How should I put this? If I told you that your world exists in a dream I'm having, would it startle you? At this moment, I'm asleep in Paris. As a pianist — and as a composer, as well — I have produced many popular works that have brought me a rather good deal of renown there.
—Frederic Chopin explains the game's premise
Eternal Sonata (トラスティベル 〜ショパンの夢〜 Torasuti Beru ~Shopan no Yume~?, Trusty Bell: Chopin's Dream) is a role-playing video game developed by Tri-Crescendo and published by Namco Bandai Games. The Xbox 360 version of the game was released on June 14, 2007 in Japan, September 17, 2007 in North America, and October 19, 2007 in Europe. The game was also released on the PlayStation 3 with additional content as Trusty Bell: Chopin's Dream – Reprise (トラスティベル 〜ショパンの夢〜 ルプリーズ Torasuti Beru ~Shopan no Yume~ Rupurīzu?) on September 18, 2008 [3] in Japan, and in North America on October 21, 2008,[4] and in Europe with the original name Eternal Sonata on February 13, 2009.[5]It is notable for its use of classical piano pieces, educational cutscenes featuring real paintings and photographs (in contrast to the cel-shading graphics of the game) and lush landscape design.The game is centered on the Polish romantic pianist and composer Frédéric Chopin, who died of tuberculosis at the age of 39. The story envisions a fictional world dreamed by Chopin during his last hours that is influenced by Chopin's life and music, and in which he himself is a playable character, among others. As the life slowly seeps from him, the border between dream and reality grow thinner...The battle system reflects the latest influences in RPG design at the time it was created. Your character is given a set interval of time with which to move or attack, and the special moves available to your character depend on whether they're standing in light or shadow. Some environments have moving clouds and the like, making it a challenge to keep in a location where your heals can go off. It is possible to block, counter, and build up a chain called the Harmony Gauge in order to boost the power of your special attacks.The RPG gameplay is accompanied by both original and arranged pieces by the virtuoso composer, and the action is occasionally interspersed with sequences that relates the events to the very real drama of the historic Chopin. An encounter with an unbeatable swordsman in a rain-soaked jungle reflects Chopin's near-fatal bout of tuberculosis on Mallorca during the rainy season. Escaping from the castle dungeons with the aid of La Résistance parallels Chopin leaving his native Poland mere days before the November Uprising throws the country into chaos, and so forth...Eternal Sonata has been praised for its strictly traditional story and gameplay, and criticized for the same. The game was first released for the Xbox 360 in 2007, then for the PS3(with added features and a somewhat altered plot) in 2008. The PS3 adaptation includes two characters upgraded to playable status, new dungeons and character costumes and a number of significant additions and improvements to the game's story and script. On the downside, though, while the Xbox 360 version includes Achivements, the PS3 one does not support Trophies, as it was a launch title for the PS3 and was apparently created before the Play Station Network and Tropies were conceived of.There is also a manga adaptation of the game. However, it is only 10 chapters long and changes many aspects of the story drastically.Character sheet available here. Please add tropes related to specific characters to the character sheet.
Anachronism Stew: Certain namings and the descriptions of some equipment reference elements of mythology or popular culture that likely wouldn't have been familiar to Chopin, or originate from times after Chopin's death.
And Your Reward Is Clothes: The PS3 version added alternate outfits for Polka, Beat and Allegretto, the three characters that you can navigate in the field at various points. While most of these were easy to find, at least one of them was in an obscure area of a dungeon that was added for the PS3 version.
Instant Costume Change: When selected from the menu, the new costume takes effect for the character in the field the moment you exit the menu.
Apologetic Attacker: Polka frequently says "I'm sorry!" after hitting a monster with her parasol. Yes, her parasol. Additionally, Chopin would sometimes state "You've done nothing wrong." after defeating an enemy.
The Artifact: The whole Chopin storyline is almost entirely forgotten after the first chapter or two.
Artistic Age: If you didn't know any better, you'd think Chopin was a teenager.
It is jarring to walk up to girls the same height as Polka (who is 14) who talk about cooking for their husbands.
Artistic License - History: Chopin uses a conductor's baton as a weapon. In real life, Chopin was not a conductor, just a (phenominally talented) pianist; any conducting that he would have done would have been at the piano, and thus done without a baton.
