[game] Eternal Sonata (PS3) 2008

+
"Eternal Sonata" or "Trusty Bell: Chopin's Dream" (Japanese title-- a dodgy title, at best)
+
+
Famitsu: 35/40=87.5%
GameRatings: 82.39%
Metacritic: 80%
GameSpot: 83%
IGN: 87%
+

History
As Gustav Mahler once said, "If a composer could say what he wanted to say in words, he wouldn't bother trying to say it in music." Thus, Eternal Sonata was born in the mind of director Hiroya Hatsushiba to celebrate his love for classical music and for the Romantic work and life of 'the poet of the piano' Polish-born Frederic Francois Chopin (1810-1849). At an age when Bach (1685-1750), Beethoven (1770-1827) and Mozart (1756-1791) would have still been apprentices, Chopin was already recognised as a master of his art and started composing piano solos at the tender age of 7. He died at age 39, however, of tuberculosis and left in his place a legacy of Romantic piano solos that still enamours listeners even to this day.

Background to 'Eternal Sonata' (some spoilers and lotsa grousing, M!)
The premise of the game takes place just a few hours before 39 year-old, tuberculosis-ridden Chopin passed away in the night in the company of his doctor and (what seems to be) his close confidante, mezzo-soprano Pauline Viardot. Without their knowledge, Chopin had entered into his own dream world and is battling life-and-death, reality-and-illusion in his mind alone.

Frederic 'emo' Chopin

Polka

In this dream world divided by the countries of Forte (led by evil Count Waltz--an allusion to his illness and most famous works) and Baroque (led by heroic Prince Crescendo--an allusion to the age of Baroque music that came before the Romantic era), Chopin meets the 14-year old Floral Powder seller named Polka, who also appears to be terminally ill. Due to her predestined death and incurable illness, she is (through the reality of this game) able to use magic. Needless to say, while Chopin is in this dream, he too is able to use magic.

Prince 'noble badass' Crescendo

Additionally, Count Waltz is the lead manufacturer and promoter of the use of Mineral Powder to cure illnesses. Unknown to many residents of Forte, however, is the fact that a certain percentage of Mineral Powder users become even more sick, and inevitably, turn into monstrous, magic-wielding, mindless monsters. Duh.

Princess 'kickass' Serenade

On the one hand, a rebel group in Forte aims to topple Waltz's malevolent government. Led by buster sword-wielder and womaniser, Jazz, and his lady minions, I mean, er, lady companions (read: weak, spineless, hopelessly romantic, I-wanna-be-a-house-wife-in-the-Scottish-Highlands characters) named Claves and Falsetto, their story is one of intrigue, betrayal, suspense and even comic relief (if a death monologue lasting an entire night doesn't make you laugh, nothing else will). The Baroque Prince Crescendo and Princess Serenade, on the other hand, lend their support to these rebels from across the sea but prefer to offer themselves up as prisoners-of-war to Waltz rather than go down in a fight. Hey, there are stranger things than fiction in the world, but this one really takes the cake. These two are, imho, hopelessly romantic but kickass nonetheless and POWs just doesn't make a lick of sense in the general framework of the story...?

Claves

Jazz

Falsetto

What makes them think that a Count who allows his own citizens to consume Mineral Powder and turn into bloodthirsty monsters is in the right frame of mind to negotiate?

Allegretto

Beat

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the political spectrum, Allegretto and Beat are stealing bread on the streets of Forte to feed the hungry, orphaned children of the sewers. Upset by their poverty, they leave their home to see Waltz and their chance meeting with Polka and Chopin (who were on the way to see Waltz as well so as to change the lives of the Forte citizens before they die) thus lead them on a journey to save the world, and at one point, even the time-space continuum! Although, this only happened, I think, because what is a RPG without a wormhole threatening to destroy not only mankind but also existence itself?!

Other characters include, sheepherder girl, Viola,


the fast, adorable and POWERful Guardians of Agogo Forest, quiet March,


and garrulous Salsa.


On a more practical side of the story, the game itself is divided into several chapters with befitting titles that relate to Chopin's music, art and life; such as 'Raindrops', 'Nocturne' and 'Revolution'. Each chapter introduces a 'history chapter' about Chopin and about the various, innumerable number of women in his life (apparently, Chopin was quite the looker and while diminutive and pale, was quite the catch in society). They also showcase some watercolour paintings or images of Chopin's beloved homeland, Poland, his life aboard Europe, mostly France, and the various places he lived. Not too brief, not too long, these little snippets are a welcomed rest from button-bashing, especially that every chapter ends with a big, bad boss––don't say I didn't warn ya!

