first time i played it i quit after 15 hours. game felt like a slow, grindy slog where nothing was explained
then i tried it again like a month later, beat the main game and got to post-game and BBI. now have easily 1500+ hours in this shit back from its hayday
do not get hung up on the main game. theres literally only like 3-4 sidequests that are actually worth paying attention to.
also, damage formulas are subtractive. You will frequently do straight up 0 damage to enemies if you don't have enough STR/MAG. Conversely augments like Bastion (1st level augment from Warrior) make the game noticably easier for the first 30-40 levels or so.
idk whether its a truly good game but the way its laid out, bugs (one of the mage augments that halves damage actually doubles it lmao) even the item descriptions, how progression and damage works (this is why the bandit camp after the boulder trap rocks your ass. they're not actually hard your armor just blows) can make for a very frustrating experience
depends on vocation. if playing warrior eminence from strider is almost a must because warrior's light air is so strong.
shoot for:
Clout
Vehemence
Eminence if you're playing warrior
everything else is honestly up to taste