Penny Cries Over the Endwalker Ending (Level 88+ Spoilers)

[@Gatsby3737]

I love how the other pastime of FFXIV players is watching other people experience FFXIV content

[@tarastargaze3833]

It brings us joy to see others experience for the first time what we never will again.

[@HuchiaZ]

@@tarastargaze3833 there hasn't been a truer statement. I've been actively using every tactic I know to get a friend out of ARR because they are a story nerd who I know would love the msq. This is beside the 10 other people I have personally seen through the msq over the past few years. A couple not even more than an acquaintance

[@balazsszucs7055]

Well first off I'm in the office working, so I can't play. Also, I love how the story ruins people emotionally like it did me. Generally it is like this: Streamer: I was ruined by 5.3 Me: I knew. I always knew. But I'm happy to hear it nonetheless.

[@evilcow111]

That’s why I’m here!

[@JohnRSoviet]

Sometimes catharsis-by-proxy is the only way we can get through this chaotic existence

[@Ovadia381]

I can't believe Emet-Selch broke over a Dozen NDA's in just one conversation before leaving to the Aetherial Sea.

[@SpartanMK5]

In the end, Emet really had the last laughed.

[@Enderlinkpawnu]

turns out the NDA forgot to be binding in death.

[@ChongoShow]

I find it incredibly telling that the knowledge that you’re going to eventually make me join the FFXIV hivemind so I don’t want to spoil myself is stopping me from watching this more than the length is

[@SnapCube]

SOME DAY!!!

[@raiyano7436]

@@SnapCube Hey snap which server you on?

[@Nephs_]

One of us... one of us...

[@jacobtheultimate2895]

@@raiyano7436 She is on Jenova World Aether Data Center

[@lilrockstar8170]

one of us...one of us...

[@Froggsroxx]

"Hythlodaeus is unreasonably beautiful" the truest truth ever spoken

[@treedude4246]

Hottest boy

[@TheBonkleFox]

Also fun fact, after the story ends you can visit various scions in different locations: Alphinaud & Alisaie are at Garlemald, helping out like they said. Krile and G'raha are planning reclamation of the Isle of Val at the Annex in Sharlayan Thancred and Urianger are helping the Loporrits learn more about Etheirys' society in Labyrinthos Estinien's got lodgings at Radz-At-Han Y'shtola's visiting Matoya, who finally gives you her respect Ocher Boulder and that archer who was thirsting over the Boulder Bros. are at Old Gridania Isildaure and that other girl are at Kugane relaxing in the hot springs

[@LazzyVamples]

You can find people from the various job quests around too. I encountered that miqo'te girl from the dancer quests on the bridge in Kugane and she tells you a little about what she and the troupe has been up to and commends you on saving the world.

[@Zero-ELEC]

"that archer who was thirsting over the Boulder Bros.", her name is Aenor, put some respect on it. :P Other Scions locations: Ephemie is in Camp Broken Glass sharing songs with Garleans. Aergmhus and Bluomwyda are at the inn/pub in Limsa with plans to chart a course to Aerslaent.

[@crusherjoe8519]

If you have gotten U-know-you-who out of there, you can visit Tataru in the Rising Stones. She is there, all by herself.

[@a_tired_dad]

Oh darn I gotta visit!!!! Thanks for the info

[@Metadaxe]

I looked for Isildaure and Alianne and couldn't find them at the hot springs. It made me sad, because I also couldn't find them at the Doma Enclave at the end of 5.3, since I hadn't finished doing its restoration, but I figured this time I wouldn't be blocked by not having progressed something.

[@JLawrenceKenny]

Penny: I'm all out of tears FFXIV about 3 more times after this declaration: I'm about to end this woman's whole career.

[@Taygon45]

I'm about to empty this woman's entire tear ducts.

[@DaThings]

*looks at video length* Guess I'll order some takeout

[@pop-roxs]

nah man you dont need takeout you need the whole groceries

[@pop-roxs]

@Dante Toshiro64 ong

[@TheBonkleFox]

hope you got tissues to go with that ellie.

[@tarastargaze3833]

Does this mean we're getting a Jontron Endwalker YTP

[@FearTheBeanz]

Hey Penny, I'm a bit of a lurker when it comes to commenting on youtube videos, but watching your reaction to the scene with Moenbryda's parents compelled me to write this out. Whenever I talk to people about this part of the story, it's almost unanimously regarded as the biggest surprise cry of the expansion. Some will arrive at the conclusion that it brings them to tears because of their own personal trauma, but many don't know why it hits quite so hard for them. But I think you nailed it right on the head. This game cares about its characters, and by extension its players. The immediate setup for the scene wastes no time in outlining Urianger's unhealthy grief, and that this confrontation is poised to push him further. You're led to expect her parents to resent him, as Urianger expects. As he himself resents. A feeling so relatable that the scene is relying on you to interpret this way. But the immediate switch to an acknowledgement and embrace hits so hard and fast that there's almost no time to process. The tears come, and with it, catharsis. For Urianger, and for you. Its so true, so real, so painfully uncommon, its presence in a fantasy game feels more appropriate. Its that dose of healthy grieving. That weight off your back that you didn't know was there. That, through Urianger failing to find his words, you feel almost justified for every time you couldn't find yours. Its a short scene. But its my favorite. Thank you for helping me find the words to share it myself.

