Metareview: Eternal Sonata (Xbox 360)

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 20th 2007 at 3:50AM }

Namco Bandai's Eternal Sonata waltzed its way into retailers this week around North America to generally positive reviews. If you still haven't tried out the demo, there's something about it that seems to speak to those who don't typically enjoy the RPG genre. The battle system definitely is refreshing for those who like a little bit more action and button mashing in their gameplay. Oh, and the game sure is purrdy.

GameSpot (85/100): "Once you get beyond the glittering production, how does it actually play? Thankfully, the gameplay is satisfying and moves at a slick tempo. There are no random encounters, so you can see every monster. Oftentimes, you can simply go around them, though you will be forced into some battles (and some terrific, challenging boss fights too). Combat isn't a typical series of turns with infinite time in between, though: Eternal Sonata's system is an inventive mix of turn-based and real-time warfare that gets trickier as the game progresses."
IGN (83/100): "Eternal Sonata is a great RPG to give to your kid, but it's also put together well enough for older gamers to enjoy. If you haven't had much experience with RPGs, Eternal Sonata would be a great way to get your feet wet. Hardcore RPG fans might find the game a bit lacking, but we found enough to enjoy in the game to keep the limited role-playing elements far enough out of mind from start to finish for the game to keep from growing stale."
1UP (60/100): "Sounds like the latest trendy European art-house flick, but this is the typically clichéd domain of Japanese role-playing games. Frédéric Chopin is no plucky teen, and he's certainly no bald space marine, so all the elements are in place to tell a different kind of videogame story -- which is why it's all the more frustrating that Eternal Sonata squanders its imaginative setting."

Gallery: Eternal Sonata

Tags: eternalsonata, metareview, ps3, xbox360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mr. P @ Sep 20th 2007 4:38AM

I was ready to pre-order it but I'll wait for the superior PS3 version instead.

ThornedVenom @ Sep 20th 2007 7:46AM

Out of pity, I will dignify your comment with a response.

Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 20th 2007 12:50PM

Could I ask in which facts is based your opinion?,really I can't wait to hear them.

Fat Cat Lim @ Sep 20th 2007 7:17AM

After the disappointment that Blue Dragon was (nice graphics, boring story and characters), I'm really looking forward to Eternal Sonata.

OnimushaSoki @ Sep 20th 2007 7:35AM

If I hadn't looked at it closer(i.e., checked the developer/publisher details), I would've thought this was some kind of follow-up to RADIATA STORIES. :\ Not that it would've been a bad thing... but I did find myself falling asleep repeatedly due to the lame music.

Crono (NDF - Fire Ring) @ Sep 20th 2007 11:34AM

Music is what this game is all about.

rask @ Sep 20th 2007 1:40PM

As usual, 1up is happy grazing very far out in left field.

nerrrrrrd @ Sep 20th 2007 7:17AM

Hard to put in a pre-order when the game has been out all week. Have fun waiting for the superior PS3 version while you wait for rumble controllers and the other PS3 games in development that have already been released on 360.

Savok @ Sep 20th 2007 7:19AM

I just don't get why they've just started digging through western history and myth like this, injecting magical girls as they go.

What have we got so far? Shadows Hearts, Kingdom Hearts (Disney is kind of a mythos) Jeanne D'arc, Valkyrie Profile (granted it's kinda old, but there's a sequel that's only just gotten to PAL), this, what else is there? I'm sure missing half a dozen.

how_much_I_carrot @ Sep 20th 2007 7:53AM

how does Shadows Hearts fit in that list, exactly?

Savok @ Sep 20th 2007 8:12AM

First two are in Europe just before and during WW1, the 3rd is 1920s America.

Evan @ Sep 20th 2007 8:15AM

I was impressed by 1UP's review, the reviewer seems to appreciate storytelling and character development, and understand the potential of video games as an artistic storytelling medium.

phattie @ Sep 20th 2007 8:28AM

How well will this do on 360 when everyone and their mom are waiting for Halo 3?

Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 20th 2007 12:54PM

Even when you were voted into oblivion you make a good point,Sales wise probably it would be ignored in America but expect good sales in Japan.

I don't know I might buy it but I haven't finished Oblvion,I just got it (Game of the Year Edition FTW).
Maybe later also that I'm looking foward to Rise of a Ninja.

