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Final Fantasy XII Combat Info
1up.com has a few precious details on the combat system to be used in Final Fantasy XII. From the article: "The semi-realtime, semi-ATB battle system of FFXII is finally sounding like it's got some real depth now as these new features are coming to light. First of all, a "Chain" system has been revealed. Basically when you keep attacking enemies of the same race without killing enemies of a different race in between, your Chain counter increase. Increasing the counter will lead to getting better and even rare items from the enemies as they fall."
Then, repeat the process.
If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.
You don't have to play the game like that. In fact, it's often more enjoyable and challenging to try to speed through the game, with minimal "grinding." Most of the FF games don't require you to be anywhere near max level to beat the final boss. Side quests and optional bosses, though, are another story.
The last "grind" I had to face in an FF game was the entirety of FFVIII, since I had a compulsive need to stock 100 of each new magic for everyone.
I can't remember the last time I had to grind solely for Gil or XP, and I've just finished up FFVI, FFVII, and (almost) FFIV Hard-type--admittedly, the latter's getting hard now that I'm on the Moon... but, hey, that's what "fast forward" is for.
The FF grinds I've seen tend to be for rare items or Blue Magic. I guess FFIX's "do this 1000 times to get a more powerful skill" gimmick counts, but I only did that for Freya, and it was only 100 dragons (and I was most of the way there by the time I needed Dragon's Crest to do major damage).
Unless, of course, you mean the original FF.
Looks like the series is still dead for us SNES nostalgics. Chain combos? How about a game without FMV's, a solid storyline, and limited treadmilling? I'm not a hamster, you know.