[@kokorodoki1]

Fun fact! At the "You Are Not Alone" RP walk section, the specific status effect you're under for that is called "Endwalker". I forgot the description but it's something along the lines of "the weight of your sorrows is weighing you down as you press on"

[@kathrynchi4362]

I believe it’s along the lines of “the weight of a thousand worlds weighs heavy, and yet you can walk on”

[@YouWillBeHappyOrElse]

@@kathrynchi4362 Per Garland Tools, it's "Walking alone unto journey's end, the burden weighing heavy."

[@loomingdeath1758]

@@kathrynchi4362 When i read that. Its like so yeah No pressure right the only thing left to do is not fail right.... RIGHT.....

[@Skrogansauce]

I feel like a lot of people who aren't fans of Zenos, like myself, ended up being brought around on him when he showed up as Shinryu + the amazing fight at the edge of creation with the absolute banger that is Footfalls. Zenos' voice actor is also incredible, which helps a lot, i love that he asks you the same questions as Venat and before he can say himself he dies, whether or not the final battle with you was worth it or not, we don't know. He was so far gone with only one idea in his mind for so long, he never considered how he would feel when it finally happened, if he would find fulfillment. His absolute madness and insanity, killing his father, destroying his empire and trying to destroy Etheriys, all driving him to the edge of the universe just to fight you, and he can't comprehend if it was even worth it, the same way Amon/Hermes felt.

[@LazzyVamples]

I wasn't brought around to him. I don't dislike Zenos, I just don't understand why the narrative gives him so much weight. He keeps referring to himself as your mirror and the game is trying to sell you on him being your nemesis too, but i'm just like.... Why? and how is he my mirror? The guy doesn't believe in anything, so he doesn't exactly have any opposing beliefs or ideals, he just has a fight boner. Don't get me wrong, he's got a well-written fight boner, but that's still just all it is. There is the argument that he's less a mirror of the WoL and more a mirror to you, the player--somebody who seeks out challenge for the sake of it. Which does apply to parts of the playerbase, such as the savage raiders, and is a fun idea. But that still doesn't justify him taking up so much space in the narrative.

[@BakaGaijinSama]

@@LazzyVamples Zenos' character was always about having no motivation in his life other than the thrill of combat. A core theme of this expansion is purpose, and meaning, and the need to find your own. The WoL is probably the strongest combatant in the known ffxiv-verse, and similarly, Zenos was the strongest combatant he had ever known, and had never faced challenge. The WoL however, found purpose and meaning in companionship, adventure, and being a positive force of good and helpfulness - their strength never defined them, neither did the need to test said strength. Zenos lacked this, a directionless mirror of the WoL with all of the strength and none of the soul, so to speak. Pre-EW, Zenos was shoehorned in as a villain that could match us, but that never worked, and I always hated it. I never felt threatened by Zenos, no matter how much the narrative tried to do as such. In EW, Zenos' personal struggle and drive to find meaning suddenly became incredibly thematically relevant, and rather than be an antagonist to the WoL, he took a different role in the story. Venat represents the sights, scenes, people, and love that drive the WoL, the parts that Zenos lacks; while Venat was undoubtedly strong, it was her heart, not her strength that defined her. Against the Endsinger, we carry Venat's will with us, and defeat despair and hate with hope and love. But that doesn't resolve the other aspect of adventure, of seeking out challenges and overcoming them, the part that Zenos represented. The genius in my eyes, was realising that Zenos was the mirror to that, the overwhelming strength without heart, the drive to overcome struggle and enjoy the act of overcoming adversity. Venat asks us if we found meaning in our journey, in the people we meet, the places we visit. Zenos asks us if we find meaning in the struggle and adversity, and pushing to overcome challenges. These are both aspects of the WoL, and you get to choose how much each of them are. While your answer to Venat's question is not an option in game, but one you need to decide for yourself (unambiguously yes, for basically every player, I imagine), your answer to Zenos asking you as an adventurer, not as a hero or champion, if you enjoy the thrill of challenge, is in the reply you give. To me, and to my WoL, yes, they love challenge, and so getting to choose 'That, I won't deny' was such an amazing end to it all. Basically, in that moment I had held Venat's will and overcame despair, seeing the journey as worth it despite all the emotional lows, because I wouldn't let some losses outshadow all the love there is in the world. As an adventurer, as someone who seeks out challenge, my WoL is then asked if there is also meaning in finding or creating, and then overcoming challenge, and to me and my WoL, there absolutely is. Zenos finally fulfilled his narrative purpose that only just came to him in EW, and in my eyes it was a brilliant ending to it all.

