Great but not different
I agree with you to a certain extent, people could say Luminous Arc is a wannabe Final Fantasy, I really don't see any difference between the gameplay of both.
Tactical turn games for the DS is really hard to make a stand, so I won't blame Luminous Arc for falling to the dubious hands of the Final Fantasy fanbase, so what should be the thing that sets the two series apart?
It's the storyline, and art.
The art for Luminous Arc is not supremely fantastic bubblalicious or anything, but it's indeed a refreshing difference from the horrible 3D graphics from Avalon Code (no offense, I couldn't stand it).
With anime like characters that pop out during the narration (it's like with other turn based games, MegaTen's Devil Survivor or FF Tactics), it's really nice to see such eye candy during a game that is heavily based on text. (Be prepared! :D)
Storyline: 7.2
Yeah, not bad, but not that different from Final Fantasy.
But the concept here is that Final Fantasy practically embraces the whole magic-demons-fantasy land ideation, so it's really difficult to try and deviate from that statement of "Cheap Knock-off FF.
Hey, but at least you get at least a decent story, and not just some game that throws boobs at you.
You fight through the game, with witches that aid you, are they your adversaries? Or your enemies? You doubt yourself, and eventually you come to confront your suspicions for the organization/cult that you were always so devoted to, taking stands on the hated witches for centuries.
Can you handle the obstacles that stand in your way? The monsters, your master and teacher, and even God?
Art: 8.3
Hell yeah, the introduction (Cinematic Introduction) is always a great game inducer for me.
Other games, like Final Fantasy, Rune Factory, and Shin Megami Tensei, which all have great Cinematic Intros, are about likely to impress you with the game as much as the badass video will impress you.
The art for the characters are nicely done as well, beautiful and well endowed witches (huge bonus here), and a TRAP for a brother.
My only complaint is that the MC looked a bit too fat, but oh well!
Gameplay: 7.6
Warning, I'm extremely biased in this section.
For one, I absolutely LOVE Tactical turn-based games, I started with FF Tactics on the GBA, and I continued on becoming a hardcore fan.
It's really not much different from other similar games, but what sets it different is usually the skills, passives, characters, monsters and such.
If you loved FF Tactics, or Devil Survivor, do give Luminous Arc a shot!
Re-playability: 5.5
I never actually touched it again after finishing, if you want to give it a shot, well be my guest~
I don't see any point in actually re-doing this game, but you could if you really liked it.