>>11914237
>The N64 was almost exactly a year off from release so hype was generating for the 3D console

This was it. 3D console hype was through the roof at the time. The PlayStation was coming out just 3 months after this game was released. Normies had already moved on and were saving their money for the 3D consoles that Christmas. There were lots of really good games released at the end of the SNES's life that got no traction because of 3D hype. Even Super Mario RPG sold about 100,000-150,000 more units than Earthbound because it was released at the end of the 2D era.