The game makes a strong reference to Chopin's younger sister Emilia and the PlayStation 3 version goes further by having him lament Emilia's fate (she died when she was 14, Polka's age) in the opening and having a possible ending sequence in which he addresses a soliloquy to Emilia. There seems to be little evidence either way as to exactly what sort of relationship Chopin had with Emilia, at least certainly not enough to provide a historical justification for lines such as "Emilia, I have never once forgotten you. Who would have thought that my memories of you, would create a world as vibrant and alive as this one is?"
Back from the Dead: Claves. And depending on your interpretation, Chopin.
Background Magic Field: The battles take place on open plains that all the characters / creatures can move around in, with different magical attacks (and for the creatures, sometimes different physical forms) available when attacking from areas of light or shade.
Bare-Fisted Monk: Falsetto, though she can equip brass knuckles and similar weapons. Of course, since equipping different weapons doesn't change the character's appearance, this isn't really shown.
Battle in the Rain: All encounters in the Agogo Forest while it's raining, naturally, but particularly the battle with Fugue.
Because I Said So: A mother's stated reason when a boy asks why he shouldn't go near Polka, or anyone who glows (from using magic) like she did.
Becoming the Mask: Claves. And possibly Princess Serenade, who seems to genuinely have fallen in love with her fianceé Prince Crescendo.
Betty and Veronica: Falsetto and Claves are both after Jazz, although which is the Betty and which the Veronica is less obvious than in many cases. Later, Viola falls for him as well, making it a sort of Unwanted Harem except that Jazz is totally oblivious.
Beware the Nice Ones: Just because they're wearing frilly dresses doesn't mean you should underestimate them. Polka is sweet and kind, but is prone to shouting "Stay out of my way!" as she casts her area effect Nuke Spells. March is even sweeter and kinder, and can at higher levels effortlessly cut through enemies like a hot knife through butter.
It's advisable not to get on Beat's bad side either. Tuba learned that the hard way.
BFS: As wielded by Jazz. It's bigger than Cloud's!
Bittersweet Ending/Downer Ending: Chopin finally chooses to believe that his dreamworld is real, which breaks the Stable Time Loop it's trapped in and allows Polka and the rest to live in a new future. However, this also is apparently what causes him to 'die' in our reality, leaving behind the people in the real world who still care about him. The start of the final credits where Chopin's spirit leaves his body, walks over to his piano, and accompanies the ending theme can be seen a symbol of how he lives on in the real world through his music. Whether the ending is the former or the latter is dependent on the individual and how "real" they see the dream world in comparison to Chopin's conclusion.
Boobs of Steel: Viola and Captain Dolce are the top competitors in this area.
Bonus Boss: Deep Lurker, Unison Rondo, and Annihilator in the Mysterious Unison. Unison Rondo's incredibly high stats and speed would be perfect That One Boss material if she wasn't optional.
Not to mention the two (three on Encore) optional rematches with Captain Dolce.
Bonus Dungeon: Mysterious Unison. And The Church of Ezi in the PS3 version.
Boss Bonanza: The game generally only pits you against one or two bosses per chapter. The final chapter requires you to defeat a Dual Boss to earn the right to enter the Double Reed Tower of Sand, which is actually two towers, each of which must be ascended twice with a boss fight on each ascent. This lets you fight the apparent final boss (another Dual Boss in the PS3 version). The realFinal Boss shows up shortly thereafter.
Breaking the Fourth Wall: The protagonists speak directly to the player during the first half of the ending credits in the X-Box 360 version. This is replaced by a soliloquy by Chopin in the first ending of the PS3 version. The Encore mode ending simply has the protagonists repeating quotes without addressing the player.
Calling Your Attacks: Every single playable character, as well as all of the human bosses, especially when they use charged up Echoes. Ranges from quick, to-the-point shouts, to near-filibusters that quite possibly required the voice actor to take a breath during the read.
Chopin: Triumphant victory! The hoofbeats of the brutal horde approach! Legion Fulminante!
Cheerful Child: Beat, who tends to stay upbeat throughout events that would probably traumatize many eight-year-olds.
March also qualifies for this.
Chick Magnet: Jazz so very much. He attracts Claves, Falsetto, and Viola.
Chirping Crickets: Done using the blowing wind variant. The party is trying to decide whether or not to use a secret passage, so they turn to Allegretto to make the decision. He decides to go for it, commenting "You know what they say - 'If you don't go into the lion's den, you can't count you chickens.'" There is a sound of wind blowing from the tunnel and after a pause, Viola comments "That doesn't make any sense."
