Eternal Sonata Review: 6/10 from EGM

EGM reviews Eternal Sonata and gives it 6/8/7.

[MK_Red]

I was hoping for a bit more. It's EGM and not the best source for reviews IMO but I still fear that it may end up like Enchant Arms and Blue Dragon. Good but not great.

[power of Green]

The same fear you had for Lair, Heavenly Sword & Warhawk?.

[Wingnut26]

Doesn't take long to get some bad news about one of their games....to kick it back at the PS3 eh?

[bung tickler]

6/8/7 averages 7/10 not 6/10... still not great but the title is misleading.

[power of Green]

It doesn't take long for Sony fanboys to roll around in bad 360 news like a Hog in a mud pit/puddle. It was simple and directed at him I remeber him saying after one bad review after another how it doesn't matter. did you say something eh?.

The post was more to do with his logic than the games themself no need to get offended.

[heroman711]

@ at power of green
thanks for clearifying that. i was bout to curse u out to. good thing we didnt come to that

[Greysturm]

The bar for making rpgs is incredibly high, i for one didnt expect mucvh from namco bandai i have tried a few of their psp rpgs and not one of them is beyond decent.

[RadientFlux]

Eternal Sonata looks like it will be another Blue Dragon, now saying that I actually enjoyed Blue Dragon more then most RGPs coming from Japan (hate random battles).

On the bright with all the mixed reviews lately more people are finding out that reviews are a perspective and not a true measure of a game's quality.

[ShiftyLookingCow]

well that su(ks

[xaphanze]

another 360 RPG?
Im starting to think 360 and RPG dont quite mix.

[Greysturm]

At least jrpgs for the looks of it.

[MK_Red]

I still have faith in Lost Odyssey. They game has limitless potential.

[TheMART]

Especially don't forget about

MASS EFFECT

Damn, biggest RPG of the coming time

[MK_Red]

TheMART, we were talking about J-RPGs (Or at least I was).
No one doubts Mass Effect or Fable 2. KOTOR 3 could also be on it's way.

[RussianSniper]

Exactly why you'll only see shooter games on the 360.

Give me a AAA game that doesn't involve the words "First-Person- or Shooter".

[Mario18]

Mass Effect isn't the biggest upcoming RPG, its Final Fantasy 13

[Lex Luthor]

LOL, final fantasy has been going downhill since FFX-2

Edit: PS360Wii i meant the main FF's not the online one. FF11 was a damn good game and is one of the best online rpgs ever.

[GnaM]

FFXIII biggest upcoming RPG? Pssh, I've been a hardcore FF fan since FFI, but they've been hit or miss ever since FFVIII and after the string of FFX-2, XI, and XII I'm not at all interested until they actually show something legitimately interesting. Instead, they've failed to show any new material at all the new game cons this year, leaving a single old trailer or two from E3 2006 as the only bit of info on the game. Gee, it has another past-meets-future setting, and a main character that looks like someone out of the previous 2 games...big surprise.

Wake me up to SquareEnix when Final Fantasy Tactics II comes to PS3 or 360 (and none of that dumbed down, "lite" Tactics Advance crap). Either that, or when they stop massacring the Secret of Mana franchise.

[PS360WII]

hey I'll give you X-2 and XII but don't be messing with XI cuz that game was subperb in all aspects and still is a really great game. PC version I'm talking about for I can't really see how mmo's work without a keyboard

Edit: alright Lex! I'll give you a bubble up for that ^^ one of the best for sure

[Bnet343]

Anything japanese on Xbox 360 is a steaming pile of crap unless it's made by Capcom, which are by far the best japanese developers. Oblivion was great, Mass Effect will be awesome.

[ThaGeNeCySt]

d'ah well, i'm still gonna pick this up.. fell in love with the demo and the art style is amazing + the fighting is top notch. I wonder if the story holds up

[PimpHandHappy]

should be killer

[BenzMoney]

OMFG!1!!1eleven!1

BIAS!!!

Oh, wait - sorry - this isn't negative Sony news. Carry on then.

[power091999]

I am sure nobody is forgetting about Mass Effect, as you seem to remind everyone.. every chance you get.

I am still surprised Mass Effect is being called an RPG to begin with though. Seems more of an action title than a full blown RPG. At least from what I have seen of it. I could be wrong.

