This story is really underwhelming - it's opened to mixed reviews.

[Verathel]

Haven't finished yet but really wish they would have a cutscene where we fight and it actually shows us fighting like Estinien had with the Dawnservant.

[Akimori]

I haven't gotten through the entire story, but I'd like to point out that our character is technically on vacation and thats how I'm seeing the story so far TBH. Is it boring? Yes, of course it is, but we literally just came back from the far reaches of reality and nearly lost our lives while we're at it. I think a slower paced story for our character to gather themselves and recoup is a nice change. I see this kinda like ARR, this story needs to build and set the foundation. From what I remember, ARR was the same where the first half was boring AF, but near the end/beginning of HW is when the story started to pick up (thats also where I got super invested into the game). Im going to give it the benefit of the doubt

Also, Y'shtola hasn't shown up and the twins are with me. Sounds like a good story to me!

[arstoka]

Nothing makes me happier then having my character relegated to a bobble-head doll.

Sarcasm aside, this expansion has been a test of patience. I'd rather watch paint dry.

Echoing many of the same complaints that were already expressed, the writing is bland and uninteresting, the characters either grating or wholly underwhelming, the pacing is like hiking through a swamp with snowshoes and the story as a whole is desperately in need of actually engaging themes and conflict. I'm appalled that Square thought this was serviceable. I took a week+ off of work for this and I'd rather be working then playing through this nightmare.

(And when I say conflict I don't mean world ending shenanigans, I mean...political drama, intrigue and, palpable stakes.)

I have never felt such animosity towards a story, nor have I ever considered quitting halfway through an expansion before.

House be damned, I just might unsub.

[Hallarem]

I liked the story, it was passable and the lore is amazing, the potential is great for future expansions. Soken needs to be switched out I think or reigned in heavily. He is way too experimental on the theming of his music, it takes the fantasy out of final fantasy and sometimes ruins the immersion.

- Good characters, I enjoyed a lot of the side characters this time. Some very heartwarming moments and a slow journey that let you live through cultures and understanding Tural.
- Wuk Lamat's english voice is very hit and miss, but I didn't mind it, I think they need to hire a more professional voice actor for a role next time, some reads were very stale but emotions got through in some scenes. Koana's VA was amazing.
- Music was subpar, sometimes I feel like Soken just wants to play in a band and release his band music in the game instead of adhering to what he's supposed to be doing. Bringing the game world to life and immersing the player, and picking a lane. Don't even get me started on that weird pop tune he played on some parts with the vocals and the ending song, ugh. The last boss music was prime example, just because you can mix every genre doesnt mean you need to. Jungle civilization themed capital = Energetic upbeat big band jazz and lounge cigar bar jazz for the night? Are you high?
- Last dungeon should've been a zone, just saying
- Scenery is amazing, can't wait to explore more
- Boss fights were nice, I liked the experimentation they did.
- Graphical updates shine through, let's hope they keep the ball rolling

- THE MAIN CRIME of this expansion though... Are the endless walk from A to B filler quests that have no bearing towards anything. The game chokeholded me so many with filler quests that by the time it was time to face the final boss, I was like "Do I have to fight? Im no longer hyped, intrigued or INVESTED" the pacing was just so out of whack.

7/10

[Verathel]

Nothing makes me happier then having my character relegated to a bobble-head doll.

Sarcasm aside, this expansion has been a test of patience. I'd rather watch paint dry.

Echoing many of the same complaints that were already expressed, the writing is bland and uninteresting, the characters either grating or wholly underwhelming, the pacing is like hiking through a swamp with snowshoes and the story as a whole is desperately in need of actually engaging themes and conflict. I'm appalled that Square thought this was serviceable. I took a week+ off of work for this and I'd rather be working then playing through this nightmare.

(And when I say conflict I don't mean world ending shenanigans, I mean...political drama, intrigue and, palpable stakes.)

I have never felt such animosity towards a story, nor have I ever considered quitting halfway through an expansion before.

House be damned, I just might unsub.

The beginning would have definitely benefited from at least a level of intrigue. Maybe a third party in Tural who supported whatever Promise they desired sought to interfere in the contest or something. Definitely felt a little weird that a contest for the throne that ruled an entire continent would not have more interest regarding to the outcome. While I have zero problem going through the story like this the first time...First expansion I so far dread to do it again on an alt at least so far.

And yeah would have loved a scene where the WOL beats someone up and it actually shows....Being menacing on the sidelines is all well and good but can be quite boring.

[Loggos]

Being menacing on the sidelines is all well and good but can be quite boring.

"He's Just standing There... Menacingly!"

[arstoka]

The beginning would have definitely benefited from at least a level of intrigue. Maybe a third party in Tural who supported whatever Promise they desired sought to interfere in the contest or something. Definitely felt a little weird that a contest for the throne that ruled an entire continent would not have more interest regarding to the outcome. While I have zero problem going through the story like this the first time...First expansion I so far dread to do it again on an alt at least so far.

And yeah would have loved a scene where the WOL beats someone up and it actually shows....Being menacing on the sidelines is all well and good but can be quite boring.

