Sequelitis

[Wolf Kanno]

To be honest, Only FFX had any back story on the summons, and most of their back story was optional. You could only learn about their pasts, if you did the obnoxious side quest to get the Magus Sisters. Read the Clan Primer in FFXII if you want backstory on the Espers and world...

Most of the time, they are just "magical beasts" that you beat into submission and they join you...

Now FFVI sorta've gives a back story on them, but the game makes it pretty clear they are not really important as characters, as much as a plot device.

Also, I enjoyed FFXII's dungeons and worlds. For once I didn't feel like they were just a short, pointless game mechanic to get me from Custscene A to Cutscene B. For once, I actually played an RPG instead of just sitting back and watching. It's been a major complaint about RPG's ever since the
PS1 era.