I've not completed the game yet, currently I'm only 17 hrs in but I'm enjoying it. The gameplay is good and the combat mode is good (thank god the paradigm shift is instant unlike last time).
The story, umm, I'm not too sure about it. Even for a FF it's a little far fetched. Travelling through time... I come from a very scientific background so this slightly frustrates me, but hey, what the hell.
Compared to FFXIII this game is so much better. It's not exactly linear, but it is, but saying that you have to get from A to B in all FF games. There's a good choice of optional maps to go to, and side quests. Some good some not ('quizz game' in the big city). I've yet to come accross many really hard bosses or monsters, so hopefully towards the end of the game an area or side quest will open up with some pretty good difficult monsters.
Overall the game is fun. I find the FF games have declined in recent years, but I don't know if that's down to me getting older, or the games getting worse. The game doesn't have me hooked like 7 and 10 did (yes, I loved FFX) to a stage that you look at the clock and think, have I really been here for that long, but a couple hours here and there a enjoyable.
Ok so I bought the limited edition, ummm, it came in a nice little box with some goodies, but honestly it didn't look that apealing and the contents, other than the game, still remain in their wrapping. So can't comment about that too much.