Atul's story line doesn't make sense (WARNING, contains spoilers)

[Velvetlotus]

At the very start of the game, Charon instructs you that no spirits can leave without being taken to the Everdoor.
What does Atul do?
Vanish after a big meal.
It feels very rude after all that prep, you don't get to say goodbye - it feels like the developers couldn't be bothered finishing his story

[Mr. Avocado Man]

According to the wiki while stella was in europe in her early twenties, atul disappeared without a trace. I think him disappearing without a trace after his last quest mirrors the way he left stella without saying goodbye while he was still alive.

[Velvetlotus]

Originally posted by Mr. Avocado Man:

According to the wiki while stella was in europe in her early twenties, atul disappeared without a trace. I think him disappearing without a trace after his last quest mirrors the way he left stella without saying goodbye while he was still alive.

It would reflect that, but it still would make more sense if this was her chance to say goodbye.

[Tonyu]

At the very least they should add some more to this, like Stella pausing and contemplating on his Spirit Flower. The whole Atul disappearing feels like a glitch.

[Tiberius]

ppl dying without saying goodbye is much more realistic and common than any of other stories in this game. That's just how it is in real life. No one says goodbye before they die in car crash.

[Velvetlotus]

Originally posted by Tiberius:

ppl dying without saying goodbye is much more realistic and common than any of other stories in this game. That's just how it is in real life. No one says goodbye before they die in car crash.

I think you missed something in this game
Every character is already dead. That's why you play the Spiritfarer. So why are you saying goodbye to everyone else?

[MumbleMatt]

Originally posted by Velvetlotus:

Originally posted by Tiberius:

ppl dying without saying goodbye is much more realistic and common than any of other stories in this game. That's just how it is in real life. No one says goodbye before they die in car crash.

I think you missed something in this game
Every character is already dead. That's why you play the Spiritfarer. So why are you saying goodbye to everyone else?

By any chance have you like....finished the story? Cause it kinda seems like you're missing a pretty important something, yourself.

I'm kinda getting the sense that this was more of a knee jerk reaction to how that character's story ended, because it genuinely feels like the hardest one to accept due to what happens.
Which is... kinda the point?
A lot of these character's stories are heavily inspired by real experiences from members of the team.

[Tiberius]

Originally posted by Velvetlotus:

Originally posted by Tiberius:

ppl dying without saying goodbye is much more realistic and common than any of other stories in this game. That's just how it is in real life. No one says goodbye before they die in car crash.

I think you missed something in this game
Every character is already dead. That's why you play the Spiritfarer. So why are you saying goodbye to everyone else?

Dont take the story too literally. Dead ppl dont talk or ask silly request like food or a hug.

The meaning of the game is not just abt the spirits stories, but it's abt coming to term with someone's dying process. It's so blatantly obvious, that even the trailer told you abt this.

Atul story is a lesson that ppl could disappear without saying goodbye. No sad story to share, no regret to be told. Ppl just die, and often times, it hurts ppl (who are left behind) the most.

[Velvetlotus]

Originally posted by MrMachupichu:

Originally posted by Velvetlotus:

I think you missed something in this game
Every character is already dead. That's why you play the Spiritfarer. So why are you saying goodbye to everyone else?

By any chance have you like....finished the story? Cause it kinda seems like you're missing a pretty important something, yourself.

I'm kinda getting the sense that this was more of a knee jerk reaction to how that character's story ended, because it genuinely feels like the hardest one to accept due to what happens.
Which is... kinda the point?
A lot of these character's stories are heavily inspired by real experiences from members of the team.

Why would I be commenting if I hadn't finished the game in case I missed something later? It's fine if you don't like my opinion, but at least please don't be condescending.

I don't think I've missed anything at least in game at all - and that's the whole point of this post. As it stands, some information is missing from the game and can only be found on the wiki. That's not good, its an unfinished work. It COULD have been included with greater detail at some point - and that's another point that doesn't make sense - because all players see are the scenes after the everdoor, Atul doesn't get that (for reasons) and its not explained in Lily's section either.

