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Seem, I always defended the game just based on "linear isnt bad", not really thinking about the reasons why its linear.
Ive also always been confused why FFX is well liked despite... also being very linear up until it opens up at the end? But XIII got memed for hallways???
Of course theyre all linear but to make a world where it feels like you have options or forks in the map, payoffs and other peripheral characters helps give you that sense of scope. Ff13 did none of that. The new blood at SE since ffx do not want to make a traditional jrpg. They've been pushing for an action game from an IP that has RPG elements that people would notice right away when abandoned.