The game is quite long for how limited the gameplay is. Combat had an interesting rhythm gimmick but it should have been a 5-6 hour, tight experience, not 10-12. It really outstayed its welcome for me given that the game is just combat arenas and cutscenes.
Apart from that combat could be broken by spamming companion abilities once you unlocked them all, it didn’t feel like there was any reason to use different combos than 2 or 3 that worked fine.
I end up with the feeling that the hype around the game comes mainly from the unfair closure of a studio that did something that wasn’t just following trends.
People hold the game up as an example of what’s wrong with the cash grabbing nature of big publishers in the industry, but I just don’t think it’s a good game at all.
The game is not as broken as you’re making it sound on higher difficulties—specifically S-Ranking Rhythm Master—and “adept gamers” will be aiming for high ranks on higher difficulties.
I think for OP it’s not about getting good ranks but getting through the combats. I agree tho, S-ranks are pretty hard