Unpopular opinion - I like Dawntrial expansion.

[FudoMyoo]

It gave me many "wow" moments, especially with the graphics.

I love Wut Lamat's accent, seeing her journey from being an adopted kitten to a novice adventurer, and finally becoming the Dawnservant. (The only thing I dislike is that she always uses the sentence, "LISTEN TO ME.") It gave me the feeling that you might not be highborn, but you still have a chance in life if you strive for it.

I love the Wild West zone of Shaaloani and the music, as well as the cyberpunk 2077 (or Phantasy Star) theme for Solution Nine.

In the last zone, I don't see the Endless as a life form, and I agree that switching them off is the right path.

The dungeons in DT are fun, and I can see some new mechanics. The world also has many new monster skins.

The base game of DT might not be perfect but its not bad as well. I rate it higher than ARR, Stormblood and Endwalker.

Playing since 2010 and 2013 ARR beta.

[Vandi]

Have been hearing nothing but boohoo negative feedback from people doing nothing but holding their hands out. Learned long ago regarding rpgs to not put stock in people’s viewpoints. These are the first positive words I’ve seen, and it makes me smile. Wut Lamar looks pretty spirited too.

[Eyrilona]

Well, I am happy if you enjoyed the game. Most of us are not here to make anyone else miserable.

That said, we need to be realistic about the feedback on this forum -- a proportion of players will always find things to dislike about any expansion, but this time around, that proportion is enormous. The negative feedback is necessary, because if a game manages to infuriate so much of its formerly loyal player base, we are not doing the developers any service by telling them "Well, I think you did a great job because I enjoyed it." -- unless you are fine with a medium and long term prospect of seeing either your monthly subscription fees go up or even see the game go into maintenance mode when large swathes of players unsubscribing or at least no longer pre-ordering the next expansion blows a financial hole into SE's planning.

If a large, large proportion of your fellow players is dissatisfied, then you too have a problem even if you personally enjoyed the story because you need all those other players to want to play in order to support the game's continued existence, and you should actually want the devs to hear these widespread complaints and act to retain those players.

[Carin-Eri]

I like it too.

Was it perfect? Nope. Was it as good as Endwalker or Shadowbringers? Not really. But I enjoyed it just as much as Heavensward and Stormblood and that was enough for me.

[DaveFishnomer]

Good, a lot of people enjoy it.
I also enjoy parts of it, the dungeon bosses and extremes mostly, but I still think it's the worst one yet, also played for about 10 years.

I would say the story is worse than ARR, especially if you include the post patches. gameplay is better than ARR, but ARR is 10 years old, if that is the bar then the game is doomed

[Vahlnir]

Nothing wrong with liking something. Everyone's got their personal tastes and preferences. Just don't expect everyone to come into this thread and agree with you. I uh, certainly do not on at least half of your points, though I do agree that Solution Nine and Shaalaoni were pretty great. I've also largely enjoyed the dungeon and trial experience and I hope that continues into the raid series as well. Either way, I don't consider it better than ARR. I was there. There was never a time when I would have rather gone and watched grass grow or paint dry instead of actually progressing the story, unlike now. I had to force myself to get through it and even skipping cutscenes felt like a chore. This is the first time that this has happened since I started playing the game in ARR open beta. I have never been a cutscene skipper with the MSQ until Dawntrail.

[KDSilver]

That's not unpopular.

Many people like the expansion (visual/music/gameplay-dungeon-boss design/QoL/comestic)....

The uproar comes from the story mainly.

[Vahlnir]

That's not unpopular.

Many people like the expansion (visual/music/gameplay-dungeon-boss design/QoL/comestic)....

The uproar comes from the story mainly.

Yep. This is where I'm at. 95% of my complaints are story related. I've been enjoying myself otherwise. The story was just...really, really rough to get through, which left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.

[Vandi]

Well, I am happy if you enjoyed the game. Most of us are not here to make anyone else miserable.

That said, we need to be realistic about the feedback on this forum -- a proportion of players will always find things to dislike about any expansion, but this time around, that proportion is enormous. The negative feedback is necessary, because if a game manages to infuriate so much of its formerly loyal player base, we are not doing the developers any service by telling them "Well, I think you did a great job because I enjoyed it." -- unless you are fine with a medium and long term prospect of seeing either your monthly subscription fees go up or even see the game go into maintenance mode when large swathes of players unsubscribing or at least no longer pre-ordering the next expansion blows a financial hole into SE's planning.

If a large, large proportion of your fellow players is dissatisfied, then you too have a problem even if you personally enjoyed the story because you need all those other players to want to play in order to support the game's continued existence, and you should actually want the devs to hear these widespread complaints and act to retain those players.

Sorry. Biiiiiiig no.

If YOU genuinely like something, a food, literature, art, a particular piece of media, you don’t have to give a flying #@$& about how the guy 2 blocks down feels. I suddenly have to alter my sentiments on what I feel was a good job just because five other people found it distasteful? Lol. The vast majority contribute nothing but hold out their hand. “I want this. Make this possible. Change this.” An endless concession of ‘gimmes’. If DT hadn’t been released on time, people woulda lost themselves. They get it, cry about eeeverything, then one person comes along, says they actually enjoy that, and I hear “Hmm, you should probably cater your opinion to the general sentiment.” Don’t mean to be rude but. . .

If I genuinely like something and wanna express appreciation for it. I could l i t e r a l l y care less how another feels. The game could soon after drop out of existence by dissatisfied people, and life will go on. So be it. Doesn’t even slightly change the fact I enjoyed it just because 2 million other people didn’t.

[Eyrilona]

Sorry. Biiiiiiig no.

If YOU genuinely like something, a food, literature, art, a particular piece of media, you don’t have to give a flying #@$& about how the guy 2 blocks down feels. I suddenly have to alter my sentiments on what I feel was a good job just because five other people found it distasteful? Lol. The vast majority contribute nothing but hold out their hand. “I want this. Make this possible. Change this.” An endless concession of ‘gimmes’. If DT hadn’t been released on time, people woulda lost themselves. They get it, cry about eeeverything, then one person comes along, says they actually enjoy that, and I hear “Hmm, you should probably cater your opinion to the general sentiment.” Don’t mean to be rude but. . .

If I genuinely like something and wanna express appreciation for it. I could l i t e r a l l y care less how another feels. The game could soon after drop out of existence by dissatisfied people, and life will go on. So be it. Doesn’t even slightly change the fact I enjoyed it just because 2 million other people didn’t.

You spent a lot of words attacking an argument I did not make.