Apparently the maps in FFXIII are gonna be linear.

http://img4.sankakustatic.com/wp-con...-linearity.jpg

Like that. And apparently theres no more towns, all the shopping is done at save points. And to add to that, I heard its auto-heal after battles.

This is only what i've heard from a FF buddy of mine, but if this is true then I feel that the traditional, get stuck-challenge is gone from the game. No more running around and looking for stuff?