There are some clear set backs in comparison to 1 and 2, specially the streamlining of the combat, es combat was way better than field combat and honestly the best combat in the series but then you have field combat where you do the same thing over and over and just keeps working except for 3 bosses.

Story hard carried and the story is bloody amazing, even if the pacing wasnt my favorite. Overall, this really was the xenosaga.