1)
The cutscene graphics are absolutely horrid, relative to NIS' already subpar standards. Anyone who deems
this acceptable isn't thinking quite straight. Excluding the intro & ending, all the graphics look like that. The menu icons are unrecognizable, too (more noticeable in the import because you couldn't read the item descriptions). Why are the graphics crap? The game was developed in 6 months (see interview in strategy guide).
2)
You can't play with the main characters until long, long after you win the game. The main character Zetta is a stinking base square. Aside from the facts that it's a totally unconventional game design and a waste of the character designer's talent, not allowing you to play with Zetta & friends also makes the main storyline completely irrelevant to the battles (except stages 8-6 and 9-10).
I can't believe EGM and other reviews won't touch these subjects. IMO they dramatically reduce the appeal of the game. The gameplay is fun & the voices are good, but MK deserves 6/10 maximum.
Re: some other comments so far. Most battles take 5-10 minutes! How can that be "slow pacing"!?