[@Infernokami]

@@LazzyVamples because he's your foil. while you are full of life and love and fight to protect others, he's empty and only fights to feel something. You're the only person strong enough to fight Zenos, and Zenos is the only person strong enough to face you. While the WOL doesn't derive pleasure from fighting Zenos, Zenos receives pleasure from fighting WOL because it's the only thing that makes him feel. To the Garleans you are a monster that's killed many of their people, and the same can be said of Zenos to the Domans/Eorzeans/etc. There are many instances where the two are strikingly similar yet differ vastly in the approach. Regardless of if you're a savage raider or not, the WOL continues to seek strength to protect everyone. If there wasn't some pleasure in it the WOL wouldn't do it in the first place, they wouldn't go on dangerous adventures that could result in them dying, which is why Venat and Zenos both asked if you enjoyed your journey/found fulfillment. And Zenos doesn't just have a fight boner. He had a traumatic childhood that basically made him apathetic to literally everything, the only time he feels alive is when he feels his life is on the line. Like he said at the end, those few fleeting moments give his life purpose and meaning because they are what allow him to feel something because at the end of the day that's all he wants, to feel alive.

[@atraxos]

I choose to identify with the school of thought that believes that Zenos' last fervent wish manifested your teleport device into being, just so that you could escape that place and continue seeking fulfillment. Full disclosure: I wasn't very big on Zenos until Endwalker, and the events of The Final Day in particular. The Shinryu fight at the end of Stormblood 4.0 (The Royal Menagerie) was cool, though.

[@Pompadourius]

@@LazzyVamples After reading the short story about Zenos' childhood and then connecting the dots of his relation to WoL from Stormblood to Endwalker, he's ABSOLUTELY WoL's mirror in a way that makes so much sense when you put yourself in his shoes for it.

[@MangekyouUchiha]

I went with option 1 with Zenos. I love to do extremes/savage content and take on new challenges. Giving him that answer with such a smug smirk felt good.

[@knight4light]

it doesnt even have to mean actual fights. the challenge of crafting your first masterwork. going out to gather stuff because your want to. finding a house. finding that perfect glam. all of this is for our own pleasure. hell saving the world isnt because we're selfless. we save the world because we want to. we dotn want our friends to die. we have people we love. we are selfish creatures by nature. even if those selfish actions end up labeling us as a hero.

[@CraftyChicken91]

@@knight4light exactly, Zenos basically turns to the camera and goes "Thou art a gamer no?"

[@Fast_Iain]

The Endwalker RP walking segment always gets me every single time... Never had I cried so much in a video game before. FFXIV is such a fantastic game. I'm glad I wasn't the only one who cried so much.

[@loomingdeath1758]

The walking wasnt so much RP. It literally what it is. Imagine if a town put its problems on your shoulder. You could still walk. Now imagine if the Universe Put its problems on your shoulder. Man that walk would be thousands of time more painful cause no room for errors.

[@Tigerblade11238]

That silence into that beautiful song...then Ardberd and his push of support...every time...

[@Braigwen]

The first line literally knocked the wind out of me.

[@JackgarPrime]

The one that gets me is the Midgardsormr spot.

[@theeternalshade2981]

Dead since Shadowbringers, and the first thing Emet-Selch does on his return is start bitching. God, I love that man. Best NPC, for sure.

[@necroxisz]

G'raha's sacrifice got me so terribly. I knew eventually we'd figure out somehow to bring him back, there's no way they'd kill off ALL the Scions, but he's such a good boy and our bestestest friend. Him asking us to promise to continue on with him got me immediately. And then the goddamn lyrics hit after his crystal path was revealed and it just broke me. The guy who doesn't consider himself a hero despite being arguably the biggest hero of FF14 outside of ourselves and Venat. Our modest catboy husbando who so clearly just wants to be at our side no matter what we end up doing. What a good fucking character. One that originally was just another NPC from a 2.0 raid storyline. G'raha Tia is one of the best characters in all of Final Fantasy.

[@Nephs_]

Fancy seeing you here, and that's the exact moment that got me too. I was so convinced they were all fine yet when it came down to him and the twins it was really getting to me, and then the RP walk section and Emet and Hythlo, I just fucking broke. And yes G'raha best boi

[@jordanetherington1922]

What got me was him saying "I don't know yet, but that's okay. It just means I'm the same as everyone else."

[@roetheboat1]

He confronted the despair of an entire alien race with an extended hand and a promise to look for the answer to their question together. Like, goddamn.

[@KillerPassifist]

The music shifts during that scene with G'raha were so well placed and hit me like a truck. Endwalker made me cry a lot more - even more than I expected to - and that scene was one of the most emotional ones for me. Alisaie spoke the words as I thought them: "Why can't you stay with us until the end just once?". He has grown so much and I'm so very, very proud of G'raha's development. FFXIV's writing team is absolutely incredible and nothing will ever change my mind.

[@Shanyetta23]

I totally agree. That was when I started sobbing.

[@MultiAnimationboy]

Kudos for going through 14 hours of footage for a single video.

[@AStrangeWindmill]

You know what's cool about the end of endwalker? it avoids power creep. Because Meteion was in a place of pure dynamis, that's really mostly what the both of us fought with. So we were out there punching planets and whatnot, but back on a typically aether based environment, we aren't that strong. The fight with Zenos was like that too. So despite what could do there, we still have to worry about fights back planetside.

[@MonstahHuntah]

I fucking love how Petty Emet can be, but despite that pettiness, he clearly cares for us, and wants us to not forget why we wre who we are in the game. We love to explore, to seek. That was him challenging us to go back to our roots once we finish this climax.

