I'm about 12 hours in, we just got to the Djose Temple. I've played VII, VIII, IX, and a couple of the ones on the NES [can't remember which ones, it was a long time ago.]
I really like it so far. It is very linear, as in, I haven't found much 'wander around until you find out where to go next', which I actually like. It is a BEAUTIFUL game, and some of the monsters/fiends are really cool/disgusting looking. [Of course, I also just got a PS2, and I've actually been visually impressed by almost every game I've tried.]
It does seem to be pretty easy--I haven't died yet, nor come very close [although that was due in part to some fortuitous timing re: my characters' special attacks.] And again, I'm only a little ways in.
I'm not a huge fan of Blitzball, but i think I like this minigame better than the card game in VIII. [mainly because I sucked at that game.]
I like the characters--they have a lot of personality. I don't have to *like* their personalities, but they do have it. I notice that the dubbing is way off on some of the spoken parts, and Wakka's voice kind of bugs me, but I've gotten used to it.
It's an interesting switch--no more experience points or Levels, just choose your own abilities/skills/stats based on the weapons/armor you equip and Sphere Grid. Even that, however, is pretty linear, so far [admittedly, I don't have a whole lot of it uncovered.]
I like the sci-fi tinges to the story also.
It changes enough of the FF elements to be unique on its own, but there's enough similarity so it's not a totally different game.