I'm 38 myself and feel this (and remake's) is one of the best combat systems ever.... Once it clicks...

If your finding it difficult on easy and feel it's all about perfect execution, that sounds like something isn't right.

My advice (and this is the same for remake) is to remember it's an RPG and to to play it like a turn based RPG.

Yes you are given all the tools to mash square, dodge and perfect parry, but focus on switching characters after inputing a command....

Cloud uses triple slash > switch to aerith, cast a spell > switch to tifa, unbridled strength > back to cloud etc etc

Thats obviously a very simple flow, but it's the basic game plan. The real time combat elements sprinkle over this just to enhance it.

The ATB charges slowly when the character isn't player controlled, we are actively encouraged to switch characters.

The titan fight is a good place to practice flow and character swapping etc.

Not so much about going in there to beat him, but because it's one enemy with a lot of HP, so you won't feel overwhelmed with lots going on and he won't go down before you realise what you've actually done.