Eternal Sonata

 Xbox 360
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 56 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 56
  3. Negative: 0 out of 56
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  1. Gamers' Temple
    74
    Eternal Sonata is a great effort, but Chopin need not worry about his music being forgotten in favor of the memories of this game; by the time you finish, you might not even remember playing it yourself.
  2. Pelit (Finland)
    73
    A visually beautiful adventure that ultimately fails to deliver where it counts. The irritating script, the dumbed-down game mechanics and the utter lack of anything remotely resembling a challenge lead to the regrettable conclusion that Xbox 360 is still lacking its definitive j-rpg title. [Nov 2007]
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  3. games(TM)
    70
    For all its loveliness and in spite of its adventurous battle system, Chopin’s Dream is ultimately too restrained to be classed as revolutionary. [Sept 2007, p.122]
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  5. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    70
    If you're brave enough to look past aesthetics, Eternal Sonata is worth hearing out. [Oct 2007, p.100]
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  6. Game Almighty
    70
    Much like an orchestra with a flat brass section, Eternal Sonata strings together a great battle system and beautiful presentation to the backdrop of an out-of-tune story and lacking character development.
  7. Edge Magazine
    70
    There’s nothing revolutionary in Eternal Sonata, but it’s a well-executed RPG with style in abundance. [Nov 2007, p.98]
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  8. Worth Playing
    70
    Eternal Sonata is a beautiful game. It has excellent music, a reasonably well done dub and a curious and interesting setting. This doesn't change the fact that it is far too easy.
  9. Gaming Age
    67
    Overall I came away from Eternal Sonata feeling pretty impressed. In the beginning, the lengthy and frequent cut scenes really started to grate on my nerves, but after the 6 hour I started to really take an interest in certain characters, and the game felt like it just took off from there.
  10. netjak
    65
    Now that it's over, however, it's obvious that the game will disappoint people looking for an RPG on the 360 that's truly on the level of Final Fantasy.
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  11. GameCritics
    65
    The engaging battle system eventually turned into a tedious exercise, and the lighthearted and sentimental story grew increasingly sluggish and labored.
  12. NTSC-uk
    60
    In the end, Eternal Sonata is let down by its failure to take advantage of the story it sets up for itself.
  13. 1UP
    60
    If anything, the engaging battle system shows Eternal Sonata's massive untapped potential -- if the rest of the experience had been as fleshed out, we might be talking about the first great 360 RPG. This isn't a bad game per se; the biggest problem is that there's just not enough of a game here.
  14. G4 TV
    60
    Is it too much to ask that JRPG’s grow up? That we stop letting “aww, pretty!” moments excuse cornball ones? There’s no reason an RPG like Eternal Sonata couldn’t be twice as well written and half as morally blunt.

Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2007
27
#27 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2007
8
#8 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2007

User Reviews

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User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 116 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 85 out of 116
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 116
  3. Negative: 9 out of 116
  1. hellstorm901
    Sep 5, 2013
    10
    The first game I owned on the Xbox360 and still the one I consider my favourite.

    The story, whilst difficult at times to understand, is    The first game I owned on the Xbox360 and still the one I consider my favourite.

    The story, whilst difficult at times to understand, is lovely. The characters are like able and the voice acting on them especially Polka is fitting. Even if a player does not enjoy the voiceovers the game offers the ability to change the voiceovers to Japanese which are just as equally well voiced.

    The combat is difficult and punishing at times but as you play more and more it will become more familiar. A clever thing to note is with the theme of music in the game. Blocking in combat especiallly bosses is about rhythm.

    The game is quite lengthy even if the path is linear.

    It's really difficult to review this game as it's something that really should just be experienced rather than described.    … Full Review »
  2. NickPVT
    Dec 5, 2013
    8
    Beautiful visuals, fun combat and well done voice acting. I really enjoyed the underlying message from the story, which I hope isn't lost onBeautiful visuals, fun combat and well done voice acting. I really enjoyed the underlying message from the story, which I hope isn't lost on most players. All in all it was a fun game but something about the whole thing felt lacking. I can't put my finger on it, so instead of a 9 or 10, i gave it an 8.… Full Review »
  3. Infielozo
    Oct 29, 2013
    9
    The classiest and most artistic RPG I've ever witnessed, the battle system was unique and very entertaining with the ability to team up withThe classiest and most artistic RPG I've ever witnessed, the battle system was unique and very entertaining with the ability to team up with your party members to deliver devastating attacks. It was visually stunning and the soundtrack matched it's elegance, the story was interesting and at times educational, nothing out there like this one. The enemies were sometimes recycled and lacked in variety, but that is more of a microscopic problem. Money comes easy in this game and you'll battle bosses and rare monsters with an eagerness, due to the photography opportunities that rake in the cash by simply snapping a great shot. My truly strong complaint is the lack of duration, this was an insanely SHORT game (20+ Hrs.) by today's RPG standards, so it was difficult to realize the game was done. I would have wanted a lengthier game to keep using it's addictive battle system, this game was very enjoyable.… Full Review »
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