and didn't grind to do all the trials. it actually felt like an Atlus game doing so. i really liked the battle system after despising it at first. like all FF games, it's just way to easy when you get to an overpowered state after observing my friend's game.

my main team was Light/Vanille/Fang or Hope or Sazh. none of my players were over 8000HP after i completed all the trials.

for the hardest battles of the game (Attackus, last trial dude, etc.), it depended on a little luck from the Instant Stagger and starting with a Aegisol and Fortisol. had to use Vanille's Death to take care of Adamantoise.

gotta admit that i enjoyed the game. no thanks to grinding to get the Plat Trophy though. easily not the best in the series, but it's definitely in the upper half of the ranks.