Comes Great Responsibility: In Lament Mirror in the PlayStation 3Updated Rerelease, Salsa is alone with Frederic and hankering for some food. She asks Frederic why he doesn't use his magic powers to magic up a steak for them. He replies that "Magic is not a tool of convenience," and continues that even if such a thing were possible, their first thought should be of the children starving in the cities. Salsa is not persuaded by this logical argument, and breaks down in a tantrum, causing Frederic to Face Palm.
Come to Gawk: There's a Magic Researcher on the second fall of Baroque Castle. If the player visits him after completing the Lament Mirror sequence (available only in the PlayStation 3Updated Rerelease of the game), he will ask if the party has come to laugh at them and orders them "Get Out!" Polka and Frederic, however, note that he's studying magic, and quickly explain that they're both magic users, delighting him as he rarely gets to meet live magic users, and he reveals a lot of interesting information.
Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu??: On Encore mode on the PS3 version, you can face The Great EZI as an optional boss, who is implied to be some sort of deity.
Dub Name Change: From Japanese to English, Jitterbug's name is changed to Jazz, but the other names are kept the change (although in Japanese they call him Chopin, while in English they call him Frederick). However, if you play the game using the French on-screen text, a number of other characters change names. For your side, Beat becomes Piccolo, Viola is Harpe, Falsetto is Mazurka. (A mazurka is a type of Polish folk dance and Chopin composed several of them, one of which can be listened to on a piano in the tavern in Forte.) Serenade's poodle puppy changes from Minuet to Menuet. Oh, and Frederic and Serenade both gain accent marks over the "e"s in their names. For the baddies, Fugue becomes Staccato, Guitar is Banjo, Rondo is Rumba, and Count Waltz, of course, becomes Comte Valse. Incidentally, Jazz is still Jazz.
A number of the attack names change, e.g. Orange Cure and Earth Growth to Orange Glow and Earth Heal for Polka. For Princess Serenade they decided to change her "Word:" skills to "Verbum:".
Eenie Meenie Miny Moai: The Score Piece participant Desolate Goro/Saburo and the others like him in the Noise Dunes of Fantasy entrance area to the Double Reed Tower of Sand.
Elegant Gothic Lolita: Informs much of the character design, but especially Falsetto.
Escapism: Escapism, and learning to overcome and accept hard truths of life, is one of the key themes of the game.
Everything's Better with Princesses: Princess Serenade is from Forte, but they're apparently ruled by a Count, who in traditional kingdoms is much lower in rank than a prince or princess. Then again, it's possible that she was given the title of princess when she got engaged to Crescendo. In one scene, Waltz refers to her verbatim as "a princess of Forte." Apparently they just wanted a princess in the game. Their Nobility Is Different From Our Nobility?
There's always the possibility that women can't inherit the throne, and that Waltz is simply the closest relative(or even just a temporary ruler). Still requires a bit of reaching.
Exposition Break: The game is a bit lengthy on the cutscenes in general, but special mention goes to the slow-paced Chopin history lessons.
Face Palm: Done by Chopin in the PS3 version when listening to Salsa whine about being trapped in Lament
Fake Difficulty: Start the Bonus Dungeon and you will unlock Party Level 6 which allows you to chain up to 6 special attacks. The catch? Every time you use one, the button's mapping changes randomly, meaning that you should un-memorize the controller's mapping. It only happens whenever one uses a skill, not at every button press like a number of descriptions set it up to be. In fact, even then, it only changes with skill usage when executing Harmony Chains - if one doesn't use those, then it doesn't change at all. Furthermore, the item button always remains the same, so it's only the three other command buttons that change. It also resets to the default after each battle. As long as one remains calm (and remembers to use that map at the bottom of the screen that shows what button does what), they can reasonably keep up with a changing button layout. Plus, the benefits outweigh the detriments (carrying Echoes over between battles and an increase in Harmony Chain size from 3 to 6 at the cost of one less second of action time and Damn You, Muscle Memory seems like a good deal to me), even if one occasionally makes a mistake. It may take a bit of practice, but one can get used to it.
Fantastic Flora: The main one is the Heaven's Mirror, a flower that hides in its buds during the daylight and releases it all in a brilliant display at exactly 2 A.M. in the morning, symbolic of the playable character Polka, and the time of death of the famous real-life composer and playable character Frederic Chopin. There's also the Simile flower, which only blooms with water from Simile Spring, but wilts if you water it with regular water.
