Linear Experience: (I think people don't understand the extent of this problem in this particular game so I will explain)
Linear Limitations:
-The game is 99% (No Exaggeration); Proceed down long path, fight, cutscene, proceed down long path, fight, cutscene, boss........
-The 1% that deviates from this experience is Gran Pulse (The Calm Lands looking area that was displayed in the FFXIII trailers)
-The experiences that one would experience from towns creating that feeling of "something different" is non existent as shopping, etc. is done from save points. The one or two towns that do exist is just to experience a cutscene essentially as their is no interaction with npc's.
-There are no secret locations or alternative options/choices to experience except that 1% mentioned above.
Linear limitations in a different context that add to the complaints:
-You cannot level up at ur discretion due to restrictions on the Crystarium System that only open up through checkpoints within the story.
-You are forced into party setups for a large portion of the game limiting the freedom of party selection for a good amount of the game.
-Only one character can be used in battle; the party leader. The other two are on auto pilot just like FFXII but the difference here is u cannot swap between characters at all in battle. Remember each character has one fixed summon; figuring out the rest shouldn't be hard.
-If the party leader dies its game over regardless who else is still standing.
-You cannot run from battles once initiated. Combine that with the fact that it is difficult to get around enemies and your experience becomes somewhat forced. Not to mention that battles against standard enemies average 6-7 Minutes and even longer further into the game.
Those are all the major negatives. I have some significant positive info incoming for those that are still interested in hearing it that has made the bargain bin purchase of waiting till it drops to $30 into purchasing it at $60 once again.
No, see these (bolded by myself) are not MAJOR negatives.
Linearity in general DOES NOT MATTER IF what you're playing is fun or what they are forcing you to be told is entertaining, i dunno if it all is but linearity as a whole isn't a problem. It's how it's done (again, take LoD)
What do you mean "something different" from towns? Aside from KEY towns in any other game, towns only served as save points and shops anyway, so them making save points the shops shouldn't matter, and if full blown cutscenes are what towns are reduced to it's basically the same, all depends how you view it.
Parties that are planned our for you so you only have your 3 members to use isn't a problem either, the Grandia series has built itself upon this and it's worked well for 2 1/2 games (also from Square I believe) So this is only a personal preference
Not being able to switch party members or game over with main characters death also isnt a major problem, these are both done in MegaTen games, mainly Persona and these also work fine, so FFXIII having it is again only a major preference if you dislike this style in general.
And not being able to run from battles or dodge enemies shouldn't be an issue given the fact you do get healed at the end of battle, so there shouldn't be a reason to run unless you're on a time constraint and again, if you're anywhere near a date for something you shouldn't be playing a JRPG to begin with. The battle length only matter if you don't like the battle system itself, which is again personal preference.
These are not major game issues, these are personal issues.
However, if the game is as linear as been complained about, then there isn't a reason for you to reach a level on the system from which you've been restricted from. IF you do reach skills that you cant get before a part in the story even with it's straight line, that may be an issue.
