Thats reaching pretty damn far for comparisons. The sphere grid and the crystarium may appear similar in looks but thats the only similarities.
Its where you try and tie in the plot that you really lose me... If you want to get like that then every fucking game ever made has the same plot.
Its not reaching far at all. The main difference between the Sphere grid and Crystarium is they make the Crystarium have only 1 path locked it down for simplicity and control over the upgrade path. And they made it go up which added nothing to the functionality just more sparkle and glimmer without a need, like the stupid jump circles.
Changing Class is nothing more than changing Dresses in X2 just slightly different because you can do it actively.
Item shops was pull 100% from crisis core they didn't even change it.
Maybe its because I just passed Persona 4 and this game is just SO bad in comparison or that I have played so many rpgs that my standards have risen, but this game had very little for me to like.