NeoAngelicPrince @ Sep 20th 2007 8:44AM

Those scores seem great to me.

1UP is such a blatant sony cocksucker...I'm not even surprised anymore by their "reviews".

Anyways when does the game come out? This Friday correct? I really want to pick up skate and Eternal Sonata together.

Chrysee @ Sep 20th 2007 9:21AM

It was in stores on Tuesday. I have it, but I've only played a couple hours into it.

Egster @ Sep 20th 2007 4:42PM

Sorry they're are just not a fanboy like you.

Mat Schwartz @ Sep 20th 2007 9:35AM

Good grief, who is doing the writing for IGN? Compared against the other 2 it reads more like a highschool essay than a professional review.

I like to balance out all the great things I do in the world with a single bitch and moan sort of comment everyday and this will be that one.

Zootittles @ Sep 20th 2007 9:44AM

I'm glad I don't give a shit about reviews. Eternal Sonata is the first RPG that's interested me for years.

I don't think Sony favortism figures in to the 1UP review. I think he's just a good old-fashioned cocksucker.

Matthew T @ Sep 20th 2007 10:40AM

I got the game on Tuesday and so far I am liking it. The load times are non-existant. When you enter and leave battle, its instant. The graphics are stunning and the framerate awesome. The story already has a "touch your heart" feel even though I am only a few hours into it.

Crono (NDF - Fire Ring) @ Sep 20th 2007 11:45AM

This game isn't getting the scores it deserves. I think they went about creating this game with a Retro JRPG feel purposefully.

Level design reminds me alot of Chrono Cross, and the battle system draws a parallel with Chrono Cross as well (you use regular attacks to power up your special magical abilities). The battles are sometimes difficult, but always rewarding, especially when you can take tactical advantage of the terrain. The light/dark abilities add an extra dimension to strategy as well.

The brief interludes between chapters explain their inspiration for the different parts of the game, giving it that "educational" dimension.

And, in a first since what seems like forever, all the characters are likeable. My biggest problem with games like FF12 is that none of the characters are likeable save 1 or 2. So when I'm going through a game, and I hate the characters I'm playing, I generally don't give a crap what happens and end up putting the game down. Eternal Sonata has very likable characters.

I'd call this at least a 90 game. Graphics get a 100, Soundtrack gets a 100, voice acting gets an 85, battle/magic system gets a 90. The only bad thing I'll say about it that its retro feel does feel like some things are missing (switches don't move when activated, world seems static). But as a storytelling medium, this game deserves high marks.

Crono (NDF - Fire Ring) @ Sep 20th 2007 11:48AM

Oh, I forgot to mention the other cool thing about the battle system: Special abilities have a specific area of effect (close range only, in a line, in a cone, etc). The last game that I really enjoyed that employed this well was Chrono Trigger. I haven't gotten enough special abilities to know how far the range of variety goes, but I'm encourages by what I've seen so far.

BTW, I'm about 9 hours into the game.

Neon Jebus @ Sep 20th 2007 12:06PM

Props on your comments about the game.

I just do not play RPG's, never have really liked them (Parasite Eve was the exception). I decided to play the demo and there was just something there that really made me want to play the game. I don't know if I plan on buying it but I will rent it.

NeoAngelicPrince @ Sep 20th 2007 12:44PM

Wow I just want to say thank you for your comments on the game.

I was really interested in it before. Now I'm plain excited.

Can't wait till I get paid on Friday!

Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Sep 20th 2007 4:25PM

> [...] some terrific, challenging boss fights [...]
>
> [...] system is an inventive mix of turn-based and
> real-time warfare that gets trickier as the game
> progresses.

Wow. All is said.
I'm NOT buying that.

Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Sep 20th 2007 4:28PM

And BTW how retarded should be GameSpot reviewer, after making such remarks to give the game 8.5 out of 10.

That beyond any logic.

Crono (NDF - French Taunting from Holy Grail Ring) @ Sep 24th 2007 10:18PM

Your loss man. Best JRPG I've played since PS1 era.

Dale @ Sep 25th 2007 10:53AM

This game is great. I know this not only because I am having lots of fun playing it, but also because my wife said: "This game is amazing." while watching me do so. Other than a few comments about Crackdown's graphics and agility-related shenanigans, no other Xbox 360 game has elicited much of a response from her.