Late last year, 360 owners were treated to a beautiful RPG in the form of tri-Crescendo's
[Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...], brought to the U.S. by Namco Bandai Games. Although Eternal Sonata had a few problems, it was widely regarded as a very strong title that told the story of legendary composer Frederic Chopin's final moments on Earth. With most of the game taking place in Chopin's dreams, players were invited to guide him and a group of adventures through a brightly colored, mystical world full of quests. Using a battle system that incorporated elements of both real-time combat and traditional turn-based strategies, Eternal Sonata offered an enticing RPG experience to 360 enthusiasts.
Around the time of Eternal Sonata's original September release, rumors began to circulate that a PS3 release would be inevitable. An official announcement came down the line soon after, claiming that the PS3 version was official and -- even more appealing to Sony fans -- the port would include a number of new features and two new playable characters. Now that October is steadily approaching, we'd like to cover these new elements in a bit more detail and also post some brand new screens and videos for your viewing pleasure.
In case you aren't familiar with the original version of Eternal Sonata, the game plays out like a normal JRPG, except the world is all a fabrication of Frederic Chopin's as he lies sick on his deathbed. The story obviously follows Chopin's "character" in his own dream, but other characters play a central role in the plotline, including the polite yet fragile-tempered Polka, the courageous Allegretto and the innocent Beat. Although the game begins from Polka's perspective, the small group soon forms together and heads to Forte Castle, united by a common goal.
When players encounter a battle while exploring, the scene shifts to a separate battlefield where you can move pretty much anywhere with just a few timing restrictions to consider. Light and dark themes play a major role in battle as well, as monsters will change forms depending on whether they're standing in sunlight or shadows. These differences in light also influence your characters as well, providing the battle system with a little extra layer of depth to further enhance the experience.
One of the most prominent additions to the updated PS3 version is the inclusion of two new playable characters: Crescendo and Serenade. Although these two young members of royalty made appearances in the 360 version, they will be fully playable when Eternal Sonata hits Sony's current-gen console.
Crescendo, a long time friend of Jazz, is the passionate and loyal prince of the Kingdom of Baroque. With his father unable to rule due to illness, Crescendo is the current political leader and will do anything to ensure the wellbeing of his subjects. Engaged to the young ruler is Princess Serenade, of the Forte Kingdom. Elegant and sophisticated, Serenade is still strong-willed and ready to protect the ideals she believe
Serenade and Crescendo.
Also new to the Eternal Sonata experience is a set of three new quests and two new dungeons: Lament and the Church of EZI. Players must keep in mind, however, that one of the new dungeons will only be accessible during your second play through, which will certainly encourage fans to revisit the title after completion.
For fans of Eternal Sonata's impressive soundtrack, six new pieces have been added to the mix to round out an already highly respectable collection. Or, if you're more inclined to appreciate the anime-style artwork, new 2D illustrations have been included in the PS3 version to breathe even more life into the cast.
We're very eager to delve into Eternal Sonata in the coming weeks, especially considering all the new content that PS3 owners can enjoy. Stay tuned as we continue our coverage on tri-Crescendo's musically inclined RPG and uncover the beauty that lies waiting in the dreams of Frederic Chopin.
09-28-2008, 08:03 PM
Eternal Sonata (PS3) nice RPG
Linear Mode