On subject though:

I was really hoping this would be a better game. I was not all that impressed with the Demo. Much like Blue Dragon, the Demo just didn't grab me and say I AM AWESOME. I am still expecting some better reviews, as I have seem much worse games get higher scores.

[BLaZiN PRopHeT]

never played a jrpg untill the BD demo. liked it so much i bought it. same the with Eternal sonata. liked the demo for that more than BD and i bought it also completely paid for it already.

[synetic]

dont care if only got 6/10 i want the game for ps3 ...

[AllroundGamer]

hmmm well i will get this game anyway, the music and the artstyle is great.

[supaet]

6/10?

can't you guys read?

people on this site is PATHETIC.

it's 7/10 from EGM

read it again.

it's 7/10

[sticky doja]

Everyone is reading the 6/10 from the heading. MK_Red only put the 6 in the heading to get his percentage up.

[jcgamer]

but it's cool, Game Informer gave it an 8.25...it's not perfection...maybe worth a buy at $29-$39 in my opinion...or a rent...

[firefly00]

I have no hope for j-rpg in 360 nee more.

[MK_Red]

Lost Odyssey has great potential. Also, Square is going to release an RPG (Last Remnant?) on 360.

But does 360 really need J-RPGs? Mass Effect, Oblivion, Fable 2 and possible KOTOR 3 are more than enough for any RPG lover and adding not multiplatform Fallout 3 to the list makes it complete for me. (Personally, Fallout 3 alone is all the RPG I need).

[THUNDERMARE]

I think j-rpg is there because MS would want 360 to tap into Japan's market. MK-Red list is impressive, but looking at poony 360 sale in Japan I said MS has to do whole lot more.

[PS360WII]

I just don't understand all this hate for Blue Dragon. It a great RPG that takes all positives from past rpgs and mixes it well. I think the only thing people hate about it is that the main characters are kids and it's not blood and guts.

Eternal Sonata I have played the demo and I for one never liked hack and slash button mashers disguised as RPG's which is why I'm only sticking to playing the demo.

Oh and yea looking forward to Lost Odyssey for sure! Mass Effect... take it or leave it but it will do well even without me ^.-

[MK_Red]

I haven't played Blue Dragon and my comments on the game were based on it's review scores but the reason Blue Dragon is considered failuer or let-down but some is because of the high profile people behind it. I for one expected a much better character design and theme from Sakagochi and the character designer.
So far, I hear that the music is the masterpiece that's expected from the great composer.

[cloud360]

Final Fantasy XIII

March 08

Needs to sell 3 million to make up for profits like most FF(FFX).

Final Fantasy X sold 2 million in japan......................... .............................. in 4 days

When ther wer not many games on PS2. Making FFX the first PS2 game to sell 2 million, then 5 million. Now sold 7 million.

Thus proving FFXIII will be ps3 exlusive.

-----------
Wikipedia is wrong it says FFX part 2 sold 3 million but when you click on FFX-2 page it says it sold 5 million as of 2006

[Darkiewonder]

7? So yeah, that sounds about right. If Eternal Sonata average out to be 7-8.5 I'll be happy.

[BubblesDAVERAGE]

All the AAA titles are getting bad scores all around us...maybe next year will show us some great games..or maybe play the game for yourself and dont listen to them..thats why there is blockbuster

[supaet]

is this site run by sony fan boys or what?

first, you posted the lowest score there is.

even that's fine, but then use the lowest score out of the 3 reviewer again from egm. a big 6/10.

Look, I know lair hurts, but stop making the ps3 look so desperate. I know you just spent $500-600 for worse games than a cheaper console, but you still have the future. you have 10 years. Just chill and stop bashing.

[midgard229]

it depends on taste. latley rpgs have been getting lower scores yet they are still really good games, now it seems jrpgs need the title of final fantasy to get a good score. just because a game is classic doesnt mean its bad. but to each his own, i enjoyed eternal sonata's demo, and doubt it is gonna be a bad game. i dont trust egm either, im amazed they gave odin sphere a good score...i love odin sphere ;p

[TrenchaunT]

I think a lot of 360 players just don't like JRPGs. If a JRPG is rated, though, it should be rated against others of the same genre, not against the ideals of western RPGs. JRPGs aren't about being able to do anything and everything that you want, but about going through an in-depth story.

I'm a fan of both kinds of RPG, and I loved the demo. I'm not even a huge anime fan and I think the graphics of ES are simply gorgeous. The combat system is innovative, and, being a fan of classical music, the story sounds very enticing. I'm definitely getting this game, and I doubt I will be disappointed.

