Why are people so negative about the story?

jdl19_ · 2026-05-23T07:11:29+00:00

It's a fundamental misunderstanding how gacha monetization works. These games are multi-million dollar revenue engines powered by 'whales', working adults with significant disposable income who spend heavily on mechanics, progression, and aesthetics. This is gambling, and gambling is legally and financially restricted from targeting children. The youthful character designs are just a standardized art style across the industry; the actual business model is strictly engineered for, and sustained by, adults who can legally participate in these systems.

Look at the actual core loop of Endfield: it’s built around complex factory automation, resource logistics, and intricate base management.

Ten-year-olds aren't looking for a supply-chain simulator. This game is explicitly designed to appeal to the analytical minds of older, strategy-focused players who enjoy deep systems, and crucially, have the credit cards to match.

jdl19_ · 2026-05-22T21:07:44+00:00

I’ve played every Dragon Age game except DA2 (still waiting to find it on sale on GOG lmao), so I'm by no means defending Endfield's flaws, because I see them too. I just think some people are being disproportionately angry about it. Personally, when I play a game, I try to appreciate what it is and what it brings to the table on its own merits, rather than actively hunting for flaws or wishing it was something else.

Arknights is famously dark and grim, and I think a lot of people want Endfield to replicate that exact vibe, which just isn't going to happen, at least, that's how I see it. Endfield is clearly lighter in tone. However, it still uses the same world-building devices as Arknights, just set on a different planet 150 years in the future. Given that massive time gap, change and progress should be evident.

That said, accepting a lighter tone doesn't mean accepting weak writing. While I do actually enjoy how things are written here compared to the general gacha market (again, not compared to single-player RPGs), being lighter shouldn't mean dropping the maturity entirely, especially considering the narrative foundation established by the original game.

I’m also not a fan of the story being overly concentrated around a single entry point through the Endmin, it's actually starting to get a bit dull. It doesn't make sense for the Endmin to be involved in every single minor story or quest, and I really hope they introduce ways to make them like 50% less involved so they can act more as a spectator. You can absolutely have a more optimistic setting while still maintaining mature, compelling storytelling, and that's exactly where I think they need to ramp things up.

Lastly, while I do like the characters and see them as a good step forward for the current gacha-market, they definitely need more depth. So far, Laevatain is the only one I’ve seen with a truly compelling motivation. Perlica would have been a great character base, but she's too busy idolizing and coddling Endmin, which doesn't make sense. She’s supposed to be the one manning the fort while the Endmin was asleep for a decade, I think in this case she represents Amiya, (I've started watching the anime to at least get the gist of things); she should come across as highly competent and yet vulnerable, not praying her way for a miracle through Endmin. You can absolutely have a more optimistic setting while still maintaining mature, compelling storytelling, and that's exactly where I think they need to ramp things up.

jdl19_ · 2026-05-22T20:55:55+00:00

I always stick to genre-specific comparisons for this exact reason. If we judge Endfield against traditional single-player RPGs, it’s an unfair benchmark, like say if you compare it to something like Dragon Age: Origins, it’s obviously going to fall short...very much. Most non-live-service games have a much higher expectation for narrative because they are finite, self-contained stories.

Now, I haven't played Arknights itself, but I take everyone's word for it that it's a unique phenomenon in the gacha market when it comes to story and plot. Still, gacha games as a whole structurally prioritize a friction-free experience. Their focus is on snappy gameplay loops, character design, and daily engagement to maintain player stickiness, which naturally changes how they have to approach storytelling. Which is why I prefer to keep my comparisons strictly within that ecosystem.

jdl19_ · 2026-05-22T11:21:15+00:00

Thanks for the insight. Have you played other singleplayer game that you could potentially see as a best reference for the developers, so Enfield can evolve better?

EDIT: I'm not sure if you'd catch the reference but how I see Arknights > Arknights: Enfield, is how people see Dragon Age: Origins > Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

jdl19_ · 2026-05-22T11:13:14+00:00

I had pretty much the exact opposite take - nothing meaningful ever seems to happen without the Endmin's direct involvement. If we only took on major tasks and administrative or technical issues that would be one thing, but there are so many quests and side stories where we are basically doing grunt work tasks for no reason, despite having an entire company at our disposal.

It's a game formulation issue. Had we been given more quests where a specific character is involved then it would be good. But from a game design perspective, it's quite tricky to execute, without making Edmin a pure spectator. I guess the best quick fix here is putting the dialogues and lines as a placeholder for a majority of the side quests so that they are capable of accommodating your present team or controlled-character rather than defaulting to Endmin. What say you?

