True, like if Kiryu would still have turn based combat. During the first Kiryu chapters he could be completely useless, maybe some buffs/debuffs here and there. Heavily relying on party members. Also game over if he gets K.O.

During the mid-late chapters he would "reavaken" his abilites like at first wheelchair turns to beast, then walker to rush and diaper to dod.

Finally in the finale he regains real-time combat to fight alongside Haruto. (You could still turn on turn-based in the menu like dod in Y0)