[carlman23]

I pre-ordered it because OXM gave it 8/10 and IGN has been really positive about it so far. I've really like the stuff that this studio has worked on in the past (I assume it's people from Tri-Ace) and all their previous games (Star Ocean 3, Radiata Stories, Valkyrie Profile 2) got really mixed reviews as well...

Well, I hope I can stomach my way through it since I've already slapped down the dough!

[MK_Red]

Don't cancel your pre-order or ignore the game because of one review, specially EGM's. They have given stupid scores before.

[Xwow]

they are bad at reviews if not on everything.
iam a ps3 fan and iwant yo play it badly, i recomende it for you :D

[carlman23]

Oh I won't cancel the pre-order (but there are so many games I want this holiday!).

I like EGM a lot, but I have to agree that their scores are a bit wonky sometimes. The real problem is that they've got people on both sides of the fence that sometimes end up over-hyping stuff. For example, Dan Hsu is pretty good, but he's obviously a console shooter Xbox kind of guy, and he tends to be pretty negative about MGS games. On the other hand Shane Bettenhausen is as hardcore a Sony Fanboy as you can get, and is pretty critical of ANYTHING that doesn't come out of Japan.

I'd say that the 1UP network is more pro-Sony than any other game site (with the exception of GamePro). That's not to say they're biased, only that they don't trash Sony left and right.

[Hugh Hefner]

Great job as always, writing the lowest score at the title of the article. You may fool some people with the "objectiveness" you attempt to portray with your posts, but you will never fool me.

[Zhuk]

the way he handled the title is a terrible disappointment (just to get degrees), just goes to show look at the sources not just the title

[CRIMS0N_W0LF]

No good RPGs on X360. (Stick Mass Effect up your bottom I want JRPGs)

I guess I keep playing Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Star Ocean and Rouge Galaxy upscaled on PS3 till White Knight Story and FFXIII

[felidae]

first the bad Mass Effect Previews and now this .. what's wrong Microsoft?

But there's still Sony ;-)

[Xwow]

is the best rpg on x360 then #2 mass effect .

[Lex Luthor]

You do realise this game averages to 7/10.
And can anyone recommend any good exclusive western rpgs for PS3?

[blackmagic]

Oblivion isn't exclusive but it is an excellent western RPG nonetheless... and it's the highest rated game on the ps3 to boot! (based on metacritic) Hmmm... I think Enchanted Arms is the only other RPG the PS3 has? Untold Legends is RPG-ish I guess?

[blackmagic]

What I don't get (and I am talking about all games not just this one) is the inconsistency of the reviews. Here we have 3 reviewers from the same publication so they should all be judging the game by the same criteria yet there is a spread of 20% in their reviews and there have been many like this from EGM on all platforms.

There is a big difference between a game that scores 60% and one that scores 80%. I mean at 80% I would strongly consider the game but at 60% I would likely write it off. It seems as though the scoring is based on their own personal taste, not based on a set criteria at all.

I mean, I usually rely on metacritic for >real< scores since it gives me a true score based on many reviews which in themselves are based on differing criteria so it is pretty damn reliable. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have to say that I can't really trust EGM based on the review spreads of 20% or more that I have seen now and in the past. Clearly, something is broken in their review process.

[BenzMoney]

Critiquing any sort of "art" is always going to be driven, at least in part, by personal taste. You can't expect a critic to take a game (or movie, or painting, or song) and sit down with it next to a sheet of paper with check boxes on it and come down to an out-of-ten number based on some sort of predetermined algorithm and then, on top of that, expect another critic to do the same and come out with the exact same number. It's just not going to happen.

Why are some movies great despite the horrible reviews they get from film critics?

Games, movies, painting, plays, cuisine... you name it, there's always going to be some range in reviews due to differing tastes.

There isn't necessarily going to be a "method" for reviewing something that is completely dependant on taste.

Does this mean that reviews aren't helpful at all? No - of course not. It just means that you need to find someone whose reviews tend to agree with your own tastes. If you see a reviewer give a bad score to a game that you thoroughly enjoyed, that decreases your trust in that person's review and hence next time you won't trust it as much.

