I agree with you on the story. While cliche, saving an apocalyptic world is a much more interesting plot than trying to get your inheritance. That's why I've always thought that it would be best as an act 1 plot, with the main goal of the game coming up later and raising the stakes considerably.
You'll quickly be swept away by spectacle creep and scale that way. I'd prefer not having to save the universe on my trip to claim daddy's money. Steele is not the chosen.