Gorgeous Visuals, Interesting Story, Fun to Play, not quite up to par with today's RPGs but absolutely Amazing!
Since I feel like ending on a good note, we can start with the bad followed by the ugly. First of all the story is linear...VERY linear, there are no choices to be made what so ever. None of the inventory has an effect on the appearance of your party. The dungeons are rather small and linear themselves and yes it does fall under the formal RPG definition of a 'Dungeon' meaning; it is a maze with enemies, treasures and puzzles, as well as a predetermined entrance, exit and boss that has to be slain to further your adventure. The battles are not played in real time, they are turn based... I have to admit that I am wracking my brain to come up with negative issues, but only one of them really stood out to me and I call it The Ugly!
Picture this, you have just annihilated a nasty forest boar, one of your first real bosses to fight in the game (The Bread Gang from Retto and Beat's time in the sewer were a joke not a boss battle.) then there is this beautiful FMV sequence based around these flowers that glow when they bloom at night because during the day they close up and absorb all of the sunlight. Granted, it is in 2-D it still looks amazing, breath taking even, and a very intriguing part of the story is revealed. Then it fades to black and a stock image of a centuries old flat from some place in Europe is cut into the screen, then some soft piano music fades in followed by ... SUBTITLES! WTF!?
After what I just experienced, you drop my butt back behind a school desk and force me to watch... nay... READ through a discovery channel episode on Chopin's life?!? Here is the worse part, it gives you 2 lines to read at a time and moves at its own; very slow, pace. After watching the first one I was weary of killing anymore bosses or furthering the story, just so I didn't have to sit through that again. Folks, this happens throughout the ENTIRE game. Until Chopin finally dies! My advice? press start, and choose skip. yes, you do in fact miss a small chunk of the game's storyline as well, but you can piece the thing together as you continue on. If you are really interested in Chopin's life story then read about it in the start menu. I did.
Now for the Good.
There is so much good to be found in this title. Very Quickly here...
Visuals: Un-Freaking-Believable with a Flash 2-D style to them.
Game Play: Refreshing, to just go through a game and not worry about the outcome based on your choices?
Character Development: Well Defined. I actually felt for some of these characters. Not too many stats for you to take into consideration all at once, but still requires strategy.
Battle: Turn based, again refreshing, not too stressful at all.
Use of Magic: slightly complex, but it kept your attention at all times. What with the button sequences and such.
Story: Interesting to say the least! Dream vs. reality, the incorporation of music into almost everything. Educational as well.
Difficulty: Just right, beat it once, then play through a second time for a good challenge.
After everything is said and done, Eternal Sonata was the most fresh, inspiring, stimulating experience I have ever had on the 360. Kind of took me back to the days of Breath of Fire and Chrono Trigger. Now i have another problem... Fable2, Saints Row2, or Lost Odyssey...? hmmm....?