So I gave the demo a try.
It's based on the "underground" sequence in the story when you're chasing after Snow (not sure where that is but it's during that one Festival).
Because I don't read Japanese (since I'm partially illiterate) I missed the part about R1 being the attack button to initiate fights, so INSTANT AMBUSH...bleh.
Fights are pretty straight forward, but it seems like the order in which Paradigms change doesn't change regardless of pressing L1/R1 in battles.
You can customize attacks to fit specific parts of the attack menu (though the default is probably the best layout, I pressed quite a few "wrong buttons".
The demo lets you switch to Dragoon Style or Thief Style if you want, or you could delete the presets and make your own.
Unfortunately they don't let you change the colors of weapons/shields to match your outfit colors (which are also limited). I'm not sure how much customization they allow in the full game as far as colors go. Would be nice to change the colors of your weapons though.
Otherwise battles went by pretty fast, I didn't figure out how to dodge/maneuver in-battle yet, but hopefully it's related to the shield button.
It's VERY easy to mash in this...so you have to keep an eye on the menus more (but they seem harder to read).
I don't have Cloud though 
