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Joey Balboa, called Joe Rikiishi (ジョー・力石, jō rikiishi) in Japanese, and normally known by his nickname Big Joe (ビッグ・ジョー, biggu jō), is a flamboyant man who encounters Fei Fong Wong's party at bizarre moments throughout Xenogears. Some encounters are required, while others can be missed by the player.
He is a man of many talents, and the king of fighting techniques.
Biography[]
Big Joe.
Big Joe was a revered hero to the people during the Zeboim era.
Before his 30th birthday, Big Joe wanted to extend his life by preserving his body. He was put into cold sleep, but scientists made a mistake and accidentally froze him too fast. Their thawing techniques could not revive him successfully. The people of Zeboim were left saddened at the loss of their hero.
When the Zeboim civilization died out, Big Joe was left in a frozen slumber. His refrigeration container changed locations many times, receiving damage along the way, and began to deteriorate.
4000 years later, when the Ethos were excavating the Zeboim Ruins, they found Joe's cryonic reactor. Thinking it was trash, they threw it into the sea. The reactor floated on the waves, finally reaching the coast of the island in the Aquvy region where Billy's Orphanage was. He was discovered by the Davy boys who lived there, and they released the lock.
The sand's heat naturally awakened Joe and he swam to Ignas. Joe began to wander around, hoping to restore his former glory.
Appearances in Xenogears[]
Joe in the tournament.
- When first visiting Dazil, Big Joe can be found in the bar, drunk. He punches out two loud excavators for not letting him drink in peace and then goads them to do something better with their lives, though they ultimately decide to run away. Citan notes he likes to make his presence felt.
- Talking to Big Joe after shows he loves drinking and sees the world as a sucky and unromantic place, because everyone is after money and weapons. He explains the reason he's here is to do whatever he pleases, then mysteriously says he could introduce himself today and be a different person tomorrow, alluding to his past.
- During the Aveh tournament he is a popular fighter.
- Big Joe himself is not a strong fighter. His attacks only do 1 or 2 damage and only boasts over 900 HP. What makes him a challenge is his popularity. His fans will sometime throw things at Fei that cause about 60 damage and cheer for Big Joe that heals him for about 140 HP.
- He offers Fei to see something "interesting" in the Nortune Civil Block, but for 5000 G. If Fei accepts, Joe runs away and makes him lose 5000 G.
- After the Gebler attack, if the player visits the same spot they met Big Joe, they will get an M Disk, which can be used at the jukebox in the bar at the battling arena during Disc 2.
- He plays cards against Fei on the Yggdrasil when it's docked at the Thames.
- Big Joe is very fast, making him a strong opponent. Beating him will net the player a LongDarkCoat armor, a very effective piece of armor.
- He is a prisoner in the Ethos HQ.
- While Shevat are under attack, he is found in the air ducts thinking of his life.
- He is a dancer in the Level 2 area of Etrenank, Solaris.
- In the end of the game he is both a music supplier in Nortune Battle Arena and a shop keeper in the ruins of Zeboim.
He has the ability to teleport as seen from interacting with him on the Kislev mini-map, after he swindles Fei out of the aforementioned 5000 G.
Trivia[]
- In Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht an optional boss appears called Great Joe.
- The fan translation of Xenogears Perfect Works mistranslated his true name. It is intended to be Joe Rikiishi, in reference to two characters from the boxing manga Joe of Tomorrow: the protagonist Joe Yabuki and one of his rivals, Touru Rikiishi. Big Joe's face even resembles that of Touru Rikiishi. Richard Honeywood apparently recognized this reference and localized it as Joey Balboa, in reference to Rocky Balboa, the main character of Rocky, a fictional boxer that would be more recognizable to Western audiences. The Perfect Works fan translation misread the kanji 力, meaning power, as the katakana カ (ka), and thus incorrectly translated it as "the Stone Joker."[1]