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[SolVanderlyn]

Yea you could tell that Chapter XIV was supposed to be the final game in the Nomura trilogy. The 'breaks' of how the story was supposed to be divided up is fairly clear.

Yeah, now that I think about it, you're probably right. The assault on the fortress definitely feels like endgame material.

A whole game with timeskip bros would have been a dream. I really wonder how they would have pulled it off, though. Lestallum as a base with the rest of Lucis in ruin? Revisit old locations that are now dungeons? A more gradual invasion of Insomnia? I dunno.

 

[Jarmel]

Yeah, now that I think about it, you're probably right. The assault on the fortress definitely feels like endgame material.

I feel like Chapters 1-9 were game 1. Game 1 ends with them arriving in Altissia. I don't know if they would have killed off Stella though so the Altissia summon aftermath might not have existed in the form it does in XV.

Game 2 would have been traveling from Altissia to Nifelheim ending with Noctis getting sucked into the crystal as a cliffhanger.

Game 3 would have been exploring the World of Ruin leading to a big assault on Insomnia.

 

[hamchan]

Looking at some of the ending cards, the average playtime seems like ~30 hours. I thought I was just really fast with 31h (including some sidequests and dungeons) but it's really that short.
"40-50hours if you ONLY follow the story" ..... meh.

I was level 50, 25 hours, did enough side quests to get the 2nd highest trophy for it. Game ain't long but I'm fine with that.

The story was so bad though, so if post-game gives me lots of content with no story, I'm extra fine with that.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

I feel like Chapters 1-9 were game 1. Game 1 ends with them arriving in Altissia. I don't know if they would have killed off Stella though so the Altissia summon aftermath might not have existed in the form it does in XV.

Game 2 would have been traveling from Altissia to Nifelheim ending with Noctis getting sucked into the crystal as a cliffhanger.

Game 3 would have been exploring the World of Ruin leading to a big assault on Insomnia.

Sounds about right.

Cool tidbit about Starscourge from the wiki I missed out on in-game:

In-game lore reveals that the Starscourge is a cloud of photosynthetic organisms that drink light before it reaches the ground, and that it is the ultimate source of all daemons; the organisms parasitize people and transform them into the monsters.

 

[Imur]

I just finished it. I chose the first Cindy Picture with a very big cleavage... that made the last sequence hilarious.

Oh, and thanks Square Enix... I will never be able to listen to this cheesy song without staring sentimental like an idiot, remembering this awesome Trip.

 

[DiipuSurotu]

Cool tidbit about Starscourge from the wiki I missed out on in-game:

So basically it's green Jenova.

 

[ULTROS!]

I can't get over how good and unique the story OUTLINE to this game is. It's dark, it's tragic, it's about bonds and destiny and sacrifice without feeling cliche. It has tragic turns with Ravus being good all along and then dying, the Emperor falling to his own greed and becoming this horrible Daemon, Luna's death, the gods dying and slowly killing off the world, Ardyn being a hero of a past generation who had everything stolen by Noctis' ancestor. Prompto learning he's from Nifleheim only to be casually reassured by the others is amazing. But THE DETAILS. The details are missing. I have never been so in love with a story's overall ideas and so disappointed with how they are told at the same time.

I really liked the concept of the story and the elements too, the details were the issues and are most likely set for DLC. Here's what I predict what the DLCs will have:

1 - Gladio since he suddenly went missing and how did he get those scars
2 - Ignis and how he got blind and the fate of Cor (he did disappear from the game though)
3 - Prompto and his trip to the Niffleheim along with Ravus and his death, and the fall of Iedolas.
4 - What the Bros did during the World of Ruin + Iris, Talcott, and Cindy
5 - More stuff about Luna and her meeting with the Astrals
6 - Prequel scenario about the rise and fall of Ardyn Lucis Caelum

 

[SkylineRKR]

Holy shit Expericast is broken.

I use Expericast Thundara at level 54 bonus in Rock of Ravatogh. Normal mobs get one shotted for 20k EXP. I wonder what the boss will give me.

 

[Sylas]

So basically it's green Jenova.

Fairly certain it came from Meteor, too. That thing is too obvious to not have tied into the Starscourge somehow.

 

[zkorejo]

I loved the ending but it was really depressing. I hate sad endings. Its almost as if Ardyn won... He destroyed Lucis, he Killed Regis,

Spoiler

Luna and took Noctis with him as he died. He was living a curse and I'm sure he would much rather prefer being killed than live forever.

