As someone who loved it, why I think Dawntrail didn't work for everyone [Spoilers]

[Cleretic]

It's not a 1:1, but there are entirely too many similarities to call it its own story. If not an adaptation it is heavily derivative of IX, so much that if you're familiar with that game it's very obvious how things with Alexandria are going to shake out in the second half of the story.

And I'm curious, how do you feel about the Garlean Empire? Especially in relation to Archadia from XII, but also Vector in VI to a degree. Because I actually think they're even more derivative than Alexandria; Alexandria took a half-dozen pieces from IX and remixed them to the point where even you're saying they combined the secondary hero and secondary villain into one character. Meanwhile, the Garlean Empire is just... another 'Rome but with mechs' evil empire, that goes down the same story those always do.

[Cilia]

And I'm curious, how do you feel about the Garlean Empire? Especially in relation to Archadia from XII, but also Vector in VI to a degree. Because I actually think they're even more derivative than Alexandria; Alexandria took a half-dozen pieces from IX and remixed them to the point where even you're saying they combined the secondary hero and secondary villain into one character. Meanwhile, the Garlean Empire is just... another 'Rome but with mechs' evil empire, that goes down the same story those always do.

Totes truthsies? I never finished VI or XII, so I don't have the necessary nostalgia needed to properly appreciate the Garlean Empire. That said, I never really cared for them beyond as a starter villain in A Realm Reborn; they're very clichéd imperialistic villains, outside of supposed concern for the environment (that they despoil by way of ceruleum extraction and refinement, in addition to exacerbating the primal problem).

For the record, I've never been fond of importing characters or grafting locations from previous games into XIV. The standout example is the Return to Ivalice raids and accompanying characters, which I emphatically did not like. Also I do like IX (even if it has some serious flaws), but that doesn't mean the second half of Dawntrail isn't derivative of it (though not necessarily bad) and by extension predictable.

[Cleretic]

Totes truthsies? I never finished VI or XII, so I don't have the necessary nostalgia needed to properly appreciate the Garlean Empire. That said, I never really cared for them beyond as a starter villain in A Realm Reborn; they're very clichéd imperialistic villains, outside of supposed concern for the environment (that they despoil by way of ceruleum extraction and refinement, in addition to exacerbating the primal problem).

For the record, I've never been fond of importing characters or grafting locations from previous games into XIV. The standout example is the Return to Ivalice raids and accompanying characters, which I emphatically did not like. Also I do like IX (even if it has some serious flaws), but that doesn't mean the second half of Dawntrail isn't derivative of it (though not necessarily bad) and by extension predictable.

Then honestly, I think what's letting you down here isn't that they were more blatant about the references and homages: it's that this time you recognized the references and homages, and you prefer when you can't.

[Cilia]

Then honestly, I think what's letting you down here isn't that they were more blatant about the references and homages: it's that this time you recognized the references and homages, and you prefer when you can't.

What's letting me down is lifting the plot of IX with a few elements shuffled around and replaying it. IX Terra and XIV Alexandra are almost point for point the same thing with the same story and similar themes.

It's the same problem I have with the Endwalker patch storyline, it takes so many elements from what it's referencing and paying homage to it's (almost) not its own story.

[thegreatonemal]

What's letting me down is lifting the plot of IX with a few elements shuffled around and replaying it. IX Terra and XIV Alexandra are almost point for point the same thing with the same story and similar themes.

It's the same problem I have with the Endwalker patch storyline, it takes so many elements from what it's referencing and paying homage to it's (almost) not its own story.

Were you like this for shadowbringers? Emet and the gang are just Garland's angels of death all working towards the goal of reviving Terra. Endwalker makes it even more blatant by giving us Necron in the form of Metetion.