[quote name='bigpimpin24']I loved this game. Probably due to the fact that I was going in expecting a horrible game. The battle system is

ing great, the graphics are beautiful, the music is good and the story was not that bad.
If you actually enjoy JRPGs, then don't let people steer you away from this. There are far worse and shorter games than this. For $10 it's a hell of a deal.[/QUOTE]
100% agree. I'm excited FFXIII-2 will be keeping the same battle system (almost, looks like adding beasts). It is so fluid once you get used to it. Rewarding when it goes right, but there can still be "oh shit" moments. Remember FFX to FFX-2? I loved FFX battle system, but loathed FFX-2 system. FFXIII got it right imo. The summon system is kinda lacking, but throwaway.
Crybabies just want "towns" and less linearity. I can agree Hope is whiny, but I don't have to use him in my party. Don't have to use Wakka, don't have to use Stiner, don't have to use Vaan/Titus, etc. Every FF has one haha.
Here is my take on how very Linear FFXIII is: Yes I play FF for how open it can be, but that can be a lot to take in for new comers to the series. This is the first FF this console generation remember. So I can appreciate if people just want to blaze through the game and get the full story, that's great. My brother still never beat any FF so he is missing out on the stories unfortunately. This way some people won't get lost and quit playing mid-game, and hopefully be able to finish the game. FFXIII did have some extra content after you beat the game, which I think took me 40 hours to do. Most games don't even offer 40 hours of content. So I still got my 90-100hrs in this FF. FFXII on the other hand was way too grindy, trying to bazaar for best weapons, and pop named monsters for even rarer drops. I did like the Hunt system though.