Really suprised at the Hate for this game. Its much more "old school" then most current RPG's. They didnt add a bunch of Sparkles that really dont make the game more fun (they just make it more busy). While I would say its pretty standard fare, nothing new at all. In fact gameplay and story wise it would have fit right in about 10+ years ago when RPG's where big. Graphics are about 1-2 years old , not awsome, but pretty nice. Standard horrible English voice acting/translation.
Where this game stands or falls is the combat. Unfortantly this is the one spot I do hold a grudge with this game. I like hte old style turn based combat, feel right at home. You fight in groups, not single players (this is a wash, dont care really, just instead of one guy 1 attack, its 3 guys 3 attacks, 1 hp pool, makes each battle 3X longer). But the location on the battlefield and if groups attack form sides, etc.. all can make differences and its a bit confusing all the intercepts, flanking, etc..
Still its not a bad game, there are certianly better ones (rpg), but its not bad. Honestly as far as RPG's go this gen from best to worst (IMHO) for both systems, all i own (ya i own some real crap).
----Must Have---------
valkyrie chronicle
Dragon Age
Fallout III
Tales of Vesperia
Lost Odyssey
Elder Scrolls
Eternal Sonata
Foklore -but this one wont appeal to everybody
Mass Effect- little to much FPS
Disgaea 3 -some dont like the 10 year old graphics
-----those are the worth getting-----------
Blue Dragon
Fable II
Star Ocean- way to much combo style crap
-----Only for hardcore-------
Two Worlds- almost worth it... almost
Infinate Undiscovery
Enchanted Arms
Operation Darkness
Spectral Forces
One last thing, Demons Soul, not a RPG to me, if you classify it as one it would be top 3 in this list to me... Basicly one of the best games I have played in the last 10 years for challange, fun, just overall good gameing.
All the above is just opinion, mine...