Eternal Sonata

"The developers truly cared to make Eternal Sonata a magical experience, and it shows."

Eternal Sonata opens with a short, somewhat tragic scene followed by a peaceful narration, introducing the player to a fantasy realm. The game takes place inside the dying dreams of famed composer Chopin, and while it definitely borrows many elements from other RPGs, it is ultimately a unique game. It's a labor of love, combining classic RPG staples with a distinct package of music, artistic design and even biographical slideshows.

One of the first aspects of Eternal Sonata that needs to be commented on, is the linearity. Simply put, this game's narrative pace keeps the player going from one area to the next, advancing the plot steadily and at times, rapidly. Early on, this can seem off-putting, as other RPG conventions are used and the real meat of the story hasn't been developed. You're being pushed from one cutscene to the next forest or dungeon, to the next cutscene, and so on. At some point, you either become comfortable with this, or you understand that it's a dream with little time for idle roaming and adventuring.

The linear nature of the game also pushes you past seemingly major story points without much resolution. Major villains are developed and fall to the party's might, but are forgotten immediately. The same can be said for major plot points becoming a focal point for hours, but the resolution of which seems empty and glossed over. Small philosophical peculiarities however, involve much exposition and are indeed the true plot for the game. Again, this can be off-putting, as you've saved a kingdom and no one rejoices. Heck, no one even considers what they've done, as they're busy heading off to the next place before you know it. While this makes sense as part of the overall view of the game, the developers could have provided some closure to certain situations without harming the game.

This dream world and all it's struggles and locations are wrapped up by the real story of the game, being Chopin's struggle with reality versus his dream world. Many of the names and designs in the game seem based on what Chopin might be familiar with, from the sprawling fields in Hanon Heights resembling the town of his birth, to the musical nomenclature used for almost everything in the game. The ending is confusing for some and really enjoyable to others, either way it probably takes some time to digest and/or discuss with others.

Characters in Eternal Sonata are an enjoyable bunch. Their designs are well crafted, and the voice acting is pretty good. At times, they probably spend a bit too long repeating themselves, but they seem to have sincere thoughts and interactions. Allegretto is pretty much the lead dream character, though Polka could be argued for the same spot. They have distinct personalities, as does most of the cast. When they interact, they stand out. For instance, Beat on his own may seem like a slightly annoying kid, but when he's dealing with Salsa, his personality becomes humorous and enjoyable. Many of the characters have a bit of development as well, though without proper conclusion due to the nature of the ending of the game, you're left hanging. Still, when the characters shine, they shine brightly.

One noticeable issue is that the models never change. Weapon/armor upgrades aren't noticeable through the game, which is a bit unconventional for an RPG. The models are really nice to look at, and the minor details are included, from the stitching of Allegretto's shoulder pad, to the embroidery on Polka's dress, to the seems on Beat's vest. This is done without taking away from the cartoonish feel of the characters. They are colorful and sharp, yet you can probably spend a few minutes considering all the detail put into each model.

That's one thing that Eternal Sonata is full of: little details. You might never notice how much detail was put on wall decorations in the Baroque laboratory, or how some birds fly around above Fort Fermata. But those details are there, and if you enjoy sitting back and enjoying the artwork put into a video game, this is one of the best experiences available. The colors are often vibrant, and area designs are terrific. If you have an HD television, then this is definitely a game you'll want to play, if only to enjoy how good the scenery is.

Accompanying the graphics is a truly amazing soundtrack, with Chopin's work performed by Stanislav Bunin, and the score done by Motoi Sakuraba. The music matches each area very well - White Mirror is perfect for the snowy town outside of Baroque Castle, as is Illogical Theory the perfect setting for the Mysterious Unison dungeon. If you have surround sound, you're in luck, as features such as waterfalls will pass around you. The music and effects, combined with the amazing design and graphics, can make some areas immersive and others simply impressive. One small issue would be the lack of camera control, but you get used to it quickly.

As you travel through the impressive world of Eternal Sonata, you will find enemies wandering about. You can choose to engage in combat with them by running into them (or having them to run into you!), which initiates the battle gameplay. You are allowed three characters in battle, and they take turns with performing actions until their timer runs out. Typically, this involves running over to an enemy and starting an attack combination, which can lead to attack chains and powerful special moves. It starts off quite simple, and as you progress, the party level increases, which leads to shortened time during which you can act, but more powerful abilities you can use. You can block enemy attacks if you press B when the game indicates the enemy is about to attack - mess up, and you'll take more damage than if you did nothing. The game is rarely challenging on the first time through, with only a handful of bosses that should ever really provide and trouble.

Easy battles aren't necessarily bad, but the repetition in enemy models is. Every zone has only a small amount of enemies, usually only two or three. And you may spend an hour or more just fighting the same fish enemies, over and over. Each battle zone has light and dark areas, which will affect what special attacks you can use, and sometimes it affects what the monsters look like - some transform into much easier (or harder) enemies depending on if they move into the light or the dark. This doesn't provide too much strategy because everything is fairly easy, though it is a neat aspect.

For a challenge, Encore mode is unlocked after finishing the game. This starts the player over, with some new objectives achievable, as well as the monsters having significantly increased stats. Blocking was only needed for some boss fights in the first time through, but in the second, it is essential. Also, there is a dungeon that can be completed in either normal or Encore mode at the end of the game. Some of the floors have challenging layouts, the enemies hit hard, but there are good items, and a rewarding storyline that accompanies this dungeon that won't be spoiled in this review.

Overall, Eternal Sonata feels confined to its own narrative, which at times can be a big flaw and make the game feel too linear. The philosophical content is slightly overdone for what it is, but when you consider most of the characters are kids or teenagers, it fits. The enemy designs are nice, but are simply too repetitive. Important events are glossed over too much.

The graphics are often stunning, and the music is perfect. The characters are fun and personable. The presentation of biographical scenes and scenes with Chopin's deathbed certainly pushes this game as a standout even more. Action in the game is fun, and there are bonus challenges to go after it suits you. But it's the little details in both sound and graphics that really provide charm and magic that you don't see in most games today. Combined with an interesting overarching story, Eternal Sonata is a terrific achievement.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/17/08, Updated 11/05/08

Game Release: Eternal Sonata (US, 09/17/07)