Forced party setups are almost always a nice thing, and they did it in a somewhat less punishing way; by using the character in your roster if your character is at max level (that seems to be the condition I think, instead of some complex rule to calculate strength). Great for immersion, and can sometimes increase the difficulty of a fight due to a lack of synchronization, but that's just part of the immersion IMO.

I've quite enjoyed the story myself. It's a simple story, but also ties up some loose stories and gives them an ending, especially if you've paid attention to character stories and NPC interactions, loose ends that have basically been around since the launch of the game.

Some people will probably find the whole poem thing meh and maybe confusing. It's actually a nod to a few traditional Chinese cultures all related to poems, which mean it’s a chance for those who don’t know to have a peek at the culture, or it’s pure nostalgia for those who grew up experiencing it.