That I could get behind. There's so much more I would do with the story, given the chance but I'll sit on those thoughts for now as they could be very spoilery. At the very least, the WOL needs to have more involvement in the story and, if they're supposed to be a mentor, at least more dialogue options to reinforce that.

[Banriikku]

The MSQ - my review:
We are a spectator. We do nothing. I read many times that we are a "mentor" and the game tells the same on certain points but we are not. We do nothing, make no decisions and we do not teach or advise. The WOL, we, could be cut out and nothing would change.

So Wuk Lammat is the MC. Okay no problem but she is one dimesional, boring and brings nothing to the table. We do not learn how she became who she is or why except for "because reasons" and childish one liner. She behaves like a teenager around the age of 14 to 16 and not like an adult. Her motivations are explained in one sentence "i want peace" but not the reason or the thought process of her or the events that lead to that conclusion hers.

Next is the sins of storytelling:
Tell and not show - we got told many times person x is evil insted of shown. We get told "this person is smart" and not shown, then this follows a "deus ex machina" and to top it of it is not even smart despite the use of "deus ex machina".

Overexplaining - the whole story behaves like the audience has no memory or a brain at all. Dull repetitons of the same statement over and over.

World and Lore and suspension of diesbelieve -

Logical errors like "this is a secret" but everybody knows it and happens all the time (also there are some points of logic flaws in the story where current lore is ignored it seems).

Also people behave not like living people at all "soo sad, people died!!" next moment "haha, funny".

Lore dumps on the player are also happening without context and so there is no impact or conection for the player. The whole "adventure" reason is given us by only the sentence "this is an adventure" instead of going on a adventure.

Pacing - Too slow and on certain points way to fast

Engament - this is a medium where we, the players, interact with the world, people and creature in it. DT disables us and prohibts interactions all the time. It feels disconected and artificial, as if we are a voyeur that watches and has no impact or influence.

This is a Slice of Life Story with a boring NPC-MC in power fantasy game about beeing the hero that defies the odds.

To hammer it home:
WHY is alsmost everything "tell and not show" but on the other hand you are clearly capable of doing otherwise - Fight between 2 NPC - we learn about the strength of one NPC WITHOUT TELLING "ungabunga he stronk" but through a show of his prowess.

How should i care for this place and people when the writer themselfs do not care? This an empty shell of a world and sad promise of an adventure that will lull you to sleep. Ridiculously music and graphic are on point and top notch and thats it whats saving it. Dungeons and raids look amazing. And so does the open world.

[Verathel]

That I could get behind. There's so much more I would do with the story, given the chance but I'll sit on those thoughts for now as they could be very spoilery. At the very least, the WOL needs to have more involvement in the story and, if they're supposed to be a mentor, at least more dialogue options to reinforce that.

Having a cutscene where I beat people up with my healing stick would have made Dawntrail 10/10 immediately.

[Verathel]

The MSQ - my review:
We are a spectator. We do nothing. I read many times that we are a "mentor" and the game tells the same on certain points but we are not. We do nothing, make no decisions and we do not teach or advise. The WOL, we, could be cut out and nothing would change.

So Wuk Lammat is the MC. Okay no problem but she is one dimesional, boring and brings nothing to the table. We do not learn how she became who she is or why except for "because reasons" and childish one liner. She behaves like a teenager around the age of 14 to 16 and not like an adult. Her motivations are explained in one sentence "i want peace" but not the reason or the thought process of her or the events that lead to that conclusion hers.

Next is the sins of storytelling:
Tell and not show - we got told many times person x is evil insted of shown. We get told "this person is smart" and not shown, then this follows a "deus ex machina" and to top it of it is not even smart despite the use of "deus ex machina".

Overexplaining - the whole story behaves like the audience has no memory or a brain at all. Dull repetitons of the same statement over and over.

World and Lore and suspension of diesbelieve -

Logical errors like "this is a secret" but everybody knows it and happens all the time (also there are some points of logic flaws in the story where current lore is ignored it seems).

Also people behave not like living people at all "soo sad, people died!!" next moment "haha, funny".

Lore dumps on the player are also happening without context and so there is no impact or conection for the player. The whole "adventure" reason is given us by only the sentence "this is an adventure" instead of going on a adventure.

Pacing - Too slow and on certain points way to fast

Engament - this is a medium where we, the players, interact with the world, people and creature in it. DT disables us and prohibts interactions all the time. It feels disconected and artificial, as if we are a voyeur that watches and has no impact or influence.

This is a Slice of Life Story with a boring NPC-MC in power fantasy game about beeing the hero that defies the odds.

To hammer it home:
WHY is alsmost everything "tell and not show" but on the other hand you are clearly capable of doing otherwise - Fight between 2 NPC - we learn about the strength of one NPC WITHOUT TELLING "ungabunga he stronk" but through a show of his prowess.

How should i care for this place and people when the writer themselfs do not care? This an empty shell of a world and sad promise of an adventure that will lull you to sleep. Ridiculously music and graphic are on point and top notch and thats it whats saving it. Dungeons and raids look amazing. And so does the open world.

It definitely felt they could have spent more time setting up Tural at least in my opinion