Answer

Soken definitely did a fantastic job with EW's soundtrack, but I do still think Uematsu is juuust a bit better. I first listened to Answers after Shadowbringers, and the beautiful sound aside I was convinced this 1.0 song is at least half applicable to ShB (like the first paragraph can be straight from ES' mouth). And now after EW with it being Hydaelyn's theme, Ishikawa did a fantastic job retconing the lyrics. For the longest time I was wondering why the sequence was live > die > know, and now it makes sense (and was foreshadowed all the way in the first zone!)

I close my eyes, tell us why must we suffer

Release your hands, for your will drags us under

My legs grow tired, tell us where must we wander

How can we carry on if redemption's beyond us?

To all of my children in whom Life flows abundant

To all of my children to whom Death hath passed his judgement

The soul yearns for honor, and the flesh the hereafter

Look to those who walked before to lead those who walk after

Shining is the Land's light of justice

Ever flows the Land's well of purpose

Walk free, walk free, walk free, believe...

The Land is alive, so believe...

Suffer (Feel) Promise (Think) Witness (Teach) Reason

(Hear) Follow (Feel) Wander (Think) Stumble (Teach) 

Listen(Speak) Honor (Speak) Value (Tell) Whisper 

(Tell) Mention(Hope) Ponder (Hope) Warrant (Wish) 

Cherish (Wish) Welcome(Roam) Witness (Roam) Listen 

(Roam) Suffer (Roam) Sanction(Sleep) Weather (Sleep) Wander (Sleep) 

Answer Sleep on

Now open your eyes while our plight is repeated

Still deaf to our cries, lost in hope we lie defeated

Our souls have been torn, and our bodies forsaken

Bearing sins of the past, for our future is taken

War born of strife, these trials persuade us not

(Feel what? Learn what?)

Words without sound, these lies betray our thoughts

Mired by a plague of doubt, the Land, she mourns

(See what? Hear what?)

Judgement binds all we hold to a memory of scorn

Tell us why, given Life, we are meant to die, helpless in our cries?

Witness (Feel) Suffer (Think) Borrow (Teach) Reason

(Hear) Follow (Feel) Stumble (Think) Wander (Teach) 

Listen(Blink) Whisper (Blink) Shoulder (Blink) Ponder (Blink) 

Weather(Hear) Answer (Look) Answer (Think) Answer together

Thy Life is a riddle, to bear rapture and sorrow

To listen, to suffer, to entrust unto tomorrow

In one fleeting moment, from the Land doth life flow

Yet in one fleeting moment, for anew it doth grow

In the same fleeting momentThou must live, die, and know

rises on a memory born from the ashes

I can't decide which song I like better between Flow and Close in the Distance. They're kinda a pair so I don't need to choose right? I also interpret Close in the Distance as our (WoL & scions) answer to Venet's question.

Close in the Distance is much much easier to sing along to tho.

My wallet is open if they release these two as a single before the full OST. 

Lyrics are unofficial too, I like the opening the most:

Whispers falling silently drift on the wind, but I hear you

Our journey now a memory fading from sight, but I see you

Unbroken promises we made so long ago, you're still here

they carry onward however changed with each brief reflection

For like 2 days after I beat msq I could not listen to this song without tearing up. Now I just craft in my inn room with this playing. Sigh Venet, sighh. I see a lot of parallels between her character and Emet-Selch ;o; 

Lyrics unofficial, I like the latter parts the most:

Sinking deeper and deeper in calm embrace 

Loving tides sweep in and bear you down 

Should you meet us arising, surface thus 

With your unbeating heart, wish them well 

Deep dark far away 

I have heard your voice, with your every choice 

Now, our hands joined round the meaning you sought 

I'll catch your tears 

Quench your fears with joy, to your devotion, 

Where in time all shall as hope be reborn all 

Hush love close your eyes 

Let them sleep all blind in such a strange light 

It calls to undo dreams, thee and all 

Though you will weep, the winds rise again, for this journey’s end 

Is but one step forward to tomorrow

Underworld

welp the tears started flowing from the lv 89 dungeon all the way until the end of the credits. The bgm throughout this time was a major factor.

Elpis

welp got dc'd today (8th) and queue is in the 4000s, what an opportunity to sort through screenshots from the 5th zone. It kinda feels like sorting through photos of Kyoto from my Japan trip, a lot of images and a lot of emotions. Frankly I feel like I didn't take enough screenshots, and pretty much half of them is Emet-Selch's face trying to capture like the 2 (or maybe its times that he smiles and then all the variations of his grumpiness. 

I hereby thank SE for indulging the fans with a chance to spend time with the unsundered ancients. I will riot if Hyth's promise to meet in another lifetime is not honored. 

oculus

Before and after going to the 5th zone, because I have 141 images of the actual 5th zone to short through because it is my only chance to walk around with my best friends (and we finally get to see their faces!!!!!!!)

But I'm sad that Elidibus gets so little screen time :( He deserves more backstory, I can hope for a chance during the Pandaenomium quests right...?

loporrits

Mare Lamentorum is probably my favourite zone visually, and this surprises even me because the next zone is just my favourite overall. I feel the lighting has really improved in Endwalker zones, the sunrise and sunset times are so beautiful and the lighting in cutscenes add so much to the emotions. 

I initially wanted to avoid screenshots from cutscenes, but threw that out the window because my best friend needs more representation.