It takes guts for a video game developer to base a game around the life and music of Frederic Chopin.  Coupled with the fact it’s a cutesy role playing game on the shooter-dominant Xbox 360, it’s a miracle it got the green light at all. 

Which is why it’s such a shame that Eternal Sonata will most likely be buried under the weight of the Christmas blockbusters.

Okay, granted, it got a name change before making its way over to our shores.  Originally titled Trusty Bell: Chopin’s Dream in Japan, the alteration could be read as a telling concern that your average Western gamer isn’t that fussed about a dead bloke from the 19th century who was a dab hand on the piano. 

The game takes place when, taken ill with tuberculosis, the young composer falls asleep in bed and dreams up a fairy tale world where people with incurable diseases have great magical powers.  The heroine, a young girl named Polka, is one of the afflicted, and is determined to make the world a better place by urging the government to reduce taxes and stop the population’s dependency on a mysterious remedy called “Mineral Powder.” As is customary for RPGs, she is joined by a merry band of oddities, including two young orphans Allegretto and Beat, as well as Chopin himself.

First of all, the game is gorgeous.  It’s like looking into a moving, animated rainbow, teeming with colour - perfect for the long and dreary nights we’re all experiencing right now.  The action is a mix of turn-based and real time, with no random encounters (YAY!), which cuts a nice middle ground for many an RPG fan.  The Western voice overs - though by no means bad - can be a little too sugary for my tastes, but thankfully you have the option of switching over to the original Japanese dialogue whenever you like.  Character customisation is simple but satisfying, the story is engaging, and with each chapter you get a nice little slide-show lesson in the life and times of Chopin, constantly drawing parallels with what unfolds during the game.  It’s an inspired way of merging history, culture and gaming together, and no matter your gaming tastes, you must give Eternal Sonata credit for walking where few games dare to tread.  It’s a brilliant example of how games can be entertaining as well as informative.  Even if you don’t give a hoot about Chopin’s work, you’ll struggle not to be drawn into his life’s tale.

As mentioned above, its October release will ensure it remains largely overlooked as we rush out to play Assassin’s Creed, Mass Effect, Halo 3, Call of Duty 4 and all the other AAA titles fighting for our wallets.  Even if it were released outside of the holiday season, its peculiar style and gameplay would inevitably brand it as niche.  But should you ever fancy a journey into the unknown, peppered with a little music and a lot of magical charm, you can’t go wrong with Eternal Sonata.