First Girl Wins: If you defeat the extra Mysterious Union dungeon on the PS3 version, you can resurrect Claves making Jazz happy, and Falsetto less than thrilled.
Five-Bad Band: Waltz and his associates make up one:
Well, that all depends on if you defeat him in the final battle, or if he defeats you.
Fragile Speedster: Falsetto, March, Salsa, and Claves at least once she's revived.
Especially true for Salsa. At high levels, it is not at all unusual for her to take two turns in a row.
Gainax Ending: Did you really expect the fever dream of a dying man to make sense?
Gameplay and Story Segregation: It's said that nobody is buying floral powder from Tenuto anymore because of the cheapness of the mineral powder. Yet just about every store in the game that sells items to your party carries healing powers that are described as powders made from flowers from Tenuto. This sort of segregation is probably also the reason why, once your party has a massive amount of Gold, Allegretto and Beat don't hand a bunch of it over to the kids in the sewers so they don't have to live there anymore.
Gratuitous Foreign Language: The attack names are in English in the Japanese version, and some of Chopin's are in French, Italian, and Polish. Additionally, for the PlayStation 3Updated Rerelease with Serenade as a playable character, two of hers are in Latin and one is in French.
Green Aesop: A little bit in the game, with light pollution and humans being "masters of destruction" (Thank you, Falsetto), and a lot more in the credits, with the characters breaking the fourth wall and talking to the player about such issues as "Can you think of any other things that are helpful at the time but dangerous in the long run?" and "Minor inconveniences with huge long-term effects."
Groundhog Day Loop: The ending - clarified in the PS3 version - explains that the events of the game have repeated over and over again. This is why the game starts with the last scene and how Polka got hold of Allegretto's charm before he gave it to her. Chopin's presence in the most recent cycle, however, breaks the loop and happy endings occur.
Guide Dang It: For anyone without an ear for music, and even some that do have an ear for music, the third test in Xylophone tower. But that's only if you're not persistent. Fail it a few times and it relaxes the difficulty, making it so that the notes light up, as with the previous two trials.
There's a grandmother lady in the hotel in Baroque in Chapter 4 whom you must speak with to hear a poem in order to obtain a Score Piece later in the game. It's the only thing in the game that can be Lost Forever if you don't remember to talk to her. (Well, that, and the reward you get for using the Score Piece later on.) Oh, and this only applies in Encore Mode - in your first playthrough, you cannot return to most locations after visiting them the first time, so if you miss something, it's most likely gone until your second playthrough.
Hartman Hips: Most females to a certain degree, but Claves and Falsetto really stand out here.
Heads I Win, Tails You Lose: If you lose against Tuba it's Game Over. If you win against Tuba, he orders a couple of mooks to throw you in jail.
He Knows About Timed Hits: Polka and Allegrettos' early-game battle tutorials. "The animals that live in the forest around here aren't really very strong, so I should be able to defeat them without too much trouble. But, just to be safe, I'll go over the basics of how to fight again."
Henpecked Husband: The father of the rascal Phil, who later becomes a Score Piece sidequest participant and is specifically referred to as "Henpecked Phil's Father."
Heroic Sacrifice: Polka attempts one of these at the end of the game.
Hey You: When the party reaches the summit of Mt. Rock, Allegretto addresses Crescendo and Serenade (a prince and princess respectively) with a hearty "Hey, guys!"
Hopeless Boss Fight: Against Fugue the first time Frederick and Polka meet him.
Hyperspace Arsenal: A bit of an odd case in that the game allows you carry up to 99 of any item at all that can be purchased or dropped by monsters, including weapons and armor. This is despite the fact that every character has their own unique type of weapon that only they can equip and most armor can only be equipped by a few different characters, or in some cases, only one.
Hypocritical Humor: When Fugue tells Count Waltz that he couldn't find any glowing agogos in Agogo Forest, Waltz orders him straight back there and warns him "I won't listen to another report of failure." Fugue leaves and Legato comes in to inform Waltz about the good progress they're making with their mining operations at Mt. Rock, only for Waltz to tell him "There's no need to report when things are going well."
Ill Girl: Polka, although she fights surprisingly well considering she has a terminal disease.
Improbable Weapon User: Whilst many of the weapons are somewhat improbable, combining as they do design elements of musical instruments with more traditional weapons, Beat's combination clarinet/gun/nadziak (a spiked hammer that was used in the Polish rebellion), and Chopin himself hitting enemies with a conductor's baton take the cake.
