Preachy, Learning, Doable
This game has it's good points:
1. The achievement points are doable, even though they take almost 2 full playthroughs to get. Most of the achievements are for storyline points, although the most weighty points are gained in the 2nd playthrough with much patience.
2. The graphics are wonderful and the music appropriate. The battle theme was about the only song that started getting on my nerves. Classic Reg. Battle, Important Story Battle, Surprise Boss Battle, etc. themes going on.
3. You can learn about Frederic Chopin. For those that like a little history with their game, here you go.
Then there are some not so good points:
1. I caught your meaning 5 hours ago, Game. They like to beat you over with a glass-studded club as they make sure you catch EVERY point they're trying to make. Blue Dragon thinks of it's players as children (rightly so). Eternal Sonata thinks of it's players as slow in the head (hey!) and prone to forgetfulness (mine was enforced through liberal applications of strong liquor).
2. Long cut scenes. When combined with belabouring the point, this is probably an unspoken 8th Deadly Sin. Especially as some of the cut scenes aren't skippable later in the game. Why? Because they're READ and not WATCHED...
3. I did not want to play this game a 2nd time through. But I had to to get all the points... Masochistic, aren't I?
My reccommendation is to play it once, in Japanese w/ English subtitles (you really don't want to listen to the stupid taunts the ENTIRE game, do you?), just to get all the easier Achievement Points. It was almost fun for much of the game. Find a good walkthrough and Google anything you don't quite understand. Then when you've finished the game, decide if you can end up not hating yourself if you play through it again. The second time will be MUCH easier just because at that point you'll know what you're doing.
