Jonathan DaEgg123

So long as Mother 3 remains relevant on the internet, I doubt people will stop highlighting the 'Hot Spring scene', so I may as well post here something of intrigue:

The scene as it was presented with the screen going to black and Lucas having his head held underwater to unlock his PSI powers, was a late addition to the game's story.

Sprites exist of Lucas being zapped while in the water, collapsing deeper into it for a few seconds, then emerging out.

Given that PSI abilities are shown to be awakened through lighting strikes more than one other time during the game… there really is no other explanation as to what those unused Lucas graphics were intended for.

So, what does this all mean?

1. Given that Flint being cut from the chapter 4 party was relatively early in the GBA version's development, it means the way the Hot Spring scene in the final game occurs, and Flint being present to witness it, was never something that coexisted at any point during development.

2. Given that the Magifolk were all redesigned (more than once) and their final designs were probably only implemented around the same time as Flint getting cut… the scene as it occurs in the final game, only ever existed with Ionia's final design (I know this point may be confusing so if anyone needs further clarification or context on this, feel free to ask me)

3. Itoi (or possibly a different developer) must have specifically requested the way Lucas unlocked his PSI powers to be rewritten after having already come up with an idea that was to be utilised, that already had graphics drawn for it… and if they went out of their way to change something they already had that would have worked adequately, it must mean they felt the 'new' way of having it happen must have been worth portraying. You don't scrap already adequate work without good reason, no?

If you hack your party in Mother 3 to have Flint and Lucas & Boney as per what was planned in pre-release:

• The game doesn't soft-lock, once. Putting incorrect party members in place via hacking in chapter 4 onwards tends to cause soft-locks, but Flint in chapter 4 will not cause any issues.

• As a result, even though a couple of cutscenes look a bit broken, the game will progress normally despite this. Flint will disappear after the shower discussion scene, but will reappear once you regain control. After the hot spring scene, it takes about 15 seconds or so before you regain control, but no other issues besides that.

• If Flint is on the second slot and Boney is on the third, Boney behaves normally and still says all his lines he normally does (such as before the hot spring scene), with ONE exception. Flint will say Boney's line (and stand in Boney's spot) after the DCMC finish their performance of King P's theme, and Boney reappears after the player regains control.

• Flint can equip various equipment that Lucas can also equip, including the sticks Lucas uses.

• The only unused graphic that the game calls into use if you have Flint hacked in, is of Flint dodging the train with Lucas. The game doesn't know what to do with the third party member though, and the train phases over Boney :(

• While I did mention before the game doesn't soft-lock at all, there is one optional exception that can cause a softlock. If you actually got hit by the train, the game will bug out. So… just don't get hit.

If you want more trivia regarding the battle-side of things for Flint in chapter 4, I recommend reading the pinned comment on this old video of mine. It was written by GGFan, who's someone who knows Mother 3's gameplay mechanics back to front. https://youtu.be/MCFBMSAAL7E

Thank you very much to @luvkirby4ever for his help in making this video possible!