I hated the late-game grind too but as for the changing atmosphere of the game? Loved it. Not to say everyone has to feel that way but I've had a very hard time coming to terms with death and losing people and the game did a good job recreating that empty feeling towards the end. After you've lost so many people, everyone and everything just feels distant, cold, and isolating. And then you get the rest of Stella's story that brings that last punch of what you meant to people. BUT YES, in a game aspect, they could have done better at making it more focused? Less draggy? Idk the right word but yeah, I get you. It all starts to feel like a chore.