I don't know why, but lately I've been having some terrific luck in getting some games I've been wanting (brand new) for only $20. Heavenly Sword, Folklore, Resistance 2, Dead Space, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, and now finally Eternal Sonata!

The fact that I got this game at all, especially at the price of $20, is nothing but luck. I have been searching high and low for Eternal Sonata for the PS3 and have had no luck at all in getting it. It would come in at EB Games at times, rarely, and you'd basically have to be there at the right time to get it if you wanted it. They can't order in games for you so that's the way it goes. So today before I was needing to go pick up my lady from work I decided to stop in at the game store just to browse around, not really planning on buying anything. And not even 15 seconds that I'm in there I walked a few steps, looked down at a display rack and there it was, Eternal Sonata ON SALE for $19.99! The only place I've ever been able to find this game for PS3 is online, like Ebay, and they've all been $30+ and that's not including the price of shipping, so I'd be paying between $40-$50 just to get it. I declare that today has been a VERY good day!

I used to own Eternal Sonata when I owned an Xbox 360, but those days are no more. And ever since I have had my PS3 this game has been on my most wanted list. For those of you who have never experienced Eternal Sonata, you are missing out. I am a fan of clas-sical music, Chopin actually being a favorite of mine, and this game has plenty of his work. There are sections in the game that tell of his life's story which I find interesting, but perhaps to other people it'd be sort of stale if you're not interested in that sort of thing. But the gameplay is a lot of fun. I am not that big of a fan of turn-based fighting games, but this one is pretty innovative in how it does it. Ever since I've experienced Star Ocean: The Second Story's battle mechanics, I've never been able to look at turn-based battles the same way again. I love the free roam battle system. Eternal Sonata does a wonderful job on incorporating both of these fighting mechanics into one play s-t-y-l-e. (Gamespot won't allow certain words to be written correctly due to exploits. That why I added " - " to some of them.)

When it's your characters time to attack (turn-based) they will be able to move at will and preform anything that want to utnil their time has run out (free roam), and as the game progresses it keeps on bringing it up a level so it doesn't get stale. Something else that I really liked about the battle mechanics is that depending on whether you are standing in the light or in the shade you will be able to preform different special attacks. It's a great way to use that to your advantage to gain an edge in battle and be strategic. The battle system is probably one of my favorite parts about this game.

Even though the story to this game is a little out there and a bit hard to comprehend I still really enjoyed it. The graphics are very nice and artistic and vibrant with colors. The cast of characters are excellent and really help to bring life to the story! One thing I look for the most in a game is a great story to tell. I love getting lost in a games story and not wanting to put it away because I need to know what happens next. If executed properly, gaming is my favorite kind of storytelling. And Eternal Sonata has a very nice story to tell. Frederic Chopin is lying on his death bed, and all the while he is "dreaming" and is lost into a world of fantasy and magic. I won't go into much detail because I hate spoilers that just pop out of nowhere without warning.

So I am extremely happy right now. I told my lady that I wouldn't buy anymore games because we are getting married in 8 days and I would save my money, but how could someone pass up a deal like that?! I mean what luck! But she wasn't angry. The only thing I had to do to make it square was that I was to buy her pizza. Pizza and Eternal Sonata in one night. Like that's punishment! Today has been a good day.