MobiusArcher: One more question though: Do you have to auto battle?
Two members of your party are on auto. As the leader you have a choice between pressing auto (it automatically adjusts staked abilities as you reveal the enemy's resistances and weaknesses) or going through the menus to do mostly the same. Main control comes from switching character roles (oh snap, we need a medic! oh, now more magic!) on the fly. That changes their available abilities and behaviour. If you want any resemblance of actual control in the battle, you'd be better off with Star Ocean.