Eternal Sonata

 Xbox 360
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
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  1. ChristopherP.
    Oct 10, 2008
    7
    Pretty, artistic, unique, and with a wonderful battle system that does away with MP and SP in favor of an amazingly fun combo system that kind of works like a fighting game: The more combos you do, the higher your "Harmony Chain" (think of charging what MP/SP normally is) goes up, the max level being 32. Technically, you can do special moves at any time, but the power will be so weak Pretty, artistic, unique, and with a wonderful battle system that does away with MP and SP in favor of an amazingly fun combo system that kind of works like a fighting game: The more combos you do, the higher your "Harmony Chain" (think of charging what MP/SP normally is) goes up, the max level being 32. Technically, you can do special moves at any time, but the power will be so weak there's really no point unless you really build up the Chain--especially once your battle level goes up to the point where you can do special team combos, for up to 6 special moves all at once (!). The battle system evolves as the game progresses so as not to overwhelm you all at once with the end-game battle system that's very tricky to work with, but not unfair or convoluted at all. The soundtrack, ripped straight from Chopin, is quite pleasing. The voice acting may be God-awful for a lot of the characters (Beat, Salsa, and Polka are nails-on-a-chalkboard annoying), but you can switch to Japanese with subtitles if you like. But either way, the dialogue is boring, as are the lifeless, overlong and often pointless cut-scenes. Another drawback is the nearly entirely linear storyline. The only major side-quest you can do is the painful secret dungeon, and although the rewards for exploring it can make your characters almost invincible, its structure is horrifically frustrating due to a complete lack of a map for the maze-like structure and an almost unchanging tileset and terribly uninteresting enemies (you're fighting... pirates and walking turnips here?) for each floor, with absolutely no landmarks to go by. Worse, to beat it, you're required to hunt down quite a few items to gain the right to beat the boss of the place. To top it all off, the final boss isn't all that difficult if you got the ultimate weapons and armor all throughout the dungeon, and once you beat him you achieve a character who, very disappointingly, is just worthless. You do get a big achievement and unlock the most complex but by far the most powerful battle level to use for New Game+ and the final boss. Speaking of the final boss, it screams "We're out of development time and ideas, so let's throw something nonsensical together." Not only is the final boss completely uninteresting and just plain random, it doesn't even make any sense how you end up fighting him. It just happens, and there's no way anyone could predict it coming--and he's one of the easiest bosses you'll fight, even if you had never walked into the secret dungeon. Then you get the ending, which is just anticlimactic. Nothing really happens in the mundane forty-five minute ending, and a bunch of questions presented in the story remain unanswered. But, despite the annoyances, the game is kept interesting by the artistic style, pretty visuals, Chopin soundtrack, fun and evolving battle system, and an overall pleasant story, sans the unsatisfying last couple chapters and the ending.… Expand
  2. Bokxie
    Oct 7, 2013
    6
    Eternal Sonata is a hit or miss game for me. I don't dislike the game, but at some points it annoys me. Let's start off easily. Eternal Sonata is centered around composer Frédéric Chopin, who died due to tuberculosis at an young age of 39. But the story of this game is just so confusing. I did watch all the cutscenes but at some point during the game I just didn't have the concentration toEternal Sonata is a hit or miss game for me. I don't dislike the game, but at some points it annoys me. Let's start off easily. Eternal Sonata is centered around composer Frédéric Chopin, who died due to tuberculosis at an young age of 39. But the story of this game is just so confusing. I did watch all the cutscenes but at some point during the game I just didn't have the concentration to completely focus on them. And besides, this game got a ridiculous amount of cutscenes. Figuratively, they are almost as long as the gameplay itself. Not that it's a bad thing, but at some times they take so long that I have to reconnect my controller all the time. Oh, and without spoiling anything, I hate the villain of this game. But that's just personal

    The game is created by the developer of the Tales of Franchise, Tri-Crescendo. Obviously, they would take notes from the battle mechanics and put them into this game. And while I love this battle mechanic, it just seems kinda off in this game, basically because it is getting pretty repetitive after some time. It does have some nice additions added to it though, including a meter with later allows you to do a combo with the party members on the field which can bring up a lot of damage to the opponent!

    The characters aren't the greatest either, and sometimes I want to pull my hair out because of Polka's voice. I like how this game uses different sorts of weapons throughout the games though, including an umbrella (acts as a melee weapon), Rapiers and some of my favourite weapons, Chakrams.

    Unfortunately, this game doesn't give you much free space. And while you do have it, there isn't much to find that will help you on your journey. It may be possible to find some things in the second playthroughs you haven't found in the first, but those are mainly needed for Achievements.

    Now, this game does have 2 positive points that makes up for the earlier parts. The graphics and the music. Both of them are amazing and fit the game very well.

    This is not my favourite game of the genre, and it wouldn't be the first game that I would advise either. Still, this games has a certain charm to it which can't be ignored. Though I might advise you to check out the Playstation 3 version (If you do have a Playstation 3 that is) because it comes with a huge amount of differences which are for the better, including costumes and an additional storyline.    … Expand
  3. BobJ.
    Oct 18, 2007
    5
    Shallow gameplay. A lot of button mashing and no customization. Boring flow of story.
  4. GrahamE.
    Oct 7, 2007
    6
    Excellent graphics and a good battle system fail to make up for a sub-part plot, straight-out annoying characters, and a terribly linear game. Rent it, beat it in 18 hours, and return it.
  5. JohnW.
    Dec 9, 2007
    6
    Is it just me, or do the game's designers really feel that they need to explain everything in such great detail that it's actually kind of insulting to the gamer? I don't need someone to elaborate on why Claves told the pigeon to go somewhere else. I get it. Seriously. The story, when it doesn't feel like the game is trying to treat you like a baby, is passably Is it just me, or do the game's designers really feel that they need to explain everything in such great detail that it's actually kind of insulting to the gamer? I don't need someone to elaborate on why Claves told the pigeon to go somewhere else. I get it. Seriously. The story, when it doesn't feel like the game is trying to treat you like a baby, is passably entertaining. Everything else is just good. Nothing to write home about. Just good.… Expand
  6. JohnV.
    Aug 31, 2007
    7
    The graphics are simple, but solid. Anyway, they're not ugly, though they hardly take advantage of the 360's power. That said, the gameplay is active and fun, for what it's worth. Not a AAA, but a grounded title that does what it sets out to do. I was personally surprised by how much I enjoyed myself. Few RPGs have that effect on me.
  7. betgold
    Jan 13, 2014
    7
    i love the art and the music in this game (and god bless the language option !!!),the story was complicated in some points but really original,the battle system can be difficult at times,but i bought this game in summer,so i had plenty of time to spend on this game,the only thing that bothered me were the cutscene,sometimes they were too long and slow....but overall i don't regret to havei love the art and the music in this game (and god bless the language option !!!),the story was complicated in some points but really original,the battle system can be difficult at times,but i bought this game in summer,so i had plenty of time to spend on this game,the only thing that bothered me were the cutscene,sometimes they were too long and slow....but overall i don't regret to have played it.… Expand

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

Critic Reviews

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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
  1. Play.tm
    85
    The exciting and varied battle system, the impeccable visuals and the bonkers yet brilliant central story idea make this one of the most charmingly enjoyable games I've played in a while.
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  2. Thunderbolt
    80
    This unpredictable tale will have players engaged until the excellent finale.
    Read full review
  3. Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
    85
    Even to gamers more used to Bioware and Bethesda, it’s still a great proposition to everyone who likes RPGs, with its delightful backstory and visuals. [Nov 2007]
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