One esva on a small stage
The game is idle everywhere else. The arena is the exception: real time, and the player controls a single esva. The avatar does not even appear. Manual movement to dodge telegraphed patterns, automatic basic attack, four abilities on buttons.
Fixed role, trio or solo
Only final forms enter. Each one carries its own combat sheet, with a fixed role among tank, healer and damage. A group is one of each. Anyone without a group goes in alone against a rescaled boss for half the drop — the door never closes for lack of company.
Not meant to be hard, meant to have mechanics
The philosophy is stated. Normal mode is a test of execution: an average esva clears it comfortably, because what is asked there is pattern reading, not numbers. Hard mode is the one that asks for the stat sheet. Five minutes, a counted number of potions, no revives.