@Zero:
Final Fantasy fans liked the setting of VII. So Square-Enix used a similar setting for XIII.
Final Fantasy fans liked the tone and narrative of X. So that same tone and narrative was used for XIII. Fans also liked the fast paced battle system of X-2. Likewise that system was used in XIII.
Yet haters still find a reason to bitch. Amazing. Simply amazing.
Final Fantasy XIII apologists are hysterical and baffling in how they are always lacking in any actual defense of XIII.
Me Final Fantasy XIII fan me like big arbitrary numbers and a battle system that's the equivalent of working in a factory where I watch gears go up and down and pull a switch occasionally that prevents the machinery from shitting itself
Fans of XIII need to realize that there's so many reasons to not enjoy XIII and they're all really justifiable. I don't care if you enjoy it, but stop acting like the world is missing out on some wonderful experience and that XIII is a sad victim. There's no reason to act confused and stomp your feet.
@Satsuki:
Why does FFXII get no love? That was about as open world as FF gets.
XII is awesome and as far as just straight up political stories goes, it's the opposite of bad (if not unconventional for FF, aside from constant cutscenes staple). But I mostly just found it very fun to play.