I think it was a nice medium challenge - I loved the strategy aspect of it, but I was able to move through the game relatively quickly without much opposition or fustration. I spent more time training to aquire job skills than anything else, and the game's challenges were pretty straightforeward. The optional bosses were nice and tough, though. I still think Omega is one of the toughest FF bosses ever. I liked how the music tried to make the game harder at points, i.e. when you fight Odin, the music speeds up as your time winds down. It drove me so crazy I had to put the TV on mute to beat him properly. lol.