#i liked the ending! the moon arc was the only unbearable part for me i'm done hating for now

[hotdyke-hardstyle]

I finally have time to think properly about part 1's ending~ since it's been a while since it was released i'm not spoiler tagging but it is under a cut.

I have to say i'm not really mad at kiana living, it's a happy ending and I actually felt very relieved, especially knowing that everyone could still contact and visit her so although it was an emotional parting because the main trio have only really just gotten back together, there was still the reassurance of knowing she's reachable on the moon while she gets to work. it's actually pretty funny.

i've seen/heard from a couple different people that kiana living undermines the sacrifices of other characters and while I understand that, I don't really agree. everyone's sacrifices still held a purpose at the time and I don't think kiana needed to die for them to be considered worthwhile. I don't think any of the characters would prefer it either lol.

I also don't think it's a lazy ending or that it was done because of time constraints for star rail's release given that honkai was released in the midst of ggz's story and I also didn't notice a decline in honkai's story for genshin's release despite both of these happening before mihoyo became as big as they are now. I genuinely believe that the writers and devs stand behind this as the true ending and it's okay if you don't like it for what it is.

then there's ai-chan and the fourth wall break during kevin's fight. I don't really like ai-chan, I feel like she doesn't add anything that was missing from the story and so her being present at the end was unnecessary, but I have seen people who like her and what she represents. in the moment, the fourth wall break made me emotional and I didn't hate it at all. I do think it's a bit silly and we could've done without but I still like it. maybe it could've been improved by just removing the names of other players and having it just be the will of humanity against finality or something. I don't think it's a game-ruining moment though.

I do think that kiana living made the ending a little less impactful considering that I think we all believed she was destined to sacrifice herself as per her parents' and ancestral history and, although I don't mind being wrong, kiana dying would have been a huge moment and I definitely believe it was built up a bit so I guess there was a little something missing at the end. I am not joking when I say this could have easily been fixed by having mei and kiana kiss in the cinematic or in the in-game cg. it would have been the resolution to a long desired built up moment in the same way that kiana's death would have been, and it would've just made it all that much sweeter.

I also think it's possible that kiana could die even later on in the story after she's finished her job on the moon - the text mentioned that kiana sucking the honkai energy out of the world would cause mei and bronya's herrscher cores to fade over time and we definitely see that in apho, so I think there's the chance that eventually kiana herself will also fade away, so maybe mihoyo is just going for a slow burn death.

anyway overall I liked the ending and I like that kiana is alive and I like that I loved playing the ending. I could've just done with a kiss.