I just finished the story and while I am so terribly behind in the spoiler conversation, three things have really struck me about the game:
-Despite it's narrative flaws (of which there are many), this really is one of the more tragic Final Fantasy stories. There really is no happy ending for our heroes and the theme of sacrifice is very prevalent from Regis, Luna, and Noctis (it's just not very well conveyed at times). The after credit sequence with the dawn and Noctis/Luna brings a glimmer of light, but for me it was more of an allusion of what could have been rather than what was (or maybe rather their peace in the afterlife). We've seen sacrifice in past FF games like Aerith, Tidus, etc., but this was very central and it's conveyance is such that the player is taken on a journey to the end, but without being able to feel the relief of the other side of the sacrifice. I appreciated this angle, even if it is poorly executed in parts.
-As I see it mentioned a bit, Luna's involvement and her death could have been so much more powerful. Despite not having much attachment to her character, the CGI scene with her goodbye is powerful nonetheless in its imagery, and "Luna's Theme" and "Prayer de Luna" were poignantly beautiful in those scenes. I imagine these songs giving me some goosebumps hearing them years from now similar to the way Aerith Theme or "To Zanarkand" does now and then. I just wish her character had been developed more and we had more attachment to her childhood with Noct. Would have been incredibly more tragic.
-I felt really depressed Chap 9 onwards, and a lot of it was because of the way the party was falling apart. Though we get the short end of the stick on Ignis' blindness, I felt sad for him as a character when he was struggling in Chap 10. Gladiolus' resentment was a little overplayed, but it made me feel conflicted on the party dynamics. Similarly, once Prompto fell off the train, I was concerned for where the story was taking him. The reunion in Chap 14 of everyone and the after credit camp fire scene were a perfect conclusion to the relationship building I felt with that party. They were my bros and I cared for their characters (can't wait for their DLC stories).
I have a lot more bouncing around my noggin but need to dwell on it more. I loved the world, the lore, the main party, and some of the story beats. I mourn how much was untold (or poorly told) due to schedule, DLC plans, or whatever else. At the end of the day I am glad I got to experience another FF world to be immersed in, and it gives me hope for the franchises future. Let's just not rewrite and rush the next one...