So he got everything he wanted and I as a player feel like I lost everything. The only game where I feel like the bad guy really won it all at the end.

Its something new for sure but I dont like it.

 

[SkylineRKR]

Which is why this is one of my favourite Antagonists and why its so sad that the plot is unveiled so haphazardly.

 

[Inuhanyou]

Yea you could tell that Chapter XIV was supposed to be the final game in the Nomura trilogy. The 'breaks' of how the story was supposed to be divided up is fairly clear.

I still don't understand the mindset of people who are arguing this.

We literally have no idea what the original script in any of its previous forms would have turned out as, hell many of the characters in this game did not even exist at certain points, and many who did were minimized and taken out (apparently Roberto ferrari only created gentiana and ardyn and cindy's designs in late 2012, when the project had already been okayed as FF15)

Yet people still try and claim that one can map exact clear trajectory and story beat chapter by chapter, of not only a single game, but an entire trilogy of games we don't even know officially existed, despite significant cutbacks and multiple rewrites in every area just in the last 12 months alone, and multiple changes to staff, just based on....?

I really liked the concept of the story and the elements too, the details were the issues and are most likely set for DLC. Here's what I predict what the DLCs will have:

1 - Gladio since he suddenly went missing and how did he get those scars
2 - Ignis and how he got blind and the fate of Cor (he did disappear from the game though)
3 - Prompto and his trip to the Niffleheim along with Ravus and his death, and the fall of Iedolas.
4 - What the Bros did during the World of Ruin + Iris, Talcott, and Cindy
5 - More stuff about Luna and her meeting with the Astrals
6 - Prequel scenario about the rise and fall of Ardyn Lucis Caelum

So...you basically are predicting DLC for literally everything that happend off screen and wasnt explained in the game? Yeah...somehow i doubt that they are going to be making DLC for every plot hole and story and plot related cut.

 

[Peroroncino]

I loved the ending but it was really depressing. I hate sad endings. Its almost as if Ardyn won... He destroyed Lucis, he Killed Regis,

Spoiler

Luna and took Noctis with him as he died. He was living a curse and I'm sure he would much rather prefer being killed than live forever.

So he got everything he wanted and I as a player feel like I lost everything. The only game where I feel like the bad guy really won it all at the end. Its something new for sure but I dont like it.

Yup, my feelings are similar, the ending definitely could end

Spoiler

on a happier note,

especially after the long wait and the rushed story, it just doesn't have the impact it otherwise would if it was fleshed out a little bit more.

But I'm especially salty about...

Spoiler

Noctis dying, and then after credits they gave us a little glimmer of hope that, maybe, he didn't die? Only to confirm it after another credits, wow, he's on a throne, so maybe he liv... nope, Luna's right there beside him, representing some 'happily ever after afterlife' or what?

Overall I'm very happy with the game, mainly due to gameplay, but the narration was so rushed and story so full of plotholes that my enjoment was hampered a bit and I'm left with many unanswered questions.

 

[zkorejo]

Yup, my feelings are similar, the ending definitely could end

Spoiler

on a happier note,

especially after the long wait and the rushed story, it just doesn't have the impact it otherwise would if it was fleshed out a little bit more.

But I'm especially salty about...

Spoiler

Noctis dying, and then after credits they gave us a little glimmer of hope that, maybe, he didn't die? Only to confirm it after another credits, wow, he's on a throne, so maybe he liv... nope, Luna's right there beside him, representing some 'happily ever after afterlife' or what?

Overall I'm very happy with the game, mainly due to gameplay, but the narration was so rushed and story so full of plotholes that my enjoment was hampered a bit and I'm left with many unanswered questions.

Agreed. I would have preferred if atleast

Spoiler

Noctis lived, got with Iris and Ignis got his eyesight back.. but no.. the game just started dropping one bomb after another as soon as we reached Altisia. Really makes me sad for Noctis. The guy deserved a better life. Had to train his whole life only to get a shitty end to save the world.

Seeing Altisia was the last thing that made me happy.

I prefer the first half of the game. I love how story focused was the second half and I understand why everything happened.. but tbh its not fantasy based on reality... its fuckin reality... thats what happens in real life. I wish there was more "fantasy" in it to end things on a good note.

 

[SkylineRKR]

Agreed. I would have preferred if atleast

Spoiler

Noctis lived, got with Iris and Ignis got his eyesight back.. but no.. the game just started dropping one bomb after another as soon as we reached Altisia.