[@KinglyRed]

I feel like this might get overlooked, so here's a bit about the ending: Zenos made the teleporter fall out of the sky. You were still in the realm of dynamis, where emotions control reality. It was his dying wish to bring you to safety, and Urianger theorizes as much if you speak to him twice back at the Rising Stones EDIT: people have correctly pointed out that it's intentionally left ambiguous as to how it happened, but I choose to believe that it was Zenos. Great way to send off his character

[@squidlump]

It wasn’t necessarily zenos but it could have been

[@BionicDirector117]

@@squidlump it's very heavily implied

[@squidlump]

@@BionicDirector117 sort of. It could have just as easily have been your character’s desire to live on, the scions’ desires to see you again, Meteion giving you a hand, a conflux of several aforementioned desires influencing the dynamis, or it could have just been dumb luck. So while it could have been just that zenos wanted to save you it comes across more as being intentionally ambiguous so that people can draw their own conclusions. I for one lean more towards the scions wanting to see you again which influenced the dynamis, since it makes the most thematic sense to me personally. WOL’s trust and belief in others was the main difference between them and zenos. And for me that’s why WOL gets to live on, while Zenos becomes a forgotten corpse left at the edge of the universe. But again, it’s ambiguous and clearly meant to be so.

[@emeraldgreenz]

Oh damn, how did I miss that???

[@emeraldgreenz]

Stupid me finishing the msq while half asleep with a low attention span

[@mistahad3451]

"The only bad thing about this game is how many British people are in it" Never before have I both loathed and agreed with such a statement; this damn universal joke is goin' too far at this rate

[@megamegapop12]

Not far enough

[@lukoscreyden]

I don't understand the point of it. Why is there a random hatred of people with a certain accent?

[@SuaveNerd2000]

@@lukoscreyden I think it's more on "lack of accents" given the level of international representation in the game and yet everyone has the same accent.

[@lukoscreyden]

@@SuaveNerd2000 this is very true. Was expecting some varied accents in places like the far east. At least they hired some appropriate VAs for Thavnair.

[@Oppurtunafish]

@@lukoscreyden chances are theyre all from the same VA company, even the thavnair voice actors are mostly british. Like you said its an accent thing, its a bit ignorant to say theres too many "British" voice actors when she really means English accents. Believe it or not there are British people who are not white!

[@Avyrsoul]

Penny learning about the heat death of the universe: "damn, that's bleak"

[@ShutterSnapped]

Scientists: So... Wanna hear about vacuum decay? ;)

[@Xenmaru00]

See, of all things. of all this. The thing that makes Meteion such an AMAZING Antagonist is that she is literally never *taunting* you. Even the "Well-Intentioned Extremist" antagonists in this game's story would taunt and tease and effectively goad you into fighting, into showing just how superior they were to you, only to get whupped. Meteion _never_ does that. Everything she does is out of absolute *love* for you and all the civilizations she found dying and calling for oblivion. Every encounter with her on Ultima Thule is her literally asking "why?" and then *happily* sharing her information with you, the moment you ask. She is truly a Researcher's Daughter, in that even if its presented in a blank tone, she is clearly _pleased_ to share her findings, her confirmations, her *reality* with you all. And every time you do something unexpected she literally goes "that doesnt make sense but it happened so...good job? Please stop? I mean if you dont, you dont but...please?" And yet you watch her expressions and watch her stance and she's *hurting* that you dont just stop and go back. the last bit where she goes "you should have remained on Etherys" is literally the same look and feeling she had when Hermes didnt join with her before she headed off to the Edge. The look of one who is saddened that you have let yourself hurt and continue to hurt when it all seems so pointless. And even the Endsinger herself, the conglomerate mass-entity that is every remaining Meteion fused together, the last thing she asks is "if this wasnt right, then what is?" not "how could i be beaten by such an inferior race" or anything of that nature. it was always a question of "how do i find happiness and how do i make it last when i've seen so much that says it cant?" Each time we proved her wrong, each time we changed the reality she thought was absolute, we broke a piece of her confidence, broke a fragment of her "truth" and as seen in the final scene, she *embraces* that we were able to _disprove_ her findings. Also side question that just popped into my head when watching this and seeing the Kryle scene again: what's the betting that the reason why she started seeing the End of Days in the sky above Shalaryan was due to an aetheric resonance reaction to the fact that Zenos had just shown up, and she was detecting the remnant aether of Zodiark that surrounded him?

[@yeelamchan4153]

on the two people I think you might've missed in the Aitiascope: the first ally is Papalymo, and if you bring Y'shtola she'll call him by name. the second boss is Mr Cape Westwind, the guy everyone dunks on because of how underwhelming his trial is. I have no idea why, of all people, they brought back Mr Cape Westwind, but here he is I guess lol

[@Nirual86]

I mean at least that allowed him to have a proper boss battle, same with Julia.

