EarthBound was released for the Super Nintendo as Mother 2 in Japan in 1994 and in North America in 1995. Its battle system gave attacks a small chance to become a SMAAAASH, a critical hit dealing far more damage than normal, announced with bold on-screen text and this crashing sound. As EarthBound built a devoted cult following through replays, emulation and online video, the effect became shorthand among fans for any absurdly powerful strike, and editors began lifting it for non-RPG clips.