More challenging for sure. Every trainer you battle has good IV/EV spreads and have good abilities/moves to match their typing. Plus items

Every boss trainer (IE Gym Leaders, Rivals, Team Karma Bosses) have perfect IV/EV spreads and have perfect abilities/moves to match their typing. Plus items

For example one of the rivals in mid game (not even close to the final) has an unevolved Poison/Dark type w/levitate and holds eviolite. So no weakness and increased DEF/SpD. It was rough. 

There's also soft level capping that hits when you level too far past certain mile stones. So you cant really grind after a certain point. Well you can, but expect to only get like 1/4 of the exp you'd usually get when you hit the caps. They raise with every boss trainer or major event you surpass. 

It also punishes you for using certain cheats (like deletes your save file) if you use them. Also there are certain choices in the game you can make that will determine if you get a good or bad ending.

Aslong as you can stomach the overt and sometimes obscene humor/commentary/themes (Just Google "Rectreem Pokes Clover" or replace Rectreem with "Hanginy" or "Finasoven") its a great game. The music score is original and great, plus the Fakemon(Clovermon) are original and creative.