[@cottontailsify]

Yeah, they've been alluding to 'Capewind Extreme' for a while, especially into Endwalker. Turns out this is the form it took. Since Endwalker is about tying up loose threads, it's nice to give Livia and Ritalin a little something, since they were made nameless mini bosses (the latter especially, I ended up giving him a nickname so I could even be close to remembering it), after their story was basically cut from 1.0

[@juubi249]

Cape Westwind (Unreal)

[@SeymourDisapproves]

This is the first Snapcube video I've watched in a while, because college and attention span and mental health problems. Returning to this channel has been really nice and represents a sort of calm between storms for me. Thanks so much for everything you do, Penny. Happy New Year :)

[@uhltide3]

The line that makes me cry like a baby every time is "The memories of a long, long journey" with Meteion. It feels like she's speaking to us, the player... as we recall 10 years of shock, sadness, joy, and triumph with our Scion friends.

[@dec222]

"I don't know what to do with myself right now." Ah yes, the Endwalker experience in a nutshell.

[@tenjenk]

in the last zone the song gets louder and more clear with every "Sacrifice" from distored and distant to the clear vocals and instrumentals. Thats a damn heavy method of delivering a helluva potent impact.

[@GodsPrettiestPrincess]

Love Estinien running away with the stack marker

[@YouWillBeHappyOrElse]

Floor tank gotta tank the floor.

[@joefurry2337]

Ah yes, my new favorite activity, watching/listening to people ugly cry to ff14. I still cry too, no matter how many times I watch this stuff. Hythlodaeus' little meta commentary about the story will always crack me up, and Emet is a little tsundere bitch and I love him.

[@angelthingjenny]

Honestly every time I see first timers in duty finder in the Mothercrystal I'm like, genuinely surprised. I can't fathom someone seeing the option to do this as a big pivotal story thing with all their friends and just matching up with randos.

[@guilhermegoncalves3197]

Yeah, I've always do the first ddg with the scions, although I like to play with real ppl, the scions ARE my closest friends on the game and when I find out that I could fight the fkg Hydaelyn alongside with them I almost had a heart attack lol, I rly cant understand ppl who chose to do this trial with ppl for the first time, unless they are fully giving a shit to the whole history.

[@Jet_Ink]

My first time doing hydaelyn, I had the Scions. Wiped at least 10 times before I just went to DF because, even though I love it, the a few Scions are made to stuff up mechamics

[@BasilBard]

Unironically yes this game needs a "press X to cry" button for cutscenes and also general use

[@MissionControl-]

The way Zenos calls you out at the end is perfect because it's all pretty much true. You literally start off as an adventurer going around fight stronger and stronger foes. This dude knew us better than we knew ourselves. They did such a good job with Zenos.

[@pedrorocha6044]

Pretty much had to choose the first option. It fit so well I loved it

[@quinnie_here]

I’ve only been playing this game since March 2021, and even though that hasn’t been the longest amount of time, the impact this game has had on me as been astronomical. I’ve met amazing people, had the time of my life, and was so excited to experience Endwalker live with my friends. This has been a wild experience, with it all being one major impact after another. Every laugh, sob, and step forward has been so worth it to experience this, and I look forward to moving onward even further. On wings of hope, fellow Warriors! See you all in the patches!

[@Avyrsoul]

Endwalker was so good that i'm mad there's no NG+ of it yet.

[@neku757]

I didnt even notice the video was 7 hours long and when penny said "why is this video over 7 hours" i spat out my coffee

[@FrickinRumbi]

Same

[@wingedparagon4448]

"But why does it yet live? Surely it is of no match for you..." The hardest blow Zenos ever strikes on you.

[@kjam0808]

Yeah, G'raha's scene hit me like a damn freighter. Best boy.

[@Nightmare1324]

Lmao I love that I picked the “That, I cannot Deny” line and got sooo fricken hyped I straight up started the duty as fast as I could cause I was so eager to fight him! I love him as a Foil. Watching Penny stop and take screenshots with him, I’m like “I fucking Gpose for gil, why didn’t I take any pictures with my bff?!?!?”

[@CeresAzalia]

I did the EXACT same thing with that music in Labrynthos. It drove me batty. I didn't understand why they did that. It's too short a loop, and on top of that, it's TOO hype. Like, it's good in the moment of a cutscene, but after a while the overwhelming "HYPE, HYPE, BIG THINGS ARE HAPPENING OMG" vibe starts to grate on you, even if the loop WASN'T as short as it is. I was so perplexed when it just kept going and going and going. I actually thought it might be a glitch at first so I teleported out of the area and back in to see if that would somehow reset the music. When I realized it wouldn't, I went into settings, shut off BGM, pulled up the normal Labrynthos theme and played it on loop while finishing out the area. I'm kind of hoping they'll fix it if enough people complain. It's pretty terrible. Still, if that's the worst critisism I have for this expansion that's FINE. (And it pretty much is)

[@ellasbian]

i accidentally read half of a spoiler tweet which made me think that the scions were actually dead so the whole of ultima thule was just me trying to hold onto the hope that they somehow came back and when they did i was SO relieved i don't usually cry to fiction but out of all of ffxiv that was probably the closest i got

[@RingoRoad]

1:47:50 thing is, they're not going to top this. future expansions are definitely going to be a return to form, and im ok with that! the main story is over, they dont need to try and outdo themselves again and again

[@Angarato86]

we said the same about shadowbringers xD lets see what they'll come up with

[@tsucho]

For the whole expansion, I felt so close to crying but it was so hard for me. Right when Urinager met the parents, that destroyed me. It was the most tears I’ve done in years and it didn’t help more with the last section with everyone sacrificing, especially Thancred as he’s my favorite. I had to pause every section and the entire meteion section destroyed my heart as I don’t know what about it but it really related to me. I’m glad to watching this whole 7+ hours again so I can experience, in my opinion the best part of the expansion.