+

REVIEW
+

All in all, Eternal Sonata seemed to promise an epic journey with an unbeatable battle system, that while mildly annoying and remotely liable for a series of head bashing, thumb bandaging, and Panadol overdosing incidents, keeps its battles lively and dynamic throughout the grinding hours of gameplay.

Fugue

This game is, after all, for lack of better terms, one of those games in which you sleep, you die. 'Tactical Time' at the beginning of every action your character partakes goes to 'zero' by the end of the game, and the 'Action Gauge' your character gets to kill off his/her chosen enemy is always, always counting down to 'zero'. For sure, there are 'Harmony Chains' and 'Special Attacks' to counteract these limitations but... well... it's not just button-mashing here, it's button-mashing with a vengeance. And when you come across this character, Fugue, in Chapter 3 of the game, you'd be crying in your bed to sleep and throwing pillows at the thing we call 'fate'. But game on, my friends, and persevere, because Fugue is voiced by none other than Johnny Young Bosch, who also voices Nero in 'Devil May Cry 4' and Ichigo in the English-dubbed Bleach.

+

Battle System: 8/10
For its innovativeness, challenges and evolutionary tactics at every game level.
However, it could improve on its EXP acquisition and a more transparent Skills learning curve.
+

+

Its character designs are cute and interesting, if not typical. However, its character histories and stories will make Tolkien roll over in his grave and Shakespeare grieve at his own headstone. The life of a spy, especially female and prone to falling in love with their targets (where did they get their damned training!!?) is miserable but does it have to make me miserable too?

Certainly, Polka, seems to bear some sort of resemblance to Chopin's own real-life little sister, Emilia, who too died of tuberculosis at age 14. In fact, I seem to recall Chopin (character) calling Polka 'Emilia' in the final few minutes (or hours, if you include the ending movie sequence) of the game. Despite how it sounds, however, the game is more about Polka and the rest of the dream characters rather than Chopin, himself. Isn't this game inspired by Chopin? Chopin as a character doesn't involve himself much in the story/plotline of the game and seems to me rather like calefare (not even a cameo).

Sure, I understand that Hatsushiba might have desired to 'preserve the memory' of Chopin, but... but... but it made Chopin the most distant main character in the history of RPG!

At the same time, it's dungeons are... Well, is 'boring' politically correct, I wonder. Why do I miss those days traipsing down to the temple puzzle dungeons of FFX with Tidus? Perhaps, this is because the only 'Chopin-inspired' dungeon was the final one involving a tower, a piano floor-board, and a music sheet (in my head), and that was only to test my memory retention skills (which isn't much, btw).

+
Character & Dungeon Design: 7/10
For its adorable design, smooth, flowing garments and crisp 3D images.
May have to re-innovate the relationship between Chopin's art and RPG game landscapes.
+

+

Unfortunately, plot holes, plot loops and plot huh-s? abound and the most interesting one about the strange, alien-looking rock that Polka throws off a cliff and then has it returned to her the very next moment by Allegretto simply set me on a wild goose chase. (The whole reason I continued playing this game was because of this!) There is a reason why House MD had so many writers working on its drama and if you aren't DA's resident staff writer like Patrick Weekes, Tolkien, Tolstoy, or Shakespeare, it's okay to ask for help, Hiroya Hatsushiba!

And so there goes an (almost) epic tale mired in its own weak plots such as the gawd-get-me-the-hangman's-noose-the-sturdy-tree-branch-and-the-grease-already tragic love lives of female spies and the ONE man who loves them all. And don't even get me started on the near-death monologues!

+
Story: 7/10
For its thrilling premise, its creative use of a classical music legend in a PS3 game.
Yet, needs massive improvements in its overarching story framework, its minor characters and even its major ones!
+

+

The saving grace of Eternal Sonata, of course, is it's amazing OST. A game imbued with the richest, most delicious sounds ever made for a game; Motoi Sakuraba's Chopin-inspired music direction created powerfully evocative background music that brings the player (that's me) to a Romantic/fantasy world. Stanislav Bunin's piano playing was light, refreshing and melodic, just as Chopin's music (especially the waltzes) should be. It also didn't hurt, of course, that he won the International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 1985.

+
OST: 9/10
For its brilliant renditions of Chopin's most gorgeous pieces. Need I say more?
+

Overall Score for 'Eternal Sonata'
31/40 or 77.5%
(I would replay it only to get screenshots, i.e. if I needed them).





Cheers!