mqstout: dtgreene, you'd like some of its mechanics for sure. One of them is that the game doesn't really let you grind levels: you get what you get during play.
I actually don't like it when an RPG (or one with RPG mechanics) doesn't let you "grind" (I dislike the term) levels, particularly since there are times I feel like playing a bit, but I don't want to progress the story or do new side quests.
Incidentally, my preference is for some time spent earning extra experience to be required to progress through the game for an average player, rather than the reverse.
(Worth noting that, for example, I prefer the NES version of Dragon Warrior to its GBC remake because of this difference (though I recommend the GBC version of the game over other remake versions due to aesthetic differences, particularly the audio).)