Am not sure if it is because my PS2 is old, but sometimes, while playing, it will take a REALLY long time for the eye to recognize the disc. Moreover, whenever I lose a battle (which has only been when I've fought Cerberus [a GF] and Adel), sometimes the top half of the screen will have that weird black and white static fuzz vs. the beginning credits. ANYWHO... I highly recommend getting this game for ANY fan of Square Enix, Square Soft,  or the Final Fantasy franchise. The junctioning system isn't complicated (unless you're slow or haven't played FFVII); it's just that one spell you may junction to one attribute may have adverse effects on another one and you will, at times, get frustrated,  ESPECIALLY if your repertoire of magic is limited. Besides that, combat is typical for the FF series and many motifs are still there. Have not beaten it yet, so can't really speak on the ending (DAMN YOU, ADEL!!!!!) All I can really say is just stick with it and, for those who like all there characters to be at about the same level, look on the FF Wikia site to find "The Island Closet to Heaven" and "The Island Closest to Hell." If, however, the islands prove to difficult. Try to fight cactuars. Be sure to have the GF Doomtrain and plenty of Dark, Silence, and Sleep spells stocked up though.