The vehicle is how you travel fast in the open world. It's not a loading screen and it's maneuverable by the player if you want to do it (there's an auto mode and a free roam).

Agree about the music, though. I mean the fucking main combat theme of 13 sounded like Careless Whisper by George Michael at certain points. I really disliked the music in 13… it just didn't feel Final Fantasy-ish at all, and I blame that on a completely new composer. From the limited music we've heard for this game, I do think it'll be better this time around.

XVI + Itou, I can only hope.

Trailer was unimpressive with the exception of Shimomura's composition. I find the Versus (2011) and XV (2013) trailer to be far more interesting. I hate how Stella looks younger and has a more rounded facial structure now. I agree with John on the party's appearance too. I'm sure they want the Royal Family/Mafia all black clothing, but I'm positive there are exceptions in real life mafia. The whole FF7 vibes probably only lies in its modern setting (which is just the Lucis [Noctis'] Kingdom being more technologically advanced) and the boy band having a uniform dress style like the Turks. Otherwise, I don't see the connection, 'vibes', or tone.

But you guys should read up on the interviews folowing its TGS reveal:
4GAMER XV INTERVIEW

You will mostly camp out during the actual game, he told 4Gamer. And camping out is important. Since time is a real factor, characters who don’t sleep will do worse in battle.

When a day is over, accrued experience will be calculated in an effort to give players an idea of how much they’ve accomplished over that stretch of time.

Only gain experience after resting/camping at night.

The combat is no longer similar to the 2011 or 2013 trailer where it was more like KH. By how it reads, it's more along the lines of XII except more action. And the combat system mostly revoles around the holding one-button for chained actions and abilities:

There are no menu commands in combat. It controls like an action game where players switch between offense and defense. You can only control Noctis, but you can give orders to other party members. And you can call up the menu screen to give commands to everyone, swap out weapons, etc.

If you watch the TGS tech demo, there's a log showing what actions are being taken against the monsters on the left corresponding to the party status table on the right. In that regard, it does seem closer to XII with the addition of possible directives through a menu.

That said, Nomura's no longer directing either as he's been replaced atogether by Tabata (who directed Type-0 and is bringing an HD version overseas too – check this one out!) and moved to take control over KHIII. According to interviews, it was a company decision while Nomura just gives a terse response on the matter.

It's unfortunate because this was the one game I thought Nomura deserved as his shot at a mainline FF having been a part of the series and company for decades. At the same damn time, you have to wonder about his role as director and understanding the workflow of a mainline FF outside of art.

The change in direction of its combat is probably a result of Tabata who sat down with Nomura on the core concepts he'd established over the pre-production period and did his best to maintain in the re-branded XV.