In Medias Res: Subverted as the player is lead to believe they will see the first scene in the game again later, as it appears to be set in the future. However, due to the game's Groundhog Day Loop this is actually before the game chronologically.
Played straight with the Baroque sequence. You begin this portion of the game with Beat and Polka in an outside courtyard area of Baroque Castle and then go into a Flash Back sequence involving how they got rescued by a Baroque ship and then fought off a ship full of them (at which point the items you collect on the ship suddenly appear in your inventory).
Alegretto's final weapon, Silver Star, is a sword that critically hits 100% of the time.
Innocent Flower Girl: Polka is the page image; sweet natured girl with a teriminal illness that sells
Instant Messenger Pigeon: Claves sends a dove to Baroque to deliver the message to Prince Crescendo that Princess Serenade is a Forte spy. Not only does the dove make it safely, but it survives the bitter cold to land neatly upon the prince's window.
Instrument of Murder: A clarinet/gun/mallet, a BFS with trombone pipes, a fencing rapier shaped like a conductor's baton...
Insult to Rocks - "Really though, comparing sea water stirred up by the beauty of the moon to the ugly waves created by the effects of human desire is rather an insult to the ocean."
Insurmountable Waist-Height Fence: An early quest will force you to find some food for a bunch of goats blocking your path on a bridge. Said bridge is about four feet long and is built over little more than a trickling stream. Does your party think of going around and wading through ankle-deep water? Of course not.
Involuntary Group Split: Tuba destroys the Cabasa Bridge the party is on at the end of Chapter Two, splitting them up. You play the following two chapters as one of the groups - Allegretto, Viola and the Andantino members in Chapter 3 and then Polka, Beat, Salsa and Frederic in Chapter 4.
Irrelevant Sidequest: There's a fairly extensive trading sidequest early in the game that ultimately results in nothing more than a key to a temple that can easily be obtained by simpler means. The only upshot is you get to keep a minor accessory that you would otherwise be forced to give up. What's worse, you ultimately end up not needing the key in question, but the plot demands that you obtain it anyway. Also, the Score Piece sidequest is entirely unconnected to the plot of the game.
It Is Pronounced Tropay: "Hanon" is French and is properly pronounced as "Huh-non" (as in non-dairy.) In most "Let's Play" videos however, you will hear pronounced "Han-in," as if it rhymed with "cannon."
Jerkass: Allegretto's interactions with Beat can sometimes come off as less 'playful' and more 'just plain nasty', as well as the time he ditched atoning for his crimes so he could spend time with his crush, leaving the rest of the party to do all the dirty work. Not to mention that time in Double Reed Tower when Beat explains the emotional significance of his camera, it being a cherished possession left to him by his father...and Allegretto immediately teases him about it, makes him cry and run away, and acts like it was no big deal that he just dismissed an important part of Beat's life. When Polka explains what Beat was feeling, Allegretto dismisses her too, though marginally less blatantly, since he likes her. Interestingly, this scene does not occur in the PS3 version.
Joke Item: Most of the EZI items areuseless, or worse, do harm to your characters. If you're plyaing the Xbox 360 version, then it's still worth collecting them all in order to gain an Achievement, if you like gaining Achievements for Xbox Live. If you have the PS3 version, they are just something to collect for fun, as this version doesn't connect to the PlayStation Network.
Just Like Robin Hood: Allegretto and Beat steal from a bakery to feed homeless people in the sewers. The taxes in the town are so high that, without Allegretto and Beat playing Robin Hood, they would likely starve to death.
Kissing Discretion Shot: In the ending, Allegretto and Polka share a passionate hug in the renewed Tenuto flower field and then the camera pans away for a wide shot of the scenery just as they begin to kiss.
Large Ham: A lot of the voice actors chew the scenery quite a bit, but the crown is taken by Liam O'Brien, who is clearly having a hell of a time playing Count Waltz.
Laughing Mad: One of Count Waltz's lines when he does a charged-up Apocalypse Fall. He also does a magnificent one at the start of the battle against him in the Xbox 360 release, but this was altered for the PlayStation 3Updated Rerelease.
Letters 2 Numbers: The various "321" references in association with the god EZI.
Heck, even the achievement on the Xbox 360 version for collecting all EZI items is worth 321 gamerscore.
