After playing Zero1, I picked up Zero2 without knowing much about it, and started playing.  After the first level, when players see the new resistance base for the first time, I thought the pink, militarized sprite on the platform was Ciel! Awesome!

Of course I quickly found out that it wasn't, and was bummed out.  Despite being an cool character (you heard me), Elipzo didn't live up to my vision of a jaded, un-idealistic and sadistic war-hardened Ciel, and that spoiled my experience of the game.

Did this happen to anyone else?

Not at all actually.