I can't think of too many instances new locations opened up from talking to people in XII, its actually the most exploration heavy entry in the series since the NES days in my opinion.

I loved talking to the NPCs in this game but its because they actually had meaningful things to say for once and they also changed in unexpected ways as the story progressed. I always found it amusing how the Archadian soldiers stationed in Rabanastre grew to think of the place as a second home. Its little things like that that made the title interesting for me. For once I didn't feel like I was talking to an automation that has his or hers two token lines that's barely a sentence.