JP Official Forums are also criticizing the Dawntrail MSQ.

[celfhelp]

Thanks for drawing attention to this thread on the JP forums, which will carry a lot more legitimacy I believe for the developers than the venting found on various anonymous sites.

I read/speak Japanese and continued on into the thread, and I found it reassuring to see the JP players describing in great detail the same kinds of feelings I’ve been getting from XIV lately. Story, story, story presentation at the expense of all else, with gameplay and role-playing in this so-called “role-playing game” becoming some kind of vestigial attachment to 40 hours of watching cutscenes.

frankly they should exclusively listen to the JP forums

the *majority* of western criticism about anything in FFXIV is dull, too simple, and/or too juvenile

i liked the story beginning to end, but i can appreciate and respect different opinions when they're not given like toddlers throwing a tantrum