Slow start, but keeps your interest after a while
But after a certain event where you can finally control Jack and are able to recruit friends that I really got into the game.
Every aspect of the environment is detailed and I was impressed that even the NPCs had their own voice work and dialouges (when they're not behind the counter) and schedules.
Also, being a fan of the Suikoden series in which you must recruit 108 characters, I was delighted to find out that all 177 characters can fight alongside Jack in Radiata Stories.
The game has a wonderful storyline which gives the game a good playback value (which you mus do in order to recruit all 177 characters).
I gave it a "just right" on difficulty because it really depends on which path you decide to take. It's very easy on the human path, but it's a little more difficult on the non-human path.