hahaha, well I've never minded the grinding much because I never really focused too much on chasing the new super high tier equipment. I thought the core gameplay was fun and liked shooting monsters in a cool, immersive (and maybe sometimes a bit silly) fantasy/sci-fi world. Then they set the game on earth and made the story about some random kids playing a game, and it just wasn't interesting. The enemy designs hit rock bottom as well. What happened to fighting giant sea monsters, supersonic crystal dragons and freaking space satan? Now we get the thrilling fight of... some while collar workers with blue stuff on them, a raticate, and a regular tank? It just didn't feel like phantasy star anymore. And I don't want to mine rocks or pick berries in fields, I brought guns with me to shoot monsters! there as never been so much overhead fluff to getting to the action in a PS game before.
anyway, that went on a bit long. Thanks for the welcome, hope to see you around ^^