Before launching in to this, I should lay it out that I basically see the game in four phases.
1. Essentially ACT 1, which has some of the best missions in the game, solid characters, and good writing. Its only weakness is that it is quite short, and that some of the character development referenced later in the game doesn't get time to blossom. Side gigs are flavorful if not too complex, and generally decently thought out.
2. Probably the weakest phase of the game, think of it as ACT 2A. Starts off with a bang - but then gets a bit lackluster. The main arcs for Takemura and Panam are decent, with some cool set piece moments, but not stellar. The Judy-Ev story is good. The relationship with Johnny and the Relic is kind of...arbitrary in it's development. Short bursts of jarring exposition rather than a smooth evolution. And the side gigs are the most filler-esque.
3. But then you finish up with the VDBs and all of a sudden the game explodes. Call it ACT 2.5 It's a pity it keeps trying to shove you to Nocturne, because more or less all of the best character arcs happen here, the side gigs get better again, more and more arc'd gigs come in, and just generally speaking you go "Ah! This is where the Witcher side-quest team went!" but you'll never know unless you ignore that auto-default to the end game.
4. Then the endings. I actually really like the whole endgame sequence, including the endings. I think this is strong, though I realize there are those who disagree.
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Great, so why bother saying any of that? Because this is where I would love to see the current story buffed up before we start playing with Romancing the Crystal Palace or whatnot.
1. Maybe just one more main line mission in act 1 before the Konpeki trio. Something to really flesh out the relationship between Jackie, T-Bug, and V, and most importantly to cement this idea that yes, Jackie and V really do both want to be legends/rich. That particular thread is referenced on and off haphazardly, yet is supposed to be a central motivation to kick start V's rise.
2. Expand the Johnny-V relationship in phase 2. Just a few more conversations, maybe short named gigs, to smooth the transitions, expand on Johnny's view on things (and et V respond to it) between "I'm just using you to attack 'saka!" and "V, have these tags". In addition, since the game has a running thing about what makes an identity an identity, your relationship with death, ship of Theseus, and of course at what price glory...you know, it wouldn't be bad to have a couple talks/gigs related to those ideas.
3. For the love of god, please improve the early-mid game side gigs.
4. If you did the thematic set up work in 1 and 2, I bet any will feel less blindsided by some of the endings.
1. Essentially ACT 1, which has some of the best missions in the game, solid characters, and good writing. Its only weakness is that it is quite short, and that some of the character development referenced later in the game doesn't get time to blossom. Side gigs are flavorful if not too complex, and generally decently thought out.
2. Probably the weakest phase of the game, think of it as ACT 2A. Starts off with a bang - but then gets a bit lackluster. The main arcs for Takemura and Panam are decent, with some cool set piece moments, but not stellar. The Judy-Ev story is good. The relationship with Johnny and the Relic is kind of...arbitrary in it's development. Short bursts of jarring exposition rather than a smooth evolution. And the side gigs are the most filler-esque.
3. But then you finish up with the VDBs and all of a sudden the game explodes. Call it ACT 2.5 It's a pity it keeps trying to shove you to Nocturne, because more or less all of the best character arcs happen here, the side gigs get better again, more and more arc'd gigs come in, and just generally speaking you go "Ah! This is where the Witcher side-quest team went!" but you'll never know unless you ignore that auto-default to the end game.
4. Then the endings. I actually really like the whole endgame sequence, including the endings. I think this is strong, though I realize there are those who disagree.
--------------
Great, so why bother saying any of that? Because this is where I would love to see the current story buffed up before we start playing with Romancing the Crystal Palace or whatnot.
1. Maybe just one more main line mission in act 1 before the Konpeki trio. Something to really flesh out the relationship between Jackie, T-Bug, and V, and most importantly to cement this idea that yes, Jackie and V really do both want to be legends/rich. That particular thread is referenced on and off haphazardly, yet is supposed to be a central motivation to kick start V's rise.
2. Expand the Johnny-V relationship in phase 2. Just a few more conversations, maybe short named gigs, to smooth the transitions, expand on Johnny's view on things (and et V respond to it) between "I'm just using you to attack 'saka!" and "V, have these tags". In addition, since the game has a running thing about what makes an identity an identity, your relationship with death, ship of Theseus, and of course at what price glory...you know, it wouldn't be bad to have a couple talks/gigs related to those ideas.
3. For the love of god, please improve the early-mid game side gigs.
4. If you did the thematic set up work in 1 and 2, I bet any will feel less blindsided by some of the endings.