I feel like people are too harsh on Endwalker, though...

[NeoORoark]

... That's not to say I don't have issues.

(Sorry if that seems bait-y, just couldn't fit all of that in the title.)

I mean exactly that. Maybe it's just the parts of the internet I'm on, but it feels like people really don't like this expansion, almost in it's entirety, when that feels like blowing it somewhat out of proportion. It's not nearly that bad... But it does have it's issues.

I've seen people diss the MSQ for being what it is, which, I personally believe to be an injustice of sorts. 6.0 had some of the most heart-string plucking, gut-wrenching, and tear-jerking story, interactions, and overall plot that I've ever had the joy of playing through... Though the patch content leaves much to be desired. Although I like Zero and think she could be an interesting enough character, I think doing what ARR did and setting up another story that we might not see the full pay off for until much later is a step backwards. Sure someday we might look back on it fondly and be happy we got that setup, but, I don't know- it feels like they're playing their hand a little early.

One thing I will give only flak for is the Relic Weapons though. Yes, we've heard that a million times. What they did this expansion just wasn't right. Where as with Shadowbringers relics we were all going to new and old content alike, breathing life into parts of the game that might not have seen much action otherwise, Endwalker told us to just... Play. Sure I can do that, but isn't it better to give your players a journey to actually undergo? Being as simple as just playing the game makes it feel as if there's no reason to really do much during this break period. Content that doesn't see much action is laying there dusty on the shelf, and the new content they introduced is seeing less action than it could- I still haven't made it to the bottom of Eureka Orthos. Maybe I would have done that by now if I had more of an incentive to do it.

Ah, maybe I'm just complaining a bit too much. Me and my friends are all excited for the new story, and the new classes in Dawntrail, knowing full well that we're not doing much other than having fun in the Turalian sun, so maybe I shouldn't look back on what got us here so negatively. Even if it wasn't the best thing to go through, I'm still grateful it got us to this point, so now we can go on a new adventure!

[Rolder50]

I'm pretty sure that when people complain about the story, they are almost always referring to the patch content. Don't think anyone has much issue with the main expansion story, except for some nitpicking about time travel and what have you.

[Sayo_]

I'm pretty sure that when people complain about the story, they are almost always referring to the patch content. Don't think anyone has much issue with the main expansion story, except for some nitpicking about time travel and what have you.

I have some problems with the main expansion story but I'm not sure if this is the place to talk about them.

[Absurdity]

I'm pretty sure that when people complain about the story, they are almost always referring to the patch content. Don't think anyone has much issue with the main expansion story, except for some nitpicking about time travel and what have you.

https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...walker/page930
Granted half of the thread is probably just people arguing in circles but that's still over 400 pages of grievances with Endwalker's story.
If you look at it with a more critical eye and not just through the "It made me feel things"-lens then there are absolutely issues with the 6.0 MSQ.

[AnimaAnimus]

https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...walker/page930
Granted half of the thread is probably just people arguing in circles but that's still over 400 pages of grievances with Endwalker's story.
If you look at it with a more critical eye and not just through the "It made me feel things"-lens then there are absolutely issues with the 6.0 MSQ.

As someone who has a degree in literature and is working toward a masters, even the worst student in our class could have torn this msq apart. I would love to give it to ppl who actually study lit for a living and see how they would rip it apart. As a lifelong FF fan and someone who has been playing this game since 1.0 because I adore it, I felt EW was almost embarrassing to the series. I swear ppl are just wearing fan googles or just haven't encountered more than basic story telling cause this was bargin bin manga at best.

[MsMisato]

I'm pretty sure that when people complain about the story, they are almost always referring to the patch content. Don't think anyone has much issue with the main expansion story, except for some nitpicking about time travel and what have you.

My problem with EW was the pacing for an end of world scenario, it was bloody slow and littered with trash quests in between and throws the pacing off really bad. That was one of my issues with EW along with the homogenization and oversimplifying everything.

[rawker]

It's the oversimplification and Homogenization that is problematic.

[Nighthawky2010]

I enjoyed EW. I do at times think MSQ was too heavy for some players with the suicide scene, mother & baby dying, etc.
There are some aspects EW that could have been done better but overall I liked & enjoyed EW.

[Merrigan]

I do at times think MSQ was too heavy for some players with the suicide scene, mother & baby dying, etc.