Seeing Altisia was the last thing that made me happy.

This is true. The game becomes very depressing from there and even the bros don't like eachother anymore. The dungeon with Ignis slowing everyone down is just constant bickering between them, it really sets the tone.

I think you can drop the spoilertags here. Ending and deaths are already flat out discussed in this topic.

 

[LowParry]

Agreed. I would have preferred if atleast

Spoiler

Noctis lived, got with Iris and Ignis got his eyesight back.. but no.. the game just started dropping one bomb after another as soon as we reached Altisia. Really makes me sad for Noctis. The guy deserved a better life. Had to train his whole life only to get a shitty end to save the world.

Seeing Altisia was the last thing that made me happy.

The Ifrit battle on the other hand. Goddamn. That was so good.

 

[Rebel Leader]

The more I play the more disappointed I become. (I beat the game)

Spoiler

I thought the cure for insomnia was well done though it was small, it felt good. I am however sad that we could never explore the city before the invasion.

The game had a good chance of having a great story. The lore was there but seemed to be missing.
Luna and noct, I have no idea why they have feelings towards each other. It just seems to be there for the character to act emotional for her death.

Ardyn was woefully under used as well as the whole nilf empire. This is an empire that invaded the kingdom of Lucis and they are barley anywhere in sight after the invasion. For such a large force to be called an empire, sure do have a small presence in the world

I think the combat is ok despite the summons not being there like they are in previous games. The camera does need work it somewhat annoying when surrounded by enimes.

The lacking story is just dissapointing

 

[Sylas]

My biggest issue, after thinking about it and talking to my roommate, with the ending is that there's no payoff. We don't see the results of Noctis' sacrifice--the game just purposefully ends with sadness when it shouldn't have. Show me the world rebuilding itself after the starscourge. People going outside and basking in the sunlight, Insomnia being reinhabited. People remembering Noctis and the sacrifice he made for the world. Just show me that everything we did wasn't for naught.

It's a tear-jerker but in an almost manipulative way.

 

[DiipuSurotu]

The more I play the more disappointed I become. (I beat the game)

I thought the cure for insomnia was well done though it was small, it felt good. I am however sad that we could never explore the city before the invasion.

The game had a good chance of having a great story. The lore was there but seemed to be missing.
Luna and noct, I have no idea why they have feelings towards each other. It just seems to be there for the character to act emotional for her death.

Ardyn was woefully under used as well as the whole nilf empire. This is an empire that invaded the kingdom of Lucis and they are barley anywhere in sight after the invasion. For such a large force to be called an empire, sure do have a small presence in the world



I think the combat is ok despite the summons not being there like they are in previous games. The camera does need work it somewhat annoying when surrounded by enimes.

The lacking story is just dissapointing

Yeah the Luna/Noctis love story is really strange. Especially with the age difference and the fact they knew each other since childhood. I remember before the game's release a lot of people thought Luna wouldn't be a love interest at all.

 

[zkorejo]

This is true. The game becomes very depressing from there and even the bros don't like eachother anymore. The dungeon with Ignis slowing everyone down is just constant bickering between them, it really sets the tone.

I think you can drop the spoilertags here. Ending and deaths are already flat out discussed in this topic.

Yeah.. Things just got shittier and shittier as the story moved on. Then 10 years later when Noct was going back to Galdin Quay, I thought this was the turning point... but when I saw Galdin Quay or what was left of it... my heart sank.

The Ifrit battle on the other hand. Goddamn. That was so good.

I even liked Chapter 13 that most of the people hated. Reminded me of MGS 2 with Naked Raiden. I liked all the bosses. Ifrit was amazing and 1v1 against Ardyn was really amazing too.

 

[SkylineRKR]

I honestly think the summons are handled perfectly. They are how they should be; incredibly powerful. So powerful that it makes sense that you can't call them at will.

Its like a jackpot. Sometimes a battle is too hard still, but then you hit it. And its not just near death, I got them when doing perfectly fine. I just don't like the rotation. I got Ramuh about 6 times, Shiva 10 times and Leviathan once or twice. Never seen Titan yet.

I don't like how Shiva deals with her enemies. Her attack is lame.

 

[Rebel Leader]

I honestly think the summons are handled perfectly. They are how they should be; incredibly powerful. So powerful that it makes sense that you can't call them at will.

Its like a jackpot. Sometimes a battle is too hard still, but then you hit it. And its not just near death, I got them when doing perfectly fine. I just don't like the rotation. I got Ramuh about 6 times, Shiva 10 times and Leviathan once or twice. Never seen Titan yet.

