/vr/ - Retro Games

I started re-playing Earthbound recently after a yearning for some retro gaming. Growing up I absolutely hated Earthbound for just.. seeming too bland. Now I really enjoy the aesthetic. I think Yumme Nikki may have had something to do with it.

Can anyone give me some early game tips?
Also, the furthest I've gotten in the past was the second town, where I was blocked off by some sort of square thing blocking a pathway. Kinda like the trees in the pokemon games where you have to have a pokemon use "cut". Assuming I've described that properly, can anyone tell me how to get passed it?