I agree with the many people that see the many similarities between Pokemon and Earthbound. Now these ideas could be a stretch but they are still similarities.

1. Both games involve a long journey in which you must travel to many locations in a made-up world.

2. Both Ness and Ash look similar and are about the same age.

3. In both Earthbound and Pokemon, the main character makes friends during the jouney (Note: In Pokemon, Ash only makes friends on the TV show). I mean, Misty and Brock aren't all that different from Paula and Poo.

4. Both Ness and Ash have rivals that challenge them throughout the game and in the final battle.

5. Now this is a a big similarity that I found in both games. Both Ness and Ash must travel to eight seperate places and face eight seperate major bad guys to collect eight important things before the can go to the major battle. Ness must go to eight "Your Sanctuary" locations to beat the eight major enemies in shining spots to collect eight melodies. Ash must go to eight gyms to face eight gym leaders to collect eight badges.