Not too far off from a masterpiece.
If you want a good story, its all there. Dive in, because the world this game opens up with characters and plot is truly deep. The cutscenes are a *very* nice touch. Its pretty dramatic though, and the only comic relief is that the cute little characters dont have noses..
Gameplay:
Are you yearning to strategize? Would you even go so far as to get a pen and paper to plan some stuff out? You will have to do some background research and learn from the pros before you ultimately understand the mechanics of character development and strategy. This game simply doesnt teach you everything by itself. The learning curve is huge, but once you think you got it figured out...you will be addicted. The replayability in this game is very high, which gives it great value.
All in all:
Its 10 years old, and it may be the most valued psp game coming out this year, if not ever. Its a definite classic, yet it isnt outdated at all. Its only flaw is that it is so tough to get into. Once you do get into it though, you will not regret it. Seriously, give it a try.