We discussed (trashed) FF13 last week, but now that more stuff on FF13-2 are coming out, it gives me a little hope.
While the combat system was, unfortunately, mostly unchanged, it seems that there will be quicktime events, at least during boss battles, and, while a lot of people criticize them, I personally loved the in KH, so I know that Square can use them well. Also, it seems that the maps will be more broad, the player will actually be able to encounter and talk to NPCs, and the story will be far less linear.
I doubt that FF13-2 will be the game that many of us hoped FF13 was going to be, but it seems that it will be at least an improvement.