After the final boss was over, the main villain comes to your house and pets the final boss.
This isn't even slightly misdirecting or misleading. MK2 is great.
Xenogears -
Hour 19: Hey we're almost twenty hours into the game, about time we got an airship! The music that plays here is the same as when you get your actual (more ridiculous) airship later in the game which is a nice touch since it is a very "airship-y" theme for lack of a better way to put it. I definitely actually bought that we'd reached that point in the game. Of course, things have to show up and ruin your day...
First is Grahf. He shows up so the PCs go fight him in a suitably ridiculous fight in which he punches your gears while on foot because that's just how he rolls. (He also has durability of wet tissue paper, so as far as badass moments go, it's not too badass.) He won't ever target Elly, in case you missed the fact that the gear which protected Elly during the Hecht detonation was his, and while the fight is short enough that might not notice this, Elly remarks on the fact afterwards.
Xenogears, of course, knows that the best way to trump ridiculousness is with more of the same, as Citan orders Hammer to fire the main guns at Grahf, and Hammer does, and Grahf is dealt with (at least for the time being). Hammer of course is super-excited and offers his famous MAD SKILLZ line, and goes on to brag about how awesome he is before Rico shows up and clubs him in the head. What the hell dude. Rico's just getting on my nerves this playthrough!
More ridiculousness ensues as Bart catches sight of the Goliath and shoots it down in a scene which is almost word-for-word identical to the one where we first met the guy. I find this scene hilarious, honestly. Like, I just got my airship and who shoots it down, destroying it and generally ruining my day? Oh yeah, it's that asshole. AGAIN. asdjsadadalkhf well played, Xenogears. I go back and forth on Bart and I get why he gets hate here but it is amusing.
Rico goes and punches someone in the face for a more deserving reason. Bart goes to apologise thereafter and Rico is all "hey bro whatever I already punched you in the face and I don't hold grudges. btw I've changed my mind and I'm joining now". Well... sure I guess? (I guess we never do learn what that business he wanted to take care of out of town was?)
Grahf appears before Ramsus, marking his first overt appearance before Gebler, informing Ramsus that "he" (obviously Fei) was on the crashed Goliath, over the ocean. Ramsus flips out and goes to follow. Miang then confronts Grahf alone, marking the second meeting between the main two villains. The two remain on rocky terms, as Miang tries to understand why Grahf would "help" Ramsus that way, and hints that the connection between Ramsus and Fei is something she is abusing for as yet unknown gain.
The Gazel also get their second scene, with Cain this time, as we get reintroduced to most of the major players who were missing for the past few hours (not Shakhan I guess). They talk a lot about how they've discovered this lost city called Zeboim which some dude named Krelian is really excited about, and are alarmed that Fei is still alive (which Cain kinda mocks them for. I knew I liked him for a reason) and that things seem to be unfolding similarly to 500 years ago. Even on the first playthrough, if you thought this was the last time "500 years ago" was going to be mentioned, then you aren't very genre savvy!
Fei and Elly meanwhile are stranded on the ocean together. Arbitrary sure but hey it works. I definitely appreciate more character scenes between the two. This one focuses more on Fei, as he examines his reason for helping people. Fei thinks that he isn't such a good person as he seems, and that he has just been helping people (Bart, Kislev, etc.) because it makes him feel needed and good about himself. It's a pretty honest appraisal and fun to watch, even if the game doesn't provide many answers. For Elly, the game establishes she is still thinking about going home (and why shouldn't she? That's where her family and life are), confident (or at least convincing herself) that she would be branded MIA rather than a traitor, and talks about returning to Solaris but... just not being part of the army she can no longer stomach.
They also see Shevat, and in general Shevat gets talked about by both parties a bit here as it becomes clear we'll be visiting at some point. One thing I totally never caught until now: the reason Shevat was so much lower when you see it near the start of the game is because it was picking up the Lahan survivors at Yui's request. A nice touch.
Fortunately, before the two of them can starve to death, they are rescued! By men! Of the sea!
