Game Journal – Eternal Sonata (Entry 15)

We make it at last to the Inn, a pretty area surrounded by red-leaved trees, a river, and some critters at play.  The inside of the inn is another treat, with tons of detail in the decorations, wicker furniture, and floor rugs.  There’s a guy there who’s upset about losing “Mr. Squeakers”, but there’s no way of knowing if this is our continued failing at the trading miniquest or if one of the squirrels outside belongs to the guy.

This place is gorgeous.  Holy wow I am endlessly amazed at all the backgrounds and locations in this game.  They don’t repeat, they look stunning and there’s just so much life to everything!!

Legato reports that we all died, along with Tuba, at the bridge.  Waltz could care less about Tuba, but is unhappy about Salsa being killed also.  Phew, it looks like we’re off his radar for now.

That kid is Joffrey and something tells me he doesn’t believe Legato’s tale.

Allegretto has been doing some deep thinking about the team being confronted by Tuba at Forte Castle, and thinks that Andantino has a spy in it that is leaking information to Waltz.  Jazz is concerned, because only Claves and Falsetto were told of the mission.  Jazz seems to be immediately suspicious of Falsetto, but I think it’s gotta be Claves – her airheadedness is an act, I tell you!

I totally agree.  That girl is up to something.  Oh man…how can Aeris be evil.  She and Cloud are my OTP dang it!!!  Also, Allegretto continues to amaze the heck out of me with his intuition and insightfulness.  Somebody give that kid a scholarship!. 

This place makes you sick just looking at it.  Mushrooms everyone, visible miasma permeates the air, and everything has a sickly purple glow.  It is unwholesome.  Another new background music plays, a muted and brooding song that fits fairly well.

Battles in this area are a huge pain!  Every party member is constantly poisoned, and the enemies are largely more of the jellyfish things that have a gazillion hit points.  I really wish we had some accessories that prevent poison.  Oh well, at least none of the battles are that difficult. 

I felt like accessories were a thing back in the beginning of the game and have really dropped off the map.  It’s been awhile since we’ve had the opportunity to buy any and we only get them from chests in new areas.  Feels like a forgotten part of the game.

We meet a guy who’s eaten a mushroom and gotten sick, so he’s sitting around and asks us to play scores with him.  One of our first scores turns out to get us an S rank, and we get a Brilliant Brooch.  What an item this is – it was made “by knitting sunlight” and emits a small area of light around the character wearing it all the time.  I gave it to Claves so she can always have her healing move available.  I also love the guy’s exclamation when we got the rank – “That harmony!  It’s like my mom’s Casserole Surprise!  You couldn’t tell by looking at it, but it’s delicious!”  Thanks, guy, I’m sure your mom would be proud.

I laughed very hard at this. Yes!  Go S Rank!!!

There’s also a new little plant guy that turns into a huge plant guy in the light.  Unfortunately, this means that Claves is now totally worthless against them, and worse than worthless if the enemy runs towards her and transforms into a much tougher version.  On the plus side, there’s a new sword for her in this area that has lower overall strength than her light-based sword, but which does way more dark damage.  Perfect!  Now she can run up to enemies, force them to turn to day mode with the Brilliant Brooch, and then stab them with her dark sword.

I was just about to type this and then I read your line.  Yeah I did the SAME thing and then unequipped it from Claves because having one party member be useless is a real hindrance (in my opinion).  Hmm…I didn’t think of the dark sword thing.  I’ll have to try that.  Is it working out well for you?!  I feel like there’s enough light right now that I generally have access to Claves’s healing without the need of the Brilliant Brooch.

Remember how you’d said last time that Claves, as a name, didn’t really seem to fit the character? Well, there has been a lot of talk about a traitor in the group, and if a Claves (the instrument) is hollow, there might be something going on there…

Oh snap Scott….I hadn’t even THOUGHT OF THAT!!!  Great notion!

Did you make sure to grab the “Meat Hook” from the plant in the guy’s room?!?!  It increases Falsetto’s attacks!!!

Yeah… the meat hook hanging on a potted plant?!?  Why would you do that?  Geez, that’s a mean weapon.

I found a new score piece in a boat by the inn.  Checking absolutely everywhere seems to be pretty important, though at least the game warns you with a pop-up question mark when you’re nearby.

Oh dang it!! I missed this!!!  I might have to go back at some point but we’re far into WoodBlock “I hate you so much” Woods so I can’t backtrack now.

It seems like Viola and Jazz are starting to hit it off, mostly because Jazz seems to always be full of heartfelt compliments.  Of course, I gotta hand it to the guy – when they’re walking through the poison zone and he hands everyone some anti-poison amulets, he gives Viola an extra one for Arco (Viola’s pet squirrel) without thinking twice.  D’aww.

Smooth…..Jazz…..