One of the complaints about the battle system is that you can only use one character. But if you think about it, in previous Final Fantasies, even if you can control more than one character during battle, you're still picking from one menu at the time, so isn't that the same thing?

In earlier FF's, you may've picked options from one menu, but that's for each character. In FFXIII, you control ONLY the party leader while the other two are on full Auto. You can alter them slightly via the paradigm system, but ultimately you have sole control over just one character.

How would you control multiple characters at the same time? Some kind of psychic brain implant? Or maybe a set of Doctor Octopus tentacles?

Seriously, the single controlled character isn't a big deal - its becoming pretty much standard these days. Singling FF13 out for blame on this is ridiculous.

See, even though there were more than one character you can control during battle, it's STILL one character at a time. So it's just the same as having control over just one character. It's really just anesthetically different.

You're only in control of one character
Not really. You're basically controlling all three based on sets. Just by switching a person from ravager to commando, you are technically telling them "what to do." Just because you're not individually punching in Ice strike does not mean you are not controlling three people. You are almost in full command of what's going out (heals, damage, tank or stagger stabilizer). Generally controlling your characters in specific roles does not take away from the battle system. You already said this is not so bad if it wasn't for your second point correct?

Why would you make a new thread about it when there's a discussion going on exactly about what you're asking in the thread below...