Setzer really has a detailed opinion on the game.

I really think this is a top-notch game, and is considered one of the best by me. The hunts were the best aspect in the game, and made up greatly for which they lacked in depth of story. It provided a lot of fascination for the gamer, as they were given a chance to explore inner places of Ivalice, and encounter striking puzzles, astonishing bosses and a good opportunity to level up or the likes. Although the game can be very tiring at times, I find there is always one element to XII that keeps it from railing to dull, and stuck on the track of: incomplete, but high hopes of possible perfection. One could feel quite deprived and bitter once you've ended the game, either if you loved the experience dearly and wanted an extra slice more of story, or that the journey was not as fulfilling as you thought it would be.

Overall, I would claim that I was in limbo betwixt the two experiences, and found XII to provide a good insight into a unique story, but with a few traits from II.