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Eternal Sonata

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Eternal Sonata
Developer(s)Tri-Crescendo
Publisher(s)Namco Bandai Games
Designer(s)Hiroya Hatsushiba, Sam Riegel
Writer(s)Hiroya Hatsushiba
Composer(s)Motoi Sakuraba
Platform(s)Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
ReleaseXbox 360


[1]
[2]
PlayStation 3




Genre(s)Console role-playing game
Mode(s)Single player, local co-op

Eternal Sonata (トラスティベル ～ショパンの夢～, Torasuti Beru Shopan no Yume, Trusty Bell: Chopin's Dream) is an original role-playing video game created by Tri-Crescendo, one of the developers of Baten Kaitos and Baten Kaitos Origins. The Microsoft Xbox 360 version of the game was released on June 14, 2007 in Japan, September 17, 2007 in North America, and October 19, 2007 in Europe. The game was also released on the Sony PlayStation 3 with additional content as Trusty Bell: Chopin's Dream - Reprise (トラスティベル ~ショパンの夢~ ルプリーズ, Torasuti Beru Shopan no Yume Rupurīzu)　on September 18, 2008 [3] in Japan, and in North America on October 21, 2008 (release date announced as of 9-15-08),[4] and in Europe (with the original name 'Eternal Sonata') on February 13, 2009.[5]

The game is centered on the Polish romantic pianist and composer Frédéric Chopin, who died of tuberculosis at the age of 39. The story envisions a fictional world dreamed by Chopin during his last hours that is influenced by Chopin's life and music, and in which he himself is a playable character, among others. The game features a selection of Chopin's compositions played by pianist Stanislav Bunin, though most of the in-game music was composed by Motoi Sakuraba. The game's battle system centers on musical elements and character-unique special attacks. Light and darkness plays a part in the appearance and abilities of enemies on the battlefield, as well as the types of magic that can be cast.[6]

Gameplay

Eternal Sonata follows many general conventions in a typical console role-playing game: the player controls a party of up to twelve characters to explore the world, talking with its inhabitants, buying and selling equipment at shops, and encountering monsters while in the field. These encounters are visible, and the player can opt to avoid the encounter, if possible, as well as gaining an edge on the monsters by approaching them from behind. Experience points are awarded to all members of the party, though at a reduced rate for those not involved in combat, and characters will improve in various statistics with each experience level as well as learning special combat skills. Weapons, armor, and accessories can be used to improve these statistics, which can be purchased through money earned in combat, found in chests, or by selling both equipment and photographs which can be taken by the character Beat during battle. The player may also find Score Pieces scattered about the world, which represent short musical phrases. Various NPCs in the game will offer to perform with the party, requiring the player to match a Score Piece to the phrase offered by the NPC, with the resulting composition being ranked. Discordant matches will result in no reward, but close or perfect matches will gain a bonus item from the NPC.

Combat

Combat in Eternal Sonata takes place in both lit and shaded areas, affecting the skills the player can use

While the main combat system is turn-based using only 3 characters within the party, it incorporates elements of an action game. Each character's turn is preceded by "Tactical Time", a period of time which the player can use to decide the course of action to take with that character. Once the player initiates an action or "Tactical Time" expires (a function of the Party Class Level), the player then has a limited amount of time denoted by an Action Gauge to move the character, attack the enemy, and use recovery skills or items. Regular attacks are made at melee or ranged distances depending on the weapon choice of the character, and add a small quantity of time back to the Action Gauge, and additionally add to the party's "Echoes" meter. Special skills which can include both offensive attacks and recovery skills will consume whatever Echoes have been generated to that point, and will have a more powerful effect relative to that number. When a character defends against an attack, there is a short period before the attack strikes where the player can press a button to block some of the damage for the attack, or to possibly even counterattack the blow and interrupt the monster's turn. Recovery and other one-time-use items are kept in a common pouch with a limited capacity; the player must "set" items in the pouch so that they can be cycled through and triggered during battle.

Light and dark areas on the battle field generated by the time of day, environment, and shadows of the characters and monsters will affect combat. Each party character has one or more special skills that are active in lit areas, and a similar number but with very different effects in a dark area. Monsters themselves may have a dissimilar set of powers in the area of the battlefield they are in, while other monsters will actually change form when they move between lit and dark areas. The player can manipulate the nature of areas using special items, but this can also be affected by the monsters themselves, or through dynamic changes on the battlefield such as the shadow of a cloud moving across the ground.

As the player progresses through the game, they will increase their Party Class Level. Each improvement in level grants some bonuses while also imposing additional limits on combat. For example, one Party Class improvement increases the number of slots for special skills for each character, but at the same time, cuts down the amount of Tactical Time and time available in the Action Gauge.

