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

[aveyond-dreams]

Well, it's over. Now enjoy the next 3 years of Erenville and taco cat.

Throwing everything away in exchange for this was so not worth it.

[BaconBits]

Man, I really wish I wasn't a void/shard enthusiast pre-6.X. Like, really getting into the lore regarding the 13th, why Voidwalker was a thing back in E2, who Erebos was, looking into things like voidsent hierarchy.

Like, you have any idea how absolutely hyped I was when we got those void quests as a reward for doing all the ShB role quests? And it started to blend things together from previous expansions with characters that because of the role quests and the history of the First, I actually really cared about? I am never going to see the void given justice now. And that's the worst part. Every single time the quests on the First updated, I went STRAGIHT back to Cylva and Unukalhai and I BEGGED them to say something to Zero, PLEASE just let me show you what we've been up to, I HAVE an Oracle of Darkness and Light on the First, we are going back to fight this giant voidsent named after a "hero of eld" that I have no idea of the backstory for outside of present circumstance with Azdaja! Why is this being handwaved, even if it's optional content? And I get to the end of this nightmare, and Odinel says "Hey, I should tell you about Cylva and Unukalhai" and Zero is SURPRISED they even EXIST. And I'm just sitting there like, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? Why didn't I mention them? Why didn't Ben Leqq or Y'shtola mention them? Why didn't I TELL GOLBEZ that they were ALSO tricked by the Ascians? What happened with the Shadowkeeper and subsequently, Eden itself, if I told Golbez what happened THREE patches ago, would we be in this mess at all? Of course you were tricked by the Ascians, who wasn't at this point, good god, at least he killed every Lopporit on the moon if they existed over there. Why have I been sitting on this crucial, critical information for FOUR PATCHES? Am I stupid? Stuff like this breaks my immersion with my character, I would absolutely 100% try to get everyone on the same page with this, it's THEIR world we're trying to restore!

I don't care that people haven't done the pre-requisite content! Shadowbringers ITSELF would not have happened without Alexander and Omega being CANON events! Stop wasting your own world building! Why would you write it like this?

I get a taste of what the Thirteenth could've been like, and it's all in flashbacks or memories. The story of that doomed world and it's future complexities effectively solved because Zero learned how to have friends and trust others.

Oh god, why did I even get invested in this plot eight years ago, what a massive mistake on my part.

[Lunaxia]

Oh god, why did I even get invested in this plot eight years ago, what a massive mistake on my part.

If it's any consolation, half the people in this thread have been asking themselves that same question for nearly two years now.

[Theodric]

If it's any consolation, half the people in this thread have been asking themselves that same question for nearly two years now.

On the plus side, the next part of FFVIIR is looking very much to my tastes in terms of offering balanced fan service for the protagonists and antagonists alike. It really is quite bizarre how much FFXIV fumbles on that front.

I'm not even annoyed. Just baffled. I'm not even sure who they're trying to cater to these days given how non-committal, hypocritical and inconsequential large swathes of the story turn out to be.

[ZephyrMenodora]

Just finished 6.5 MSQ. Couldn't be more delighted! Liked how things wrapped up but still leaving curiosity for what's next. Bravo! Can't wait for 7.0!

[ReynTime]

On the plus side, the next part of FFVIIR is looking very much to my tastes in terms of offering balanced fan service for the protagonists and antagonists alike. It really is quite bizarre how much FFXIV fumbles on that front.

I'm not even annoyed. Just baffled. I'm not even sure who they're trying to cater to these days given how non-committal, hypocritical and inconsequential large swathes of the story turn out to be.

As someone who did not like VII Remake, Rebirth is looking like a massive improvement based on what they have showed. It feels good to finally be excited by something SE announces.

[Theodric]

Well, this is awkward:

The game contradicts itself with greater frequency these days which is frustrating as a former lore enthusiast. I know many players who were interested in the game's story who compiled various sources from the game itself and other relevant media (lore books, interviews, etc) so it is rather strange that there's so many mistakes, retcons and localisation errors of late.

[Atelier-Bagur]

On the plus side, the next part of FFVIIR is looking very much to my tastes in terms of offering balanced fan service for the protagonists and antagonists alike. It really is quite bizarre how much FFXIV fumbles on that front.

I'm not even annoyed. Just baffled. I'm not even sure who they're trying to cater to these days given how non-committal, hypocritical and inconsequential large swathes of the story turn out to be.

really? I kinda think its just eh with the FFVIIR Remake. Especially since they're trying so hard to tie a bunch of the compilation of FFVII into the main plot of FFVII even if were dealing with alternate timelines. It all just feels like bullcorn nonsense over a story that was already nonsensical in its plot. But the appeal of a full blown remake of such a beloved game is what makes it so enticing with a lot of the audience so I imagine thats whats pulling the weight, rather than the added plot elements.

[Renathras]

As respectfully as I can say this:

I disagree.

While some parts of the story I didn't like, the story itself I liked overall, some parts of it I liked tremendously, and now with the resolution, I feel it was a journey well taken. Things are nicely tied up and very much leaning into the feeling of rest and reprieve ahead.I know a lot of people like to hate things, and I know others don't but simply have different tastes. And that's fine. But honestly, it's not healthy to harbor so much pent up hate over things.

As for me, I feel the journey was worthwhile, and I like where it ended up in 6.5, and I like where it seems to be going. I'm sorry you didn't all enjoy it, but I'm reminded of that saying "You can't please all of the people all of the time." Hope you enjoy the future better than you have the present.

[Lunaxia]

As respectfully as I can say this.

The patronising false concern tactic used to obliquely insinuate we're so embittered it's clouding our judgement and downplay valid issues is growing really stale.

No one likes to hate anything - except perhaps some of the users who seem to have a bizarre preoccupation with playing up to the trolls lately - but in the same vein some people will call a spade a spade when they see one. I've had parts of the game that have put me to sleep before, but I could recognise they just weren't my thing and that other players get a kick out of it, like Allag, for instance - I had friends who loved the whole Ancient, sci-fi mystery tech thing, but for a long time I found the aesthetic and background behind it bland and boring. Stormblood was also not a high point for me, but it was okay and I appreciate some people have an appetite for that whole political, military campaign side of things, and I enjoyed bits of it. But this entire arc has been insipid, poorly paced, badly written and more than anything, lazy. FFXIV has been hit and miss at times with what they've implemented over the years, but there has always been a relatively consistent standard of quality and effort that you could feel from the devs. Something quite clearly fell off a cliff this time around.

If you like it, and were able to take something from it - cool! But please don't use your positive opinion as a weapon to cast aspersions on other players' point of view because it conflicts with your own.