I agree with some of the issues. I see no reason why they couldn't have made 'walk with the npc' quests usable with mounts and aetherytes. You couldn't just boost their speed so they can keep up with a chocobo? Really?

The stealth quests were over used and sometimes didn't even make sense narratively. The one where you stalk Uriangr? When you finish it he's just like 'oh hey WOL want to chat while I spill my heart about what's troubling me?' There was NO REASON that had to be a stealth quest, he doesn't even act like you snuck up on him.

I disagree with the crawling in the bodyjack quest, I feel that specific quest was done very well. That quest was unique and interesting story wise, unlike the mostly boring 'follow the npc' stealth quests.

Ultima Thule could be a bit tedious because yeah, there was no way they were going to kill off all the Scions. This isn't Type 0 or Rogue 1. I didn't buy for a second they would be gone. However, I did enjoy the actual dialogue in those scenes as they confront the despair of the various people in Ultima Thule. And then I was in tears for the final walk hearing quotes from various characters throughout the game.

I think the attitude of the garleans, while they were incorrect, made perfect sense. Honestly I found it unintentionally hilarious when you meet with the city state leaders and they tell you that your first priority is to help the garlean people. That felt incredibly naive. Let's be real if Garlemald was not the epicenter of this Tower issue and the key to hopefully stopping it for everyone, they would not be sending this combined force into Garlemald.

The one part that did drag a bit for me was Labyrinthos part 2, because I knew that it was going to end with us using the ship to go after Meteion, I didn't believe for a second the exodus was going to actually happen.