I don't really get the hate. Yea, it's linear. But so is FF X and that is a much loved FF. Also for the lack of towns, FF X isn't much better in that department. Towns are technically there but they are hardly the hubs most people associate them with. You're pretty much just passing though them, most of your shopping gets done via merchants you run into along the road.
The battle system is just flat out fun. It has a great soundtrack, The story is interesting, and the characters are very well developed. It's my 3rd favorite FF game.







