Ok this is a conversation that I think is permanently tinged with nostalgia. That, and Square stopped hiding how linear FF games are. What? The old FF games are linear? Well, let's have a look at FFIV. You basically go where your told until you get the airship, then you can do a minimal amount of exploring, but the "side quests" that exist don't open up till you open up the underworld a second time, you can go talk to the people but they won't start it for you. Also, there's not a whole lot to do outside of go to Eblan and try and get the giant axe outta the basement while running like a girl from much stronger monsters. Really the game disguises it's "eternal hallway" for the first 15-20 hours when it suddenly opens up, and that's if you haven't done a ton of grinding.
FFVI? Hey look at this, there are a couple points where instead of going down one long, carefully disguised hallway, you get to choose the order of which you do 3!!! Basically the same story, this one however you get the airship a little later, lose it, then have to go through just a couple hallways to get it again, this time the game busts wide-open when you get it and the amount of content you can choose to see or skip is impressive. But still, you're a full 20ish hours away from that.
FFVII? Hmm this last run through it took me 6 hours to get through midgar, I've played another 7 hours and the only side things I've done are get Vincent and Yuffie, However they where basically on my way through the story and outside of them there's not much to do besides back track to do an early pre-tower-defense mini-game.
How about X? Hey look at that, 10-15 hours till you really get the world to open up.
XIII? Well, it said, fuck this, and showed us what we've been playing, a long hallway. Only this time they decided not to disguise it and removed towns.
Honestly I really enjoyed XIII, and I found it's combat to be the most difficult in the series and the most rewarding at the same time. I also find the intense backlash against it to be sort of hilarious, but at this point I think that's just the internet.
Is it perfect? No, not even close. But outside of wanting to choke a whiny teenager who just watched his mother fall to her death a couple days ago, it's pretty solid. The characters are ok, a few great a few not-so much. Great music, solid gameplay.... I enjoy it.
I still haven't played XIII-2 I think I'll order that this week.
Just played the demo for LR:XIII-3 and I honestly love the combat and the changes to the game. I'm interested in seeing how it does. Also the dressphere like system is not bad at all.
Oh, I guess I could point out that I really liked XI-2 as well so maybe I'm just a heretic.