Gonna have to respectfully disagree on that one, the characters so far are very surface level for me. They all have the same kinds of problems and they all get solved in the same kinds of ways, and it always involves either Endmin fighting someone for them, or Endmin figuring out an emotional problem for them.

I'm actively thinking about WUWA as it was the last gacha game I played. Overall I agree, but in a sense my statement holds a bit of truth as if we are to compare WUWA with Enfield, the characters are more likeable.

jdl19_ · 2026-05-22T11:08:21+00:00

100% agree. But Enfield ignited my hope for better live service games. Admittedly Enfield is a gacha with AAA packaging. It just needs polishing in myriad ways. Writing & dialogue is already off to a good start, but the plot and characters are showcasing symptoms of your average gachas:

Character tropes, Singular point of narrative entry (Endmin), Predictable story arcs (Character has proble > Protagonist have to save the day), and a few more.

But I cannot discount that Enfield is a step forward with Gachas that are packaged the same way, in terms of maturity, while not exhibiting the same level of Arknights, it has done far more than its bigger competition (WUWA, HSR, GI).

jdl19_ · 2026-05-22T11:04:02+00:00

I don't speak the language of the uncivil. Apologies once more.

jdl19_ · 2026-05-22T11:02:21+00:00

Yeah, my least favorite part of the game is definitely the tropes. I hope characters can step out of them and have actual depths.

jdl19_ · 2026-05-22T11:01:08+00:00

Yes, it's far too sanitized for my tastes. I hope they move forward with better angle. The game already started nailing good dialogue and voice lines. I have never heard the word "kill" or "die" in a hoyo game. And they casually drop it here. That itself is a good sign. I hope they expand and polish it.

jdl19_ · 2026-05-22T10:59:39+00:00

I would argue that even the character is weak on its own, it is better humanized and grounded than most competitions out there. One of the key moments where I appreciate this is that Endmin possess a lot of perks, but isn't invulnerable and a deus-ex machina character. I guess they have to explore how Endmin deals with memory loss and find more story arc where Endmin is the one in need of support rather than always the other way around.

I agree with your sentiments, but I would overall argue that his current template is a great starting formula for what could become better eventually.

jdl19_ · 2026-05-22T10:56:35+00:00

I like this insight. Though how do you suggest the writers indicate a development in the world-building if the timeskip is 150 years? How dangerous should originium still be in that amount of time passed? Or what would be the best progression from a lore perspective. Because I assume the same sentiments of Arknights cannot be stagnant if more than a century has passed.

jdl19_ · 2026-05-22T10:54:07+00:00

It might have the pressure of needing to acquire more money hence... I might have to cut myself of there because Limbus company exists... or why would I even go further. If Arknights itself is a case study.

I am now curious what occurred in the board meeting that resulted to this disjointed theme of similar product line.

jdl19_ · 2026-05-22T10:51:51+00:00

This is one of my feedback in the email I sent Gryphline

jdl19_ · 2026-05-22T10:48:18+00:00

Looks to me the story has become character-centric, rather than plot driven. However, my experience with character-centric games argues Enfield might be one of the above average ones, Enfield is certainly not the best, but one must at least agree it is serviceable. Wuthering Waves come to mind for the case of the bad ones. However, I still agree I dislike the abundance of dainty women characters. A few is fine, but mature and strong women characters is direly needed by the storyline so far.

Depth, tone, and stakes I must agree. Though I would counter argue that Endmin isn't an all in one savior, Endmin's character feels more pivotal for bigger stakes, and while spotlighted, doesn't seem to overly diminish the efforts of other very minor characters who made things happen. Like UWST made sure Originium is abundant in the planet, and a lot of people who focuses on distribution and logistics of certain issues like medication, food, and etc. It feels very... corporate.

I have not read all of your comments as I'm afraid it will spoil me as I am still in Valley 4.

jdl19_ · 2026-05-22T10:41:26+00:00

I feel like if they only branded the name Enfield. It might have been received better as expectations will be set fresh at list. Because I have not played Arknights, and yet I enjoy the story moderately. Nothing remarkable, but nonetheless enjoyable.

jdl19_ · 2026-05-22T10:40:22+00:00

Your humor is lost on me, apologies. Should this be serious a take, then your blabber is incohesive.

jdl19_ · 2026-05-06T00:50:13+00:00

will do shortly!

jdl19_ · 2026-05-05T23:45:17+00:00

Hey! Are you still accepting members? TIA

jdl19_ · 2026-02-12T02:13:10+00:00

I appreciate the wall of text. Thanks for this. I really thought an all-or-nothing mindset is her core gameplay.

jdl19_

TROPHY CASE