Endwalker was "meh" (for reasons other than technical issues)

[KatsuraJun]

I had that thought too but then remembered that the Garleans were always the aggressors. The Alliance only recently got out from under the Garlean thumb, so I don't think its fair to phrase it that way. I'd say its more like that fable about the tiger with a splinter; the legatus would could never accept help from the same people he wanted to kill / subjugate not that long ago.

The Garleans were the aggressors only after being pushed to the north by other magic wielding aggressors. Nor are they the only ones who suffered at the hands of nation-builders, when you look at the beast tribes of Eorzea.
They take a look at how the Limsans lied to the kobolds, how Ul'dah treats refugees. They look at the racism suffered by the Duskwights in Gridania, and can only see that the Dragonsong War ended through violence, and then you tell them that they, as foreigner refugees that were formerly your enemies, should just trust you because you just want to help and sing kumbaya around the fire － of course they'll ask: is this a joke?

That's why their entire worldview boils down to, conquer or be conquered. That if they didn't do it, you'd be doing it to them. It quite literally parallels the rationale behind the formation of many empires in history, including Japan for that matter, after their ports were forced open by America, and saw what happened to China when it got carved up neatly by the British after the Opium Wars. Is it just? No, but it's definitely not unrealistic, and trying to talk them out of it is about as feasible as doing it to an empire in real life.

[ClaudeHerel]

Skipped reading the post almost as fast as I skip cutscenes

[Emtron]

Skipped reading the post almost as fast as I skip cutscenes

This deserves all the likes my friend.

[Sclair0]

I think your takes are quite valid, but I took things very differently. While they were overused I mostly loved the escort and stealth quests in the MSQ because they gave me a much closer experience to the story than just running to orange zone after orange zone.

I knew the whole time we'd be getting the scions back, but that didn't undercut the sentiment for me in the ending. I also really liked the Garlean zone stuff, I think it really captured the themes of struggling to move on. They were blatantly stupid as fuck that is true, but in a way I found very human rather than just plot stupid. (There is a bit of plot stupidity though, I felt like Hades and Hermes in Elpis reacted to Meteions report very strangely given the circumstances.)

Absolutely agree on Ultima Thule and Omega. It was obvious from the outset. The same is true of the Moon and Y'shtola revealing the rabbits benefactor is the forum. Obviously the devs know we can figure it out so if there needs to be a moment of 'revelation' at least let us bring it up since we've been aching to point it out since getting to those zones.

[TheMightyMollusk]

Absolutely agree on Ultima Thule and Omega. It was obvious from the outset. The same is true of the Moon and Y'shtola revealing the rabbits benefactor is the forum. Obviously the devs know we can figure it out so if there needs to be a moment of 'revelation' at least let us bring it up since we've been aching to point it out since getting to those zones.

With the Moon, I felt like Y'shtola just outright saying it despite the Loporits trying to build it up was hanging a lampshade on how obvious it was. It felt like the writers knew we'd figure it out almost immediately and used it to make a point about how out of touch the Loporits are.

My biggest issue with the story as a whole is that I don't feel like Zenos really adds anything. But then, I don't feel like he's really added anything to the game since the Royal Menagerie, so that was to be expected. The pacing was also a little shaky at a few points. But overall, I'm mostly satisfied with it.

[ScarletDevil]

With the Moon, I felt like Y'shtola just outright saying it despite the Loporits trying to build it up was hanging a lampshade on how obvious it was. It felt like the writers knew we'd figure it out almost immediately and used it to make a point about how out of touch the Loporits are.

My biggest issue with the story as a whole is that I don't feel like Zenos really adds anything. But then, I don't feel like he's really added anything to the game since the Royal Menagerie, so that was to be expected. The pacing was also a little shaky at a few points. But overall, I'm mostly satisfied with it.

I was honestly thinking the same about Zenos while playing. Like "ok where is he? He was so hyped in all promo materials that we saw!"

But...it is exactly as you said it. He doesntt add much and that is honestly the point of the story of his character. And self-admittedly so by him.
He craved only and ONLY a fight with a powerful opponent, that beings us as the strongest one on the star. And not any fight, but the hardest fight which means the closest to death or straight up on live and death.

Yes, that is all. That is all about him, Zenos, and his life and story. There is nothing more, nothing less and he describes exactly that in the dialogue before and after your duel.

I think it was a very nice touch as ending of the expansion and Endwalker. An epic fight to end it all with another powerful foe, that is but different than the all so mighty, sophisticated and poetical one we fought before....an epic fight that is/turns actually a simple brawl between 2 adventurers that burn inside for a great challenge against a strong opponent...something basic and intrinsic to an adventurer and fighter.

At least that is how I got it. A simple fight between two warriors fighting so intensely and hard that their lives are on the line...after a poetic fight against a deity-like entity that not only claims to be but can influence a major part of the universe and the natural flow of life/death with a major sophisticated history/story behind it all.

[yajnaji]

If so many people "like" and agree with op wtf y'all doing in a forum of a game you consider "meh"?

I don't understand, please enlighten me.

Also please leave the game and give your place in the queue for people who actually enjoy it.

[Endver]

If so many people "like" and agree with op wtf y'all doing in a forum of a game you consider "meh"?

I don't understand, please enlighten me.

Also please leave the game and give your place in the queue for people who actually enjoy it.

You can totally enjoy the game without loving everything in it. It is not to love everything or to hate everything. I don't really like the Endwalker story for very specific reasons, but I still liked the music, the effort they put into the cutscenes, and all that. The OP just wants to chat and share a different point of view, and I don't see why it shouldn't be here just because it's not a positive feedback. Developers and writers also need this kind of reviews too, my friend.

It's kind of weird to read that someone shouldn't be here just because they don't share a positive review on a story. Seriously, you just feel bad after this.

[HyoMinPark]

If so many people "like" and agree with op wtf y'all doing in a forum of a game you consider "meh"?

I don't understand, please enlighten me.

Because people are allowed to share their criticisms? I can say that I enjoyed the story, but I have my own criticisms of it in terms of pacing, lost potential with regards to certain story elements, and stuff inserted into the story that made very little sense/were way too jarring in terms of scene tone. I’ve played this game for over six years. I’ll offer my criticisms as I see fit. Loving a game doesn’t mean blindly proclaiming everything about it is perfection.

Also please leave the game and give your place in the queue for people who actually enjoy it.

No.