* AlasPoorScrappy: For those who thought they would turn out to be a villain, [[spoiler:Virgil]]'s HeroicSacrifice scene is this.
* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Space Lizard is making a completely unique soundtrack this time around, and some themes are pretty catchy. Of note:
** [[http://tindeck.com/listen/ubkr Inquisition,]] the BGM for the ''Inquiry'', [[http://tindeck.com/listen/ogpf Machinatorium]] (ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin), [[http://tindeck.com/listen/fjur Eros,]] the {{Leitmotif}} for the EROS project, and [[http://tindeck.com/listen/scsf Forgotten,]] the BGM for the abandoned databanks.
** [[http://tindeck.com/listen/cqkx Arrangement,]] the "ominous cutscene" music. [[http://tindeck.com/listen/lhzi Shine]] is also fittingly creepy and bizarre for the WhamEpisode it accompanies.
*** [[http://tindeck.com/listen/vqxf Everything,]] the ending theme.
** [[http://tindeck.com/listen/kjuv Engorging,]] the BossBattle music, and [[http://tindeck.com/listen/zwvy Abandoned,]] the battle music for the final battle of episode 3. Also the final boss themes, [[http://tindeck.com/listen/diai Pianissimo]] and [[http://tindeck.com/listen/abzt Fortissimo,]] naturally.
** Also [[http://tindeck.com/listen/wjli Hunting,]] the BGM for bounty hunt missions. The perky, laid-back, upbeat music contrasted with the heavy, serious riffs from Engorging makes for a very interesting effect.
*** And [[http://tindeck.com/listen/jyqs Enclosing,]] the BGM for the final mission. It captures the tension and drama of a final dungeon well.
* FauxSymbolism: Space Lizard continues to use Mesoamerican deities as naming inspirations -- [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaac Chac]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tlaloc Tlaloc]] and the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixcoatl Mixcoatl]], for example.
* SugarWiki/FunnyMoments:
** The mere fact that in the BlackMarket, one of the merchants is ''[[spoiler:a plant]]!''
*** In fairness, [[spoiler:it seems to be implied that they're a normal person, just disguising themselves as a plant for some reason]]. It's still comically absurd, though.
** Alicia's snarky commentary if you profess love to Marie.
--->'''Marie''': Of ''course'' I want you to here with me, for as long as it takes! Maybe even...forever...\\
'''-romantic music abruptly cuts out-'''\\
'''Alicia''': That...is...''ADORABLE!''\\
'''Marie''': Wh-What?! Hey! Hello, private conversation going on here!\\
'''Alicia''': I'm pretty sure the entire room heard you. ''FOREVER!'' That is just...too much, Marisol. Too much.
** This:
--->'''Superstar''': Obtain all other merits. Also, go outside.
** Episode's 4 first mission briefing. [[spoiler:Since your entire group is put at hiatus due to Sorenson gathering his own army, Marie's the one to brief mission. She's not very good at it.]]
* GeniusBonus: The episode titles.
** "All Good Things" is a reference to the proverb "all good things must come to pass", which probably refers to the BackStory of the Shine destroying almost all of humanity's accomplishments.
** "Castles of Sand" is also a reference to a proverb, with the meaning of a fortress that seems secure, but is actually worthless and easily infiltrated/destroyed. Since episode 1 revolves around defending and rebuilding, that's [[{{Foreshadowing}} pretty ominous]].
** "His Master's Voice" was the slogan of a recording company, who claimed that their recording technology was so authentic that a dog would not be able to differentiate between the record and its master ... and in ''VideoGame/TheReconstruction'', we have a group of "Watchers" who claim to take orders from "The Voice Himself". Possible {{Foreshadowing}}?
*** Typelog also records information, so it could be referencing that.
** "And Yet It Moves" are the words that Galileo (supposedly) muttered under his breath at his trial after being forced to recant the Copernican theory. Episode 3 revolves around EROS, a secretive group whose views [[spoiler:clash with those of Typelog]]. Most likely, the famous phrase is meant to draw a parallel to [[spoiler:their conflict with Typelog -- conforming to the unquestionable views of authority versus freedom and a lack of limitations on science]].
** "Forever And Ever" is a common phrase in Literature/TheBible, usually referring to {{God}} or the heavens. Mostly, it seems to be be [[spoiler:an ironic counterpoise to a major theme introduced in episode 4, which is that ''nothing'' lasts forever or is truly infinite]].
** "A Plan For Everything" is also a religious reference -- {{God}} is often said to have planned out the destinies of all aspects of the world in advance. This probably refers to [[spoiler:the Progenitor's wish to invoke this by creating a god that has the power to plan and direct everything towards harmony in the new universe]].
* SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments:
** The resolution of [[spoiler:Chac]]'s sidequest, in which [[spoiler:Sorenson himself helps pull Chac back from the DespairEventHorizon.]]
** At the resolution of Soran's sidequest, if you are inquisitive enough, you can learn what he's using all that carboderm for. [[spoiler:He wants to seal himself in a ball of the stuff until society's rebuilt and everything returns to normal -- he doesn't care how long. Effectively, it's suicide.]] If you are persuasive enough, [[spoiler:you can talk him out of it and convince him he has a purpose in life.]]
** All of your crewmates banding together and defending you from [[spoiler:Thomas]]' verbal assaults in episode 4, each of them creating an on-the-spot RousingSpeech.
** The parts of the optimist ending that aren't TearJerker are this.
* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: Ros standing up to [[JerkAss Thomas]] after [[spoiler:defeating Lazarus.]]
-->'''Ros:''' You're welcome.\\
'''Thomas:''' What?\\
'''Ros:''' For me having to clean up your mess. You're. Welcome.
* PlayerPunch: In the pessimist ending, [[spoiler:having to ruthlessly murder your entire crew as they scream WhatTheHellHero at you]].
* TearJerker:
** Everything Chac's been through.
** [[spoiler:Virgil]]'s HeroicSacrifice scene.
** [[spoiler:Ivoronus]]' final transmission to [[spoiler:Mahk]] as [[spoiler:the Machinatorium is destroyed]].
*** Everything surrounding [[spoiler:Mahk]] in episode 5, really. Especially since [[spoiler:he dies in ''Videogame/TheReconstruction'', so they last the crew ever sees of him is him having a nervous breakdown and running off to find Tezkhra...]]
** Everything in the optimist ending that isn't a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}}...[[BittersweetEnding though most of it is the former]]. [[http://tindeck.com/listen/vqxf The music]] cinches it.
** Having to [[spoiler:''murder your entire crew'']] in the pessimist ending.
* ThatOneBoss: [[spoiler:[[ClimaxBoss Lazarus]]]]. DuelBoss, MarathonBoss, fought under the effects of a jamming pulse, and one of their attacks can leave you a sitting duck if you're unprepared.
* ThatOneSidequest: One sidequest requires you to accumulate ''five hundred thousand half-credits''. And not just the total amount of money you've gotten over the course of the game, either -- you need 500,000 credits ''in the bank''.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: The story is, fittingly, quite episodic in nature. Each episode provides very varied and interesting setups... but they always seem to end just as things are heating up, leaving each plotline with little to no resolution.
%%* TheWoobie: Chac and Daszk.
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