[@FluffiestTail]

23:40 Oh no! Penny never did the Omega raids! She doesn't get to see Best Boy come and visit!

[@vellusviridi]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who cried like a baby every time there was even the slightest emotional moment.

[@TheKeshaBro]

24:40 This part of this expansion was essentially pure, unadulterated fantasy for me. A moment where my Father took me aside and told me in no uncertain terms that he was not only pleased with my choices, but was also proud of all the ones that I had made. I cried. Deeply. I don't say this to dump issues, just to reiterate that this game has made, and continues to make, profoundly universal experiences feel deeply personal. I think that is its greatest strength.

[@artuno1207]

Aww it's a shame to see you didn't do all the optional normal/alliance raids from the different expansions. The more stuff you did during your journey, the more changes occured during that harbor delivery scene, like even more people showing up to lend their assistance.

[@artuno1207]

Your reactions were the best to watch, I loved how invested and emotional you were, good to know we aren't alone in our love for these characters we've come to know over our journey. Endwalker and FFXIV in general is without a doubt now my favorite story in a video game I've ever played. Bar none.

[@PantheraUncia13]

While Endwalker's sountrack, so far, doesn't have as many absolute fucking BANGERS that Shadowbringers had, none of the game's tracks hold a candle to Forge Ahead and Flow, utter masterpieces.

[@magickoopa24]

Damn, no finished Omega means no Alpha in the Cid scenes 😣 regardless, thank you for the time and effort for this compilation! Will be sure to watch every part of the vod.

[@arianecarter]

if you don't skip any of the credits Flow Together plays when you see the two groups walk side by side :)

[@TheMackizar]

I think the staff was Papylymo, not Loiusoix, because the text refers to a principled scion, and I don't think Big-L was ever a scion

[@marajango]

Would make more sense for it to be Papalymo. He was using the staff to seal Ilberd and we are fighting Ilberd's soul in that moment, so...

[@yourface2464]

It is. Y'shtola says his name at that moment if you bring her

[@KosTheRogue]

I know this video is ages old, but i am enjoying watching it, and i wanted to bring something up, you said you don't know why it was getting you so much, when the scene with Moenbryda's parents was a proper bit of closure we never got all that time ago. She was only with the scions for a short time, but she was amazing, and she very clearly mattered so much to Urianger, but this, this was the proper closure to her story. And the moment that Urianger truly needed to move forward.

[@kiashie]

i've been excited for this!! looking forward to seeing the beloved emotional rollercoaster!!! Forge ahead!!!!

[@KillerPassifist]

When the spirit said to save our tears for tomorrow, you and I had the same response: "I can't." That scene broke me on so many levels, especially as my brain registered who those words came from. Also, Aitiascope.. Aitiascope broke me multiple times and I nearly wiped on trash because I couldn't see through the tears. They are never truly gone - our friends and loved ones will always be with us, guiding us, seeing us to journey's end. No matter the cost, we must fight to honor their memory and their sacrifice that we, too, may pave the way to a brighter tomorrow. (Sorry for waxing poetic at the end there, I got inspired thinking about characters like Haurchefaunt cheering us on both in his past life and from beyond.)

[@Xano_Q]

Honestly going over these again with another's perspective made me appreciate stuff way more, things definitely struck more of a chord with me. I'm just glad a story like this exists

[@mikechua9560]

Urianger scene was probably one of the best moments of gaming history .... so raw .. so relatable ...

[@CEN-Tyra]

Oh, Raha’s scene had me wrecked!! I was audibly whimpering trying to hold back my tears. I was so satisfied when his story was brought back around and completed at the end of ShB and when this happened, even knowing that there was NO WAY he could stay dead, I cried like a baby. He’s just the absolute embodiment of kindness without exception or expectation. His only Request? That he get to stay by your side even if he is never remembered as anything other than a quick description on a page in the story that is your life. All the scions have been deeply hurt in some way and I just want to bundle all them up and love them

[@TheLordMagmar]

The staff in the Aitiascope that defeated Ilberd whilst belonging to Louisoux is meant to be the Soul of Papalymo, who was the Lalafel partner of Y'da/Lyse from ARR until the end of Heavensward where he replicated Louisoux's Spell of Binding to imprison Shinryu. I think Thancred and Y'shtola and Urianger all mention him by name, or at least one of them does. Which makes sense, Alphinaud/Alsaie/G'raha Tia wouldn't have interacted with him directly much.

[@chrisdaughen5257]

Was the axe Moenbreya's? The post ARR quests were a blur before getting to Heavensward so I don't remember if she had a weapon.

[@TheLordMagmar]

@@chrisdaughen5257 Yes, she's notable in ARR because she's the other really fighty Scion besides Thancred, (This is Thancred).

[@MenrvaS]

@@chrisdaughen5257 If you bring Urianger, he will mention the axe.

