Eternal Sonata (Xbox 360)
review by: Gaz Deaves
Undoubtedly one of the weirder games released this year, Eternal Sonata’s plot takes the form of an extended hallucination, apparently experienced by the classical composer Frederic Chopin as he lies on his death bed. An unusual and slightly pretentious premise for a video game, but it works surprisingly well as the tragic story is heavily inspired by the composer’s short life and manages to inject some genuine feeling on top of the standard fantasy clichés.
The gameplay strikes a satisfying balance between traditional turn-based combat and real-time action, and the unique watercolour visual style is a delight to look at. The only real sticking point is the lifespan, which at around 30 hours doesn’t match up to other games in the genre. It’s a fairly minor concern though, and with gorgeous graphics, original gameplay and a surprisingly sensitive plot, Eternal Sonata stands up as a unique and compelling roleplayer. |
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