This game kind of tanks after chapter 8. It's like the last half of the game was designed on the ps2. Story could have been fleshed out a little better too. At least you can go back and play the good parts indefinitely.
I beat the adamantoise last night. Took me roughly 2 hours of wailing on that thing. At least it hardly ever attacks. I guess I'm going to go ahead and shoot for the platinum since I don't have that many trophies left. Still need the skills, 80 side quests, ascension, and royal arms trophies.