Aight, after completing the quest, it's a strong 8/10. Well done, Shaoji, well done... However. That part where Black Tide comes to claim Phainon's hometown? THAT is when the story should have started. Not in the middle of Phainon's journey. If you want to sell this, you NEED to have moments where you bond with Phainon and I'm not talking about that part where Phainon and TB discuss a conversation that happened off screen. You need to go through Phainon's journey with him and see him grow and change as a person and these flashbacks are not an adequate replacement for it. This could have easily been a 10/10 if it had proper setup and payoff from the start, instead of the game wasting your time by shilling you side characters while depriving the one character who actually NEEDS that screentime to have a satisfying payoff. This is easily the most infuriating thing about HSR's story - the fact that the writers come this fucking close and still miss the fucking mark. Nothing angers me more than wasted potential.