I've done a bit of searching and can't seem to find an good synopsis of the storyline as it approaches the end (and the ending itself).  The game is absolutely beautiful, the sound is stunning, and the ending, well, is the longest ending of any videogame I have ever played -- by a lot.  Unfortunately, it didn't make a whole lot of sense and I suspect that Tri-Crescendo probably got off story a bit and tried to wrap it up all in the end and was rather unsuccessful.  Regardless, it was an exceptional game and I would highly reccommend it to anyone that likes JRPGs (turn-based) as it has some truly imaginative and beautiful scenery...

is it better than Enchanted Arms ?!
Do you recommend me to buy it ?!

It's a bit better than EM.

As for the ending, what exactly are you trying to understand?

In the end, everything kind of goes to the crapper for Chopin - he realizes Polka is dying due to her condition, and the characters in his dream are getting out of control, and is beginning to question if it's a dream at all (ie, Polka & Chopin in the midnight forest).

However, once the party defeats the last uber-boss, Chopin realizes he's still stuck in his dreamworld, and needs to get out of it.

This is why he fights the party, and looses. Near lifeless on the ground, he realizes he's still in this dreamworld, and cannot get out. He gives up on leaving the dreamworld, because of his friendship with Polka (who just jumped off a cliff), and uses the fact he knows it's a dream to re-write the story, and bring Polka back, thus turning his dream into an eternal sonata. Once he gives into the dream, he dies in the real world (as you see in the outside world cutscenes).

Having said this, it's just my interpretation of the ending. My girlfriend was confused about the ending as well. We haven't finished the Mysterious Union, and beat the game the 2nd time around to possibly unlock alot more stuff (since it seems that the 2nd game is a bit different).

@mr. stick... Hmmm... That's an interesting interpretation and certainly seems quite plausible, but I though there was an intention for something a bit deeper as in maybe each of the people in his dream represented a area of his own psyche and personal spiritual beliefs. There are a few tie-ins along the way that would support that but it falls apart in the end. One interesting thing I noticed was that the flowers, when polka and chopin first encountered the illuminated flowers, she talks about them opening at precisely 2AM which is his time of death to the minute. Clearly there was some intention in the story to tie these two events together and they did try at the end of the game. I could just be looking for something deeper and complicating things.

Overall, I found the game to be rather wonderful and is a must play for the die-hard JRPG fan. I know it didn't get stellar reviews but it is really very good. I never stopped loving the environments as they were so rich in color and detail one couldn't help but be in awe with every new level.

The battle system, like all turn-based rpgs, can become a monotonous but they did a great job of bringing something fresh to turn-based by allowing the user free movement and options in how to attack your adversaires. As you level up, there are more options opened up and some of the attacks are awesome. I'd prefer all turn-based go to this format as it changes things up. The real issue with the battle system is not that it is turn-based but that there needed to be a few more varieties of monsters as they re-used them too often.

The story could certainly have been tied up a little tighter but still it is a thoroughly enjoyable game and I'd definitely say two thumbs up. It took me about 35 hours to finish the game and I spent no time on side-quests. I did engage in *most* monster battles as they were presented and finished the game with all party members in the low 60s level-wise.

The music, above all, was exceptional as I love classical.

still have yet to beat it (halo 3 came out.......... then COD..........then AC..........then ME.......)

kn - The secret to side quests is the 2nd playthrough, it's chock full of em. Mysterious Union alone is about 2-3 hours.

I will buy one game tommoro
AC or ES ?

 two completely different games... I haven't played AC but it I understand that it is fun, but repetitive.  It really depends on what kinds of games you like to answer that one...