I don't like how Shiva deals with her enemies. Her attack is lame.

What if summons would not only drain MP but also HP while Preventing you from using items to heal noct let alone warp away for a while? That would still have a high risk/reward feeling involved.

or noct can use a summon every x amount of days? or combination of both.

I have not had a battle tough enough for a summon to be required outside the story mandated ones

 

[zkorejo]

The story had so much untapped potential to be so much more. There could have been 2 full open world games covering all the events. 1st game featuring young noctis/luna, regis, in cities like Insomnia and Tenabrae and 2nd game with what we got (with better storytelling and more character backstory for Ardyn).

 

[SkylineRKR]

What if summons would not only drain MP but also HP while Preventing you from using items to heal noct let alone warp away for a while? That would still have a high risk/reward feeling involved.

Well they pretty much end most battles. Some end game bosses survive it but rather barely. Adamantoise is an outlier ofcourse.

 

[sappyday]

I just beat the game, Ch 13 was probably the worse but overall loved the game.

Here is the image i got from it

I never got this

Edit: I guess it's something with patch 1.02?

 

[Peroroncino]

Summoning system is horrible, not only is it extremely random, the requirements for each one are separate and very strict, meaning most of the time we're gonna be seeing only Ramuh since he has the most 'lenient' requirement.

Across my playthrough I only once saw Shiva and Leviathan [it was still story related tho] and Titan twice. Ramuh on the other hand is my best buddy, even if the fight just began he can come which is puzzling.

I'd prefer a different system, maybe charging some additional bar, or crafting them from Elemancy, both would be strict and not spammable. I don't know, I just hope they fix it somehow.

 

[Rebel Leader]

The story had so much untapped potential to be so much more. There could have been 2 full open world games covering all the events. 1st game featuring young noctis/luna, regis, in cities like Insomnia and Tenabrae and 2nd game with what we got (with better storytelling and more character backstory for Ardyn).

First game you play as little noct and kingsglaive. Because there are still battles against the empoire during this time. Which could expand ardyn and the empire story.

First game ends right before the invasions
(clifhanger like halo 2)

Second game begins action packed while you as a kingsglaive, try to save the city.

 

[rhandino]

Looking at that map of the parts that you can explore on the city and the fact that some areas from that Environment Trailer did not made it made me remember this pic:

 

[orthodoxy1095]

So...you basically are predicting DLC for literally everything that happend off screen and wasnt explained in the game? Yeah...somehow i doubt that they are going to be making DLC for every plot hole and story and plot related cut.

I bet you at least two of the off-screen plot points will be DLC.

Ignis' going blind won't be one, it'll be Prompto when he's missing and Gladio when he leaves.

 

[Mendrox]

I still don't understand the mindset of people who are arguing this.

We literally have no idea what the original script in any of its previous forms would have turned out as, hell many of the characters in this game did not even exist at certain points, and many who did were minimized and taken out (apparently Roberto ferrari only created gentiana and ardyn and cindy's designs in late 2012, when the project had already been okayed as FF15)

Yet people still try and claim that one can map exact clear trajectory and story beat chapter by chapter, of not only a single game, but an entire trilogy of games we don't even know officially existed, despite significant cutbacks and multiple rewrites in every area just in the last 12 months alone, and multiple changes to staff, just based on....?



So...you basically are predicting DLC for literally everything that happend off screen and wasnt explained in the game? Yeah...somehow i doubt that they are going to be making DLC for every plot hole and story and plot related cut.

Well, but it's obvious that Gladiolus DLC will be when he just went away for a bit, Promptos when he fell from the train and Ignis his when he got blinded. I mean, when I played the game, this was the most blatant DLC advertisment in my face ever.

 

[Rebel Leader]

Well, but it's obvious that Gladiolus DLC will be when he just went away for a bit, Promptos when he fell from the train and Ignis his when he got blinded. I mean, when I played the game, this was the most blatant DLC advertisment in my face ever.

I have to agree with this

 

[AkirraKrylon]

Being unable to explore the World of Ruin Lucis region with post-sleep Noctis and bros seems like such a bad decision. It was all right there, they even populated the area with enemies as we saw with the drive over from Galdin to Hammerhead with Talcott.

Why didn't they just allow you to roam around? Even if it was just on foot? It would be the ultimate end game/post game dungeon. The entire area littered with high level daemons, very few rest points, no towns to stop in. Just dark and scary as shit.

