I just downloaded Demon's Souls because it's free on PS+ right now and I'm excited to play it. But I'm not gonna start another console game till after I finish BioShock Infinite. When I DO start Demon's Souls, though, it sounds like it's the kind of game I'll want to play concurrently with something else, so I'm not sure what else I'll be starting soon.
That's cool. Joan of Arc is definitely a neat character. This game doesn't lend itself to a sequel very well though. But you know, Level 5 could have turned it into a series of fantasy-ized historical characters. Imagine a similar game about George Washington in the Revolutionary War or Alexander the Great maybe. History is full of possibilities. I don't know if Jeanne d'Arc sold well enough to warrant something like that though.
The ability to transform definitely makes the game easier if you make smart use of it. But you'll be really glad you can do it when you hit some of the late game missions and I hear some of the postgame content can be pretty tough too (haven't played that yet).
As for length it took me about 57 hours but I did nearly all the optional missions as I went, so I'm sure you could power through the game faster if you're just trying to get it done. Like I said, it's kind of like the low-stress SRPG and is just fun to play.
I haven't played the original FF Tactics yet, though I do have the PSP release, but I've played its GBA sequel and even without beating it I think I was up around 70 hours! And it's hard to be sure about an exact time on games like that because it doesn't include all the times you die and restart (like you said).
I have a pair of headphones up by the bed usually but I wasn't using them that night. Too much work, I guess lol. I don't like the PSP's volume buttons though. I wish it had a slider like Nintendo's handhelds. Especially with an infant in the house (usually in the room), I want to know what the volume is before I turn something on.
To each his own then, I guess lol. Glad you liked something about it.
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
It isn't too long...relatively speaking. Thanks to series like Disgaea and FF Tactics, the strategy RPG genre is famous for campaigns that easily stretch into the hundreds of hours. So 57 hours isn't too bad. But you're right, yes, I did do pretty much all of the optional content before the end of the game. And like I mentioned in the review, there seems to be a good bit of postgame content too, which I might do some of.
I forgot about the cut scenes! They were very well done. I wish I could have turned subtitles on for them though. One time I had to jump out of bed so I could turn up the volume and hear what they were saying without waking my wife lol
You should definitely see it through to the end. What happened to your first copy? And it may not follow the actual life of Joan of Arc but it's a nice and unique setting for the game.
Yes, get back there now! The French people need you!
Now would be a good time to make that investment 
And this game is usually pretty cheap.
