This game isn't for everyone, but it was 100% up my particular alley. My favorite RPGs of all time are Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy IX, and everything I've played since then has offered diminishing returns on that spark. This was the first game I played since then (so technically since 2000?) that genuinely gave me that same feeling of wonder and whimsy and epic adventure that those games did.There are flaws: Some confusing and difficult to navigate areas and quests (just look up a walkthrough online if you get stuck), convoluted mechanics for leveling and an initially overwhelming and sprawling battle system. The other flaw is some bonkers fan-service-y character design in places (namely some of the blades you acquire in your party). But some of those things grow on you (the battle system is a blast once you figure it out), and the others are easy to overlook because of all the fun you're having exploring the vast world and story. In fact, some you can mostly ignore - some of the crafting and leveling mechanics, for instance, you don't have to get really deep into if you don't want to. You can still complete the story with minimal focus on those, but if you like them you can dig deeper. And if you hate a particular blade's character design, just don't equip it and equip one you like better.I put over 95 hours into this game before I beat the main story, and only got more and more enjoyment out of it as it went on. The story keeps twisting and topping and one-upping itself, evolving right up to the last chapter when it reaches its genuinely surprising and spectacular conclusion. Even after completing the main story, I have tons of quests to go back to and finish up, as well as the expansion pass that you can get if you like.And none of this is even mentioning the music, which is incredible. Yasunori Mitsuda (of Chrono Trigger) and a handful of other composers go all out with a bombastic, over-the-top score that's just awe inspiring. I can't say enough good things about the music. Again, since Chrono Trigger and FFIX I haven't heard game music that hit me so hard and resonated so deeply with me as this soundtrack has.This is one of my favorite games of all time now, right up there with Chrono Trigger and FFIX. I get why some people don't like it, but this game is perfect for me.