Overall, I really liked this game, but since it would be really boring (for me) to write about the overall game, I'm going to be more targeted in this time - complete with bullet points (always a good choice when one doesn't feel like writing connective text to frame one's thoughts and ideas).

In order of most importance to least:

• The character development and dialogue in this game are very good. Sometimes I wonder if the medieval speech isn't too overwrought, but it seems to come together more often than not. In many ways it's a what Star Wars movie experience would be if you were to add Lord of the Rings-caliber drama.
• On the other hand, I think the level of drama here is too sophisticated to be placed in the Final Fantasy universe. It is primarily driven by human motions and feelings, with the fantasy aspect serving only as a MacGuffin. But the more I played, the more I missed the completely bizarre (yet somehow expected) plot twists and fantasy underpinnings of the other Final Fantasy games.
• The music is awesome.
• Vaan is not the main character. The game positions him as the main character but if you keep expecting something major to happen with him you'll be disappointed. Honestly he is just a vehicle to get the game started, and I wish you controlled the other characters when in the towns. Ashe, Balthier, Basch, and Fran are the true stars of the game. And Penelo seems to be included only to give the men something to rescue.
• I liked battling the monsters on the same screen I was exploring. I didn't like the gambit system. I would have preferred if they handled it Chrono-Trigger style where combat is turn-based while still taking place in the environment you explore.
• Gambits are not really versatile enough to achieve what I wanted most of the time, so I wound up constantly stopping the battle to issue commands, making it more effort than if the game just accounted for turns to begin with.
• The side quests were mostly enjoyable and rewarding. I didn't encounter any painful mini-games (like the dreaded Chocobo Racing . . . Man, I hate that type of thing).
• The License Grid is far too forgiving, allowing you to give any character any equipment or ability. By halfway through the game I had a party of six more or less identical characters, differing only by their stats. Of course this made it less of a worry as to which of the six characters I bothered to level up.
• Some of the environments were too large, or at any rate went on for too long without being broken by a plot point. But then I am the type that explores every square inch, so this may be less of an issue for most gamers.

Just one more thing: I really miss FFVI. I'd like for Square to make another game like that with a huge cast and three-way-split plot lines that give every character his or her moment to shine.

Despite whatever shortcomings, I really liked this game. I prefer FFX, but much of that has to do with my own personal bias and less to do with the actual quality of the games.

Overall I give this game a 9.1 out of 10 (with 5.5 as neutral).