[@WhatACalamity57]

Penny this is a super minor thing, but you actually CAN rotate gear previews on controller. You need to select the eye icon at the bottom of the preview window

[@digirainebow]

hi hi penny, i dont usually leave comments like this, but i am a new budding youtuber who has been very inspired by your videos specifically, and i have been editing a video over the last couple months that is a lot like this one: the very tail end of a game i really liked that made me cry, one i only realized last second i wanted to record. i had like 13 hours of footage when i started and about 8 hours left, and have been very nervous about uploading a video over 4 hours long, so when i saw on twitter your posts about making and posting this video, i was so relieved and inspired! you're my favorite youtuber and to continually be in awe of and motivated by you all the time, even in niche situations like this, is just amazing. thank you for uploading and editing this down, even though I know nothing about this game, i fully plan on watching the whole thing (and have cried along with you in what i've watched of it so far LOL) 🤗💖 love you!

[@santiagoacosta3372]

- Penny sometimes talks about final fantasy XIV - She uploads a video of 7 hours - Refuses to elaborate

[@Nicole-hz6mp]

I LOVED your reactions to this, you had me crying more than the story at times!

[@bigdracha700]

I never ever get tired of watching/listening to ShB and EW reactions, I'm right there with you. As another streamer put it "I've never been so emotionally hurt by a video game before this."

[@Erenjaeger7999]

6:39:30 bro i really love how penny tries to reassure the other characters that she's okay😭😭😭

[@tylerbaker2405]

Re the Moenbryda's parents scene: I don't think many of us had any strong attachments to Moenbryda, but this has been one of the greatest weights on Urianger's conscience basically since it happened. Dude needed that hug since the ARR patches and the catharsis of him finally getting to properly grieve with other people that care for Moenbryda and him is what we're feeling here.

[@zerothelightbringer8874]

Yeah i had a friend who got me into FFXIV & she was like "You'll be so sad!" meaning when Moenbryda dies & I was like sadish mostly cuz the characters who were attached to her & had a connection with her were going to feel down, not so much myself. We didn't get very much time to get to know her or grow an attachment. If it was urianger or someone else to die there yeah but Moenbryda she was like "Hey i'm here! I did some things! I ded"

[@Xenmaru00]

@@zerothelightbringer8874 i will forever posit that Moen *had* to die because she was of the "Find Out" Crew as opposed to every other non-WoL Scion's "Fuck Around". Seriously, from the second she showed up, she was WAY too competent and WAY too ready to throw down instead of spitting prose when an Ascian showed up. she *had* to die cause if she'd lived, half the stupid shit that happened after her death, wouldnt have. She'd have probably been the one to axe Teledji, instead of Raubahn, too. Hell she'd have Axed EVERY ONE of those fuckers accusing us.

[@Harrythebotar]

The whole thing is beautiful. Video games do rock. Also, I am sad that during the harbor scene there was no option to say "Today! We are cancelling the apocalypses!"

[@Glyff3083]

Cry might be a bit of an understatement. Bawl like a child is more like it. And an appropriate reaction I suppose.

[@Phyrefly6]

I love how much joy seeing a video game character snap his fingers brings to people.

[@raventheredpanda7047]

Im happy you stuck through i remember i popped into one of your streams and you were only in Heavensward.

[@Zenlore6499]

Oh cool, an hour long Penny video… “Penny, why is this 7 hours long?” Oh…? OH. Oh god…

[@DXDragon38]

The Moenbryda part still gets me too 😭 What an absolutely fantastic expansion! I've only just begun Dawntrail myself, but i keep coming back to watch videos of EW reactions :)

[@raiyano7436]

I saw someone else say this on another video, but there’s the idea that zenos isn’t meant to be your mirror in the sense of good vs evil but rather thinking of it like a player who skipped the story to fight the current hardest stuff. Someone who can’t understand why others think so highly of the game having not gone through the story like others did.

[@tarastargaze3833]

It is true that all civilizations will reach a point where there is no point in continuing. As Meteion says, all is fated to end. But we have a special gift. We are alive. We owe it to ourselves to live the life we are given. And while some features of the story only make sense in the context of the world it takes place in, the general message can be applied to real life, too. I don't know who needs to hear this right now, but don't give up. You may not think so, but your life is special. Do not throw it away, but instead, make of it what you can. Forge ahead.

[@zeehero7280]

I think most of us chose to let Alphi give the order to launch the ship.

[@SolunaEP]

15:42 THANK YOUU. I genuinely almost did a bug report because I thought there was no way they *actually* decided to keep that track going for as long as they did. Absolutely LOVED the whole expansion, but that choice was honestly baffeling. First time in the hundreds of hours I've played that I had to turn the music off. Like I love the track but jesus it's a 30 second clip repeated for like a solid hour+ of gameplay, the tone of which hardly feels fitting to what's happening.

[@paragon359]

*hears FFXIV music in the game awards video* ah yes, another gamer tempered by Final Fantasy 14, Now with a free trial up to

[@BionicDirector117]

Yoshi P confirmed to be a Primal

[@ONeLessName]

Never thought I would actually beat an MMO. FF 14 has set a standard for any future games I play. Story telling anyway.

