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

[Rulakir]

I generally don't go into threads of people hating on something I love or ones loving something I hate. Both seem an unproductive and unenjoyable use of my time.

For story I actually put HW slightly over Shb so my story list would be HW > SHB > EW > SB > ARR

This is my ranking too. I think HW was the right balance, not too cheesy or gritty. The villain was understandable, but not so sympathetic and likeable you wanted to be BFFs. The protagonists suffered losses. We were spared most of the Saturday morning cartoon "power of friendship" nonsense, which unfortunately made a reappearance at the end of the two major boss fights in ShB despite it having an overall grimmer theme.

The Ala Mhigan half of SB sinks it and the Doma half alone isn't enough to put it above EW.

I still prefer the art and tone of the original Arslan but the remake did go a bit further than the original on the story

The art style of the Arslan remake is the main reason I haven't made more of an effort to watch it. Most of the character designs were a massive downgrade. I only watched some of Lodoss a long time ago and never finished it.

[Garet]

The art style of the Arslan remake is the main reason I haven't made more of an effort to watch it. Most of the character designs were a massive downgrade. I only watched some of Lodoss a long time ago and never finished it.

Agree. The art style of the Arslan remake seems pointed towards a more younger audience I think. I also almost did not watch it because of that but I really wanted to know the story since the original was too short lived. The Original Arslan has a more mature art style and tone which is very nice and suited more the theme and setting of the story. Hence I hope if they do remake Record of Lodoss War that they maintain the tone of the original OVA even as they try to expand the story.

[OhNooo]

I think HW was the right balance, not too cheesy or gritty. The villain was understandable, but not so sympathetic and likeable you wanted to be BFFs. The protagonists suffered losses. We were spared most of the Saturday morning cartoon "power of friendship" nonsense, which unfortunately made a reappearance at the end of the two major boss fights in ShB despite it having an overall grimmer theme.

Exactly this. HW definitely felt like it had the right balance for me. Although, one thing I did appreciate about SB was the fact that we were beaten as badly as we were. It was kind of nice to see our character not being the strongest for once.