Won't Put You to Sleep
The words RPG and Xbox don't really associate. Sure Microsoft's first console had a few like Fable and KOTOR, but the brand's RPG library has suffered, especially when compared to the likes of the PlayStation line. Reason being, most of the industry's critically acclaimed RPGs come from developers that call The Land of the Rising Sun home. Since the words Microsoft and Japan also don't mix very well, the Xbox hasn't seen much success. Even with Blue Dragon, a recent project from Mistwalker, the Japs just didn't bite. Namco-Bandai, however, has put some faith in the system, and the intriguing Eternal Sonata is a result of that belief.
We don't know why a Japanese developer chose to illustrate the life of infamous Polish composer Frederic Chopin in a videogame, but we're glad they did, because it's an inspiring experience. Eternal Sonata doesn't chronicle his whole life though, as it does something different. It plays off the time that Chopin is in his death bed, plagued with tuberculosis, and also comatose. While it's obviously possible to know what was going through his mind then, tri-Crescendo decided he was dreaming, and that's what Eternal Sonata is all about. What has resulted is Chopin's illusory imagination creating a massive world full of likeable characters.
The plot follows Polka (yes, every character has a musically-themed name) as she journeys to find out why the government, more specifically, Count Waltz, is taxing floral powder into the ground. There's big competition between two medicines, mineral and floral powder, and the former is causing a mess of problems. Most of the world's denizens refuse to disbelieve that mineral powder cures all ails, along with the fact that floral powder spreads disease, which just happens to be magic. While this is relevant to the story, that's just the beginning, as you soon discover a more sinister plot hidden underneath. What immediately jumps out about Eternal Sonata is how good the game looks. Its presentation isn't something we've seen very often, if ever, as the style can't be described as anime-like, cel-shaded, or even 3D. It's really touch to describe actually. The game is really 2D, but how everything is drawn tactfully tricks you into believing otherwise. The art is extremely beautiful, as it brings everything in every environment to life with lush colors, bloom lighting and a variety of other effects. It's something you really have to see to believe, or understand altogether. The characters have unique attire that's intricately detailed, and animations for the most part are adequate. Although, Eternal Sonata could've done without so much unnatural movement during conversations, and the characters could've used more battle animations. Facial expressions would've also benefitted from more human-like conviction, because they look stoic.
The music more than makes up for any graphical hiccups though. Not only is Mr. Chopin's own work featured in Eternal Sonata, but the themes that aren't sound inspired by him, and help convey the game's emotion and big heart. You even obtain musical scores that can be played with random NPCs, and if you do well, you receive something very nice. I'm not musically inclined though, so I sucked at it, which also means I didn't like it. The battle theme is all right, as it takes some time for it to deliver that dramatic feeling. It's a bit disappointing, but tolerable. When you aren't hearing music, voice acting is likely to take its place. While it's a bit strange that not all of the dialogue is voiced (since there's only a few instances of reading), what you do hear is extremely well-done. While I didn't particularly care for Beat's high-pitched young boy voice or Salsa's arrogant, Southern-style accent, everyone else is truly top-notch. The emotion is there, as is the passion, making it overall authentic. As for the sound effects, they serve their purpose in and out battle. Whether that deals with footsteps on various surfaces, or the clash of the characters' weapons, it's all generally pleasing.
Battle is where Eternal Sonata's main action takes place, and thankfully it's enjoyable, for the most part. Three members, once you have that many, participate in battle, and they are initiated by coming in contact with visible enemies in whatever area you happen to be in. The screen transitions to a more battlefield-appropriate environment, and how it functions is interesting. There are two timers to keep track of, Tactical and Action. Tactical allows you to strategically plan before you move, and the second that you actually do so, the Action gauge ticks down. You are free to navigate anywhere within the confines, use your weapon, an item or special attack, or simply do nothing. Battles also work with a light and darkness setup. Either can be cast on the field, and your special attacks are affected, as you can bring out light-based abilities when you're standing in such, and the same goes for dark. Enemies can also change into something completely different depending on where they are. For example, a bat is its rodent self in the light, but a giant scorpion creature in the dark.
It doesn't stop there. Your party has its own level that has a bearing on how much Tactical/Action time you have, how many item slots are available, and a couple other battle concepts. New levels are achieved after a major boss fight, and there are six total. This mechanic actually helps battles feel fresh altogether as you progress through Eternal Sonata, and that's a good thing, because they wouldn't have otherwise. There are a few things I didn't like though. First and foremost, combos are done by mashing the A button, and that never changes, which leads to harsh repetition. You also can't interrupt a character's attack animation, which is annoying because when you only have four or five sections to make the most of your turn, you don't want to feel restricted. Additionally, counterattacking is fairly lame, mostly due to their being available far too late in the game, and their possible use is too infrequent and random. I also wouldn't be surprised if RPG enthusiasts scoffed at the rather easy difficulty. I did die a few times, but I stress a few. Your party's strength is generally much more advanced than the enemies you face. A friend of mine who watched me play was especially surprised to see me doing two to twenty times the damage that my enemies were. I enjoyed the system though, especially with Viola (love!), because just having that notion that you can kick some ass is my kind of thing. This also plays in part to the Echoes concept. Once unlocked for your party, successful combos can eventually rack up to 32 Echoes. You need them to utilize special attacks, and when you consider how fun they are with group Harmonies, and how necessary they are for things like healing, you grow to be very fond and appreciative of the system.
Finally, since Eternal Sonata is geared more towards a flowing plot and fairly constant action rather, exploration is rather nonexistent. If you can't live without that in your RPGs, this game won't satisfy you. Progression is linear, and about 90% of the game forces you to navigate through the world's areas on a fixed and restricted path. You can certainly see a lot, but you won't be able to go to most of it. I didn't mind it since it didn't seem detractive of the quality, but we know some of you would hate it. This also lends to Eternal Sonata being shorter than most typical RPGs that generally run 40 to 80 hours. My first playthrough clocked in at just over 25, but it could definitely take up to 30 if you try to accomplish everything. Nevertheless, the game is fairly quick for RPG standards.
It's unfortunate that Blue Dragon wasn't received well, which didn't help the 360 much in Japan, nor its reputation in the RPG market, but Eternal Sonata is here. While the game obviously doesn't have the marketability of Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, it certainly is a step in the right direction for Microsoft's RPG library. Help is on the way at least, especially with the likes of Mass Effect coming soon, and both Lost Odyssey and Infinite Undiscovery in the 2008 pipeline. But hey, at least us 360 owners have something as an RPG to enjoy for the time being, and we here at COE certainly think that Eternal Sonata is it.