Got the game early from Indie game seller who don't know what a "street date" is. :D
I love it so far, and ta-hell with opinions and modern standards, this game's graphics are beautiful in their own right (the motion capture really helps too of course, Abyss, Vesperia and Symphonia had probably some of the most retarded looking cut scenes for that). Scenery is gorgeous.
Sadly, most of the music, though pleasant enough, is pretty forgettable and blandly melodic.
The battle system... hell, just about everything is pretty unique to the series. I'm still kind of confused about how Skills work with Artes and with Titles. @_@ I accidently skipped through some of the dialogue on it...
I think this "kids" chapter is lasting a bit long too, I've skipped a few cutscenes here and there for going long and already making their "point". But I'm sure it'll work out for whatever idea they're going to get at in the end.
Anyways, I'm pretty damn happy. :)
I didn't get the pre-order bonus that came from GS... but those cross-over outfits looked like garbage anyways (didn't suit), and the exclusive theme for PS3?? I got my SotC one and a Journey one coming, I think I'll live without.