It's a pretty standard JRPG engine. There your stereotypical "random" battles (which are activated on command), and all of the typical actions - attack, spell, summon, flee. The only real RPG mechanic is the ability to increase your max hp or mp.
The one thing that ties the grind of JRPGs together is a storyline and epic battles, and this game has neither. With all of that said, this is still one of the most complete JRPGs I have played on the NG portal up to this point in 2002.