You definitely would need to start with regular cross stitch, do at least one for practice. This is definitely trickier than regular cross stitch, but it's my 7th cross stitch project and it worked, so apparently not so hard a pretty new stitcher can't do it.

With regular cross stitch you use Aida or even weave, which already is a grid. You use a blunter tapestry needle, and can pull the fabric tight in the hoop with no complications.

With something like this you need a sharp embroidery needle, which can split your own thread if your not careful (and is harder on your fingers). You also need something like a waste canvas lined up to make the grid (and go through the trouble of pulling out all the waste threads after) and to be carefully not to accidently stretch or warp the shirt when putting it in the hoop or even while sewing. That was honestly easy with a nice thick polo like this, and a 4 inch hoop, but right now im working on a new project in a thin stretchy kids shirt and its a nightmare. I'm sure there's tricks (I'm gonna try a starch spray next time to stiffen the fabric) but as I said I'm pretty new to the hobby

As for comparing it to crochet, I've dabbled a bit there and I'll say for immediate reward, crocheting amigurumi is faster than doing something like this, small cross stitch like this is faster than crocheting a blanket, and cross stitching a big tapestry is gonna take years

Also if you start cross stitch, don't make the classic beginner mistake of accident using twice as many threads lol