The best rpg ever is back and is still a instant classic to new and old players alike
After you win an encounter, you will gain both experience points and "Tech" points. Tech points are basically experience points that go to gaining new special attacks called "Techs" (Surprise!). There are even Double Techs and Triple Techs which you can use when different characters are paired up with each other.
The combat encounters are fast-paced, fun, and exciting, even though most are fairly easy, apart from the boss battles which require a bit of thinking. The character's abilities are also varied, and it takes a bit of strategy to match up a great team for an upcoming battle.
Apart from combat, the game is also amazing. To put it simply, you go go throughout different eras in time ranging from 65,000,000 B.C. to 2,300 A.D. affecting the universe itself. If you change the past, you will also change the future. The concept adds quite a bit of non-linearity, and opens up many possibilities for side quests, which the game has plenty of. One of the biggest sidequests is one within an area called "Lost Sanctum". It's a fun little offshoot of the main game, but overall, it is slightly on the repetitive side. Even so, each and every one of the sidequests are worth your time and offer a bigger and better experience of the game.
There is also an Arena mode where you can raise your own monster, and have it fight other monsters for items. You send it off for training in different areas, where it can gain various stats, learn it's own techs, or advance in rank in the form of evolving into a new monster. You'll have to wait around 10 minutes in-game time before it returns. It's not very deep, and you aren't able to actually control the monster in battle (besides giving it items to use), but it is a nice little addition that adds quite a bit of content, and is the only mode where you can use wireless to battle with your friends.
Graphics: 9/10
Who doesn't love these great old school graphics? It has it's own style that stands the test of time. I do not believe the graphics will ever die out, although others may not share my opinion. It's not technically as "high quality" as modern games, but for me, I didn't care one bit. The animations are nice, the scenes play out beautifully, and the characters and enemies (particularly bosses) are very nice looking.
The game also includes a few movie sequences which play out at various times during the game. It's a great addition, but I personally didn't prefer them to the original in-game scenes, but luckily they are optional.
Sound: 9/10
The game's soundtrack is absolutely beautiful. It's epic when it needs to be, it's creepy when it needs to be, and can also be heartbreaking when it needs to be. The background music fits the areas, and multiple times while playing, I would purposefully take a break from the game to admire it. As with the graphics, it's very old school, but again like the graphics, it stands the test of time intact.
The battle sounds are the same basic sounds as you would expect. Swords swinging and spells being cast, it's all what you've heard before. Not amazing, but definitely not bad. But really, how much can you actually improve upon the sound of a monster being stabbed?
Story: 10/10
The story is actually original. It involves time-traveling, death, betrayal, and payback. The story will invoke many emotions throughout the game. Sometimes it will make you laugh with it's fairly quirky humor, or make you mourn over a fallen character. Speaking of characters, you will have a wide range of unique characters at your disposal. Each one of them have great personalities, and soon you will become attached to them. I don't know about you, but I don't know many games that could make you feel for a massive talking frog. Or a main character who never says a word the entire game.
I've heard various opinions about how the translation has been revamped. Some good, some bad. Personally, I have no experience with the original and I really like the writing in this game. It has a certain unique quality about it that makes it different from other games.