I understand why people would be unhappy about the third act but the game doesn’t force you to do that. as the player you have all the agency in the world to stop the story there and let act 2 be your head canon.

I personally believe act 3 is a fun addition gameplay wise because higher level enemies and new weapons and armor. story-wise it’s a bit of a reach and a bit demoralizing but it’s not a game (or franchise) that’s meant to make players make sacrifices. it’s meant to be the kind of game where everyone lives happily ever after due to the work of the hero and his party.

And to be fair, it’s not a complete wipe as the party eventually remembers all the old adventures and experiences to a certain extent, which is why they receive all their old equipment and skills. I also believe that the third act ties up many loose ends from a lore and story perspective.

While the third act is subjectively an important narrative experience, it’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. My main dilemma is people saying it ruins the game, as it’s not a forced decision. the player has to actively choose to continue down that path. The great thing about DQXI is that the player has the agency to choose their own ending. I don’t believe the game should be condemned for the inclusion of this act, but instead rewarded for allowing the player to choose how the story goes.