I love the game but I feel like this was such a missed opportunity.

My score would go from 9/10 to 10/10 had they done this + made Tenebrae at least a little bit explorable.

 

[zkorejo]

First game you play as little noct and kingsglaive. Because there are still battles against the empoire during this time. Which could expand ardyn and the empire story.

First game ends right before the invasions
(clifhanger like halo 2)

Second game begins action packed while you as a kingsglaive, try to save the city.

Yeahh.. it could have been so good. They could have done so much better with this amazing story.

 

[jb1234]

Just made it to Chapter 14. I'm really loving the gritty tone. Such a shame there isn't much you can do. This is the most interested I've been in the game's story since Chapter 9, simply because it reminds me so much of FFVI.

 

[Sirpopopop]

Finished the game yesterday. I think it's the first mainline FF game I've completed since X. I thought XII was great, but it got grindy as I got further in and I lost interest in doing the grind.

With that said - I think the ending was well done. It seemed to be pointing toward it being an afterlife scene rather than a "what if" scene. Mainly because the photo Noctis left on the throne was featured, and the fact that the blue petals which we saw whenever Luna's ghost appear also appeared during that scene along with these new white petals that must symbolize Noct.

Further End-Game Thoughts: I thought the concept for Chapter XIII was cool, but it was too long. Ravus was the real end-game boss fight in terms of difficulty. Though, I really enjoyed the end-game fight with Ardyn from a thematic perspective. They gave you the big and bold full party fight with Ifrit. Then, the Ardyn fight was nice & personal, far different than from what I'm used to in an FF game.

Overall it was a good game. It could have used more fleshing out with regards to the storyline. I'm happy that Square-Enix was able to salvage something from this troubled development.

They might even turn a profit.

 

[GwyndolinCinder]

So why exactly were people hyping up the ending?
It was pretty much nonsense and anime things just happened for no reason.

 

[Ruruja]

Holy shit Expericast is broken.

I use Expericast Thundara at level 54 bonus in Rock of Ravatogh. Normal mobs get one shotted for 20k EXP. I wonder what the boss will give me.

Good tip. Just did it myself and went from 43 to 57 in like 10 minutes.

 

[Inuhanyou]

Well, but it's obvious that Gladiolus DLC will be when he just went away for a bit, Promptos when he fell from the train and Ignis his when he got blinded. I mean, when I played the game, this was the most blatant DLC advertisment in my face ever.

Yeah, i figured that would be the case from the start. But i'm pretty sure not all of those, or even most of those will delve into the deep plot holes of this game.

 

[LowParry]

If anything for DLC, I'd love a Iris focused World of Ruin. Hell you could fit in the bros too with it.

Edit: Hell, you got a 10 year gap to fill. Would be perfect.

 

[Inuhanyou]

If anything for DLC, I'd love a Iris focused World of Ruin. Hell you could fit in the bros too with it.

Edit: Hell, you got a 10 year gap to fill. Would be perfect.

That's what i don't get. You actually take the time to let us know what Iris was up to in the past 10 years, yet you don't actually show us junk

 

[LowParry]

That's what i don't get. You actually take the time to let us know what Iris was up to in the past 10 years, yet you don't actually show us junk

Exactly! Like we didn't even get to see Cindy either.

 

[sappyday]

So why exactly were people hyping up the ending?
It was pretty much nonsense and anime things just happened for no reason.

Cause it was great. It hits the emotional moments with the bros. The photo moment choked me up and the camp fire scene was touching. I understood everything about it. I also really liked the Titanic-esque ending with Luna and Noctis.

 

[Zesh]

So why exactly were people hyping up the ending?
It was pretty much nonsense and anime things just happened for no reason.

I think it largely made sense within the context of the game, but I agree that it was overhyped. After hearing all of the praise for it, I expected more, honestly.

 

[DiipuSurotu]

When is the ending camp fire scene set?

 

[zkorejo]

When is the ending camp fire scene set?

Its during their last camp before they head to Insomnia. They were all wearing the same suits as that level up screen in that scene and it makes sense that none of the guys were surprised when he asked for a picture and basically said goodbye before heading in and facing Ardyn.

I think it largely made sense within the context of the game, but I agree that it was overhyped. After hearing all of the praise for it, I expected more, honestly.

I expected a happy ending. I was not expecting gaf to be so happy with such a depressing ending.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

I still don't understand the mindset of people who are arguing this.