Aside from Atul just disappearing a second time, when Charon clearly explains no spirits can pass without being guided to the Everdoor. (If you'd read this part of my post, I wouldn't be repeating this -.-)

I'm not the only one to think this was confusing either - just look at the comments on the discussion parts of the wiki, lots of people thought his disappearance was a glitch/unfinished part.

[Tonyu]

Originally posted by Velvetlotus:

At the very start of the game, Charon instructs you that no spirits can leave without being taken to the Everdoor.

Looking back, a possible explanation is that Atul went to the Everdoor on his own. It's implied that the spirits can leave and travel far from the boat like Gwen did. Also some spirits, like Elena, ask if you can accompany them to the Everdoor. So it's kinda implied that Stella accompanying them is optional and they can go own their own.

But that being said, I still don't like how Atul's disappearance was implemented. The devs should've added a bit more to this so that it doesn't look like Atul just glitched out of the game.

[Lady Kiera]

Yeah. I am fine with Atul just disappearing, but I wish there was more lead up to it. If I hadn't read this post, I'd have had zero idea that Atul also disappeared from Stella's life without warning while he was alive. It felt incredibly unfinished.

If his departure in the game is going to be based on his lore with Stella then that NEEDS to be in the game. Show it, tell it, whichever. But basing an emotional moment with a character you're close to without any explanation for the reason of the moment is (in my opinion) lack luster story telling. And by all means, feel free to disagree with that. That's fine.

I had this issue honestly with a number of characters. Gwen, Summer, and Alice felt good. I felt real arcs with their story and I got an understanding of their last months/weeks. They built the tension and mystery of it up over their quest line and then brought it to an emotional, but satisfying, end. (I had two grandparents go the way of Alice and I have the bad feeling my mother's started down that slippery slope too. So Alice hit me like a bag of bricks.)

You got to understand their struggle, why they are having issues accepting their own death, and help them move on. You help them come to terms with the fact that it's time to go and rest. The rest of them though (I'm not quite done. I have three left to send on their way) have felt... Awkward. Atul's you know. The others I feel like I missed huge chunks of their story as well. I think I didn't talk to them as much as I should have, perhaps? But there is a lot of info on them and their stories and their deaths/struggle to accept death that's only explained in the wiki or I find via comments like this. Astrid was darn close, but I think missed a chunk for Giovani. Read some stuff on his wiki after I let him go that I had not a CLUE about based on what his story indicated in game.

That sort of stuff should be in the game in some manner. Even if it's just flavor text on an old photo you find, or like Beverly reminiscing on projector images you show her. After the first four or five spirits I suddenly went from feeling dread and very emotional letting them going and more, "Eh. See ya" about it. Obviously you're not going to fall in love with every character, since they have such diverse personalities, but the fact that one or two I was almost GLAD to see go (or I'm anticipating to see go) instead of feeling at least some level of empathy didn't sit right with me. I felt like I was missing too much of their lives to form the emotional bond I did with the early spirits.

:X This turned out far longer than I meant. Just been musing over this very thing for a week now and wanted to toss it out there to folks who've actually played the game (Instead of vaguely hedging around concepts to a friend I don't want to spoil this for).

[rmsgrey]

Having started a new game recently for the Beverley update, my recollection is that Charon tells you that your job as Spiritfarer is to resolve Spirits' issues, and that when they're ready they can pass through the Everdoor, but he doesn't say that you have to bring them there.

[wuyuebari]

When Atul left suddenly, other spirit said he didn't know where did Atul goes and the quest end suddenly. This is just like a bug. It is better if spirit said this is not the first time Atul left suddenly or Atul just left suddenly again.

Atul is my favorite spirit, he left without any trace made me so sad ;(

[fireheart126]

You also have to consider that Atul's form *is* a frog... there's potential implication that he swam to the Everdoor himself.

[Nefraya]

It was like a bug to me. I was on the quest to ask the other spirits about his disappearance and then his flower appeared... that's it. I was a bit disappointed and sad about this ending...

[Alt0153]

i was gutted when he just vanished, feeding him up, hugging and listening to him play music and then boom gone, morale for me and the other spirits was not the same after that