The ship battles are ridiculously easy until the last one, when it becomes ridiculously luck-based.

Despite considering Suikoden IV the weakest of the series, I must say that it is notably easy and efficient to play. The Obel Ruins is probably the longest dungeon in the game, and it's a quick 2-minute run (and except for the ocean/world map, the encounter rate is fairly low). Travis is still an asshole.