Plot

The game for the most part takes place within the dream world of Chopin, with brief segments in the real world to report on Chopin's status. The story is divided into eight chapters, with each chapter being represented by one of Chopin's compositions, and being related to events within his historical life. The story begins with a small group of characters wishing to meet with Count Waltz of Forte regarding the mineral powder.

The initial party wants to find out why the mineral powder is so cheap compared to the floral powder and to stop the mining of Mt. Rock to acquire it. This is because the mining damages Agogo Forest. As they progress, the party learns that the mineral powder has fatal side effects that would aid Forte's insurrection against its enemy, Baroque. Realizing this, the party heads for Forte, but are stopped and taken into the Forte dungeon because Forte was alerted to the planned arrival of the rebellion group, Andantino. Shortly after escaping, the party unites with Andantino and are spotted by the same Forte personnel south of Fort Fermata (which is a short walk from Forte), and fall off a bridge into a river. Half of the party, along with Andantino, go through poisonous swamps to Andante, the hideout of Andantino. The other half of the party were saved by Prince Crescendo of Baroque, with his ship. They encounter pirates and defeat them shortly thereafter. After getting safely into Baroque, the party discuss the situation. Forte is threatening a war, but Baroque wants peace. Crescendo thinks of the plan to assassinate Count Waltz of Forte, but the plan is quickly discarded.

In the PlayStation 3 version, that half of the party, along with Prince Crescendo and Princess Serenade, are then warped into Lament Mirror. The party discovers the history of Baroque and Forte. They find out that they were also once at a similar situation of threat to an all-scale war.

That half of the party returns to Ritardando to reunite with the rest of the party. As they do, Allegretto leaves the reunion to retrieve Polka from her village. The full party then heads for Baroque and decide to explore Aria Temple, where they uncover a part of the mystery. When the party returns to Baroque, they find Crescendo and Serenade missing. It is discovered that they left for Forte to turn themselves in to prevent war. The party heads for Forte, and on the way (at Mt. Rock), they encounter Crescendo, Serenade and subsequently, Count Waltz. They battle, but Count Waltz completes a potion which turns his partner, Legato into a giant dragon monster. Legato then rips a portal in the air and disappears with Waltz. Realising that the entire world, not just Baroque is in danger, the party follows them to the city of the dead, Elegy of the Moon, where souls lost to the mineral powder dwell. The party advances past Xylophone Tower and the Noise Dunes to Double Reed Tower, where Legato made another portal. There, the party defeats them and have to face Chopin as well, for him to complete his destiny. Realising the end to the journey, Polka jumps off a cliff and is reborn younger and embraces Allegretto. Finally, back in the real world, Chopin’s spirit rises out of his body and he plays his piano one last time, in a blooming sea of the nocturnal flowers 'Heaven's Mirror', composing a song that was inspired by Polka.

Characters

All of the characters in Eternal Sonata, with the exception of real-world people such as Chopin, are named after musical terms.

