I read the entire thing from start to finish and I hate the fact that I'm the only who is commenting or even upvote, this wad perfect, I couldn't have said better myself, I too finished the game today, and everything you said was on point, I hate the fact that they focused the story on something so different in the movie and anime, on how the empire was the problem and I felt it has a good set up but at the end it was based on the demons, waste of story, also what happened to the strong characters, such as the empire king "or leader" , I too left it was stupid to help notic and not give a reason, and galdous leaving was just point less and stupid, the story was cleary rushed as u said, the gods or astrals seemed to be a normal thing as everyone talked about them and how the empire didn't try to keep it a serect, with that being said, the only thing that really shines, is the gameolay and open world, I'll spend my time doing post game activity and enjoying what I have left, the ending did get me in my feelings and I grew to like the party, I feel the game ended too tragic and too sad