Final Fantasy XIV doesn't actually have that good of a story

[Ammokkx]

Really makes me roll my eyes that people think a critical opinion of the greatest story ever = bait, a troll, or MPK lmao

Newsflash: people who don't share your opinion aren't here to troll and it's very rude to dismiss them as bait. Gives the GCBTW the meaning it has.

I don't trust any account who's first post is on a controversial topic, no matter how well-worded that first post is.

If they actually bothered to interact with the forum board before this point and then made the thread, and those interactions beforehand weren't bait, then I'd give them the time of day.

[Rinhi]

Really makes me roll my eyes that people think a critical opinion of the greatest story ever = bait, a troll, or MPK lmao

Newsflash: people who don't share your opinion aren't here to troll and it's very rude to dismiss them as bait. Gives the GCBTW the meaning it has.

using the misery porn and projected self-hatred that's TLOU2 as a good example of a story driven game made it obvious it was a troll, though
1 was good, 2 not so much

[ReynTime]

The story is good. Writing gets better after ARR, although it has highs and lows as with any story that takes 10+ years to be completed.

I'll say though, the real issues it has, is the sloppy way they toss in 2 or 3 subplots in parallel and keep haphazardly halting one to jump to another. Some subplots being wrapped up in a very rushed anticlimatic manner while others wrap up fine.
But still, it's jarring sometimes, and even in Shadowbringers they never stopped doing that.
It makes the lack of proper passage of time even sillier than it is.

EDIT: And I'm talking specifically about MSQ.

[Melorie]

Is it the best video game story ever told? No. Is it amazing all the way around? Not really, IMO Stormblood and ARR have some terrible moments... Getting through SB was a pain for me. Even post-HW... It's nothing groundbreaking. People that act like FFXIV is the pinnacle of story telling imo should expand their references of fantasy/rpg stories.

That being said, for a MMO, specially if you compare with other recent Final Fantasy games/JRPGS... Yes, it's far from bad. It has some really good memorable moments.
Of course, like many things regarding taste, good and bad are very subjective. This community tends to have a "you either love 100% of it or hate it" attitude and there's no need to be that way.

[Vahlnir]

Is it the best video game story ever told? No. Is it amazing all the way around? Not really, IMO Stormblood and ARR have some terrible moments... Getting through SB was a pain for me. Even post-HW... It's nothing groundbreaking. People that act like FFXIV is the pinnacle of story telling imo should expand their references of fantasy/rpg stories.

That being said, for a MMO, specially if you compare with other recent Final Fantasy games/JRPGS... Yes, it's far from bad. It has some really good memorable moments.
Of course, like many things regarding taste, good and bad are very subjective. This community tends to have a "you either love 100% of it or hate it" attitude and there's no need to be that way.

I've always been fairly critical of this game's story. Shadowbringers was probably the first time I enjoyed it way more often than not. I'm just hoping they can keep the momentum going in Endwalker.

[Melorie]

I've always been fairly critical of this game's story. Shadowbringers was probably the first time I enjoyed it way more often than not. I'm just hoping they can keep the momentum going in Endwalker.

I enjoyed HW a lot (that being said, I don't really think that it's ground-breaking... it's your good ol' church is bad jrpg story, with a tale of vengeance, but a well-told tale nevertheless) and certain parts of ARR. The Azim Steppe bit of Stormblood was interesting as well. But I feel like it was specifically on Shadowbringers that they made the whole cast shine, gave Eorzea a better world-build and a bigger purpose to the Scion's mission.

But many people act like "FFXIV STORY IS AMAZING!!" without really being honest that a great deal of the story is not the ultimate quality. I have been told that the race's lore of FFXIV is "amazing, very elaborated" when... yeah, not, not really? Specially if you compare with any other RPG in which your race is relevant. People enjoy ShB (which is GOOD, yes), and forget about the meh parts. I get that this game tries to give more explanations for the things in their world than most, but that doesn't make it high-quality.

[Ahnog]

I think the story is one of the better stories I've encountered in MMOs; and I've played a lot of MMOs.

[Praesolus]

It's a shame it didn't live up to your expectations, but nothing in life can please everyone. Hopefully you find something more to your desires; and for those who love FFXIV, we still have what we pay each month for.

[KaTnIs]

Nah for me it is. Even some sidequests gives me tears in my eyes.

And yes FF14 has a better Story than TLOU2.

[Heather]

The OP is certainly welcome to their opinion but i strongly disagree. As compared to other MMO's this game has some pretty good storytelling a second best would be ESO. As far as TLOU2 that game had some really bad story telling and just seemed to check off boxes that didnt need to be checked. I really liked the original TLOU though. The story dynamic between joel and Ellie was great.