For most people a rental would be enough time to tell if this game is worth the money, but it isn't enough time to finish the game.

I have played it many times and enjoyed it each time.

Otherwise, like me, you will probably find yourself wondering why you are wasting your time with repetitive attacks on creatures for hours on end and end up losing the idea of the plot

As with chain abilities the timing is important.

Each time you attack an enemy with one of your several weapons, that weapon will grow better against that enemy's class, while growing weaker against a different enemy class.

By pressing the appropriate buttons at the right time, the player can have a chain of more than 20 attacks in just one encounter with an enemy.

I played this game when it originally came out and sold it back because my annoying roomate kept bothering me, hence hindering my playing time with it.

While it's nice that your HP and MP will regenerate in normal mode, enemies are going to do damage quite fast when you're not interrupting their blows with your own (and even the normal enemies can do quite a bit of damage).Other times Vagrant Story can feel downright unfair.

Then, timing becomes precise as you could allegedly Chain attacks together until the end of time, although a Risk factor (which simulates tiredness during battle) makes this highly unlikely.

If you enjoy the first time consider yourself lucky

So all in all I personally think I wasted my money and time with this game but thats my own opinion and I will stick with my FF games and other rpgs.

The ambiguities and lingering mysteries of the plot, the careful balance of mystical/religious imagery and symbolism (never cheesy or cartoonish), and the challenge of true completion have brought me back to Vagrant Story time and again (and I still don't have all of my Damascus equipment yet - an effort requiring multiple thorough play

Ashley also has defense abilities that could, in theory, render him impervious...with the right decisions and perfect timing (and Risk allowing).

so it ends up just as a (bad) time wasting issue.5

Attacking enemies is done in real time and allows you to pretty much attack indefinately as long as your timing is good for chaining attacks together

There will be stretches where you'll feel like you're spending more time in the menu than actually exploring and playing the game.

Another added idea was Chain idea, where you can designate three buttons on the control pad to certain abilities and, by pressing them at the appropriate time, have these certain abilities added to an attack.

Chain attacks take time to master, however.

Damn, I didn't even touch on the magic...there is a huge variety of magic spells you can learn as well!I've played through it probably 3 times over the past few years, and it remains fun every time I play, and I still haven't maxed out Ashley Riots potential