People who complain the game is linear tend to forget how FFX was ultra linear too. FFXIII is basically bits and pieces of FFVII and FFX mixed together, so people who like those two games should love this one.

Characters and environements are mainly transposition from FFVII and FFX : (Cocoon = Midgar; Lightning = Cloud, Yaag Rosch = Sephiroth, Sahz = Barret, etc), Gameplay wise, the linearity, the impossibility to avoid battles every two steps and the leveling system look like a carbon copy of FFX.

And there are still people to question why I think FFVI and FFIX are the best FF ever.

Well then, I'll do the honors, why do you like FFVI and FFIX more than any other FF?

Here goes:

I"m not very far into the game so I have not gotten access to everything yet. One of the things I do like is the "level up" system (I call it that since there are no levels per say). After each battle you get CP points which are used to move yourself along your ability grid. It looks sort of like the sphere grid in FFX, but functions more like the AP points in FFXII (IMO). I say this because unlike the s-level system in FFX where you have to fight a bunch of enemy just to get 1 S-level, you just accumulate CP and use it to learn what you want on the grid (i like the AP system in FFXII). Sorry if that isn't making much sense, thats the best way I can explain the "level up" system.

In terms of the battle system, fights can be very frantic and fast paced. If you do not setup your party correctly you can get beaten by bosses pretty fast. At the current time I cannot change party members and have to used whichever characters are assigned to the party (this is basically due to them being required by the story). You are only in control of your leader and your other 2 characters are AI controlled. If your leader dies, its an instant game over, which I found kind of disappointing since I had 2 perfectly good characters still alive.

I have had access to 4 different optima's you can make your characters. Attacker, Blaster, Defender, and Healer. Attacker makes your character commands/attacks physical. If you are set to Blaster, your character's commands are magic spells basically (fire, thunder etc). Defender basically makes that character just stand in a defensive stance, they take less damage and I could be mistaken, but I think the enemy focus their attack on that person in that stance (basically they are a tank). and healer speaks for itself.

Graphically the game is beautiful. I can't describe it any other way.

That's my brief take on the game based on how much I've played so far. Hopefully I'll get to beat it this week since after work tomorrow I am off the rest of the week yay.

EDIT 

Forgot to mention, doesn't appear to be anything like MP in this game. I had Vanille setup as a healer and she will just spam Cure all day long. Also potions heal the whole group when used.  

Personal taste, or just to piss fanboys.

No levelling up ???? Really ???

U mean ur caracters dont evolve at all ?

lol.

In the traditional, "fight gain exp to gain a level which increases your characters base stats," then yes there is no leveling.  You just build up CP which is used to learn abilities, stat increases, spells, etc on the ability grid.  

Much appreciated! Thanks!

I liked the sphere grid in FFX and the AP system in FFXII as well, so I shouldn't have any problems with the FFXIII system I suppose :)

Instant game over when the leader dies sounds kinda hard, but I guess that means you just have to be more careful.

So far it's sounding like a step down from FFXII in every way. I'm waiting for western reviews before I buy this.

I am just waiting for gametrailers review, they were one of the only ones who's FFXII review sounded correct.