Absolutely YES! Great battle system and ost, fantastic scenery and level designs epic. Every character is a stereotype but very well written. As for the free day it only occurs a few times in the 1st game, once a week on your school day off. You get 3 or 5 bonding points to bond with your classmates or teacher of your choice and do 3 simple side quests. After that you have to explore the a dungeon in the old schoolhouse and that will advance the time of the free day to evening.