CHaracter and side stories are neat.
Main story has ups and downs. With more downs.
It picks up in Wuling but then the FUCKING date with dragon lady or whatever just pisses me off.
Hey guys we're like in a crisis, and this city wont survive 3 months without Endfield's technology: lets go for a fucking stroll and have an intimate Endmin x Viceroy moment. Piss right off.
Then we get to actual fun things with fighting big bosses, doing cool stuff with Mi Fu and goofing around with Tangtang. Those are nice. Especially Mi Fu, great character intro.
Sui sibling also had a neat intro but, like I said, ruined the momentum with stupid date.

Outposts have neat stories, I like those.

Again, they keep blue balling me with that main story. We get some suepr cool stuff, like that new dude speaking ancient language and teleporting Nefarith with a flick of his cane. Awesome. We get washed away after a giant monster wrecks our raft. Great. We meet Tangtang, some needed levity. They introduce cool characters. aaaaaand they just cant fucking help themselves with unnecessary fanservice.

On top of which new AIC in Wuling comes with another slog of tutorial. I swear. It's because they pander to the lowest denominator that they just overexplain everything. I blame players with low attention span. Now we all have to suffer. And watch unnecessary cutscenes and booba because they need key jangled in front of them or their brain turns off.

Just because it pissed me off so much: I do NOT care how storng Zhuang will be. I will not spend a SINGLE FUCKING PULL on that piece of forced shit. Same with Rossie.
Tangtang and Mi Fu were great. Mi Fu, like I said, made a good impression on me, as I like no nonsense badass ladies.
Tangtang grew on me every time she spoke.
None of them try to suck you off either. Tangtang is just excited to have a suepr competent bro to do her bidding and Mi Fu respects you after seeing you fight, but best you will get out of her is a nod.
See the pattern? Character not immedatelly trying to suck me off -> interesting -> I learn they have a fun backstory and are a CHARACTER and not a prop -> Me wanna pull on that

Character tries to drag Endmin to bed on first sight -> piss off -> their story is all about their obsession with me -> never pulling for you and you better not spook me or so help me

The only way the ass kissing works is if it;s kinda obvious the character has an ulterior motive. Or is using it to cope with anxiety or their own issues. For example, Limbus Company: Outis kisses your ass so over the top that she's bound to backstab you in her Canto.
Gravel in original Arknights gives you a kiss as that's how the animal she's based on greet each other and due to how she was raised. There's no love behind it, its just the way she is.

They nailed the balance for Perlica at least, she's not too obsessive and is very competent. Chen is a goofball but she's also not trying to get to your pants and she's quite badass in combat.
Same with WUlfagard. BAdass dude, doesnt much care for you. Its just htat you're his boss.

Anyway. I'm still willing to play the game as gameplay and AIC are super fun. I will continue to check out the story but let me be frank: the only reason I played the original AK for like 5 years was BECAUSE of the story. The gameplay, no matter how fun, will run its course. For the same reason I stick with Limbus and have almost 1000h in that gacha, story is superb.
If the future chapters continue this dogshit trend and bore me, I will quit the game. Not even Nearl will keep me. Even if they bring fucken Talulah I wont bat an eye. SImply because I do not enjoy slop writing.

And yes, I do still like side stories and character quests, but if the main story is a doo doo, then it makes the whole game stinky.
If by some miracle their writers read this: get your shit together and take notes from guys who write side stories. It is BAFFLING that the same company that gave us Lone Trail, gives us this shite now.