Well I just started playing it 2 days ago, about 8 hours in and on chapter 4. So far it is linear, and the chars always split up. About the level cap, yes you can say it is capped, cus the crystarium level won't go up until u beat a boss. So each crystarium lvl only allows u to get a couple of stats, magics n skills. But u can grind to save crystarium points, which is what you need to get those stats, magic etc. The weapon upgrades is rather unique, u can level up weapons, like gladius lv 1, to get it to lv 2 u need 800 exp(if I'm not mistaken), and the exp is not from battles, but from items found or dropped by enemies. Each item gives different amount of exp. And about no towns or npcs, yeah I haven't found any towns or npcs...
Well that's my impression so far
Currently Playing: Devil Survivor 2 (NDS)
