This is just my experience, but when I originally played ARR and Heavensward, I didn't enjoy the characters or the story. I eventually stopped playing. But a few years later, I came back, and I this time I changed my voice language to Japanese. ARR's story was still clunky, but I wasn't absolutely alienated by the characters. And Heavensward I really enjoyed. It's subjective I'm sure, but for me the English voice actors just don't put enough emotion into their delivery; nearly every line feels stiff. However, the Japanese cast does a great job of making me feel like these are real characters with thoughts and feelings. It really made all the difference for me, so if you find yourself not enjoying the story, I'd recommend giving this a try! You can then go rewatch some of the cutscenes by using the book in any inn room to reset your vibes on these characters and the overall story.
