The facts it isn't turn-based, or open-world (world map?), two off-and-on hallmarks of Final Fantasy, are vastly more important details than this journo's conniption fit, and they're nearly lost in the shuffle.
Final Fantasy X was the last mainline game to have turn-based combat, and Final Fantasy IX was the last one to have a world map. Both games are over 20 years old now. Those have not been hallmarks of the series for a generation. Final Fantasy's hallmarks nowadays are being overbudgeted and overdesigned messes of games that never meet their deadlines.
The facts it isn't turn-based, or open-world (world map?), two off-and-on hallmarks of Final Fantasy, are vastly more important details than this journo's conniption fit, and they're nearly lost in the shuffle.
Final Fantasy X was the last mainline game to have turn-based combat, and Final Fantasy IX was the last one to have a world map. Both games are over 20 years old now. Those have not been hallmarks of the series for a generation. Final Fantasy's hallmarks nowadays are being overbudgeted and overdesigned messes of games that never meet their deadlines.