This place is finally closed!

Well.. for most part is it~ But on another note, I'm starting Version 0.3 of 'The Book is Wet' blog! *laughs* ;) Time for a 1-Year Anniversary nowww.

Eternal Sonata

I had this posted somewhere, so I'll just C&P. Cause my MSN connection sucks like shit.

Well, some time ago, Mina-chan (a friend on LJ) told me about this one RPG on PS3/X-box, and when I watched the trailers, I thought it looked cool! But.. but.. BUT, when I went to the store, I didn't manage to find it at all, and the staff told me that they're not sure when the next shipment would be. So I ended up being a tad depressed.

Recently, my parents went overseas, so I was thinking of asking them to buy it for me. When my mom asked me what I wanted, I straight away told her that I wanted Eternal Sonata game for PS3! And after getting it, WOW. I just love the graphics! It's neat, and yet, like a fantasy world. I only got it like about 3-4 days ago, and I've been playing it for roughly 14 hours! About 4 hours everyday, 'cept for a rest day I had. Actually, I'm playing it on two game data, since on my first one, I sort of got lost. Lol.

I really adore the graphics as well as the music! I like the battle system too. It reminds me of uhmm that one game, I'm not sure what it's called again. Something Dragon. Well anyway, the battle system is sort of cool! And unique. On the field map, there are enemies (monsters specifically) walking around. You control a character (usually it's Polka or Retto) and when you touch one of these monsters (they usually run after you when you're close by), a battle field appears. Kinda like the older Final Fantasy games. However, in the battle field, you are able to run around, facing any direction, within the battle field. The battle system makes full use of almost all your buttons.

Specifically, the O or X button is used for normal attacks (it depends on your options, I set attacks to O because I'm used to using the Japanese game system, where O is confirm, X is cancel, whilst in the American/European game system, X represents confirm, O is cancel) while the triangle button is used for Special Attacks. The square button is used to use an item, while the R1 and L1 button is used to browse through the items you equiped in your 'item set', which is like a bag. It has limited spaces, at first 10, but later on 20. It's different from your inventory bag though. L2 is used to switch between 3 different views: standard, overall and uhmm.. above. I use overall because I'm more likely the type who likes to see the whole thing before moving.

Unlike most games, every turn is carried by the Tactical Time (TT), as well as the Action Gauge. In Eternal Sonata, one of the unique points of the battle system is the use of Party Level. There are 6 different levels of Party Level. The higher the level, the more difficult it is as well as a few more advantages. Before I get to explain that, I'll explain TT as well as Action Gauge first. Action Gauge is like a stopwatch. It usually goes down once you move your character or let your character do something. TT is the same as well. However, when you leave your character alone, your AG won't decrease yet, so it leaves you time to think of how you'd want to move your characters. That's where TT comes in. TT is the time limit you have to start moving your characters. When TT is zero, your AG will start moving down too if you haven't moved at all. In the first level of Party Level, TT is infinite, while AG stops when you stop your character. In the 2nd level, TT is still infinite, while AG will start to drop even after your first move and stop. The difference is that, in the 1st level, once you move, you can stop and your AG will stop as well. However, in the 2nd level, when you move and then stop, your AG will still drop down. In the 3rd level, TT is then limited to 3 seconds (AG was originally 5 seconds per turn, but if you normally attack monsters successfully, it adds a bit of time to your AG) and a few more things. Every turn, only one character gets to move, so it's fine.

Another unique point about the battle system is the full use of background. Elements are only limited to light and darkness, unlike the other games which usually include fire, ice, etc. In the background, there are places where shade is (due to the trees or cloud or even shadow), as well as light areas (from sunlight, or torch) This is where strategy comes in. Special Attacks are divided into light and dark skills. Light skills are available only when your character stands in light, while dark skills are available when your character stands in darkness (or shade) Not only does darkness and light affects your skill, sometimes, monsters change form when they are in darkness and in light. In light, they maybe a defenseless coconut, but once in darkness, it may transform into a whole new monster. That's why it's important to take note of the shade. Not all monsters change form though. Well, there's more, but I'm a bit too lazy to state them all~

Oooonto picture spaaaaam of the gaaame! Eternal Sonata! ..uhmm also known as "Trusty Bell ~Chopin's Dream (Score)~" Not sure.



This is Polka, and she's 14. She's the first character that you get to control. I srsly like her dress.



