Eternal Sonata – Early Thoughts

Yeah so I picked up Eternal Sonata last weekend from my local GAME. I traded in 3 psp games to get it which I know is stupid but I never play my psp. Anyway I heard about this game about a year ago on a interview on “On The Spot” Gamespots weekly video game show ( I recommend it). I saw it there but I really did not think I would end up owning it because to be honest I’ve never really been the biggest RPG fan. But this game just looked different. So I got it home popped it in my 360 and I load up a new game, immediately I’m met with this gorgeous scene with Chopin in his bed that then flashes to this AMAZING cut scene in the flowers. I had never ever seen colours like this in a game, it reminded me of a Studio Ghibli film.

I’m about 7-8 hours into the game now and I am enjoying it immensely. I am totally engaged with the characters now because of the number of amazingly done cut scenes the game throws at you (fully voiced,which is great by the way). The combat system is just amazing. Battles take place in sort of semi real time. Battles do take place on a separate plain FF style but instead of choosing whether to run or attack or cast magic, you control the characters directly. The gameplay in the battle system is sort of button mashy but this is great because the hits feel really visceral, like they are doing some real damage. I don’t think I have explained it well enough so here’s a video so you can get the idea.

Sorry bout the sound quality but you get the idea, btw that’s not the real sound quality lol. The music in the game follows the theme of Chopin not all of it is his own work but the other pieces are in the same style. The graphical style in Eternal Sonata is breathtaking to say the least. Every stitch on Chopins bed, every monster is amazingly animated the lip syncing is a bit off but it doesn’t spoil the experience.

The only major worry (well its not really major at all) is that I have been playing the game for 7-8 hours and only have 3 achievements out of 22 worth 30g. This isn’t a huge thing because I’m just enjoying the experience but I have battled a lot of really hard bosses and solved one RIDICULOUSLY hard puzzle so would have been nice to get something for those individually but oh well.

Overall I am really really enjoying my time with Eternal Sonata and will keep you posted with my experiences of the games as i delve deeper and deeper into this 30+ hour game. Check Back!

P.S. Check out former editor Jeffs Geurstmanns new site Giantbomb.com