The graphical difference is not noticeable, from what i've seen.

The rest like loading time, frame rate im not too sure.

Just go thru the tutorials, you'll get a hang of the battle basics soon enough.

And if you can, go thru some forums first, there are lots of damn good tips and tricks you might wanna know first before you tore half your hairs.
Plus, you are going to dive into the forums sooner or later because the probability of getting stuck or can't beat one of the boss is pretty damn high.

For those who wanna breeze thru the game, don't wanna crack your heads (saving up brain power for study or work or chick), stay away from this game.

Do you read chinese?
http://bbs.a9vg.com/thread.php?fid=519

On weapon charging, there's no half charge, only single or multiple level charge.

Press Y then "mission memo" or something like that.

what do you mean? the statue got destroyed?

Energy station can only be used after all tiles are opened AND on certain hex terrain (non closed road, forest path or others where you can encounter enemies).

Well, don't question if you didn't try it personally.

Every game also has people saying it's good as sex or bad as toad shit.

To me it is better than the recent jrpgs, SO4, MG2, TLR...

Remember not to enter red squares battle recklessly... if can, save first, because there is no turning back, you NEED to beat the enemies. Most are easy enough, but some that offer bezel shards can be ridiculously hard, or simply impossible if you don't grind level and weapon at all.

I once stepped inside a square with three lvl74 giants, while my team is lvl4x, took me a dozen times to beat them, luckily.

Ok, actually you can finish the game without grinding,but you need to know how to play around the battle system, like how to draw fire to allow back shot, how to stop multiple enemies from firing by launch them into air with good timing, remember enemy hp to fully scratch multiple enemies in a single IS etc etc etc.

Anyway, i don't do arena that often, it's kinda boring, i just do all until 3 to unlock the next rank. The key is to level all three weapon skills. When i play missions, i use the main weapon, then when i grind for item i use secondary weapon. My secondary weapon skills are about 1/3 of my main weapon skill, ie machine gun 40, handgun 15, grenade 15.

There are a lot of items you need to grind, like ingredients for weapon parts and the city tiles, so they are plenty of chances you will level your secondary weapon skills.

The first few chapters can not be that hard... the standard method like at beginning, vesh with machine guns IS to left corner, then zeph with handgun IS to right corner, leanne initial tri-attack with vesh starting it, use jump shoot to break enemy parts if you are low on bezels, after the tri-attack, you can at least take out 3-4 enemies, and still with full bezels.

Don't get into critical condition, it usually means game over...

Destroying parts, defeating enemies, breaking gauges refill bezel. Scratch damage heals over time too, a long distance IS can heal like 1/4 or 1/3. If one member is gang bang by multiple enemies, IS away if you can, concentrated firing must be avoided. Sending strong enemy to the air or smack down them will break their attack, can be life saving sometimes. Try to make use of these basics, then you can devise your own strategies

Leader assault will make the rest drop parts, but items that drop on defeat won't appear.

I do, but it's my machine only, it's totally fine when i play it on my friend's box...