Just got back into this game after months of hiatus. I picked it up at launch, but couldn't really get into it and shelved it for awhile. I've felt compelled for some reason to pick it back up again. I'm enjoying it more than I initially did, but there's still certain things that bother me so much about this game, mainly its battle system.
-I know it's been said countless times, but the AI truly is awful. I can't find a sweet spot between the piss poor options available in the "Tactics" menu. I just fought a mid/late-game nightmare boss and he had this moved that left poison shit all over the floor. Of course, other than the character/familiar I was controlling, the AI controlled goons would run right into the poison. Since every command/attack while poison causes damage, it was a pretty frustrating battle. There was no point in curing the poison because the idiots would just run right back into it. Honestly, I completed the fight solo and it was easier not having to micro-manage the other characters. Awful.
-This game REALLY needs a MP regeneration reward/option/accessory, something! I just gained access to the final quest guild reward/perk/whatever tier and I'm now saving up for the reduced MP cost. Hopefully, that makes the battles a bit more enjoyable. Again, no mater what "tactics" I choose, I always feel like I'm running out of MP. It's not like money is very common in this game either. Between the high cost of equipment and restorative items, I'm not too keen on sending money on MP restore coffees. Plus, a good battle system shouldn't rely on popping items left and right. The resource management in this game is really unbalanced.
-Is it just my imagination or is there no way to control who your AI controlled allies call out in battle? I find it infuriating when I bring new/low leveled Familiars into a fight/boss battle for EXP and I find my allies dying so quickly because they've mistakenly called out an incapable creature. Terrible.
-Is it me or is like EVERY enemy resistant to status debuffs? I swear, every time I try and weaken an enemies defense/attack/agility/whatever, it misses. What's the fucking point of these spells if their accuracy/hit rate is so fucking low? I've only ever seen it work, really, on bosses that were specifically designed to be debuffed in a way (like burden on the giant snake).
Ugh...god, I really do hate the combat in this game. It's like, not only does it just have a poor Pokemon-like evolution system, but the other, basic battle elements suck shit. It's really a shame too because I love the visuals and the soundtrack's fairly good.