Inconsistencies with the sundering (Spoilers)

[PeaTearGriffin]

I don't see it retconning anything, it just focus on answering a different answer. You want to see a cinematic implementation of the conflict mentioned in ShB, but this scene isn't about that. The scene is not about the civil wars or conflict between the 2 ancient factions, but about the reason for it. The short dialogue is meant to show why Venat decided she had no choice but sundering the ancient, not to show your the epic power struggle between her and Zoc (which is what the ShB portion was about).

Of course there are people that don't see it as a retcon because there's the excuse that the cutscene was metaphorical and symbolic. I and plenty of other people don't buy though. It seems like the developers created a continuity error and use this excuse to sweep it under the rug.

In fact, that's pretty much the answer to your 2nd quote as well. The will to fight is not what is needed. You're pitching a civilization who had know nothing but a blissful paradise existence against an entity that had seen despair on countless world, they can not win.

This I don't agree with because the ancients had a lot of things going for them. They were a technologically advanced civilization very dedicated to science, and we also know that aether nullifies dynamis because Hermes says to the Wol, Venat, Emet, and Hythlodaeus in one of the cutscenes on Elpis: "As you know, Aether, in essence, negates dynamis." So to say that the ancients cannot win under any circumstance and that the sundering was the only choice seems like a cop out to me.

It's also why the most meaningful interaction (for me) when the Scion met Hydaelyn was Alise's answer to her question "are you ready?". In which Alise reply was "sure, no problem, we beat her up and win for sure ... is what the old me would say. But do we actually have a chance?". The maturity in Alise's answer (who used to be the most cocky of the Scion) symbolize the growth Hyadaelyn was seeking in humanity. The agony and acceptance of your own powerlessness, the pain of fear and uncertainty, yet despite that still find the courage to forge ahead is what separate the current humanity and the Ancient.

I understand that some people like the narrative that the game pushes: that humanity is courageous and resilient and can overcome any obstacle with determination and willpower. But to me, that message lost its impact once I realized that humanity was created at the expense of the ancients and that the decision to do so was made without consulting anybody else. It was a very selfish decision to make. This is honestly why I like shadowbringer's version of the story better where the sundering happened because of a huge battle between zodiark and hydaelyn.