And then she meets Frédéric François Chopin. Yes, THAT Chopin. (Those who don't know him, he's a famous pianist from Poland in uhmm the 19th Centuary (1800-ish). He's one of my favourite pianist. (Yes, classical music. I know I'm 16, but hey, not everyone is the same!) He's known as Frederick (I think that's how they spelt it) in the game, so you don't have to worry about prounoucing his full name. I call him Frédéric or Chopin, but Chopin most of the time. His music would be mentioned in the game.



When I talk about that, he's 39 in the game. (Yes, I'm very sad, since I thought he was very good-looking.. in the game that is. And has a nice voice~) Both Polka and Frederic (it'll be a force of habit now, so pardon me if I misspell his name a lot of times) became friends quite easily. It's because Polka reminds him of his younger sister who passed away when she was 14 (same age as Polka)



Battle screen looks like this. But this one came from the Xbox version.



This is how the graphics look like. (Field view)



Another example.



While Frederic is battling in his dreams, in reality, he's unconscious (in the coma), sick. In real life, Chopin was suffering from TB (which was considered a terminal sickness in the 1800's) Duuude, I wish I had a BF who looks like that!



This is Viola. I'd say she's one of the strongest and useful characters in the game. She uses bow and she's a shephard.



These two, Beat (the 8 years old boy) and Retto (Short of Allegretto, 16 years old) have been together for all I know. I find Beat sooo adorable! I want him as my son or little brother~



Polka can be considered the healer of the party, though her attacks are fine. Her weapon is an umbrella.



Frederic, on the other hand, I'd say his damage isn't as much as Retto's, but his speed builds up for that part. I'd consider him to be the fastest and one of the stronger characters. He uses a baton.



Retto uses a sword. His strength and speed makes him one of the strongest characters. He seems to be one of the smarter characters too, beside Viola and Frederic. Although, his speed is a little slower than Frederic.



Beat uses uhmm.. somehow, I'm not sure what to say about his weapon. (No, it's not that bread.) He somehow uses a long stick with a hammer & hook at the tip. It's somehow a hammer itself. But the handle, rather than a usual stick, it's a gun. I can't say it's a shot gun though. He's the only member you can use to take pictures of enemies which you can sell at the store. Best way to get money. Besides Frederic, he's one of the characters you should use when building up echoes (too lazy to explain this) since when using the gun, it's fast, but the damage isn't much. While he's pretty slow when using the hammer. (Don't you feel like you want to squeeze his cheeks~?)

I haven't played much, so I'll be showing stuff that I haven't come across yet.

There was a scene back at Polka's Village, Tenuto Village (Also known as the Village of Flowers) where Retto met with Polka. I haven't came across that part yet though.









When I think about it, Retto is smarter than usual main characters who are.. uhmmm sometimes dumb. Like Sora. LOL, okay nvm. That's just me.



These two are the Agogo Forest Guardians: March and Salsa. Both of them wield chakrams. I've met March before, but not Salsa yet.



Not sure who they are, but I'd like to say that both of them are beautiful. o_o;; Okay.. well handsome for the guy, but still~

Well anytime, I want to end this post with a few more pictures of the graphics. You can see them at bluelaguna.net





The Flower Field of Tenuto. Frederic and Polka met here for the first time at night.



On the same night, Polka decides to show Frederic a place where these flowers bloom in the forest. These flowers called 'Heaven's Mirror' or even 'Death Lights', depending on one's view on these flowers which bloom only at night. When they bloom, they glow and somehow realise this short of light orb which looks like stars when they float to the sky. It is also consided a bad omen if you see one.



The way to the forest in the morning.



A brief view of the Tenuto Village.



Part of Polka's house.

Well, that's all for now. There's nothing much to say now. I do feel like playing now though!

NOTE: According to Bao-tan, their names are related to music. No wonder it sounded sort of familiar. Falsetto, Allegretto.

Psycho?

いやいや...

サイコ だよ!

Nacchan~ Kurochan~

:3 Won't it be better if SAIKO had a blog on LJ? WHAT 'BOUT IT?

Plz plz plz plz i no dis so suddn 1, bt im bored lyk hel 'ere.

Y'know, it's time fo' us brothers to stand up to those punks like 'em.

So, yar need an eye for an aye, aye, captain! So whad'ya say? Beat 'em up with a shovel, and scoop der eyes out, aye matey!

And let them pay us the cash. We're talking about cash for those and that, right, boss?

And ya betta stay off my territory yo. Ya beat my bros up, I'll do sme fo'sho beatin' up on ya yo.

....so like.. this is Kaoru being bored, and failing to try to speak all those different kindofspeakingyouknow. Fo'sho! *gets SHOT by those damn gangsta punks from KAT-TUN*

....srsly want to play a game.. like.. y'know.. SIMS 3. O_O