It really does. Eric and Mira were just sort of plopped in there and didn't really add anything in the long run. And the payoff of a solid trilogy ending.

Yeah they said we'd get more about what happened to Aoi and Snake between 999 and VLR. And then there was nothing. It's been a while since I played ZTD but I don't remember a single reference to either which sort of irks. You would think Akane might have mentioned at least something about Aoi during the game.