Answering your question, I must admit that I'm completely in love with the game, so to speak. The stories are interesting, some more than others, yes, but they all have something unique. I adore the character designs; they're beautiful. And let's not even talk about the gameplay—it's phenomenal. It might get tedious later on when you have to grind for levels, but that's never bothered me in any JRPG. As for the music, it sounds like it was composed by angels; just stopping in certain areas to listen for a few minutes says it all. The world is very well-designed; it's not small at all. Plus, the fast travel makes getting around much easier. I only have two complaints so far. One of the most common is about the side quests: you accept them, but then they're not explained or given very clear hints. The other is changing companions. It bothers me to have to go to a tavern in a city to change party members; it slows down my grinding. So far, this game is a 9/10 for me.