Magic Knight Rayearth
Unlike most RPGs, character upgrades and magic spells are mostly acquired upon progressing to certain points in the game, rather than by independent accomplishments. (The exceptions are maximum HP and maximum MP, which are increased by finding special items.) This is much like the Saturn's first RPG, "Virtual Hydlide", with the important difference that weapons and armor in "Magic Knight Rayearth" are upgraded as part of general level ups and do not exist as distinct gameplay elements.