I personally like that they balance and included things the way they did. Because in a way you still have to kind of work for it and move around and grind even if you're using the scout plus bodyguard ability. Or you can choose not to use those things because you don't really know how to use the systems and don't like the menu, navigation or some weird reason.
I love what they've done to compliment the original while not taking the essence away of the story and the setting. I already said this earlier in the thread but this definitely exceeds the original for me. And that doesn't mean that I'm trying to find reasons not to like it because I love the original back then for what it was doing. But I do think the updated graphics and lack of pre-rendered backgrounds give the game a much needed layer of polish that I can confidently save makes it a lot more appealing versus looking at those old PS1 graphics.
I love that aesthetic and that was a great. Of nostalgia for me. But while there is some certain things you can, maybe micro nitpick, it's hard to deny that this is not only just a great remake, but something that has overtaken the original for me. Me. I know that some say you can go back and play the original and I think you can, but this is the definitive way to play it and the option to play it in a way which makes it easier for people if they know what they're doing is there. I think you have to respect the player's time and you can choose to play a different ways. But the bottom line is the game is fun, very engaging in terms of the systems in use, and has a really cool and deep system for learning abilities and enhancing your characters. It almost feels quite ahead of its time in those aspects.
I'm about 11 hours in right now and at Hilton. Just from running around and doing the linked battles and using the scout bodyguard abilities, I've hit about level 51 with all my characters. I think that area I just hit was quite challenging initially because it did require a good 8 to 10 hits with the enemies. That is my measurement of how difficult or how the game is scaling up. I had quite a bit of confidence before that area but since I've gotten there and I've taken the time to level up because I think it's fun in this game, I've had quite a few levels and now I found the balance for myself again like I do it a lot of RPGs. I end up stopping in between towns and always going up five to 10 levels or whatever is manageable. That's how I stay ahead of the curve and continue to earn money. I found this balance a while ago with RPGs like this instead of trying to rush through them and feeling like I'm skating by the skin of my teeth.
I'm a little bit too old for wanting to make the game a struggle for myself and really do want to enjoy games more. Which is why to an extent. I've used trainers in the past. Not too necessarily cheat through the battles but to give me extra money or something that's going to enable me to be a little bit more powerful. While still enjoying the core mechanics of the game. I feel like I'm actually not going to need a trainer for this and while I probably won't get every item and the best weapons in the game unless I feel like it, I am enjoying this immensely.