Eternal Sonata PS3 Version, Extras Confirmed

Just last week the unique RPG Eternal Sonata was confirmed for a PlayStation 3 launch. IGN is now reporting that even though PS3 roleplaying fans will have to wait until next year for the game, they're going to get numerous extras as a consolation prize. "New events are being added, to help give players a deeper understanding of the storyline. The game will also feature new playable characters. Crescendo and Serenade, who played a major role in the 360 version's storyline but were not playable, will now be able to take part in battle. Crescendo makes use of a mace and shield. Serenade is all about her heart-shaped staff ... Bandai Namco is also working a costume system that will allow you to freely change your characters' costumes. Accompanying this is an increase in costume variations."

Picking it up today

[Exsam]

I played the demo of Sonata when it dropped to X-Box Live Marketplace and was just blown away by the music. The big sell point on the game for me however was a little feature tucked away in the settings menus that allowed you to assign other controllers to the other party members for combat, making the game coop. So once I get off work I will swing by my local game shop, grab a copy and then invite a couple friends over to play through it. Congrats to the PS3 for getting this title added to their library but I am really surprised that the Wii doesn't have it.

Sony business decision; not BluRay

[Matchstick]

The PS3 version is shipping with extra content because Sony won't allow them to ship otherwise. Games that ship simultaneously are given more leeway; but if the 360 version ships first, the game must contain features that set the ps3 version apart. It doesn't take much thought to see why this is a very smart tactic. I don't know of any examples of PS3 SKUs shipping first off the top of my head, but you'll see Microsoft doing the same thing.

If a game fits on DVD, you can be sure that a game + 5% added assets can also be made to fit on DVD. And note that amount of content/gameplay != amount of assets; if I add a ton of new content, it may reuse lots of existing assets (as in the case of making a character playable). If I had to guess, the bulk of new assets will be new audio.

Another Nail...

[p0tat03]

... in the 360's Japanese coffin. Don't get me wrong, I love my 360, but clearly MS needed something big to bring some attention to itself in the Japanese marketplace. Eternal Sonata is a solid game (based on the demo I played), and certainly would've sold a few boxes in Japan. But losing this exclusive is just one more nail in the already-shut coffin that is the Xbox in Japan...