First of all the game is really charming. Not only because it introduces unique features that no any other game made by RPG Maker do, but also because quests and maps are organized in a way that anything is boring. Aside from that, the characters have really interesting personnalities, each one of them. This latter is really well achieved, they seems professional novel characters.
But, aside from that, there are few things that I didn't liked in the game and that I would like to criticize:
1) First of all, randomized monsters encounters with a fixed enconter rate. This might be stressing and annoying. I know we can adjust this on the beginning, but it remains the same until the end of the game. It would have been much more interesting to facing visible monsters and deciding when fighting them.
2) Final quests. I have not finished the game yet. But it's very frustrating that I cannot win the Colyseum with Random at level 52. The same apply for the great recipe quest. What is the interest of having the great recipe at the end of the game and after having won the final boss? What I have to do with fantastic recipes and equipements at that point? I simply disagree about finishing these quests after the end of the game. I also disagree that after the witchwood and the mansion quests I cannot any longer return to Rillia and I'm forced to go into the Sewers, I can't return to Rillia until the end of the game. I also disagree that I have to wait the end to find the secret treasure in the Southern shores, because I don't have Baretta's perception before. The same apply for the crystal containing a wand/sculpture that cannot be moved or taken without Luciana on Gorgeous beach and once I'm in Rillia I cannot return until the end of the game! What do I do with this after the end of the game? All this stuff should have been prepared differently.
3) There are often too many items and some dialogues are too long. It's not very annoying, but it's redundant at times.
4) Some features are not explained and they seems to be completely redundant. For example what is the difference between resistance, defense and armour-up? Just having one value to describe them all would have been much more clear. Also, what is the difference between mind and speed? I didn't find any useful application for mind factor, except when solving some quests that required some amount of mind.
5) Why only active character can level up? This is annoying. Some character are very useful in specific areas, and I often had to use Spark with level 22 while other characters have 50+ level.
6) And finally the game cannot be played without a strategy guide. Complex maps often offers too many possible paths to take without giving a minimal clue about what to take first. This is not very problematic because there are strtegy guides availables, but an independent game would have been better.
In my opinion, without these issues, the game would have been perfect. I also have Laxius Force I and II, and just began the first part. At first glance it seems better than 3 stars in these matters but I still don't know it enough to express an opinion. I still have to finish 3 stars and I'm stuck with coliseum and peak of heroes issues.
Sincerely
A. Langueduc