A time consuming but rewarding experience
Like most Final Fantasy's, the storyline is the main appeal to this game. This story revolves around a teenage mercenary squad trying to defeat a evil sorceress. (Sounds cool, right?) I've never cried over a video game, but the ending of this one made me come pretty close.
But don't let the packaging fool you; the whole thing isn't about romance. There is a decently sized world for you to explore, and a bunch of side quests. The card game (triple triad) is as fun as the game itself.
The new junctioning system is an interesting way to progress your characters. The variety of spells and gf's (summoning monsters) allow you to customize in a way that rpg fans should love.
I think the only downside to this game is the effort it takes to be truly successful. In order to strengthen your character, you have to search the world for specific monsters to draw spells and steal items from. I had a total of about 70 hours spent into this. However, if you're willing to put some effort into it, I'd say you definitely need to play this game.