What is going on with Square Enix and the 14 team?

[Hurlstone]

It's a lot more divisive because to most people it's either the best or the worst. Previous expansion stories were either universally meh or universally good. But here, the very nature of the story makes it much more difficult to have a measured position.

A good point. Added with the fact that its the end to a 10+ story, which outside of the stories subject matter was bound to split opinions.

Controversial? Maybe not, but I was personally a bit grossed out. It felt like fetishization of suffering and the ego stroking of a narcissistic Hydaelyn who beats us because she loves us.

I loathed it to be sure, but that hardly means other people aren't allowed to like it. I guess I'm more taken off-guard because I adored the story of ShB and HW, so I'm just whiplashed by finding something I can't have enough of as a story before being beaten over the head with the bowl.

That's an interesting take on the story I have not really seen expressed so far. I ending up going from really disliking her at the start to you-know-who being my favourites character in the game. I can totally see what you mean though, and thinking about it, it would have been much better if one or two of the Scions actually saw it that way too... everyone accepts Hydaelyn's actions with conveniently little fuss.

Honestly, I also feel that people over-praise Heavensward and Shadowbringers for being the best jrpg story in the genre. I'm sorry, those two expansions still had issues with its story and pacing, especially Shadowbringers and saying either of those two are better than the plots of lets say FFVI or FFIX is just extremely delusional. Now are they still good? Oh Absolutely, but with me at the very least the reason I very much enjoy FFXIV's story is because I see the whole pie, not the little slices here and there.

Thats fair. Funnily enough, I did feel that I would come to the same conclusion before playing Shadowbringers... although in my case I do think its one of the best FF stories of all time… I will admit I do think Heavensward is a little overrated. I mean I adore it, but its not perfect and has its flaws (Looking at you, resolution to the post-ARR questline…) and again, I feel its a real shame how Stormblood gets put down by fandom when it actually has alot going for it.