Note: Character names link to their respective musical terms, not to articles on the characters themselves.
Frédéric François Chopin (フレデリック・フランソワ・ショパン, Furederikku Furansowa Shopan)
As he lies dying of tuberculosis in the real world, Chopin dreams of this world. A 39-year-old man (although he appears much younger, the game does show he is 39 years old) who appears as a tall gentleman in a long coat and top hat. Frederic has a kind, calm personality and quickly befriends Polka. Like Polka, Frederic can use magic, a sign of terminal disease in his dream world.
Voiced by: Mitsuaki Madono (Japanese), Patrick Seitz (English)
Polka (ポルカ, Poruka)
A 14-year old girl who can use magic, which is a sign of disease in their world. Because of this, she is shunned by many, but still has a pretty upbeat and sweet personality. Frederic mentions she reminds him of his sister, who also died of tuberculosis. After a while in the video game, she will develop a crush on Allegretto.
Voiced by: Aya Hirano (Japanese), Erin Fitzgerald (English)
Allegretto (アレグレット, Areguretto)
A 16-year old homeless orphan with a Robin Hood complex, willing to steal to feed the less fortunate. He's confident and strong, but not stupid. A revolutionary at heart, he does have a soft side, mostly shown with Beat, whom he has taken as a little brother, and Polka, whom he gradually falls in love with.
Voiced by: Hiro Shimono (Japanese), Sam Riegel (English)
Beat (ビート, Bīto)
An 8-year-old homeless orphan whose most prized possession is his camera (his father gave it to him) . While he often does not get the point of what Allegretto and the others are saying until later and maintains an air of innocence, he is no stranger to fighting.
Voiced by: Yumiko Kobayashi (Japanese), Mona Marshall (English)
Viola (ビオラ, Biora)
A 26-year-old shepherd the party meets in the countryside. She's a tough-talker and can handle herself, being slightly older than the others in the party. She has a pet named Arco who tags along with the group.
Voiced by: Houko Kuwashima (Japanese), Megan Hollingshead (English)
Salsa (サルサ, Sarusa)
An 8-year-old guardian of the Agogo Forest with her sister. The party meets her when they were imprisoned in the Forte Castle dungeons. Salsa views hats as the best treasure in the world. She is quite brash, outspoken, energetic and very competitive towards Beat.
Voiced by: Mika Kanai (Japanese), Amy Rose (English)
March (マーチ, Māchi)
The other guardian of the Agogo Forest; Salsa's twin sister. She tends to be the more reasonable one of the two, making her a sharp contrast to Salsa. March appears to be mature and gentle.
Voiced by: Chiwa Saito (Japanese), Amy Rose (English)
Jazz (ジルバ, Jiruba, his Japanese name is a transliteration of "jitterbug")
Jazz is 27 years old, leader of the revolutionary group Andantino. Quiet and serious, he worries about the damage Count Waltz might be doing to the people with the mineral powder and the processes needed to mine it. Later, he suspected Falsetto to be a spy from Forte, but Claves wouldn't allow Jazz to believe it was Falsetto.
Voiced by: George Nakata (Japanese), D.C. Douglas (English)
Falsetto (ファルセット, Farusetto)
Jazz's lieutenant in Andantino, she's perceptive and tough, and inwardly dislikes Claves. Falsetto is 22 years old and has known Jazz since childhood.
Voiced by: Tomoe Hanba (Japanese), Julie Ann Taylor (English)
Claves (クラベス, Kurabesu)
Jazz's 24-year-old girlfriend and another soldier of Andantino. Later, she is shown to be a spy for Count Waltz and is killed for choosing to help Jazz instead. Claves is jealous of Falsetto and Jazz's relationship. From the start, she already knew that Falsetto suspected her of being a spy for Forte. In the secret dungeon, Mysterious Unison, it is revealed that Claves possessed a unwillingness to die produced by her love of Jazz, which summoned her body into the dungeon; however, her soul was scattered into seven pieces, and the group helps reunite her soul to bring her back to life. It is debatable whether or not her revival is canon, but because an achievement is unlocked for her reviving her and she is featured in the ending if she is, it is likely that it is.
Voiced by: Mie Sonozaki (Japanese), Tara Platt (English)
Crescendo (クレッシェンド, Kuresshendo)
The young prince of Baroque. Crescendo replaces his father for leading Baroque into the future war between Forte due to a sickness his father is suffering on. He rescues Polka, Beat, Frederic, and Salsa after they fell into Adagio River. Later, he finds out that his fiancee, Serenade, is a spy from the message Claves sent with a dove before her death. Crescendo is only playable in the PS3 version.
Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi (Japanese), Cam Clarke (English)
Serenade (セレナーデ, Serenāde)
The fiancee of Prince Crescendo. Like Claves, she is a spy from Forte. Her position was revealed to Prince Crescendo from the letter Claves sent. Serenade is only playable in the PS3 version.
Voiced by: Fumiko Orikasa (Japanese), Stephanie Sheh (English)

Development

Says director Hiroya Hatsushiba:[7]

People who play games and people who love classical music are not necessarily sharing [the] same type of interests. Most people in Japan know the name of Chopin; however, most of the people who know of Chopin think he is just some kind of a great music composer without knowing any more about him. Most of them have heard Chopin's music but not a lot could put his name to it immediately. By creating a colorful fantasy world in Chopin's dream, I was hoping that people would get into this game easily and also come to know how great Chopin's music is.

For the localization, the game's text was proofread by the Frederick Chopin Society in Warsaw. The localization team wanted to be as historically accurate as possible, without losing the original message of the script.[8]

On April 23, 2007, the ESRB posted their rating for Eternal Sonata[9] listing the game as being intended for release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. However, when news of this quickly spread, the ESRB removed the listing entirely.[10] On September 11, 2007, Bandai Namco's official site listed Eternal Sonata as coming soon to PlayStation 3, yet also listed the Xbox 360 version as being "available now." Again, as news quickly spread, the information was removed.[11] The following day, scans from Famitsu were released, confirming the game as being released for the PlayStation 3.[12] On September 14, 2007 Bandai Namco officially announced Eternal Sonata was coming to the PS3, during Spring 2008 in Japan.[3]

As Namco Bandai had stated, there are features exclusive for the PlayStation 3 version. This includes new playable characters, Crescendo and Serenade, who played a major role in the plot of the game, but were not playable in the Xbox 360 version. It will also include a new clothing system, in which the player can freely change a few characters' costumes.[13] The other extras are the two dungeons, Lament Mirror and Church of EZI. The former of which is compulsory.