Love Freak: All Polka wants to do help other people, even if the same people that she heals treat her like a leper because they think her illness is contagious.
Mighty Glacier: Jazz has the highest attack stats and hit points, but he's also one of the slowest characters.
The Messiah: It's never quite clear how or why, but it seems that Polka is destined to heal the world. The PS3 version makes it clearer; Polka's astra shines brighter than anyone else's in the world.
Multiple Endings: If you lose to Chopin in the final battle, he wakes up in the real world. The PS3 version of the game also bears some changes on the normal ending. Additionally, the PS3 version has at least three different sequences that can be shown during the first set of closing credits. What's odd is that there doesn't seem to any specific trigger that determines which ending you get. The endings are as follows:
Frederic appears on a black background and addresses a soliloquy directly to his late sister, Emilia.
Photos of various scenes from throughout the game are shown.
The characters appear and recite lines from the game. However, they don't directly address the player like in the Xbox 360 version and some of the lines they use are ones that are exclusive to the PS3 version.
Mythology Gag: A most curious meta example. In the Scrapbook bonus included in the PlayStation 3Updated Rerelease of Eternal Sonata, there's a picture called "No way!" in which Frederic appears to have a ghostly hand on his shoulder and Allegretto, who took the photo, is all "W-What's that on Frederic's shoulder?" In one of the scenes following a boss fight in the Double Reed Tower, Allegretto makes fun of Beat's camera by suggesting that it could take pictures of ghosts. The curious thing, though, was that this scene was only in the Xbox 360 version and replaced by something else entirely in the PlayStation 3 one.
New Game Plus: Beating the game allows to play in Encore Mode. All enemies are about 1.5x stronger, but you are allowed to change your Party Level at any time (in a normal playthrough, the Party Level increases throughout the game and cannot be changed manually.) You also keep all Score Pieces you found in your first playthrough, and have access to all of the music you unlocked from the menu. A number of new sidequests open up as well.
Nice Hat: Chopin wears a stylish top hat, complete with plucked feathers in the brim.
Salsa wears a fancy pirate's hat which is her pride and joy.
Nintendo Hard: Many elements of the battle system have been altered in the PlayStation 3Updated Rerelease to remove things that were easy in Xbox 360. Both roaming enemies and bosses often give less EXP, bosses often substantially less. Beat's photos are harder to get Rank A and while in the original even Rank C sold for a lot of gold, in the update the best Rank A generally sell for less than a Rank C of the same monster from the original. Characters learn certain Special Attacks at different levels (usually, though not always, ones less favorable to the player) and one of the most painful - Angel Trumpets (the main items used for reviving) carry a weight of three in the item set instead of two.
Nothing Can Stop Us Now: Count Waltz in the first battle against him, but only in the original Xbox 360 version (in which it also happens to be the only battle against him.)
Rondo: You fool. The information you provided us was very valuable. But I was ordered to kill you if your identity was revealed. Don't take it personally.
Older Than They Look: Look at Chopin's picture and then realize that while he looks like he's in his early 20's, he's actually 39.
One Steve Limit: There are two characters that are called Bass - one of them is a member of Andantino and the other is a flunky of the pirate captain Dolce.
Odd Name Out: Baroque City, while still musically relevant, stands out among Forte, (sus)Tenuto, Ritardando, and Andantino as a style of music, rather than a musical direction.
The Hanon Hills also count, as the locations are generally named after musical terms of some sort, but these are actually a tribute a person— Charlie Louis Hanon, a famous French piano pedagogue, who is known for a series of training exercises for pianists.
Palette Swap: Heinously used to turn a roster of about thirty types of monsters into seventy. As well, used to turn early game bosses into mini bosses in the Final Dungeon. In the PlayStation 3Updated Rerelease, March actually Lamp Shades this when after the party defeats the White Jewel in the Double Reed Tower, she notes that its appearance was similar to a monster in the Agogo Forest (the Baby Dragon fought by Allegretto and Beat), so examined it and found that the texture of its hide was different, and a lot more durable.
Technically this applies to March and Salsa also, but it 's forgivable considering they're twins.
Pirate Girl: The pirate ship Dolce is named after its female captain, who you encounter in chapter 4.
Polar Opposite Twins: The twins, Salsa and March, are not only opposite in personality but use solar- and lunar-themed attacks, respectively. Additionally, when you find a weapon for one that does greater damage to light creatures, there's a complimentary one nearby that does greater damage to dark creatures.
