Something interesting is in both Seiken Densetsu 3 (2 is Secret of Mana.)
It is Action RPG type thing, Very linear.

I call it Growth through Weapons. It featured a normal "spirit = 19 defense = 20" system. Plus as you went from town to town to Giant cat, The weapons would get better. It also forced choices between super expensive armor or super expensive weapons.

This really only works with Linear games.