Finally, after like 7 tries - I beat Star Ocean 2! to celebreate, I bumbed Final Fantasy XII to the top of my to-play list.
I feel like it wasn't a totally legitimate win though, because i gave Claude the Battle suit and Eternal Sphere, and a meteor ring and bunny shoes. I basically just got tired of energy nede.
really though - that game is freakin hard if you don't try to be a little cheap with it...