Is it just me, or are Expansions getting more brutal and depressing every time?

[EirolOcarrol]

Endwalker certainly lives up to the depressing implications of it theme and does not hold back.

Final Fantasy XIV has always had dark moments. But despite mostly only doing the MSQ and rushing. It took me until yesterday to complete it, even though I started in Early Access. Because I had to force myself to take breaks at multiple points in the story.

I'm an emotional wreck. Friends and family had had to ask why I look so sad and distraught. And when I tell them it's a video game, they tell me to stop playing it. I think I'm going crazy. I feel really empty and sad a lot in a way I didn't before starting this expansion.

There have always been really dark moments in the story. So I find it hard rationalizing why the brutal moments in Endwalker have been a last straw. I took a break for a couple days at a couple parts in Stormblood and Shadowbringers to feel better. But this has been by far the worst.

I honestly don't feel like I'm thinking straight when I play it. And I've been a complete sad emotional wreck throughout the journey. And not as my most mentally healthy, either.

I really hope this is the last time they get as dark as this somehow. Because this has been a very painful experience.

[Theodric]

I don't believe so. If anything, I've thought that things have been played very safe - at least for the protagonists - ever since Stormblood. The 'darker' moments are almost always limited to throwaway characters, sympathetic antagonists, outright villains and...dead characters brought back to life just to die for a second time.

As someone who generally enjoys darker and grittier stories, the way in which FFXIV handles such things often just comes across as non-committal. Especially with the amount of fake deaths amongst the main cast.

[BaconBits]

Not dark enough, the Final Days phenomenon should have struck more than just Thavnair and Garlemald, and Terminus Beasts/Blasphemies should have been roaming older maps as special mobs. Also wish we got to actually see some of the Meteia go through their existential crises upon realizing that each and every star they visited was either dead, dying, or wishing for death, eventually leading to one of the Meteia having the bright idea of granting their wish.

[Rayne6665]

Shadowbringers and Endwalker was a emotional rollercoaster for me. Heavensward got me crying too as well. I swear this game is amazing af but messes with your feelings and emotional.

[EirolOcarrol]

I don't believe so. If anything, I've thought that things have been played very safe - at least for the protagonists - ever since Stormblood. The 'darker' moments are almost always limited to throwaway characters, sympathetic antagonists, outright villains and...dead characters brought back to life just to die for a second time.

As someone who generally enjoys darker and grittier stories, the way in which FFXIV handles such things often just comes across as non-committal. Especially with the amount of fake deaths amongst the main cast.

I don't really have a detached, meta minded look at things. Seeing brutally violent acts happening to any living being, whether named or not, is still very disturbing to see.

I don't look at characters are mere pieces or tropes. If I see a character being eaten alive, that's a very brutal and disturbing thing.

[LittleChickenNugget]

Every day this community makes me curl my lip up at least once.

I don't wanna be mean to you, but I suggest maybe setting up an appointment with a therapist or trying to get some medicine if Endwalker of all things brought you that much distress. It was lazily written and a poor attempt at "dark". Shadowbringers was darker.

[EirolOcarrol]

Not dark enough

I don't think I'd want to play a Final Fantasy XIV you're asking for. Endwalker was already too much for me. Much less would I want to see it go further down the road to becoming media like Made in Abyss.

I'm already way past my limit.

[Grim_Creeper]

Get over yourself

Alternatively:

You're so brave for posting this hugs and support <3 ^^

[Rawr18]

Whoever wrote Endwalker was really into v*re.

[ForteNightshade]

Not dark enough, the Final Days phenomenon should have struck more than just Thavnair and Garlemald, and Terminus Beasts/Blasphemies should have been roaming older maps as special mobs. Also wish we got to actually see some of the Meteia go through their existential crises upon realizing that each and every star they visited was either dead, dying, or wishing for death, eventually leading to one of the Meteia having the bright idea of granting their wish.

This is among my biggest disappointments with EW. The whole Final Days felt like one of those Pitch Meeting memes.



They made such a massive deal about the world supposedly ending yet it only effected two brand new locations we had absolutely no ties to. Which made the whole thing feel entirely isolated. It didn't help I wasn't thrilled with Thavnair to begin with considering how much of a slog it was.