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Who cares if it’s been out for a while on another consoles?!

Consuella

Eternal Sonata is the story of this chick everyone hates because she can use magic-and in that world, the only people who can use magic are those who’re soon to die. Her name is Consuella Polka (don’t you wish it was Consuella now?) Also the “world” is actually the dream of Chopin. Yeah, that Chopin. Now, Consuella (I’m not calling her Polka, it’s ridiculous!) runs into Chopin (in his “dream,”) and the story takes off after a fair amount of introduction to two other main characters, I’m guessing-controls were switched. The game tends to be rather depressing, since it attempts to press issues like hunger, selfishness, and how horrible humans apparently are through the non-existent lips of pixels; it begins with suicide, for crying out loud. I found it overbearing and preachy with respect to attitude.

Anyway, down to one of the technical aspects in the game which I find to be amazingly impressive: the roles of shadow and light. The controls are pretty basic, you can use potions or items or whatever, attack with basic melee, and then defend with another button-with triangle you can use a “special skill” and depending on whether you’re standing in the shade or in the light, you can cast healing spells (light) or damage spells-or let’s say “skills” since not all characters are casters (shade.) The catch is, there’s a gauge that goes down as you pretty much do anything as soon as you move-I think it lasts for like five seconds-oh and as your party levels up (I believe there are six ranks or less) the gauge depletes a lot easier, prompting you to act faster in combat. It’s safer to call them “battle conditions” as opposed to “party levels,” since it’s pretty much just that.

Also, as your actual party-meaning the characters in it, seems like their skills also increase in number (and value, naturally) as they level, allowing you to switch around just what skill you’d like to be their special in any given battle if you’re given time to prepare. Speaking of characters, they look like typical over-compensating Asian-did I cross a line? Big eyes, bright, colorful, loud hair, and clothes that look like they just fell out of some dead crossdresser’s dresser. Oh, but it’s “style.” Let me also quickly mention that while costumes are absurd, the actual mobs that are met in battle seem to be creatively designed, which ends up being massly appealing. There’s a dream-like quality to them, like cute versions of those in Folklore.

"Chopin"

Speaking of characers, the default audio is in English, however, since the voice actors were overacting (such integrity, such commitment, such blood gushing out of my ears!) I decided to go with Japanese and have subtitles in English. While Japanese women are tools enough to only be hired if they sound like dumb little girls, at least it didn’t come off as that overdramatic to my ears. In any case, now I can’t understand any of the meant-to-be smart one-liners uttered once a battle begins or ends because I’m not a weeaboo. :(

Overall, however, and speaking moreso with regards to the aesthetic aspect of it, I’m finding this game to be pleasant enough to complete. The scenery is still without a doubt beautiful, as maps are designed similarly to old-fashioned RP games, and yet have enough attention detail, perfect color balance, and amazing lighting to enjoy running through. With respect to that there is nothing more to say except that the game looks absolutely gorgeous.

The thing about Eternal Sonata, that I am most grateful for is the fact that the game’s graphics are reminiscent to those of Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy IV, even Thread of Fate-especially Threads of Fate. What I can’t seem to get over is how, when designing this game, Namco didn’t go all out and push the limits of the console, they actually stuck through with what a traditional RP looked like-and applied that as the template as to where to push. I am gobsmacked, but in this aspect alone. The gameplay is still very much unique, very much easy to slip into, and stocked when it comes to longevity.

When you play Eternal Sonata, you’re playing a game that is paying so much long-overdue homage to this genre of games.  While most games seem to have strayed away from what an RP traditionally looks like (respectfully I mention FFX, which is beautiful in its own glorious right :P) Eternal Sonata has captured and held it close, while managing to remain its own game.

If you’re considering it, buy it. If you’re not considering it, buy it.

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