Update after playing for a total of 4 hours and finishing the first part. There's a couple of new mechanics:
- Formations are the core of the battle system. They give each member a role (attack, defense and support - the same as in LoL-) and a position (front, middle, back), which both modify their stats and/or the efficiency of their skills. The thing is you can change it freely at the beginning of the turn to adapt your strategy mid-battle.
- There's no weapon wear per se but there's a limit break-like system which allows PC to use a weapon's strongest skill at the cost of breaking it.
- There's also a system involving guilds that help you in battle when you're near one of their HQ, and also give you various supports in the form of enhancement of skills, sale of maps, info on monsters and R&D for weapons/armors, spells and formations. But for that you have to help them gain level by recruiting NPC.
Other differences with LoL I can think of:
- It follows a more traditional J-RPG formula (go to a dungeon to find something, event, go back to town, event, go somewhere else, event, etc.).
- 5 party members in battle instead of 3.
- No more elemental balance, which I personally think is a big loss as that gave a lot of depth to the battle system.
- Only two types of magic: rune magic for humans and evil magic for demons.
- You're not the explorer this time, so you either already have on you or buy the maps.
- Auto-battle with an option to fast-forward, which is pretty handy considering the game is also easier.
- Background elements don't "pop-up" anymore.
Exploration of the world is encouraged and rewarded: there are stronger, bigger versions of regular enemies roaming in remote places, and instead of the regular chests with treasures that are useless 90% of the time, you can find some special stones that can be exchanged in town for items you actually choose. I think that's a pretty good idea.
Regarding the story, it's definitely more talkative and things actually happen. It doesn't avoid cliches (I think it includes them on purpose) and light inconsistencies with the setting, but the writing is pleasant overall. I need to play more to form a better opinion on it, though I don't see it going to be very Suikoden-like.
After a couple of hours, I think it's a pretty solid game, enjoyable even for those who disliked LoL.