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

[Fiel_Tana]

I don't consider "fan service" watching your favorite characters get effed over, while your character has no power to do anything about it, and then treats the person responsible as some sort of benevolent goddess.

This!

The inability to even attempt saving the ancients and their world along with the expectation that we view Venat / Hydaelyn as heroic saviour of the world removes all player agency.

I honestly thought during Elpis maybe we'd get a timeline split, conveniently split the world into pre and post graphics and game engine updates, or something completely unexpected. I was so excited to see where it was heading! I loved every second of Elpis… right until we get shunted off into our time that despite Venat warning ‘may have changed’ (my excitement at that moment was ENORMOUS!), didn't at all. A gut-wrenching realisation that nothing we do matters in the end.

This closed timeloop also implicates our WoL in the original end of days (and our past self!). What would have happened had we not told Venat? If we'd stayed behind longer re-tell our story to Emet and Hythlo so they understood what they’d be up against? Or talked to Hermes helping him see he’s not alone, the world is worth saving, help him towards that path?

Originally I loved the idea of Azem and seeing what this new info would bring, but now I wonder why even add Azem into the story? Why make them close friends with Hythlodeus and Emet? Why have Azem as a character exist as a "past self" at all?

Azem knew something terrible is happening, knew about Zodiark, disagreed and left the convocation. They knew Venat was opposed and planning something... and Azem did what? Played Mah-jong while the world burnt? Ate some grapes? At best, had a plan but failed? At worst is ok with their world and all lives (including their best friends!) ending? For a story that leans on the Power of Friendship™ and winning against impossible odds with perseverance... how does any of that make sense? Why tie our WoL to this?

Having the 'us' that is "Azem" and the 'us' that went to Elpis fail and/or not try to save them (not once but twice!), without an option for the player to state anything other than undying love and acceptance of Hydaelyn and her decision takes away player agency over our WoL. No chance to even offer a “…” or snarky reply. It feels terrible!

There’ve been many points I disagreed with the WoLs actions, but it was written so players can understand / headcannon reasons behind those actions. Even now, weeks after finishing the story, I feel a dissatisfaction with the story and disconnect my WoL that only deepens as time passes.

I had hope for Azem’s story being told in Panda or something to address this, but the live-letter has mostly killed that hope off.

Hear… Feel… Think… but NOT too much as to form your own feelings or moral opinions about any characters or plotpoints? :/

[Kyohei]

It does leave bitter taste to get to know a character, appreciate them even but all that knowing they are all actually dead and that's pretty much it (meanwhile the scions get to revive from all and any kind of situations but that's another story). One could even push and say this is borderline malicious.

Another thing is, making Hydaelyn the ultimate mastermind behind pretty much everything happening doesn't do justice to "finding one's own purpose" as it only gives off the feeling of being a manipulated pawn since day one.