Really long and angry post

It's not hard to infer where the major story breaks would have been at all. Nobody is saying they knew the original script, but vestiges of it are very apparent and it's fairly easy to see where the FNC mythos fits in and general outline of the original story still exist.

That's what i don't get. You actually take the time to let us know what Iris was up to in the past 10 years, yet you don't actually show us junk

Yeah, this was frustrating. I wanted to see 10 years later Iris, Cidney, Cor, etc.

Is Cor even still alive? I think they mention that he is. Talcott's entire explanation in the truck was basically this all over again

 

[SkylineRKR]

Why is Castlemark Tower so fucking good?

 

[nOoblet16]

The ending was depressing and quite sombre. When people said the ending is great I didn't not expect this. However it fits within the story and it's presented nicely and as such I guess you can say it's a good ending.


As for the game itself, I thoroughly enjoyed it and if only they did some things differently, if only they added some other things like more quests in Altissia or an end game where you play in time skipped world or etc etc and I can go on and on.

The point being, it's a game that has existed in some manner and idea since 2006, as such there had to be tons of stuff that was thought about and public even came to know about since it was such a long time. But at the same time you have to realise that at the end of the day there was only so much they could have done. The people asking or wishing or wondering it could have been 3 different games are only kidding themselves. Even if it was the original idea you have to consider the fact that the game was in development hell while making the "first game" itself and nothing could come up together. And it required a reboot after which it still took 3-4 years to get what we have right now. Granted the sequels would have been developed faster, but Square probably at some point just wanted to get done with it rather then extend it into a sub franchise with multiple games.


Yes there are flaws and it is disappointing especially because they did so much right and had such potential. But I'm just going to accept the game for what it is rather than the fantasy of what it could have been had everything went right because thinking about that will just diminish the experience I got out of playing this game.



Edit: On a separate note, that (reddit?) leak from a few months ago seemed to have been right on point regarding the story.

 

[sappyday]

When is the ending camp fire scene set?

It technically occurs before the final battle but it kind of works with them being there in the afterlife.

The ending was depressing and quite sombre. When people said the ending is great I didn't not expect this. However it fits within the story and it's presented nicely and as such I guess you can say it's a good ending.


As for the game itself, I thoroughly enjoyed it and if only they did some things differently, if only they added some other things like more quests in Altissia or an end game where you play in time skipped world or etc etc and I can go on and on.

The point being, it's a game that has existed in some manner and idea since 2006, as such there had to be tons of stuff that was thought about and public even came to know about since it was such a long time. But at the same time you have to realise that at the end of the day there was only so much they could have done. The people asking or wishing or wondering it could have been 3 different games are only kidding themselves. Even if it was the original idea you have to consider the fact that the game was in development hell while making the "first game" itself and nothing could come up together. And it required a reboot after which it still took 3-4 years to get what we have right now. Granted the sequels would have been developed faster, but Square probably at some point just wanted to get done with it rather then extend it into a sub franchise with multiple games.


Yes there are flaws and it is disappointing especially because they did so much right and had such potential. But I'm just going to accept the game for what it is rather than the fantasy of what it could have been had everything went right because thinking about that will just diminish the experience I got out of playing this game.



Edit: On a separate note, that (reddit?) leak from a few months ago seemed to have been right on point regarding the story.

The 4chan leak got everything right except the ending. The leak said Noct and bros live and rule over the land although with there not being much to rule.

 

[Inuhanyou]

^ The leak also said that Ardyn had another form

It's not hard to infer where the major story breaks would have been at all. Nobody is saying they knew the original script, but vestiges of it are very apparent and it's fairly easy to see where the FNC mythos fits in and general outline of the original story still exist.

Don't worry, i wasn't angry, i was just frustrated cause i had seen similar posts and i didn't get it

With that being said, I don't think that's really the case. Its not easy to see where the FNC mythos fits in because etro herself, and many other elements that existed to push the narrative simply don't exist anymore. Summons are the only true gods for example, and Ravus, and Stella either got minimized to nothing or taken out entirely, which would have been an entire other significant part of the narrative supposedly.

Yet in the end, even the things that replaced them were done poorly and largely as one note, to the point where its hard for me to see how any of this could be puzzle pieced together by anyone.

Yeah, this was frustrating. I wanted to see 10 years later Iris, Cidney, Cor, etc.

Is Cor even still alive? I think they mention that he is. Talcott's entire explanation in the truck was basically this all over again

I thought Cor was alive, but you'd think he'd be one of the first to go down attempting to fight against Ardyn.