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Eternal Sonata | 
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| From: Namco
Category: Video Games
List Price: $59.99
Buy New: $56.99
You Save: $3.00 (5%)
New (18) Used (2) from $54.99
Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 1254
Platform: Playstation 3
Genre: role_playing_games
ESRB: Teen
Media: Video Game
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Age: 12 - 20 years
Operating System: PlayStation 3
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: 11009
Model: 722674110099
UPC: 722674110099
EAN: 0722674110099
ASIN: B001CRQY1E
Release Date: October 21, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | High-definition, anime style cel-shading and high quality textures | | • | Innovative Battle System - a unique hybrid turn-based/action RPG system that combines free-roam and turn-based action (up to 3 players during battle) | | • | Strategic Use of Light and Darkness - Beware of enemies lurking in the shadows, as their stats - attacks and potency - will change, as will their physical form. Lure them out into the light or destroy them there in the cloak of darkness. Also, change your special attacks depending on whether you are in the light or in the dark | | • | A deeply moving story focusing on the enduring struggle between good and evil | | • | World-renowned pianist Stanislav Bunin performs Chopin's original compositions |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
On October 17, 1949, Frederic Chopin, one of the most influential composers for the piano, succumbed to sickness and died at the young age of 39. Three hours prior to that, in the world according to this RPG, Chopin saw a dream of a fairy-tale land populated by people with incurable diseases but also magical powers. Eternal Sonata takes place in this dream world. Chopin comes into contact with Polka, a young girl who resides with her mother in the village of Tenuto. Polka is near her death, and Chopin, Polka, and her young friend Allegretto look for some way to make use of Polka's great powers to help save her. This whimsical fantasy also has a complex and combo-based battle system of swords and magic weaponry.
2 favorite characters you meet in the journey -- Crescendo and Serenade -- are now playable characters with their own unique weapons and attacks, plus new events have been added, to help give you a deeper understanding of the storyline
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| Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...
 Enter a Game that Dreams are Made of November 30, 2008
When I first heard about Eternal Sonata, I could not then have guessed how much I would come to adore this game. From a wonderfully entertaining storyline to compelling characters, Eternal Sonata is a treat for all those who appreciate video games beyond just their battle systems.
Speaking of battle systems, the system in this game may seem a bit slow and easy at first, but as the game progresses and the battles become more and more challenging, the real strategy of the battle system begin to come to the forefront. Even for experienced gamers such as myself, there were times when I actually lost battles (typically these were the boss battles which can prove somewhat challenging), or had to really think out who to use in the fight and what to do in it in advanced as opposed to merely winging it. It's difficult enough to provide a challenge for an experienced gamer, but not too hard as to be impossible for a casual gamer. The only downside to the battle system is that it can get a little repetitive and monotonous at times, but nothing too intolerable.
In addition, one of the first and most noticeable aspects of the game is its graphics. It's quite likely that you've never seen a game as beautiful as this one with all its vibrant colors. As you play, it is easy to tell that each environment was lovingly crafted by the game designers and makes for an even more entrancing and magical game.
Last, but certainly not least, is the immersing storyline. Without giving too much away, the game takes place within the famous composer Frederic Chopin's dream as he lays on his deathbed, and alternates between reality and the dream, but often poses the question throughout (often in dialogues between characters) whether the dream is really a dream at all. As an added bonus, the game also includes several songs by Chopin himself that are absolutely amazing and which any music-lover will enjoy.
I'd definitely recommend this game to anyone who enjoys a good storyline, beautiful graphics, a fun battle system, and superb characters. You won't be disappointed!
Eternal Sonata November 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'll separate this review into 3 separate categories for easy reading. First will be my 'Likes' which will be all the things I liked about the game, and the positives of it. Next will be the 'Dislikes' which will be the downsides to the game. The final paragraph will by my 'Recommend?' paragraph, in which I'll reveal if I would recommend this game to anyone.
Likes: Great graphics, amazing story, the music is top notch of course. The character design and voice acting is definitely great for a Japanese RPG. The battle system is also pretty unique. Easy button mapping and menu interface is always a plus as well.
Dislikes: The camera, and the 'on rails' feel the whole game has. It also occurred to me that, although there are a lot of useful objects in the game, there is rarely a sign telling you to get the object.
Recommendation: Yes, definitely. One of the best RPGs available right now. Even if you're not a fan of JRPGs, you owe it to yourself to check this game out.
 PS3 Eternal Sonata November 29, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
One of the Worst Games ever for such an advance console. Beautiful colors, great animation and superb music but it lacks on too many important aspects such as: game view. Can you imagine traveling around very beautiful scenes but be unable to look around, not even 180 degrees?. Another detail, I'm used to talk to everyone (second & third characters) in a RPG game but this game is full of unimportant dialogs. The battle system is horrible. You can buy new weapons and accessories but your character will not look any different, they will always stay the same weird looking and be aware of the following detail: when your about to fight some boss monster, you will fight with the characters choose for that scene, not with the characters you spent time & money developing. Do not fall for the trailers, rent the game before thinking about buying it. I'm really disappointed with Bandai Namco as a game developer.
