Xenogears, despite its narrative complexities and controversial second-half format shift, remains a landmark JRPG for its profound and unsettling exploration of human nature. Central to this is the sky kingdom of Solaris, a society that epitomizes the game's ambitious and intricate storytelling.
The game's narrative is a dense tapestry woven with elements of science fiction, philosophy, psychology, and religion. The protagonist, Fei, grapples with fragmented memories and a latent power, entangled in a conflict between warring nations, ancient relics, and shadowy factions like Ethos and Gebler. Amidst this chaos, the enigmatic Grahf seeks to awaken Fei to a specific purpose, adding another layer of intrigue to the already complex plot. Director Tetsuya Takahashi drew inspiration from various sources, notably naming the "Sacred Empire of Solaris" after Stanisław Lem's Soviet science fiction novel and film.
Solaris, presented as a utopia in the sky, reveals a darker reality upon closer inspection. The party's arrival is marked by a physical inversion, symbolizing the upending of their perceived reality. Fei finds himself in the lowest stratum, 3rd Class F Block, where citizens are treated as disposable "Worker Bees." Their lives are rigidly controlled, with compliance valued above all else. The language used by the authorities—referring to citizens as "malcontents" to be "rearranged" rather than punished—highlights a sophisticated system of repression that normalizes control.
This stratification extends to other classes, with the 3rd Class citizens striving for upward mobility, while also looking down upon the "lambs" of the surface. Even the promise of advancement is a tool of control, as demonstrated by the harsh vaporization of Samson during an ID scan, illustrating Solaris's merciless nature. The game draws thematic parallels to other dystopian societies, where an advanced city fails to be a true utopia due to extreme social stratification and the dehumanization of its lower classes.
The Architecture of Control
The physical layout of Solaris reinforces its social hierarchy. Different classes inhabit distinct zones, separated by height and enforced by security checkpoints. The architecture itself, from the shopping districts of the 2nd Class area to the opulent residences of the 1st Class, serves to visually and functionally segment the population. Even social customs are heavily regulated, with the Central Control Bureau arranging marriages under the guise of ensuring desirable descendants.
This controlled environment is maintained through constant surveillance, symbolized by patrolling Security Cubes. The act of saving a game file, for instance, is depicted as sending data to the Control Bureau. Citizens appear content, often dismissing the turmoil on the surface as irrelevant, showcasing a populace lulled into a state of manufactured peace and indifference. This facade is maintained through a combination of jingoism, marginalization, and spectacle, exemplified by the Emperor's political rally, which uses elaborate displays and promises of immortality to placate the masses.
Krelian, the true architect of Solaris's society, manipulates humanity towards a new future, inspired by Arthur C. Clarke's "Childhood's End." Fei's latent connection to Krelian and past events hints at a deeper, more personal conflict. The system's arbitrary justice is evident in the immediate threat to Fei's friends, slated for disposal in the "Soylent System" without due process. The Security Cubes act as enforcers, their automated decisions dictating life and death, a stark representation of a system where order supersedes justice.
Even within the privileged 1st Class, exemplified by Elly's opulent home, the societal structures remain. Elly's revelation about her non-biological parents and the hidden data on her father's terminal provide a path to rescue her friends. Her father, Erich, a Solaris official, exhibits the ingrained prejudice of his class, yet his fear of demotion to the 3rd Class underscores the pervasive influence of the hierarchical system.
The Horrors of Soylent System
The journey through Solaris's underbelly leads to the Soylent System factory, a horrifying revelation of the kingdom's sustenance. The "mystery meat" consumed by Fei and Elly is revealed to be a grim concoction of human and experimental subject remains. This facility not only disposes of bodies but also engineers them into sustenance designed to suppress behavior and maintain "limiters"—psychological constraints on the populace. The game's reference to "Soylent Green" underscores the chilling cannibalistic secret at the heart of Solaris's manufactured paradise.
Further exploration uncovers the truth behind the creation of the "Wels" and the fate of captives transformed into these creatures. The facility, revealed to be the birthplace of humanity 10,000 years prior, was intended for resurrection but became a site of mass enslavement. The transmission of "living data" via save points to the Gazel Ministry for their corporeal resurrection draws parallels to modern concerns about data privacy and exploitation.
The true nature of the Gazel Ministry is revealed as alien, connected to the Eldridge crash from the game's opening. Their aim is to resurrect "God," ascend to the stars, and rule the universe, using humanity as a means to an end. Citan's role as a "Guardian Angel" is exposed as a betrayal, though even his motives are complex and do not fully align with the Ministry's agenda. Krelian's discovery of the "Urobolos Ring" within Elly's genetic code hints at a deeper, cyclical destiny.
The Fall of Solaris and Lingering Questions
Xenogears' narrative accelerates with further twists, including Ramsus's obsession with Fei and Citan's double-cross of the Ministry. The revelation that Elly was never subject to a limiter adds to her unique nature. The betrayal by Hammer, driven by insecurity, and the tragic death of Elly's mother during their escape escalate the conflict. The arrival of Elly's father and the subsequent destruction of his gear, alongside Fei's uncontrolled transformation into his Id form, leads to the cataclysmic destruction of Solaris.
This event marks the end of Disc 1, a dramatic climax that eschews the expected resolution for a narrative continuation in Disc 2's visual novel format. The game's deliberate ambiguity and reliance on player interpretation are key strengths, fostering ongoing discussion and analysis. The enduring themes of societal control, the struggle for individuality, and the cyclical nature of power and destruction resonate even decades later, inviting players to ponder the cost of ambition and the true meaning of existence.
The fall of Solaris serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition, societal stratification, and the dehumanizing effects of advanced technology when wielded without empathy. The game poses profound questions about identity, free will, and the human condition, leaving players to grapple with the unsettling truths it presents.