If you have a Gamecube and love RPGs, it is a crime to miss out on this game.
Ok, don't give me the glares FF lovers. I enjoy the series as much as the next person, but there's only so much you can do with the ATB system. Real time RPGs are the future, according to my predictions.
Storyline-
Cliche it has been called. Yet people forget that almost every game is cliche in some way, because that is what defines it as part of that genre. RPGs do your whole save the world story and find your long lost mother/father/dog/ANY LIVING THING IMAGINABLE. Anyways, there are defintely cliches, backstabbing, fighting immesurable odds, etc, but despite the complaints, we're all suckers for cliches at heart. Why would so many love stories/ buddy buddy comedy movies/ action adventure Matrix ripoffs be made if people didn't want to watch them? Couldn't we call Titanic or Remember the Titans cliche? Yes, but it doesn't undermine their quality. So being cliche is sort of an honor, showing you got the formula that people seem to like right.
Gameplay-
Brilliant. Real time fighting with AI controlled teammates is a great way to play. If you're like me and like to get into the battle and dodge and weave while smashing the opponent with your swords, you're going to be using Lloyd most of the time. Those who want to stay back and strategize a bit more and not worry about button mashing combos should pick someone like Raine or Genis. Colette takes a loooooong time to cast, so if you really don't want to pay much attention to your own character and watch the AIs in action, choose her. The ability to use items whenever you want is good, and the addition of a wait period between item use is good as well, adding to the danger as every second you get closer to your self manufactured DOOM.
Less strategy and more quick reflexes go into this game. You can pause mid battle to sit back and think about what you are doing, but it's unnecessary most of the time. I ended up not using the combo system much, you don't need to anyways, combos don't guarantee a loss or win. Your AI can win the battle for you in regular matches, but you're going to need to fight the boss battles, as you'll probably be dosing out potions and revives by the seconds, especially during long or strategy needing fights. (Note: Watch out for the boss that is unaffected by physical attacks, bring 4 spellcasters for this one, it took me about 15 minutes to figure out Lloyd wasn't doing a thing :D)
Graphics-
Not 5 star, probably 4.5. I'm going to echo many others when I say that they could've done better with the world map. At least make the blobs look like something other than... BLOBS. Maybe a cat or a bear or a flying spaghetti monster. The aspect of flight was nice, especially towards the end when you're zipping back and forth between continents. The towns are absolutely gorgeous. There is quite a bit of detail and plenty of people to talk to, and the towns are so varied and sometimes quite amusing (Katz Village anyone?)
Sound-
Nothing too memorable, but still nice indeed. It wasn't too distracting, I only found the excess amount of shouting a bit annoying. Yes, I know we're using tiger fang, the name is on the top of the screen AND I'm watching you perform it ANDI know what button I pressed, I don't need you to shout it so the enemy can hear it and say GEE I WONDER WHAT HE'S GONNA DO NEXT (It just doesn't make sense. *sigh*). There was some mid battle dialogue at the last boss that I found enjoyable, between Lloyd and Mithos. It was Japanese anime-esque in that they actually shot words back and forth mid battle in the dramatic way. I also like that it didn't usually take them ten minutes to actually start fighting, and actually responded when something happened, unlike a lot of anime/anime games where they just stand around talking and clench their fists and glare while wating for the last possible second to fight back. (Inu Yasha, I'm looking at you(Note inside the note: I love anime, but I can joke of it's faults :P)) Anyways, I did enjoy some of the songs, I liked that they weren't overly dramatic and sometimes upbeat and funky.
Overall-
It would be a shame for any true RPG fan to miss this one. I vote that you get 5-10 without parole if you don't sit and play this game. The characters are enjoyable, the fighting system is sweet, and not much clashes. There is the occasional flaw (How come Colette didn't use her brilliant flying talents until the LAST POSSIBLE DUNGEON when it would have been a lot easier for them to do stuff? Like, I don't know, just fly up to the top of the freaking dungeon? Take one person at a time, I don't care, just dun BS me that oh, we have to move these stones to get through because Colette can't fly over something 5 feet tall. Or maybe fly over the walls of Meltokio instead of taking the sewers to get in?), but all around, this game is hard pressed to be beat. Buy this game.