I found it difficult my first time through because I decided that I should be fighting everything that came my way. I got totally owned by rooks. I was ill prepared and just rushed in like I'd been able to just use brute force to get through most other areas. I couldn't kill the enemies fast enough, and they just kept coming until I was completely overwhelmed.

Then I realized that just running straight to the elevator was so much simpler. I found that the bosses were excessively easy to kill.

Also, the whole freaking game is easy if you have the Zodiac Spear early on.