

Another one of Eternal Sonata's less obvious strengths is the quality of the NPCs.

Other elements, like counterattacks, Echo and Harmony chains are also introduced, all of which keep Eternal Sonata fresh throughout. However, this becomes surprisingly more complex as you go, as your Tactical Time becomes limited prior to your turn and soon the timer will continuously count down even when you're standing still. At the beginning of the game, your turn timer will only count down when you're moving - and you have unlimited time to consider your move before you begin controlling your character. As set points in Eternal Sonata, your Party Level will go up and increase the difficulty of battles. The real genius of it all comes from the Party Level system. This makes battlefield awareness an absolute necessity and it adds a great deal of depth to what could have otherwise been a standard battle setup. This fantastic system allows characters to access different abilities depending on whether they're standing in light or shadow. The unique elements come into play when you consider the Light and Dark dynamic in place. When your turn comes, you can run around the field and slash away with the X button and perform special techniques with the Triangle button. Three characters can be used at a time and actions are carried out in turns. Once you enter that confrontation, you'll be greeted with a fairly refreshing battle system - one that will certainly please action RPG fans. Once you touch the monster, a battle ensues in a separate battle area as is traditional for JRPGs. Monsters walk about the environments and will run after you if you get too close. Most of the dungeons allow you to look around different paths and rooms for treasure, but mostly you'll be running from point A to point B, yet you'll be wholly enthralled along the way. The structure of Eternal Sonata is very linear, though I never found myself frustrated by that setup. The games soundtrack contains mostly original works, all of which deserve high praise, but some of Chopin's own compositions are also included - along with fascinating biographical information that is displayed during the pieces.Ĭlick here to see Polka's home. All the while, gamers are treated to some truly incredible music.

Although the game starts off in rather typical fashion, later plot points reveal a much more thought-provoking tale that begins to force the player into questioning dreams and reality. The first thing that gamers might not realize in regards to Eternal Sonata is how intriguing and ultimately surreal the narrative is. He soon finds himself swept away in a quest that has been woven by an expansive cast, one that takes the group of colorful characters all across the world and through some of the most charmingly created locales. As his life slips away, his dreams take the shape of a vivid, beautiful world where he can spend his final moments. The reason Eternal Sonata is so special is because of its basic premise: legendary composer and "poet of the piano" Frederic Francois Chopin lies on his deathbed in Paris.
