The DS version of Knights in the Nightmare took a lot of guff from players when it came to difficulty. It was a really hard game, and the tutorial - though helpful - was an hour-long bore. Unfortunately, the PSP version is proving just as difficult at the DS version. This is something players are just going to have to accept and be patient with. Once you "get it," the payoff is worth it.
Thankfully, the hour-long tutorial has been sliced and diced into a series of more palatable sessions. Though not totally integrated into the Campaign's story, they are pieced out in an "as needed" fashion. They're still a bit on the dull side and don't fully explain everything you need to know, but they're good enough to get you started. The rest just comes with playing through the first mission.