The game really perked up difficulty in Chapter 2. Whew, I'm in the Woods of Chapter 3 and that Griffon keeps beating the crap out of my team. (SPOILER)Alicia, Rufus, Richelle are all Lv. 9, (SPOILER)Leone is Lv. 10. But, this game is so freaking awesome. I don't care about difficulty. That's makes it all the better.