What's the point with that quite lackluster story in Endwalker?

[Titor]

I’m just confused at how we were sent back to the future, but then the raids summon us back to the past after msq is over, so we can canonically keep going back in time, and trying to change the future. Instead even now, we do nothing.

[TaleraRistain]

To be completely honest though, that does raise a good point. Why is Zodiark, a figure and being born of salvation, take onn a demonic form, whereas the being who was created to keep said other being in check is the angelic and benevolent looking one.I think the main problem though is that yes, we had an expansion show us that angelic figures dont mean benevolent or good yet we still only ever use light in the story, and the main angelic figure is still overall treated as benevolent and good with the demonic figure barely getting any credit for anything after its death.

I think we just haven't had a chance to see a lot of beings that are associated with Darkness. Maybe they all look like that and it's only our own in real life perceptions coming into play. To the people on the First, it's the angelic beings who are the true demonic personas.

[DBriggs304]

I thought the story was awesome!
They topped SB.

To each thier own though.

[Skivvy]

I bet money that OP would never be satisficed with whatever the story was.

OP could write a story they liked then we could use Kairos to wipe OP's memory. OP would then hate the story even though they wrote it.

Odd take, but why do you feel like that? Aren't criticisms allowed here or are we striving to become more of an echo chamber than we are?

[EverQuest]

Lots of people enjoyed it we just want to understand your reasoning and counter points. I mean people like the got ending as well..

[OhNooo]

I bet money that OP would never be satisficed with whatever the story was.

Honestly I feel like a lot of players I've seen are opposite of this to their detriment. What I mean is, I get the vibe that a lot of people will defend the story no matter which way the writers take it. They could do something completely crazy that makes no sense and you would still have people explaining why the story had to turn out that way and tell you that the reason you don't like it is because you just didn't pay attention enough or never played a jrpg before lol

[OhNooo]

I think we just haven't had a chance to see a lot of beings that are associated with Darkness. Maybe they all look like that and it's only our own in real life perceptions coming into play.

I was hoping we'd be able to harness the power of darkness along with light back when I first saw the Shb trailer - like dealing with dark crystals or something? That would've been cool. The one scene that comes to mind was when Gaia was freeing Ryne from being Shiva and if I remember correctly, she yelled out "power of darkness answer my call!" which I thought was kind of silly. But I really wish they would touch on this more.

[AnnRam]

• The mighty Zodiark, which has been build up as this mighty(evil) entity over several expansions, turns out to be nothing but filler trash for the first Endwalker trial
• The true cause of the Final Days is a pet-project from an ancient which goes mad after observing countless dead world and possibly causing the death of several world by projecting negative emotions unto them, and is thus dead-set on bringing despair to every world, upon which said ancient goes mad and is now letting her run her course to test humanity if they can withstand/fight despair
• Venat, who hasn't had her memory wiped + still remembers you from being in Elpis, quite apparently doesn't lift a finger to learn about Dynamis herself or to mobilize the other ancients to end Meteion then and there, and instead chooses to turn herself into Hydaelyn, sunder the world and the inhabitants, thereby forcing them to live with and face despair and gambling that their resilience against despair might be enough to face Meteion one day

Really?
This is the best SQ could do in terms of story after ShB?

Yup, the story was indeed mediocre at best. I didn't feel absolute anything in the last part of MSQ, it was obvious the whole group would appear alive again 15 minutes after a few quests.

Lots of characters didn't even appear in the whole new expansion for no reason at all.

I've been playing since ARR, when Zenos got introduced the AMOUNT of time he was put in cutscenes and at the end of every major patch like a true menace (basically sitting in a chair for like 5 patches just staring) just to be casted away like nothing and introduce the bird girl as the final boss.

Imagine if FFVII with Sephiroth, countless hours of playing and chasing him around the whole planet but ups, in the last hour we introduced this big cactus who took the cells of Jenova and now he is the final boss. What about Sephi? well now kill him on a QTE event just for fan service.

Shadowbringers and HW are still the best content this company offered in the past decade.

[Jettinson]

Honestly I feel like a lot of players I've seen are opposite of this to their detriment. What I mean is, I get the vibe that a lot of people will defend the story no matter which way the writers take it. They could do something completely crazy that makes no sense and you would still have people explaining why the story had to turn out that way and tell you that the reason you don't like it is because you just didn't pay attention enough or never played a jrpg before lol

I am at the point I can't be bothered to focus too much on negatives because then I would go on a lenghty rant of each expansions flaws.
I am pretty sure there has been so much complaint on each release and honestly not surprised how there are for Endwalker as some stuff i agree. I still enjoyed and loved this expansion story.

Although I am fine with how Zodiark was treated, it was already explained before the process so it was more of how they were going to utilize.

But hey, it is better than whatever Heavensward treated ascians or Stormblood comic relief imperial roe or Shadowbriger mr. Kung fu dragon pet guy.

[EmpyreanHelios]

I am at the point I can't be bothered to focus too much on negatives because then I would go on a lenghty rant of each expansions flaws.

But hey, it is better than whatever Heavensward treated ascians or Stormblood comic relief imperial roe or Shadowbriger mr. Kung fu dragon pet guy.

I do think that we have to show some discontent so that the writers and devs knows not to repeat certain events/aspects in the future.

In SB, I was really tired of Zenos slow walking at you with a sword every instance fight and I guess no one took an issue with that because immediately next expansion we had Zenos 2.0 Ranjit slow walking at you with Kung-fu and a dragon.