"The Reason You Suck" Speech: PS3 Waltz delivers a nice one in the final battle against him in the Double Reed Tower, with shots specially directed against Crescendo and Polka. Alegretto tries pulling off a Shut Up, Hannibal! but Waltz just shrugs it off.
Red Oni, Blue Oni: Salsa {red} and March {blue}. Even their hair are the respective colors! March's Blue Oni tendencies are even more pronounced in the PlayStation 3Updated Rerelease - there are several references to her being passionate about research that aren't present in the Xbox 360 version.
Reverse Psychology: Used by Salsa and March, with a brief addition by Viola, to goad Count Waltz into fighting the party in the PlayStation 3Updated Rerelease. In the Xbox 360 version, he just decides to fight the party for "entertainment" once Polka surrenders to him. In the rerelease, howver, he much more sensibly orders his dragons to take out the party. Since trying to take on a group of dragons would be a very bad idea, Salsa and March goad him by telling him that the party is "under the protection of the glowing agogos," with Viola noting that they've already defeated all of his other "little henchmen." This is successful in convincing Count Waltz to decide "If those bumbling idiots couldn't manage it, then why don't we see what I can do!"
Save Scumming: Poison status is extremely useful against bosses that are affected by it and can be inflicted by using an item. Not only does it cause them to lose HP at the beginning of each turn, but it also causes them to stagger, lessening the amount of time they have to attack your party. Bosses that are affected by it, however, are also generally resistant to it, meaning there's a fair chance that the item won't inflict it. Fortunately, however, there is always a save before a boss, meaning that you can just reset until you get the result you want.
So Long, and Thanks for All the Gear: There are numerous instances where you switch between different groups of party members. Whenever you do, the party members that are left behind keep whatever equipment they have for the time being and you don't get it back until they rejoin. Not a problem with weapons, since each character has their own unique type, but definitely potentially troublesome with accessories and armor. Particularly egregious if you choose to Crescendo and Serenade for the final boss battle of Lament Mirror in the PS3 version, since you don't get them back for two chapters. And don't even think about equipping anything good to Claves, who dies at the end of Chapter 3, though she can rejoin, and eventually fully resurrected, if you visit Mysterious Unison in Chapter 7, at which point you can finally get back anything that was equipped.
Speaks Fluent Animal: Part of the second trading sidequest involves finding the ingredients for a magic candy that allows one to talk to animals, which you ultimately give to an item merchant who wants to be able to talk to his horse. (Absurd! No one can talk to a horse, of course!) Also, there's a woman in Baroque you can help out whose husband has disappeared into the Sharp Mountains. Viola is somehow able to understand a dog whose barking "tells" her that the husband is in danger and needs help.
Stable Time Loop: Also a bit of a Mind Screw. The game gradually reveals that everyone has made this journey before. At the end, Polka casts herself off a cliff, only to emerge as a little girl falling from the sky into her mother's arms, where she repeats the past seven or so years of her life all over again. Only Chopin's death breaks the cycle. This also explains the extraordinarily high volume of fortunes on the tree near the end of the game in a place that would be implausible for average people to venture; they're all Polka's fortunes.
Stealth Pun: Sop and Rano, two girls in Tenuto Village whose combined names make "soprano." Also, March's line "experience is what counts" upon winning a battle.
The Stinger: The story of the snail and the caterpillar at the end of the game. Make sure to wait about a minute once you receive the screen that says "Fin," or you will miss it.
Sure, Let's Go with That: When Allegretto decides to ditch the party who's supposed take care of the "ghosts" underneath the Mandolin Church, Allegretto decides to jet to go fetch Polka. Viola suggests that perhaps the reason he's leaving is because he's scared of ghosts, and he happily seizes on that excuse, stating that he never told anyone before, but he's super-scared of ghosts.
Tagline: "Cross the bridge between dreams and reality."
Taking You with Me: Tuba tries this when you defeat him a second time at Cabasa Bridge at the end of Chapter Two. It doesn't work, see Involuntary Group Split above.
Talking Is a Free Action: For any character uttering one of their soliloquys prior to launching a charged-up Special Attack. The Action Gauge stops cold which is a good thing, since a couple of these soliloquys take longer for them to say than a full turn of the Action Gauge.
Talking to Herself: The twins Salsa and March share a voice actress (in English; their Japanese voice actresses are different).
