It feels like JRPGs take longer and longer to get you into the meat of the game. I logged 6 hours in Persona 4 before I got to move freely in a dungeon. I also hear FFXV takes a while to get going, and the other major release recently, Dragon Quest VII 3DS (which I plan to play next) also has this issue.

Remember in FFVI and FFVII where they threw you right into the action?