Nice gameplay, and a thrilling storyline, but long with useless missions.
While the Matrix-like storyline isn't original, it is thrilling for a time until you get stuck on Elicor. Here you go through so much useless crap you're going to cry, and while some of it while prove relevant to the storyline later one, most of it's just not.
As for the gameplay, it'sa very enjoyable real-time system. You get to equip four different attack abilities, and two support, besides your basic long and short-ranged, regular and critical, attacks. Of course you can use your symbology if equipped and items, change tactics and everything. All attacks use fury, so usually one might want to put a little bit of space between attacks to let the fury go up. You can switch which party member you want to play as through out the battle which is nice, but you can't change your party during battle.
Another aspect of SO3 gameplay is the cancel bonus system. This allows higher damage when following one ability with another. There are different levels, the highest being 300%.
Also you have a bonus gauge that goes up as you fight and will break if you die or take a critical hit but if you keep it up will give you extra experience or currency, maybe a few items.
The towns are amazingly detailed and have all sorts of stores according to the size of the town. Each person has a cute little title like "Fidgety Proprieter" or something like that.
Most, if not all, towns have a workshop where you can make EVERYTHING. You can also hire other craftsmen and compete for you items to be top of the charts.
Basically, the Star Ocean game as the most beautifully extensive community of all time, along with an amazing battle system and pretty nice voice acting. It makes for a great game if you have the patience to truly play until the end of time. It'd probably cost more to rent than to buy so go ahead and steal one from Best Buy for some fun.