Eternal Sonata

Eternal Sonata
Original title	ト ラ ス テ ィ ベ ル 〜 シ ョ パ ン の 夢
transcription	Torasuti Beru - Shopan no Yume
Studio	Tri-crescendo
Publisher	Bandai Namco Games
Erstveröffent- lichung	Xbox 360: June 14, 2007 September 17, 2007 October 19, 2007 PlayStation 3: September 18, 2008 October 21, 2008 February 13, 2009 February 19, 2009
platform	Xbox 360 , PlayStation 3
genre	Computer role playing game
Game mode	Single player
control	Gamepad
medium	DVD-ROM , Blu-ray
Age rating	USK PEGI

Eternal Sonata ( Japanese ト ラ ス テ ィ ベ ル 〜 シ ョ パ ン の 夢 〜 , Torasuti Beru - Shopan no Yume , Eng . "Trusty Bell - Chopin's Dream") is a computer role-playing game developed by Tri-Crescendo . The Xbox 360 version of the game was released by Bandai Namco Games in Japan in June 2007, in North America in September 2007, and in Europe in October of the same year. In September 2008 the publisher launched a PlayStation 3 version in Japan, and in October of the same year in North America and Europe , which offers additional content.

The game's scenario is a fictional dream of the Polish composer and pianist Frédéric Chopin , who died of tuberculosis at the age of 39 . In this dream, Chopin embarks on a journey with some other characters that - he thinks - will end with his death, both in his dream world and in reality. Some of Chopin's compositions are included in the game's soundtrack , but most of them were composed by Motoi Sakuraba .

Gameplay

In gameplay , Eternal Sonata distinguishes , similar to games from the Final Fantasy series, Lost Odyssey and other comparable role-playing games, a turn-based combat system with exploration of the world in real time. If you come into contact with enemies roaming around freely while exploring the world, a fight ensues. By winning fights, the player collects experience points that let his characters level up and wins items that his characters can improve or that he can sell. With each level up the respective characters get points for their attributes (attack, defense, magic and speed). Thus, a constant improvement of the group is possible in the course of the game. This group consists of active and passive characters. Active characters, up to three in number, are those who take part in combat. You get the full experience points for defeated opponents, whereas passive characters who have not participated in the fight only get half of the experience and thus increase the level less often. After each fight, the player can change the group constellation.

Combat system

The combat system in Eternal Sonata consists of two parts that run cyclically: tactical time and action time. The tactic time refers to the time the player has to think through his actions during combat. It is unlimited at the beginning of the game, at the end it is even completely removed and the player has to think about what he is doing during the previous turns. Action time is the time the player has to attack, cast spells, use items, or run away. It also decreases as the game progresses. With each successful hit on the opponent, it is charged by a small amount, which gives the player time for further attacks. However, an unlimited increase is not possible. With the 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, 24th and 32nd hit, the player receives so-called echoes, which make special attacks of his characters more effective. These special attacks are also highly dependent on the character's ambient light. If he is in the shadow, he has “dark” special attacks, “light” in the light. Thus, depending on the situation, the player has to pay attention to where his character is.

Characters

Playable characters

• Frédéric Francois Chopin (フ レ デ リ ッ ク ・ フ ラ ン ソ ワ ・ シ ョ パ ン Furederikku Furansowa Shopan): 39 year old composer and pianist, in whose dream the action takes place. He attacks with a baton , is magically strong, otherwise balanced.
• Polka (ポ ル カ Poruka): 14 year old girl who lives with her mother in a quiet village and sells flower powder, a type of medicine . She attacks with an umbrella , is magically strong but physically weak.
• Allegretto (ア レ グ レ ッ ト Areguretto): 16 year old thief from a small town near Polka's home village. Beat's best friend. He attacks with a sword and is a balanced character.
• Beat (ビ ー ト Bīto): Eight-year-old boy who lives with Allegretto in a small town. He attacks with a gun - hammer on, carrying a camera and is one of the rangers of the group.
• Viola (ビ オ ラ Biora): 26-year-old shepherdess who lives in a hut a bit away from the small town where Allegretto and Beat are from. She attacks with a bow, is one of the ranged fighters of the group, is physically strong and magically weak.
• Salsa (サ ル サ Sarusa): Eight year old girl. Gavotte's twin sister. She is the keeper of a grove, attacks with two chakram (circular blades), is a fast character but magically weak.
• Gavotte (マ ー チ Māchi) (in the English version of the game: March): Eight year old girl. Salsa's twin sister. She is the keeper of a grove, attacks with chakram, is a quick character and balanced.
• Jazz (ジ ル バ Jiruba): 27 year old rebel leader. He attacks with a two-handed sword and is a slow character but of devastating physical strength.
• Claves (ク ラ ベ ス Kurabesu): 24-year-old friend of jazz and rebel. It engages with a rapier / dagger and is a balanced character.
• Mazurka (フ ァ ル セ ッ ト Farusetto) (In the English version of the game: Falsetto ): 22 years old. She is the third member of Jazz's rebel troop and attacks with her fists. She is a quick character and physically strong.
• Crescendo (ク レ ッ シ ェ ン ド Kuresshendo): Young Prince of the Baroque Castle and captain of a ship. He is only playable in the PlayStation 3 version and attacks with a mace .
• Serenade (セ レ ナ ー デ Serenāde): Young princess from Schloss Barock and wife of Crescendo. It is also only playable in the PlayStation 3 version and attacks with a magic wand .

Important opponents

• Count Walzer : Young ruler of Forte Castle.
• Legato : Walzers advisor, diplomat from Forte Castle.
• Rumba : Lakai Walzers.
• Staccato : Lakai Walzers.
• Tuba : Lakai Walzers.
• Captain Dolce : pirate captain. She tries to ambush and board Crescendo's ship.

places

• Tenuto - a small village where polka comes from
• Ritardando - a small town where Beat and Allegretto come from.
• Forte - seat of government of Count Walzer.
• Andantino - capital of the rebel group around jazz.
• Baroque - seat of government of Prince Crescendo.
• Mt. Rock - mountain where Count Walzer mines minerals.
• Celesta Forest - wooded area between the Baroque and the Aria Temple.
• Aria Temple - a temple close to Baroque.
• Lento Cemetery - a cemetery near Andantino for fallen rebel soldiers.
• Chorus fields - Agriculturally usable meadows, this is where Viola has her hut.
• Agogô forest - forest in which small, fairy-like creatures - the agogôs - live.
• The river Medley - river near Baroque. Haunted by pirates.

presentation

The entire game is shown in cel-shaded optics. So the whole game looks like a manga . Strongly saturated colors and classical music / melodies give the player the impression of being part of a fairy tale .

Reviews

Eternal Sonata received mostly neutral to positive reviews. Most of the praised was the detailed, game-loving representation, which makes every place in the game something special. The soundtrack was also described as largely appropriate and mood-enhancing. Eternal Sonata was criticized for not being able to handle cutscenes, as these film scenes, some of which run for minutes, tear the player out of the flow of the game. The scenes that provide information about Chopin's life are also interesting, but in most places rather disturbing for the player. Even the good synchronization of the professional speakers doesn't change that. Eternal Sonata was also criticized for being too linear and not offering enough side missions apart from the main story.

Web links

• Official European website
• Eternal Sonata at MobyGames (English)