13 feels like a streamlined version of 12 with its auto-combat, I prefer it personally because fiddling with setups and behaviors for the AI isn't very fun.
I disagree.
FFXII's combat, I can only relate to like... Idk a bioware game? Lol but way more in depth.
But it's built into the game progression, so at the beginning there's very little to program, but end game you can do all kinds of stuff.
It kind of works like that programming language Scratch, with the little blocks.
FFXIII on the other hand, I would compare to something like that new Aliens game, where you're in control of the squad, not the individual unit.
FFXIII has the same kind of philosophy, where you're reacting to enemy on a larger scale than giving commands on per action basis, but it's more about "gamefeel" than anything else and keeping things fast-paced.
IMO
XII is more about what neat stuff you can do, there's a lot of room for creativity.
XIII is more about just providing a fun feeling combat system.