Personally, I'm glad they took a different approach to the plot and characters in FFXII. Who really wants to see yet another rehash of the old formula?

"The universe is in peril, and only we can save it, so let's talk about our feelings!!!"

I don't mean to mock, since I love plenty of games that use that premise, but I was pleased that FFXII went in a different direction.

Sure, a lot of the main characters don't really have a "personal connection" to the plot - but then, the crisis they face is a truly global one, affecting everyone equally. Virtually any Rabanastran, for instance, would have as much reason to fight as Vaan and Penelo; those two just had the courage - and the chance meetings with Balthier, Fran and Ashe - that allowed them to take part. They didn't need horribly contrived back-stories about how their families were part of some big conspiracy with the antagonist, or anything like we've seen in FFVII or VIII.

I'd agree that the plot is fairly "straightforward", in that it progresses and explains itself at a reasonable pace. Again, it's a different style of storytelling, so it's nice to have a change. Yet another super-convoluted plot, with elaborate mysteries that only make sense the second or third time you play through the game, aren't essential to a fun and involving story. While XII may be straightforward, it's by no means simple and predictable; there were plenty of revelations and surprised along the way, for instance the revelations about the (SPOILER)Occuria.