This story is really underwhelming - it's opened to mixed reviews.

[Tethan]

Stormblood, people didn't like the MSQ, and hated Lyse, but so far as I can tell, most people consider that peak job design, peak raid design, peak everything design. Despite Stormblood having such a disliked MSQ, people still loved the expansion. I'm not seeing that here. it seems people are very discontent with most of what this expansion has brought. If I hear one people praise one thing, they'll give a heavy criticism on another - not just in the forums either.

Stormblood MSQ wasn't even this contentious from what I recall. It's been a long time since so maybe I'm remembering wrong but the vibes I got at the time was "meh, HW was better, split story was a bad idea, Lyse was kinda cringe at points". There wasn't a huge outcry like this, that I remember (and I think I would remember if it was anything like this, it's hard to miss).

EDIT: Also, Stormblood reviews were around 80% positive at launch and has historically hovered around that range.

[Eyrilona]

Yep. I hear people say "oh someone will always complain" but this isn't normal at all. I've been around since early Heavensward, I attended every launch from Stormblood on. In my recollection, nothing like that has ever happened before. Not on this scale.

It's not just the story either. Between that, the controversy of the graphics update + related bugs STILL not fixed, the general sense of animosity regarding class changes (or lack thereof), rather sloppy implementation of f!Hrothgar (scaling on arms still not fixed), underwhelming dye system update and so on..... I get the feeling that things are not quite right at CBU3. Is it because of FFFXVI? Other projects? Pressure from higher ups? Yoshi-P stopped caring? Who can say... But something is up.

And let's not forget that this all happens on top of a few other recent major problems, like the problems surrounding the switch in payment providers forcing many players to jump through bizarre hoops and extra steps just to be able to renew their subscriptions, and all the negative streamer narratives surrounding Endwalker's perceived lack of content (which I happen to disagree with, issues only arose if you had to constantly delve into more streamable FFXIV content as your actual bill-paying job, which is exactly what the case was with streamers). So the community was already primed for a blaze if the expansion threw a spark, and frankly, this expansion came in juggling torches and proceeded to drop them.

[LittleArrow]

Stormblood MSQ wasn't even this contentious from what I recall. It's been a long time since so maybe I'm remembering wrong but the vibes I got at the time was "meh, HW was better, split story was a bad idea, Lyse was kinda cringe at points". There wasn't a huge outcry like this, that I remember (and I think I would remember if it was anything like this, it's hard to miss).

I couldn't agree more. Stormblood was my least favorite expansion, and still I don't remember this much disappointment, especially reaching outside the forums with the momentum this discourse has. I thought for sure once launch day happened, the steam reviews would go to positive. It actually dropped. Last I checked it was 65-67% mixed reviews, and now it's down to 64%. Not a huge difference, but still not the direction I thought it would go. Time will tell if that changes though.

And let's not forget that this all happens on top of a few other recent major problems, like the problems surrounding the switch in payment providers forcing many players to jump through bizarre hoops and extra steps just to be able to renew their subscriptions, and all the negative streamer narratives surrounding Endwalker's perceived lack of content (which I happen to disagree with, issues only arose if you had to constantly delve into more streamable FFXIV content as your actual bill-paying job, which is exactly what the case was with streamers). So the community was already primed for a blaze if the expansion threw a spark, and frankly, this expansion came in juggling torches and proceeded to drop them.

The payment change is actually a massive issue that I totally put to the back of my mind trying to get hype for DT. That's a really good point.

Also, literally there's an ongoing discussion in shout chat about how bad this story is. I've never -ever- seen that during any expansion release. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but that's my personal experience.

[Zakuyia]

It\\'s crazy how people can\\'t handle not being the god slaying super hero MAIN main character.

For me it's not even that a slow adventure could have been us solo exploring like back in the days of arr and us going in a journey of discovery and fun as we follow rumors and hints of the golden city while being the helpful adventuer we are.

[Souljacker]

Right now I'm being dragged all over the first city and I don't even know why. What was wrong with learning about a city as you completed tasks or missions? And visiting each part as you needed it? Having to stop to read a basic explanation of "why we built this particular corner" is just not good storytelling. I'm still waiting for the game to start.

[LittleArrow]

Right now I'm being dragged all over the first city and I don't even know why. What was wrong with learning about a city as you completed tasks or missions? And visiting each part as you needed it? Having to stop to read a basic explanation of "why we built this particular corner" is just not good storytelling. I'm still waiting for the game to start.

If you think that's annoying, get ready for the constant recaps of Wuk Lamat's thoughts on being the next dawnservant, getting to know people makes you grow fonder, and peace. Also, the lovely subtle info dump recaps of what you did just an hour ago. It's such a delightful departure from our usual writing of experiencing the consequences of our actions instead of being told, following clues or rumors to open up the story in mysterious ways, and actually being a driving force for change since this is a video game and not a movie or book.

Welcome to Tural!

[Souljacker]

If you think that's annoying, get ready for the constant recaps of Wuk Lamat's thoughts on being the next dawnservant, getting to know people makes you grow fonder, and peace. Also, the lovely subtle info dump recaps of what you did just an hour ago. It's such a delightful departure from our usual writing of experiencing the consequences of our actions instead of being told, following clues or rumors to open up the story in mysterious ways, and actually being a driving force for change since this is a video game and not a movie or book.

Welcome to Tural!

Can't wait.

Oh, yea, I guess I can.

Unskippable cutscenes in MSQ?

Who thought THAT was a good idea? It's bad enough they force them on us in content that never should have been group content broken up by cutscenes in the first place, now we have them in MSQ? Am I misremembering us having these before? Maybe it just didn't bother me because the story was at least interesting, if not compelling.

Heh, and its not even voiced. Just an unskippable enternity of text.

[soulseeker78]

I do think the first half of the story is a bit bland, but it's character and world development. The 2nd half was more in line with what I would expect from a FF game.

[Galvuu]

I mean... it technically is better. The only direction from rock bottom is up.

I'm not underestimating their ability to grab a pickaxe and mine down to the molten core.
I genuinely did not expect a msq with these many glaring flaws from XIV, but here I am, still posting about it a week in...

[Isala]

I'm not underestimating their ability to grab a pickaxe and mine down to the molten core.
I genuinely did not expect a msq with these many glaring flaws from XIV, but here I am, still posting about it a week in...

People usually play XIV BECAUSE of the story, not IN SPITE of it...