It's not as simple as:

PS3/360 exclusive? [check]
gud grafix? [check]
1080p? [check]
60fps? [check]

(or any other BS criteria the majority of the fanboys on this site seem to base their opinions on)

I guess that this is sort of what you're alluding to though - by going for the metacritic reviews. But even those, I'd argue, aren't always helpful. Just because the majority of people like (or hate) a game, doesn't necessarily mean you will. What if you hate FPS but it gets a 9.7 on metacritic? You'll probably still hate it.

All I'm trying to say is that all these review arguements I see on this site all the time are getting annoyingly repeatitive and silly. Find a reviewer you trust, whose tastes match your own, and stick with him/her (until they let you down).

[GnaM]

"It's not as simple as:

PS3/360 exclusive? [check]
gud grafix? [check]
1080p? [check]
60fps? [check]"

LMAO, pure gold!!! I'm REALLY sick of seeing people judge games this way...practically everyone on N4G does it.

I have enjoyed the hell out of some games that received mediocre reviews (Legend of Mana, probably every Street Fighter sequel I own) and been bored by some games that got really high review scores (3D Nintendo games, Final Fantasy XII, others). For example, I probably enjoyed Killzone 1 and Halo 2 about the same even though Halo 2 got much higher scores. Gameplay-wise, they are both flawed in many areas, the main difference being that Halo 2 was still much more polished. The only reason I'd give Halo 2 a higher score in terms of gameplay is because of experiences I had years later, like playing coop with my girlfriend till 4am.

...and honestly, no matter how you cut it, even with broken MP balance and lackluster campaign, Halo 2 still isn't as flawed as Killzone 1...even if Killzone 1 had its moments. Still the two should have received more similar scores and they didn't. Review scores are by no means a scientific or objective measure of a game's worth.

[Dudeson42]

That's exactly what I've become when it comes to new games. I've been playing games since I was 6 with the NES/2600. And to be honest I dont think a game has truly blown me away in recent memory (save perhaps bioshock). There just arent enough new idea flowing down the pipes these days. Games like Eternal Sonata (with the exception of the graphical style) would have been possible and would have been amazing hits 4/5 years ago but these days theres just too much bluring the line between a "good" game and a "great" game. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy playing them. But I think people are forgeting (or too young to have known) what it was like playing games in the 32 bit era. 80% of the games ABSOLUTELY SUCKED!!!! and you had to dig and wait and wait and dig to find a game that really hit that nerve, or even satisfied you. An 8/10 in the Playstation 1 days warranted a purchase in my book. These days people arent satisfied unless the game they're looking forward to rocks 9.7/10's. People need to be more accepting and realize that not all games are going to be great to everyone. I mean jesus, one of my favorite games from last gen was Chibi-Robo! A novel concept executed in a satisfactory manner. Not great, not even "good" by many's standards but it hit me in a way that the old games used to. I fear the next 10 years of gaming will bring so little innovation that every game will be getting 10's because nobody is willing to take a chance and go against the grain.

[midgard229]

this is tri-crescendo's first game, till now they've only made music for baiten kaitos, and most tri-ace games. so i think they really well even if its their first game

[kewlkat007]

seriously not every game have to be like FF for it to be a good game.

Like somebody mentioned the BAR for RPG's is very High. Every since FFVII, IMO and some others.

I rather not all RPG's play a like of have the same look as some thing game, or try to do the same.

Can someone name one good RPG over last 5 years that was not Final Fantasy that got great reviews and was awesome?

If you can't then there goes your problem right there. Everyone is stuck on one Franchise. Let me just say, I'm talking about JRPG's. I love the FF franchise but I want something new, even if it's not a 10, having a game be 6, 7, 8, 9, does not mean you don't have to buy it.

In some cases it can be a rental depending on the Hours of game play.

I'm into RPG's and Vgame music, and I'll get this game, just as any PS3 fan buying a game because, well, there haven't been many out. Since Enchanted Arms, I have not played an RPG, Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey is on the Radar too.

DeltaP42 Great Post...There is a lot of games that didn't fare well with reviewers but turned out to be great games. Then again everything is hyped up these days, so thats part of it.

[Charlie2688]

Does Dragon Quest VIII count? Persona 3?

