The loadtimes, wow the biggest detractor for every professional review, are almost non-existent. Cutscenes load after 1-3 seconds, and battles start about 3-5 seconds, and its not a black load screen or anything its a rotating camera with a quick one liner from a random character in your party. Honestly I have not seen a single time where I have noticed ever waiting at all for the game to continue, for example can't even get a sip from my beer in between game to cutscene. 9.0

The graphics are very great. The attention to detail is amazing, backgrounds and scenes are very well done. The only draw back is the characters, while they are sharp and clean, they could have used more love, while they do still look good. Gears and Mass Effect have kind of ruined very good efforts for me so I guess I expect more. Backgrounds and cutscenes 10, characters 7.
8.5 overall.

Controls: In a turn based game controls don't really have a huge effect unless they are bad, but they are tight. The only problem I found was interacting with some probe points for treasure and rest spots requiring you to stand in spots. 9.0

Sounds: Class jrpg combat music nothing groundbreaking more of a homage to his earlier works, nothing really repeats throughout the game. Most impressive is the way music is used to impart emotion in the dream sequences. 9.5

Story: While not delivered in an innovative next-gen way (I'm referring to dream sequences/memories) they are deep and meaning-ful and help fill out the story and give it depth. While, different countries are generically named, your main care will always be for your characters. Characters each have great personality and have great full backgrounds and stories and you do end up caring for them. 9.5

Overall about a 9.2 definitely worth picking up, but not without some occasional flaws. Smooth presentation and great effort, you won't go wrong sinking 70 hours in this epic.