" I'm 15 hours in and i still cant choose my party members, the game is still teaching me how to play and the game is one big hallway. At what point does the game set me free and lets me explore and control my party like a big boy ? :p  "

At about the 16 hour mark, you will encounter a character named Bill. When at this point you open your menu, choose "settings", eject the game and insert Lost Odyssey, the game starts being Final Fantasy.
 

Seriously though, aren't you tired of the whole Final Fantasy formula? It's looking rather old now and gaming as moved on. I've become sick of Japanese RPG's for trying to copy Final Fantasy but tagging along current generation graphics onto anything. I wanted to love Lost Odyssey, but thought the battle system was bloody awful.  
 
Maybe that's just me, but the industry needs to move on. I'm actually liking FF13 despite it's flaws, the combat is familiar but refreshing. 

The question should be:  "When does this game start being fun?" 
Answer: Never

I love how this thread has 2 posts in a row of people on the opposite end of the spectrum. It blows my mind how separated people are on the whole issue. 
 
I think Square just needs to realize some people want to play a game with the same formula over and over and over until they die and branch off into two series: Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy Classic and just copy/paste the same mechanics into a new story/characters and ship it every 2 years or so and call it FF classic and keep the new awesome ideas like 10 through 13 rolling in for FF15 and beyond. It seems they are kind of taking this approach with 13 and Vs13 but will it become a staple, who knows.
 
Of course this is the internet and people still wouldn't be happy but hey maybe less people would complain.

chapter 11 i hear is the magic number, i'm still at chapter 10

Whenever you want it to be

" At about the 16 hour mark, you will encounter a character named Bill. When at this point you open your menu, choose "settings", eject the game and insert Lost Odyssey, the game starts being Final Fantasy.   "

" At about the 16 hour mark, you will encounter a character named Bill. When at this point you open your menu, choose "settings", eject the game and insert Lost Odyssey, the game starts being Final Fantasy.   "

" @Meowayne said:

" At about the 16 hour mark, you will encounter a character named Bill. When at this point you open your menu, choose "settings", eject the game and insert Lost Odyssey, the game starts being Final Fantasy.   "

Haha, this.  This game is a lot different than other FF games... and that's why so many people don't like it.  If you haven't played Lost Odyssey however, that's where you'll find your true FF experience. "

Wow, another thread where people say the game sucks.

Oh look, it's THIS thread again.

Party -Chapter 10 
Exploring - Chapter 11