1UP previews Eternal Sonata
1UP has posted a video discussion about Eternal Sonata, the upcoming RPG from Namco Bandai. Not too many new details are revealed, though we do learn a few things about the game's plot and a few tidbits about the combat engine. The plot revolves around a group of young heroes trying to put a stop to the machinations of one Count Waltz (waltz, get it?). The local forest is being destroyed by a mining operation digging for mineral powder. It seems that this powder is a miracle cure, similar to a floral powder already in use. However, Waltz has decreed that mineral powder shall be exempt from taxation, effectively killing the market for floral powder. The catch is that mineral powder actually makes people dangerously psychotic. Naturally, our heroes are out to get to the bottom of things.
A few other things are revealed by the video. For instance, it seems that Eternal Sonata's ties to famous composer Frederic Chopin are somewhat tenuous. According to the video, he seems to have very little to do with the game's actual plot. Concerning the combat engine, 1UP elaborates on the Echoes system that we covered in March. One last bit of info, parties gain experience separate from the characters themselves. Higher party levels have less time to act (Eternal Sonata uses a real time combat system), but have more slots for techniques and items at their disposal.
1UP concludes that Eternal Sonata may not be the blockbuster RPG that players were hoping for, but it should satisfy RPG enthusiasts when it finally debuts.