Fantastix Story November 18, 2008
When this game came out on the Xbox 360 last year, it was a fantastic new approach that incorporated a famous historical figure with a vibrant and compelling fantasy world, typical of a JRPG. The overall game experience was absolutely compelling, but it seemed like the story left a lot of unanswered questions in the end. The Playstation 3 version of the game corrects that.
The first thing one notices about the game is its colorful and poetic world, everything has brilliant colors, which is much better than most next-gen games that seem to make everything brown. This was definitely a breath of fresh air. The character models too are an excellent combination of a cel-shaded 2D look, but still holding onto the 3D look of the environment around them. There is one thing that may annoy some people, and that is the lack of polygons in the background. It seems like they skimped sometimes when designing the landscapes (i.e. ropes being square, rocks looking razor sharp, perfectly squared off edges on buildings). Sometimes it looks like a very high resolution last generation game in terms of environment, but that does not detract from the feel of the game that much.
The next thing that one would notice is the music. This game has a superb soundtrack and there are no tracks that I do not like. Plus, the Chopin pieces thrown in make for an interesting juxtaposition between Chopin and Fantasy RPG-Classical hybrid of the rest of the music.
The story and characters can be fantastically compelling to some, and to others, quite flat. Personally, I felt the story, although extremely linear, was beautifully executed and well panned out, and the minor tweaks to the PS3 version really fixed any problems I had with the Xbox 360 version's story holes. The game itself is relatively short compared to other JRPGs, but its story is told effectively and extra length seems unnecessary. Also, there are things you can do in the second playthrough that you cannot in the first, so once you beat it, you're not necessarily done.
The gameplay is quite unique, in that the battles are hybrid turn-based and real-time, and that it evolves to be harder, but give you more freedom and power as you progress through the game. It can be a little repetitive, but so are most JRPG battles, and in Eternal Sonata, you can avoid enemies if you so wish, as there are no random encounters.
Overall, the game is a wonderful jewel that should not be overlooked.
 Engulfed in a Colorful Music World November 5, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
After having played the 360 version, I found this version not that different, even with the additional features exclusive to this one. After playing through it, I found myself just repeating almost everything in the 360 version. Of course, that's to be expected, but I guess the additional features didn't really do much.
As expected from some JRPGs, the game isn't THAT challenging, but maybe that's because I've played the other version before. To be honest I was confused at first, but now, I pretty much finished this version way under leveled compared to when I finished it before. I am however, happy that it's not much of a challenge. I find it annoying when I have to grind just to continue on with the storyline. In terms of controls and interface however, I find ES' to be one of the easiest to navigate, most beautiful to look at, as well as the most interesting to toy around with. I like how, in battle, most moves can be executed at the touch of a single button. That however makes it a bit easy for players, but I don't mind. Like I said, less grinding, more on the story please.
The story, I think, is one of the best I've actually seen in most JRPGs. While the main story of Polka and her magic powers may seem cliche, it's Chopin's story that I focus on. I admire how the developers made a story based on the life of a famous composer in real life. Not only do I find it as a form of appreciation for the said composer, but it actually made me appreciate Chopin, as well as classical music, more. The prospect of leaving this world upon your death and venturing to a new one is, for me, a dream come true. And this IS a role-playing game, so I might as well play that role, for my own entertainment. To be honest, I don't understand why a considerable number of people didn't like this game's story. There are actually some weak elements in the story, and I find the lack of humor to be one of the down sides... Not that I require every JRPG I play to be funny, mind you. And, as much as I hate mentioning it, I rarely see a person dying, and still be able to give a 30 minute-1 hour death speech to nobody in particular. And up until now, I'm sad that I managed to finish this game fast. Real fast. It seriously needs more game play time.
As much as the game doesn't push the PS3's graphical limits much, I found this game's graphics to be quite enchanting. It's as if, you're being invited into a world painted on canvas with vibrant, fresh paints. The characters move realistically for me: no awkward movements, and all moves are executed smoothly. I was most excited about the addition of Prince Crescendo and Princess Serenade as playable characters, and to be honest, that was the part I enjoyed most. These little additions are exactly what made me get the PS3 version.
And like before, the music is nice, but not exactly ground breaking. I mean, all right, I hear Chopin's pieces, as well as some by Sakuraba, and they fit the scenes they're incorporated into. But only very few of these pieces got stuck in my head. It does, however, put good emphasis on classical music, and I like that.
Overall, Eternal Sonata still is one of the greatest JRPGs I've seen in a while (or for the next-gen consoles at least). If you're looking for a nice RPG with lush anime-like graphics and an interesting storyline, I really suggest you get this game. Now.
Note: Although this amazon account is by sukotsuto, this review written by a745 using sukotsuto's account as proxy to write the review.
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