I just finished MSQ

[jarlmcqueen]

I hear you. The post Amarout scene was fantastic!! Possibly the best scene in all the ff games (imho).

[Jaywalker]

I like Ishikawa and Shadowbringers was amazing, but I have a feeling she can only do dark and weird.

I get where you're coming from, but honestly between the way she uses humor in MSQ, Azim Steppe, and her skill level I'd argue she'd probably do just fine on other tones but possibly enjoys dark and weird more lol. Speaking as someone who also does a bunch of dark and weird stories.

Seen cases where writers can honestly only do one type of story well and crash when taken out of their comfort zone. There's a different kind of read on that imo.

[CoffeeBuns]

I recently finished the story and it was amazing. I can’t wait for more! HW was my favourite and SB was really boring for me until 4.3 but this one is my new favourite, I devoured it.

[Insertcoins]

I fucking love the ending part where the kid comes up to you, askes who you are and RIGHT before the credits drop, you look at him, and do a -shh- emote. It's cut and framed in such a way that right after that emote is hit BOOM roll credits. It felt like I was watching the part of a movie and I fucking screamed so loud. This whole patch, has been paced stupidly well, even right down to the zones and music. One of the best is right before you go to Mt Gul right? The build up from getting the massive rock man up, to watching it reach out the ground to the music ramping up. You running thur the dungeon getting ready to save the day, then to have that massive mic drop where you FAIL. THEN it's not done cause you have this massive cool down period where you're questioning yourself then to finally go to the last 2 zones where even the MUSIC is slowly lettign you have your moment to finding the last place and how both those zone's OST ramps you up again to the big reveal. They played it so where the battle music doesn't even stop that jazz... SERIOUSLY SE!!!!!!! Omg.... Words can't express how best they treated this and it shows. NEVER STOP!!!

[Latarma]

I fucking love the ending part where the kid comes up to you, askes who you are and RIGHT before the credits drop, you look at him, and do a -shh- emote. It's cut and framed in such a way that right after that emote is hit BOOM roll credits. It felt like I was watching the part of a movie and I fucking screamed so loud. This whole patch, has been paced stupidly well, even right down to the zones and music. One of the best is right before you go to Mt Gul right? The build up from getting the massive rock man up, to watching it reach out the ground to the music ramping up. You running thur the dungeon getting ready to save the day, then to have that massive mic drop where you FAIL. THEN it's not done cause you have this massive cool down period where you're questioning yourself then to finally go to the last 2 zones where even the MUSIC is slowly letting you have your moment to finding the last place and how both those zone's OST ramps you up again to the big reveal. They played it so where the battle music doesn't even stop that jazz... SERIOUSLY SE!!!!!!! Omg.... Words can't express how best they treated this and it shows. NEVER STOP!!!

i loved the the whole "Shh" moment with the little kid i hope in post content we can tell him more "stories"

[BlitzAceRush]

When he cried, it broke me... Shadowbringers has been like a gathering storm, slow to start but all the while you could feel it... feel it building, knowing it was going to be big, then you reach the last area, final dungeon, final battle and it never disappoints, it even got me to sympathise with the villain something only Heavansward got close to, I felt pity for Nidhog more in that he'd surrendered himself to his rage and was now just a consumed monster, unable to even see a means to alter his course.

Emet-Selch while an ass for most of his run, really feels fleshed out, he's not just evil finally we have true reason, motive and conviction. What he did and intends to do is still wrong but even Alisaie asks would we do any different? He wants his world, his people, his friends back, and we don't want to lose ours, one of us is going to lose everything, who here is really right? I liked that. And when he falls, it's almost relief, because I think in a way he wanted to lose, a part of him anyway, we're supposed to be someone he knew, a part of them anyway and you can almost see how this has eaten at him, he may even doubt, he wants to be proven wrong, he wants to let go, for one of us to rise up and prove we can continue on, we don't need to go back to how things were, it'll be alright, and finally, finally someone doesn't disappoint him and he's glad that it's you, his old friend and bidding we remember him, remember they lived he may finally rest, leave it to you to carve something new.

[Melichoir]

Just hire the writer for the MSQ full time or something, cause yeah this xpac MSQ has been hands down the best. Loveable villains, hateable villains, hateable allies, loveable allies. It's got a nice mix of everything.

If I had a critique, itd be pacing at times was a touch dragged out. Which might be the devs dragging things out. But at times there was quests that didnt world build or anything. It was literally just "run and talk to a dude cause...yeah." I get you need lulls to balance the high paced parts, but those lulls shouldnt be boring nonsense.

That aside though, amazing story this time round. Well worth it.

[Arixtotle]

When he cried, it broke me... Shadowbringers has been like a gathering storm, slow to start but all the while you could feel it... feel it building, knowing it was going to be big, then you reach the last area, final dungeon, final battle and it never disappoints, it even got me to sympathise with the villain something on Heavansward got close to, I felt pity for Nidhog more in that he'd surrendered himself to his rage and would just a consumed monster, unable to even see a means to alter his course.

Emet-Selch while an ass for most of his run, really feels fleshed out, he's not just evil finally we have true reason, motive and conviction. What he did and intends to do is still wrong but even Alisaie asks would we do any different? He wants his world, his people, his friends back, and we don't want to lose ours, one of us is going to lose everything, who here is really right? I liked that. And when he falls, it's almost relief, because I think in a way he wanted to lose, a part of him anyway, we're supposed to be someone he knew, a part of them anyway and you can almost see how this has eaten at him, he may even doubt, he wants to be proven wrong, he wants to let go, for one of us to rise up and prove we can continue on, we don't need to go back to how things were, it'll be alright, and finally, finally someone doesn't disappoint him and he's glad that it's you, his old friend and bidding we remember him, remember they lived he may finally rest, leave it to you to carve something new.

I agree with everything you said.

I'm actually honestly sad that he died. I almost wanted to redeem him. I felt so bad for him. I'm so sad that it had to be us or him. There doesn't seem to have been any other way though. The emotional response I had to that shows how amazing the story was though.

[Kaethra]

One thing I liked about the MSQ is it was different than the other content and more in line with previous Final Fantasy games:

2.0 Stop bad Empire
3.0 Stop bad Religion
4.0 Stop bad Empire again
5.0 Save the world.. two worlds even.

Most of the previous final fantasy games end up with the hero(es) saving the world. Its a common fantasy trope, but its one the FF series is well known for. Though hopefully they don't take this to heart and have it become a common occurrence. It happening in Shadowbringers was great timing. So this isn't to say that 2.0-4.5 was bad content storywise, they were quite good. But the climax of 5.0 is icing on the cake. It was well done.

[Selova]

I have a hard time putting how I feel into words. The MSQ has absolutely blown me away with a torrent of emotion and intense awe at this masterfully crafted Story. It was not only a endless amount of emotional gut punches but also sheer disbelief at how amazing the story for Shadowbringers is. Natsuko Ishikawa, thank you so much.


P.S. Square pleade for the love of the twelve make her the permanent story lead.