Probably not the kind of game you bought your PS3 to play, but more rewarding and engaging than much of it's library.
At first, I was really put off. The animation seemed stiff and all I kept thinking was that this game should have been on PSP or PS2, or heck, Wii. But then I put more time in. And more. Started getting more characters, learned how the battle system works, as well as the upgrade systems, and now, over 20 hours in, I can honestly say this game has me hooked.
The game is essentially a standard RPG with a really complex battle system that has shades of a tactical RPG (like Final Fantasy Tactics) imbedded within. Lots of gauges, points and abilities to keep track of, and the learning curve is steep. The game is 2D, with polygonal graphics used for the backgrounds and many of the enemies. That's cool with me because I usually prefer the more artistic 2D games to 3D games. Combo attacks, special effects, varied weapons and an engaging cast will keep you busy while you proceed through the game's interesting story. I'm not going to bother trying to explain the game's mechanics; it's best just to focus primarily on this game and learn it yourself. If you're the kind of gamer that juggles several in-depth titles at once, you might want to skip this one. But if you're the kind of gamer that likes a long, deep game to sink their teeth into, this is a good choice.
Graphics are so-so; great if you don't mind low-res 2D sprites, but archaic and lousy if you do. The graphics aren't the best part of this game.
Sound is excellent; between the voice work, the incredible music you'll hear throughout battle, in cinema scenes and just walking around, not to mention that incredible opening theme, the entire game is a feast for the ears. It's also engaging when characters announce special attacks during battle and converse based on various actions (for example, York may say "No more messing around!" if a fight proceeds to the third round). It gives the game a sense of believability, that these are real "people", not dolls who you control by pressing buttons.
Gameplay: Once you master the battle system (which can take a while) and learn to understand the information presented in the Arcane Tome, figure out the various means of upgrading your characters and equipment, this game will either become very addictive (as it did for me) or become too complicated to be worth it. I think any gamer who likes serious tactical RPG gameplay will be in gameplay heaven. However, you might want to play the game on Easy first, unless you really like grinding. I only wish this game were on PSP so I could play it on the go (which is how I prefer my RPGs these days).
Replay value: I haven't beaten it yet, but if it's anything like most JRPGs from the production houses that joined forces to create Cross Ege, I expect it will be incredibly long, give you plenty to do after the main quest is over, and it seems to encourage multiple playthroughs by telling you right out of the gate that there are certain items that will transfer to a new game depending upon the difficulty level you choose. One more thing; there are downloadable items that can make your journey easier, available for free in the PS Store, including a bonus dungeon, which is icing on the cake.
Bottom line: if you like serious tactical JRPGs, get Cross Edge. It's a great game and a good value, and very much worth the effort to support titles like this so more interesting games will continue to come to the US market. If you're like me and sick of all the FPS and sports games that flood the consoles, speak with your gaming dollar and buy the kinds of games you want to play...don't settle for the ones you don't really care for.