After getting use to the battle system, it's probably better, moves faster. As far as leveling up, you change your costume and you change your stats. The demo will end when you reach a certain point. But if you avoid that point, you can play the little guys for as long as you want. It has two different missions, one where you fight LeBlanc and the spider thing that you may have seen in trailers. Another mission lets you fight Bahamunt, but does not let you learn anything about why. That mission is pretty short, but like I said, avoid the ending points and you can play for as long as you like.