>(JPJapanese: 憲兵とバラバラ死美人

Meaning: The Military Policeman and the Dismembered Beauty)</sup> and had a traumatic experience (though, in reality, there is no such scene in the film, but rather a murder scene). He wanted Giygas to make people feel just the way he felt at that moment. Truly Giygas, in EarthBound, is one of the most disturbing enemies in the history of gaming.

EarthBound Beginnings

Giegue, as he appears in the final battle in Mother.

In EarthBound Beginnings, Giegue (for more information, please see the name section at the bottom) was cared for by two people named George and Maria as they were held captive by aliens that had abducted them in the early 1900's. Giegue held immense psychic power, known as PSI. After being let go by the aliens, George began to research it and spread it through the Earth, contrary to what Giegue's race wished. Giegue was then sent by the rest of his race to stop the PSI's spread on Earth 80 years later. Despite this, Giegue still felt love for the couple who raised him, particularly Maria. He was then forced to battle George's great-grandson, Ninten, who could use PSI powers because of George.

When Ninten's home was invaded by a poltergeist, Ninten set to find out why. Along with the rest of his party, Ninten came into blows with Giegue and his mind-controlling aliens throughout the course of the game. Throughout the game, they learned pieces of a song that will weaken Giegue. In the final battle, Giegue attacked the party. His attacks were inexplicable, and greatly hurt the group. After a certain amount of time passed, the party was able to use the Sing command. After singing eleven times, Giegue admitted defeat and left Earth. However, as he was leaving in his mothership, he vowed revenge on Ninten. The fact that the song weakened Giegue may have to do with the emotions he felt when remembering George and Maria.

EarthBound

Giygas in EarthBound. His true form is unknowable.

At the beginning of EarthBound, a young boy named Ness and his neighbors Pokey and Picky investigate a meteor that has crashed in Onett. In the meteor there is an insectoid, time-traveling alien called Buzz Buzz. Buzz Buzz warns of a dismal future where alien despot Giygas rules all. He also speaks of the Chosen Four who will stop him. Shortly after, they are attacked by a Starman Jr., one of Giygas's henchman. Buzz gives Ness the Sound Stone to record the melodies found in the "Your Sanctuary" locations. These eight melodies shouldn't be confused with Mother's Eight Melodies.

Giygas's evil power influences wild animals and humans to do foul things, not unlike his role in Mother. Early in the game, a statue called the Evil Mani Mani appears, which inspires evil as well. The Happy Happy Cult are one example. Later, Fourside mayor Geldegarde Monotoli becomes corrupt until the statue is broken. Through the game, Pokey Minch, Ness's neighbor, becomes increasingly evil and enjoys manipulating people. Towards the end of the game, Pokey travels hundreds of years back in time to meet with Giygas. He uses a machine called the Devil's Machine, which helps contain Giygas' immesuarable power.

By this point, Giygas' power has destroyed his physical body, leaving him a dissembodied being. He also lacks true sentience. Pokey calls him "the evil power.". During the final battle, Paula calls on the people of Earth, who start praying for the four party members, to help defeat Giygas. Eventually, by using the prayer command, Giygas is defeated. Again, this is probably due to the fact that happy emotions hurt Giygas, as he is in reality a tragic character.

Name

In both Japanese releases, Mother, and Mother 2, Giygas is called Gyiyg. Although it wasn't released at the time it was intended to be, NOA did translate Mother into English, with the prototype known as Earth Bound. In the aforementioned game, his name is Giegue. In EarthBound for the Super Nintendo, however, he is called Giygas. Though, a Greek giant named Geyes, the son of Uranus and Gaea, could be the inspiration for the name.

Trivia

• Some indicate that in the battle against Giygas, after being damaged, he looks like a human fetus.
• In addition, another theory says the Devil's Machine is a uterus. The underlying message, according to the theory, is that you are 'aborting' him. It would also resemble aborting Itoi's trauma. Some also argue that, together with this, the Cave of the Past resembles female genitalia.
• Contrary to the above theories, if his sprite is flipped upside down, he resembles his appearance from Mother.
• It is often noted that Giygas's sprite in the original Mother bears some resemblance to Mewtwo from Pokémon.
• In EarthBound, some have claimed Giygas as one of the most visually disturbing bosses Nintendo has ever created.
• To this day, fans still create theories and twists about Giygas.