Why a lot of fans don't like this game *SPOILERS*

[Karellen]

I don't think removing random encounters, adding party AI and adding the element of positioning into battle strategies is really anywhere near as drastic a change as a game completely switching genre. These are all modifications that were made to Western RPGs way back in the early 90s. Why Japanese RPG fans don't seem to like them is beyond me.

As a side note, this is from someone who is extremely disapointed in the direction Bethesda has taken Fallout 3. If the changes FFXII made to its established formula were THAT significant then I might understand but for the most part FFXII is just a slightly less archaic take on the battle system the series has had since FFIV.