I don't think a linear game is a bad thing, I think people are just upset that FFXIII is different than other FF games.
From what I've heard there are no towns what-so-ever so you feel less attached to the world and that's a big thing in FFXIII. I have no idea how true that is, but as for FFXIII being stupid linear, I don't have a problem with that (though I do have a problem with a 20 hour tutorial).








