FF13 is far more automated than FF12. In FF12 you customize every single thing the party does on top of having full control of your own character. I put maybe two or three gambits on my main character max, when playing FF12. So everything about my party in FF12 is according to me, not the game.
FF13, you switch paradigms, but you have no say in how the characters respond to specific scenarios. Thus, it is the game that plays itself, not FF12. Factor in auto-battle, and you already have your answer. Monotony incarnate.
No, you can't tell your characters what to do in battle. Stop twisting my words. In FF12, I can tell my guys to target the same enemy as me, or target a different enemy. In FF13, they will very often do something entirely that I don't want them do. In FF12, I can customize every single variable that goes into battle planning. In FF13, it's all left up to pre-made paradigm scripts. I have no say at all, just like the rest of the game.
It's fine you like that bullshit and like to have the game do everything for you, but please spare me when comparing this:
a fully customizable game that supports multiple play styles with this, which is as barebones as all possible. The core basics are interesting though.
Complaining about FF12's so-called "playing itself" when defending everything FF13 stands for is pretty funny. All I see is a gigantic step back and a humungous lack of player options for people like me who like spreadsheets and numbers and customizing their characters from the ground up.
