Why are people settling for an "ARR Tier" story?

[NeroFlorence]

Like I get it, it's the start of a new saga.

"It's gonna be ARR again so it's expected that the MSQ isn't that great and we should have low expectations."

But why? This very game was BUILT on criticism and learning to improve from such. Haven't they learned from the original ARR? Every other day someone says how crap ARR is. So why are people lowering their expectations and accepting that the MSQ might not be great just because "It's the ARR".

Screw that. I don't want another ARR experience. I want them to IMPROVE on the ARR-Like questing/story experience.

"It's not as good because there's a lot of world building."

Right. So does that mean that Shadowbringers wasn't good either? Shadowbringers had to sell the entirety of Novrandt to us and by the time the credits rolled, Norvrandt felt like a second home to us. An Eorzea away from Eorzea so to speak. We learned of the people and history in Lakeland, Amh Araeng, Kholusia, Il Mheg, Raktika. And each step along the way, it was well written and engaging. Sure it had that dip during the Trolley arc where it DRAGGED but that was the only part where it dragged. But it did all of that while setting up future patches and Endwalker.

We learned about Urqopacha, Kozama Uka, Yak Tel, Shaaloani, Solution Nine. But never did I feel engaged at all. I didn't care more about Tural than I did before I hopped off the boat. In fact, I cared more about Solution Nine than I did every other zone combined.

There is a way to make world building fun and engaging. We have all seen it for ourselves in what many consider the best Expansion story. Why are we settling for less when we know they can do better?

[HighlanderClone]

Why?

Because half of this game's population treat this game not as a game but as a central part of their personal identity.

Disliking any part of it would lead to an identity crisis. God help you if you criticize it.

[Dubont]

Newer players just don't understand. Try the 1.0 story.

[Grizzy]

Newer players just don't understand. Try the 1.0 story.

I don't think we should set the standard for "Above the game that was so disastrous it got nuked and then rebuilt."

[ryouma17]

not everyone hates ARR i personally enjoy 2.0, if you want to hate on it go ahead just dont assume everyone does, its the same for 7.0 you may hate it but others like myself enjoy it

bash me all you want and farm your fake internet points i do not care

[Ayalu]

It was clear that they need to start small again.
They basically are back to zero cut off from the plot points and dangers from even before a Realm Reborn.

So a lot of new ground work is needed.

[Vahlnir]

ARR wasn't terrible. It really wasn't. I was there from the beginning and got to see the story release in bits. Yeah, it was slow, but the buildup to future events was happening constantly. I would argue that it was a solid foundation for the expansions that followed. DT...I'm literally just skipping cutscenes and getting annoyed when they are like "WAIT, CLICK ON THE THINGS!" I really, really don't care anymore. Never did that in ARR or any expansion that followed it until now. I tried to care. I honestly did. And no, it has nothing to do with Wuk Lamat. It's literally everything and everyone else that bores me. But the dungeons are great and the zones are pretty. I will admit that.

[Bright-Flower]

I don't think I've seen anyone saying 'the story quality should go back to ARR quality and I'm fine with that.' It was more 'we're resetting the stakes and going back to just being an adventurer like in ARR' is what people were potentially excited for.

Personally I thought the story was pretty good. Above ARR and SB. Not quite as high as SHB/EW but good.

[Shialan]

Why?

Because half of this game's population treat this game not as a game but as a central part of their personal identity.

Disliking any part of it would lead to an identity crisis. God help you if you criticize it.

Yeah, who doesn't like all this "criticism" of "Wuk lamat is bad, lamattrail LoL, lamat tea xD, it's mid rofl"...

[fioravictorine]

I am really wondering, did Yoshi-P seriously played this expansion and concluded 'yup, every player will LOVE this expansion' and approved it?

He did say he played through Shadowbringers and Endwalker - I can't believe he totally okayed this pile of dung