It was perfect that more difficult themes were tackled. Please, enough with the preening of absolutely everything and anything. We've already got it in the gameplay, with classes that must "avoid stress" at all costs as soon as they're anything other than dps; let's not start taking away the rare moments when MSQ isn't an ode to friendship. Video games are not designed to suit the escapism of players who want to take refuge from harsh reality. It can be so much more than that...

As for the OP: I really enjoyed Endwalker, but I think the theme in general should have been harder. Some themes are only sketched out, when they could have led to really interesting reflection. But, precisely to suit an audience that seems to be defined by default as ultra-sensitive, the game refuses to venture into this area. Which is a pity, given the general tone of this extension. Personally, that's what bothered me on several occasions: this sort of impression that the game is straddling the fence, then censoring itself at the last minute to suit a wider audience. It left me with an impression... of unfinished?

An example: the moment when we cause the death of the young girl and her sister, because they flee when we come to Garlemald. A very good passage, but where's the questioning of our interventionism? When do we point out that it's completely stupid to act in this way after decades of war, and by sending the warrior of light who must pass, in these regions, for a potential genocidaire? The game skims the surface of a very interesting theme, then retropedals with a meager "oh, that's sad". Lucia tells us, I think, that she's "sorry we had to witness that... Huh? No, just yell at us, tell us that coming face to face with a small, obviously indoctrinated village was bound to end this way. Address the fact that the "good" and "bad" sides are just illusions; after all, that's what you did with Shb, so go all the way! More embarrassingly, this desire never to violate the player is symptomatic of a global approach to AAA today. FFXIV is just one example. This can be felt in the gameplay (too simple, not punitive enough) and in the stories (padded, as if we were in a cocoon of kindness). The result is very consensual content, which is good as a pastime but mediocre as a game.

Just to temper things, because if I read my own post I'd be inclined to reply: "But why are you still on the game, exactly?" I liked Endwalker, I repeat myself, and I find that indeed some people are a bit harsh. But it's nowhere near what it could have been, and that's what annoys me a bit about this expansion.

[Nighthawky2010]

It was perfect that more difficult themes were tackled. Please, enough with the preening of absolutely everything and anything. We've already got it in the gameplay, with classes that must "avoid stress" at all costs as soon as they're anything other than dps; let's not start taking away the rare moments when MSQ isn't an ode to friendship. Video games are not designed to suit the escapism of players who want to take refuge from harsh reality. It can be so much more than that...

As for the OP: I really enjoyed Endwalker, but I think the theme in general should have been harder. Some themes are only sketched out, when they could have led to really interesting reflection. But, precisely to suit an audience that seems to be defined by default as ultra-sensitive, the game refuses to venture into this area. Which is a pity, given the general tone of this extension. Personally, that's what bothered me on several occasions: this sort of impression that the game is straddling the fence, then censoring itself at the last minute to suit a wider audience. It left me with an impression... of unfinished?

An example: the moment when we cause the death of the young girl and her sister, because they flee when we come to Garlemald. A very good passage, but where's the questioning of our interventionism? When do we point out that it's completely stupid to act in this way after decades of war, and by sending the warrior of light who must pass, in these regions, for a potential genocidaire? The game skims the surface of a very interesting theme, then retropedals with a meager "oh, that's sad". Lucia tells us, I think, that she's "sorry we had to witness that... Huh? No, just yell at us, tell us that coming face to face with a small, obviously indoctrinated village was bound to end this way. Address the fact that the "good" and "bad" sides are just illusions; after all, that's what you did with Shb, so go all the way! More embarrassingly, this desire never to violate the player is symptomatic of a global approach to AAA today. FFXIV is just one example. This can be felt in the gameplay (too simple, not punitive enough) and in the stories (padded, as if we were in a cocoon of kindness). The result is very consensual content, which is good as a pastime but mediocre as a game.

Just to temper things, because if I read my own post I'd be inclined to reply: "But why are you still on the game, exactly?" I liked Endwalker, I repeat myself, and I find that indeed some people are a bit harsh. But it's nowhere near what it could have been, and that's what annoys me a bit about this expansion.

Well, you can disagree with my comment. I love EW but I was just saying that some of the aspects of the story were too heavy for some players which probably turned them off from the game. If a player knew someone who committed suicide in real life, then that might hit them hard seeing it in a game. BTW I do play the game to escape. Thats why I am going to enjoy DT, to escape.