(also worth mentioning SMT: Nocturne cuz of its different and fresh approach to the RPG genre)

ah! got you there didn't I! XD

But I have to agree were are stuck with only FF as high pedigree JRPG, but sadly other devs are not even making and effort to change this, for example the .Hack series has gone to hell, and the Tales series is going in the same direction, many new IPs are hits or misses (Blue Dragon and Enchanted Arms comes to mind)

One dev that is actually worth mentioning is Atlus with their Shin Megami Tensei series that has always been solid, apart from Level 5 Atlus has the chance of becoming the Next Square Enix if they keep up
here have a +1 bubble for your troubles :D

[CRIMS0N_W0LF]

Everything from the Developer "Level-5"

PlayStation 3

* Shirokishi Monogatari (White Knight Story)(2008) (in development)

PlayStation 2

* Dark Cloud (2000)
* Famitsū - 8 / 8 / 8 / 7
* EGM - 8.5, 8.5, 8.0
* Gamespot - 8.1
* IGN - 8.4

* Dark Chronicle (Dark Cloud 2) (2002)
* Famitsū - 10 / 9 / 8 / 8
* EGM - 9.5, 8.0, 8.0
* Gamespot - 9.0
* IGN - 9.0

* Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (2004)
* Gamespot.com: 9 out of 10
* IGN.com: 9 out of 10
* The Japanese release received a 39 out of 40 from Weekly Famitsu
* X-Play gave the game a perfect 5 out of 5.
* World-Gaming.com: 9.2 out of 10
* Edge (magazine) : 8 out of 10.
* Play Magazine: 10 out of 10
* 1up.com (EGM/OPM): 8.9 out of 10

* Rogue Galaxy (2005)
* Rogue Galaxy: Director's Cut (2007)
* Famitsū - 10 / 9 / 9 / 8
* EGM - 8.0, 7.5, 7.0
* Gamespot - 8.0
* IGN - 8.

Nintendo DS

* Professor Layton and the Curious Village (2007)
* Famitsū - 8 / 8 / 8 / 9
* Professor Layton and Pandora's Box (2007) (in development)
* Dragon Quest IX: Hoshizora no Mamoribito (2008) (in development)
* Untitled Professor Layton (Final Chapter) (2008) (in development)
* Inazuma Eleven (winter 07) (in development)

PlayStation Portable

* Jeanne d'Arc (2006)
* Famitsū - 10 / 8 / 8 / 7
* EGM - 8.0, 7.0, 8.0
* Gamespot - 8.0
* IGN - 9.0

Xbox

* True Fantasy Live Online (Cancelled)

Also Dark Cloud 3 was announced though Development is Unknown.

Add a couple of Final Fantasies, Star Ocean and rumored Remake of FFVII

*drool*

[kewlkat007]

Except I forgot to post about that same game, selling just as well as a FF game..haha

DQ and FF are in the same limelight...They are def not anything new,a nd are the staples of RPG franchises.

I don't know what these devs are waiting for, I want a next-gen,

1. Breathe of Fire,(I love the music in that series)
2. Skies of Arcadia,
3. Chrono Cross(that game deserves a next-gen version damn you square)
4. Shadow Hearts(Underrated Game)
5. ICO(sleeper Hit)
6. Parasite Eve
7. Baulder Gate
9. Suikoden
10. Arc the Lad

Ok it has become a wishlist..but I can dream right. These games should be made with a new twist to the Genre. Take your heads of FF series for one second and you actually might enjoy another RPG.

bubble Right back atcha mate

[GnaM]

OMG Eternal Sonata got bad review must be cause EGM are bias!11 (sarcasm)

[zonetrooper5]

I thought this game was coming out on the PS3 as well?

[jackdoe]

The game is probably coming out on the PS3 as well, at least according to Namco Bandai. I hope that this early review is wrong and that the game is much better. Would be a nice RPG for my PS3 collection.

[PS360WII]

Yea the problem is that a shooter can get perfect 10's on looks alone but with RPG's the reviewers want something they have never ever played before and look ferverishly for something in that regards. Like many have said if it doesn't have FF in front of it they are going to judge it to critical rather than look at it as an rpg. Plus they are trying to base there reviews off of there readers in the states, most of which don't care for RPG's in general. So that's why you see so many average ratings for rpgs.

[witchking]

I thought the demo for Eternal Sonata was pretty good. I liked the battle system and the strategy around the light/dark mechanic. I certainly thought it was stronger than Blue Dragon.

I suspect ES will fall in the 75% range for most reviewers. Decent gameplay but lackluster story.

I, for one, plan to add it to my Christmas list (in other words, I'll be happy to play through it provided someone else buys it for me). :-)