Eternal Sonata features a large soundtrack, mostly composed by Motoi Sakuraba, with seven of Chopin's compositions performed by Stanislav Bunin and presented in 5.1 surround sound. Featured music of Chopin's include Étude Op. 10, No. 12, Étude Op. 10, No. 3 and Polonaise Op. 53. A Japanese aria composed by Sakuraba titled "Heaven's Mirror" (鏡天花, Kyōtenka) is also performed by Akiko Shinada for the soundtrack. The game's background music was released in Japan as the four-disc album Trusty Bell: Chopin's Dream Original Score (トラスティベル ～ショパンの夢～ オリジナルスコア, Torasuti Beru ~Shopan no Yume~ Orijinaru Sukoa) on July 25, 2007 under the King Records label.

Manga

A manga adaptation of Eternal Sonata was drawn by Mimei Kuroi and published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Comics comic imprint, and the chapters were collected into a single tankōbon on September 27, 2008.[14] While it deviates from the game's story drastically, it does reach the same conclusion; in addition, Viola, Falsetto and Claves do not appear at any point in the manga due to the condensation of the altered story.

Reception

Anticipation for the game seemed high prior to release, with the game having reached number four in Amazon Japan video game pre-orders[15] not long after a demo was made available on the Japanese Marketplace, and even number one on Amazon Japan's video game charts not long before the game's release.[16] Famitsu rated the game 9/9/9/8, for a total score of 35/40.[17] During its release week, the game reached second place on the Japanese sales charts.[18] The following week, it had placed 35th.[19][20]

At E3 2007, it won GameTrailers.com's award for Best Role-Playing Game[21] and IGN's award for Best Original Score on Xbox 360, and was a runner-up in Best RPG, Best Artistic Design on Xbox 360 and Best Use Of Sound on Xbox 360.[22]

Gamespot gave it an 8.5, praising its magnificent visual design, stunning musical score, inventive battle system and great cast; though it admitted that the story is completely linear.[22]

In Europe and the U.S., it received many high reviews. Metacritic has a score of 79% based on 53 reviews.[23]

IGN gave the Xbox 360 version an 8.3, claiming that it had some of the best visuals on the 360 and had great combat. They also stated that "the soundtrack is astounding" and claimed the story did a great job of educating the player about Frédéric Chopin. However, the game was criticized for being too short for a JRPG and for the lack of exploration.[24] X-Play gave the game a 3/5 praising the combat, soundtrack and visuals but complained that there were too many mini games, a poor story and too many RPG clichés.[25]

IGN gave the PS3 version an 8.7 and the Editor's Choice Award, with praise for its extension of the storyline, the inclusion of new playable characters, and the inclusion of other extras, such as new dungeons and customizable characters.[26]

References

  1. ^ "Xbox News: Ace Combat 6, Eternal Sonata dated for Europe - ComputerAndVideoGames.com". Computerandvideogames.com. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ a b "Namco Bandai Announcement for PS3".
  4. ^ "E3 - Namco Bandai News".
  5. ^ ETERNAL SONATA TO CHARM ITS WAY ONTO PLAYSTATION 3 IN EUROPE
  6. ^ "1UP.com - Eternal Sonata Preview". Alice Liang. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  7. ^ "We Want To Know: Chopin's Role in Eternal Sonata Explained". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  8. ^ "Eternal Sonata - Lost in Translation". Blogs.ign.com. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  9. ^ 62 Comments by Christopher Grant Apr 23rd 2007 6:37PM Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, RPGs. "ESRB lists Eternal Sonata on Xbox 360 ... and PlayStation 3 - Joystiq". Joystiq.com. Retrieved 2008-10-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "N4G.com : ESRB pulls Eternal Sonata. listing".
  11. ^ "Namco Bandai site shows Eternal Sonata and Beautiful Katamari coming to PS3".
  12. ^ "Famitsu Scans".
  13. ^ "Official Website for the PS3 Version".
  14. ^ "Trusty Bell ~Chopin no Yume~" (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  15. ^ News Blog entry. Retrieved May 16, 2007
  16. ^ Xbox 360 Fanboy Blog entry. Retrieved June 5, 2007
  17. ^ "GamesAreFun Famitsu Scores". Retrieved June 20 2007. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  18. ^ GamesAreFun Japanese Sales 6/11-6/17. Retrieved June 20, 2007
  19. ^ "PS3 News: Media Create Japan Software Sales: June 18th-24th". Psxextreme.com. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  20. ^ "Simple 2000: The Japanese Hardware Chart". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  21. ^ "GameTrailers Best of E3 2007". Retrieved August 6 2007. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  22. ^ a b "IGN: Xbox 360 Best of E3 2007 Awards". Retrieved March 20 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help) Cite error: The named reference "IGNbestE3" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  23. ^ Metacritic - Eternal Sonata
  24. ^ "Eternal Sonata Review". IGN.com. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  25. ^ "X-Play Eternal Sonata Review". G4tv.com. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  26. ^ "Eternal Sonata Review (PS3)". IGN.com. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
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