two questions
1. do the areas have more stuff to do than solve shitty puzzles and find random treasures?
2. does the game recycle content as much as the 1st or does it have as much original content as a standard jrpg would have?
They removed puzzles, there's now silly little "celestial rooms" that have random treasures. You need to use certain people, who have special skills, to navigate these rooms (they are marked as such so you know who is needed) - but this is only necessary to get treasures.
They recycle by blocking passageways off due to story, which open as you progress in the game.
You can also use different party members at any time (but can only take 2 in the field) - but they force certain members on you when you get to a story sequence (this is also marked as such) for a boss fight.
One of the new things they added is a PUB system, where you can do missions that involve fighting enemies, doing a fetch quest... which give you rewards.
All the graphics are improved, easily noticable after Omega/CR1.
They included Limit Breaks, and Summons (which is more of a Pair Limit Break).
The Gene system is different, where you have to grind and unlock the skills, rather than randomly earn them. You also cannot equip the same person with the same genes, only one per person.
Equipment has different stats, instead of constantly increasing. There are also accessories that give you skills or special stuff (resistance to poison, etc.)
It doesn't follow anything from the original CR1 for story, so you don't have to play them. I could be surprised though.
They fixed the whole "Turn Break" system, instead of finding yourself getting your asshole pummeled because the meter is Red, you and the enemy only get 1 turn that increases your strength, then it resets.