That's an Order: Count Waltz to Legato in the PlayStation 3Updated Rerelease after Legato is initially hestitant about drinking the enhanced mineral powder, though he phrases it as "This is not a request."
That Wasn't a Request: Count Waltz to your party, but only in the PlayStation 3Updated Rerelease. He demands that the party surrender Polka and in the original Xbox 360 version, Polka just surrenders herself right away. In the PS3 version, however, the party has realized that it's not really Polka that Waltz is after, but rather the glowing agogos, and Polka initally refuses Count Waltz's "request."
Polka: There's no way I'll go with you. Besides, I already know what it is I have to do. I know what to do to really help everyone.
Count Waltz: You people don't quite understand the situation. Do you honestly think you have any say in the matter? How unfortunate. And just as I was going to respond to Prince Crescendo's little bid for peaceful negotiations. You will hand the girl over to me immediately. Because I'm afraid that if you don't, you're dead.
These Hands Have Killed: In the ending of the PlayStation 3 version, Frederic stares at his hands in this manner after he wakes up following Polka's sacrifice. Of course, technically he didn't, but he blames himself for not being able to do anything to stop what happened.
They Call Me Mister Tibbs: When the party first meets Crescendo, Beat has trouble pronouncing his name, so he suggests that he could call him "Captain," since he's the captain of the Baroque ship. Crescendo chuckles and says that the party may feel free to call him whatever they like. After they learn that he's a prince, Beat and Salsa continue to refer to him as "the Captain," even though Polka states "You two need to stop calling him the captain. You should call him Prince Crescendo for he is the Prince of Baroque."
This Cannot Be!: Count Waltz in the second battle against him, which only occurs in the PlayStation 3Updated Rerelease. "I can't believe this. How could I lose? Impossible. I will not accept it. I will never accept defeat!"
Translation Correction: In the Japanese version, Chopin mispronounced the "grâce" (GRAHS) in his attack "Coup de Grâce" as the English word grace. The English version had the correct pronunciation.
Two Lines, No Waiting: In the first chapter as well as after the bridge collapses the main characters will be seperated and be played apart in different segments.
Updated Rerelease: The PS3 version adds several quests, new playable characters, tweaked game mechanics, an altered script, and other minute changes.
Utopia Justifies the Means: Count Waltz made the zombie cure the only one the general public could afford and ruined the Agogo Forest while making them, sure, but he did make a miracle cure.
"Terrible? Why, whatever do you mean? It was entirely for the sake of my subjects that I developed the most effective medicine possible."
The Very Definitely Final Dungeon: Double Reed Tower, is beautiful and ethereal and you will know that it is the final dungeon before you even step foot in it, unfortunately it is also repetitive as one most climb up two seperate, yet identical towers and then back down both as well.
Videogame Historical Revisionism: Averted. The makers tried to be as historically accurate as possible and worked with the Chopin Society in Warsaw in order to make sure they were. The only flaw is Chopin using a conductor's baton when he was a pianist in real life.
What Do You Mean, It's Not Symbolic?: Though the events of the game are supposed to be representative of Chopin's life experiences, there are some events that just do not make sense in this context, yet are given the air of being symbolic of something. Most noticeably, the final scene of the game is a tête-a-tête between a snail and a caterpillar.
Some of that is possibly reflecting what Chopin himself would have thought about. Particularly, conflict and good people needlessly suffering. His little sister died of tuberculosis at the age of fourteen and quite a lot of conflict occured in Poland during Chopin's lifetime.
White Magician Girl: Princess Serenade seems like she's going to be this: she's a pretty princess with a heart-shaped staff, she's a love interest to another character, and she can heal. It turns out, though, that she deals massive amounts of damage and is The Mole.
Worthless Treasure Twist: A variation in that the party actually finds a real pirate's treasure of gold and jewels, but what Salsa values is a pirate's hat to replace her hat that got lost at sea.
Would Hit a Girl: Averted even outside of battle. In one particular cutscene, Jazz slaps Falsetto. You don't hate him for it. Maybe it helps that he then hugs her.
Year Inside, Hour Outside: The events that happen in the dream world are indicated to be taking place in the real world in a period of just over three hours in terms of the time from when Frederic starts the dream till when he dies.
You Gotta Have Blue Hair: Silver for Allegretto and Falsetto, pinkish for Claves and Salsa, lavender for March. The rest of the party and most NPCs have more "ordinary" hair colours. Then again, it is a dream world, after all.
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