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

[CrownySuccubus]

Those other games typically have actual consequences for either the world or the main cast though, so those light hearted moments are somewhat warranted. Whereas literally nothing happens to the main cast and it hasn’t happened in so long. We have the entire moon arc basically taken up by slice of life rabbits wanting us to play dress up. This is then mimicked at the 2nd labyrinthos visit where we spend a huge chunk of time playing tour guide for a bunch of rabbits.

As I've said elsewhere, Endwalker is the "Final Disc" of the FFXIV story. It's the "Hero's Return" portion of the tale where said heroes apply what they've learned into overcoming whatever the final adversary of the plot is. Sure, more dire stakes would have been cool, but it didn't make or break the arc. However, with that said, the reason the problem is so pronounced is because of the constant fake-outs. If you're not going to kill anyone in the main cast, then fine.....but stop trying to pretend that you might.

Having fast food while you are fully aware that in other parts of the world people are getting their souls shredded due to the apocalypse is just bad placement for that kind of scene - it would belong to the very start or the very end when there is no other, highly time-sensitive issue that needs to be addressed.

But that hadn't even happened yet, by that point in the story.

[Tama-Kanzashi]

But that hadn't even happened yet, by that point in the story.

True, my bad, still doesn't mean it was appropriately placed. It was still just slapped in randomly.

[KizuyaKatogami]

As I've said elsewhere, Endwalker is the "Final Disc" of the FFXIV story. It's the "Hero's Return" portion of the tale where said heroes apply what they've learned into overcoming whatever the final adversary of the plot is. Sure, more dire stakes would have been cool, but it didn't make or break the arc. However, with that said, the reason the problem is so pronounced is because of the constant fake-outs. If you're not going to kill anyone in the main cast, then fine.....but stop trying to pretend that you might.



But that hadn't even happened yet, by that point in the story.

It doesnt matter if its the final disc. Noctis still dies in the final disc portion. So does Serah in 13-2. So does Gabranth in 12 etc. It's no excuse. Whats the excuse for no deaths or consequences in ShB then? Also....said heroes had to apply what theyve learned in this same expansion to defeat the end goal foe so im not sure any of that applies here whatsoever. Regardless, it doesnt change the fact that despite this expansion being advertised as dark and grim and scary, its filled with the most fluff and fanservice than any other expansion.

[CrownySuccubus]

It doesnt matter if its the final disc. Noctis still dies in the final disc portion. So does Serah in 13-2. So does Gabranth in 12 etc. It's no excuse.

FFXV is also infamous for its finale being extremely rushed and being largely incomplete without the DLC/novels to tie things together, with said tie-ins even making a case that Noctis's sacrifice was mostly wasteful.

FFXIII-2 is the second part of a story which not only kills NO ONE in it's ultimate finale a game later, literally brings every main character that did die back from the dead to punch God with the power of friendship.

Gabranth is a "Support character". His death has similar plot significance to that of Zenos, and he's even an "antagonist" that helps the protagonists in the final hour, much like Zenos.

Honestly, you would have made a better point arguing for Shadow at the end of FFVI or Vivi at the end of FFIX. But even then, we're talking about specific exceptions to the FF formula. I'm sure that you really enjoy those games where the heroes have to sacrifice themselves in the end or die, but not EVERY game needs to end that way. I don't care if a story is an unambiguous happy ending or not. Chrono Trigger and FFX are two of my favorite games ever, with two radically different types of endings, but I don't think either is worse for it.