Not only can you upgrade your character with new moves but you can also buy upgrades for your weapons, which also come in handy. (darkstation.com)
The story pushes you forward and you're constantly traveling, buying upgrades in towns, and moving towards the next dungeon to get to the next part of the story. (reviews2go.com)
A shop might have helped but you can only buy upgrades between levels or after dying. (darkstation.com)