[@rkarschner]

Love that Zenos' final statement to the player is "Admit it, you're gamer trash like me" and your response was "No"

[@Digitaldryad]

hint, on controller you can rotate the preview by clicking the lil eyeball icon

[@SanraiDalris]

3:52:50 I took the most important part of this scene to be that we're acknowledging that G'Raha has suicidal thoughts.

[@El_Legante]

Men only want a passionate enemies to frienemies fight to the death and its fucking beautiful 🥰

[@QwertyRulz2]

1:52:40 "Oh my god! There's, like, actual--ESTINIEN!!" I'm DYING of laughter.

[@1215am]

i just finished endwalker today, it made me insane!!!! glad we all cried at the urianger moment! can't wait to catch up to dawntrail and be able to watch those vods too :')

[@GhostOfVolsung]

I love that the Loporrits become literal bridge bunnies.

[@TheBonkleFox]

one complaint: penny you gotta do the shadow of mhach raids. if you do them the sky pirates from that series pop up at sharlayan to help deliver stuff as well. Also soroban shows up to deliver some gifts from the auspices if you do those quests too.

[@KitsuneMiyazaki]

The Omega Raids too. That whole Harbor scene is way better the more side content you've done, because all your old friends from everything you've done come in to help out.

[@Valkenhyne]

Pretty much all optional content is worth doing for EW tbh.

[@Adu767]

I agree with you on Forchenault. He has every reason to be frustrated with his children due to the severity of the knowledge he holds, and he has every right as a parent to want to force them on the ship if Etheirys was unsaveable. HOWEVER, everything he wanted to accomplish could have been done without publicly disowning his children, which is probably the worst decision he could have made if he actually wanted their cooperation in the end. Not only is it downright abusive emotionally, but you forfeit any right to act like a parent or guardian from that point forward. If I was the Twins I would have kept Forchenault at arms-length the rest of my life and called him "Sir" or "Mr. Forchenault" but NEVER father, because that's what he chose for himself. You don't just pull that shit as an intimidation tactic, because once you have you can't take it back.

[@darkchaozbringer785]

I don't mean to make fun of those ignorant of what goes on in the story, but I do think there's something positive to be said about how FFXIV manages to capture those with the "I don't know wtf is going on, but I'm in." mindset. Also, (SPOILER for old raid content; continue at your own risk) - I think it's neat how certain things don't appear in cutscenes and such depending on if you completed certain content or not. For example, I was shocked to see how Alpha and Omega didn't appear in Penny's playthrough.

[@xeylah]

I was SO EXCITED to see you posted this, FFXIV is truly one of the best games I've ever played. I can't wait to see all your reactions to it... all 7 hours lol

[@PoorGamingHabits]

Tataru went "I've been saving money for the end of world and *here it is*"

[@Iymarra]

Great video. A small tidbit of info : in the mothercrystal trial, the theme is called 'Your Answer' which, hah. Oop, here come the tears again. Edit : what up, fellow dying whilst crying enjoyer. Double edit : Venat MVP. She sundered everything, enabling us to have the potential to fight Meteion, knowing full well that we'd have to struggle so, so much, and yet she did it out of love.

[@Iymarra]

Also the gradual layering of more elements into the background music of the final zone was a masterpiece.

[@nikmaxter]

Thank you so much for making this.

[@Digitaldryad]

thank you for this; it was wonderful to relive the end through your eyes

[@karurosu4121]

seeing the difference of emotion for the very meme stuff with sonic fandubs and seeing her play Ff14 is very interessting. It's very nice to see how much people enjoyed the game.

[@stgjr]

6:46:13 Given the Dawntrail trailer, it sounds like you're getting your wish about Erenville... 😀

[@RasenFemme]

No you know what signing out of 2021 by watching a 7 hour video of someone crying at something beautiful sounds exactly right

[@Mhantrax]

I just have to point out, and it is almost every streamer and probably most players...you answer that you don't have a need for the thrill of the fight, angrily telling him, "You don't know me!" Then when the fight comes and visceral brutal punches are thrown, you (and most of us) squeal with glee, laugh and grunt and feel that fire inside light up with passion for no other reason then the experience. Just like he asked you. Know thyself. Accept thyself. And well played, Yoshi...you expose us for our hypocrisy and self denial. Laid bare for the world, and ourselves, to see. By the way, you are easily one of the most genuine and entertaining streamers of FF14 and I appreciate being able to watch your play through!

[@Icedmindblow]

I love it how the devs acknowledge our love for Emet and his snap, even the WoL has to look up to see it in all its glory :D

[@DrollLondon]

The real hero of Endwalker is that hat and how it makes all of your character's reactions look so cool.

[@arristheround9246]

Just finished 6.0 tonight and I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one who cried as much as I did. like /gen this story fucks

[@JayFamTWH]

Pennyyyyyyyy, just _watching_ this is making me sob all over again, I an't with this game, it means way way too much to me and I'm so happy that you're also wild about it

[@Braigwen]

The theme for Ul'dah was the first song they remade for ARR. So them using it for the credits just ties this up into a beautiful bow.

[@wavesofbabies]

Watching the harbour scene and seeing all the missing faces from the side questlines you haven't done... It is even more affecting knowing how many more people can be behind you and whose.lives you can have a positive impact on.

[@Digitaldryad]

still one of my main comfort videos on youtube