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9S (Nier: Automata)

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YoRHa No.9 Type S
Drakengard character
Artwork by Akihiko Yoshida
First gameNier: Automata (2017)
Created byYoko Taro
Designed byAkihiko Yoshida
Voiced byEN: Kyle McCarley
JA: Natsuki Hanae

YoRHa No.9 Type S (Japanese: ヨルハ九号S型, Hepburn: Yoruha Kyū-gō S-gata), commonly called 9S and informally "Nines", a fictional character from the 2017 action role-playing game Nier: Automata developed by PlatinumGames and published by Square Enix. 9S is a YoRHa squadron "Scanner" reconnaissance model known for his outgoing personality and curiosity about the world and the Machine Lifeforms. Nier: Automata is set in the year 11945 on a post-apocalyptic Earth abandoned by humanity. Earth has been occupied by aliens, who fight using an army of Machine Lifeforms. Androids, created by humans, fight against the Machine Lifeforms, with the conflict turning into a prolonged proxy war. The latest addition to the android forces is YoRHa, an elite android fighting force based in the orbital Bunker and communicating directly with the Council of Humanity on the Moon. YoRHa models 9S and 2B are sent down as part of a reconnaissance force to investigate local Machine behaviour and aid local Resistance forces. During their time on Earth, 2B and 9S suppress hostile Machine Lifeforms, coming into contact with other characters who exist on the world.

9S was created by game designer Yoko Taro from the final moments of the video game Nier: Automata, setting him as an antagonistic lonely warrior opposing the rebellious android A2 and then coming up with a new scenario that would explain his transformation from a kind android to such broken down character. He is voiced by Natsuki Hanae in Japanese and Kyle McCarley in English. Critical response to 9S's character has been positive for his role in the story and relationship with 2B in both gaming and animated adaptation Nier: Automata Ver1.1a. He was also recognized as a more human character by scholars in latter parts of the game where 9S is portrayed as establishing his own identity rather than being forced to fight for Yorha.

Appearances

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First appearing in the 2017 video game Nier: Automata, 9S (short for YoRHa No.9 Type S) is a male "scanner" reconnaissance android who displays more emotion than other YoRHa units. After opening a route for future missions, they are sent to clear machine threats for Anemone's Resistance forces.[1] During their missions, 2B and 9S discover the Machines are replicating human societies and concepts. The two work with a pacifist machine group led by Pascal, and battle Adam and Eve, physical manifestations of the Machine Network who reveal their creators were destroyed centuries ago. 2B and 9S also encounter A2, a rogue YoRHa android. Adam is killed by 2B after he captures 9S. During his recuperation, 9S discovers a glitch in YoRHa's servers when syncing himself and 2B, and learns humanity was extinct long before the alien invasion. Humanity's last remnant is a Moon-based server holding their genetic remains. YoRHa perpetuates the myth of their survival to give the androids a reason for existing. With Adam dead, Eve goes mad with grief and drives connected Machines into a frenzy. 2B and 9S kill Eve, but 9S becomes infected with Eve's logic virus, forcing 2B to kill him. 9S's consciousness survives within the local Machine Network.

YoRHa launches a full-scale invasion. A logic virus attack, which is enabled by the glitch 9S previously discovered, corrupts every YoRHa unit except 2B and the restored 9S.[2] 2B and 9S are separated in the aftermath, and 2B is infected with the logic virus. A2 discovers 2B, who asks her to take her place. An ignorant 9S sees A2 mercy-killing 2B and swears revenge on her. Simultaneously, a tower created by the Machines rises from the land, separating the two before they can fight. An increasingly unbalanced 9S investigates the tower's resource-gathering platforms, fighting Machine remnants and learning the tower is designed to launch a missile at the Moon server. Devola and Popola sacrifice themselves to open the tower, with 9S and A2 both entering. During these events and their final confrontation, the two learn that YoRHa was designed to lose and perpetuate the myth of humanity, and that the Machine Network are using the war to further their evolution; each side has trapped the other in an eternal cycle of war. A2 further learns that 2B's real designation was "2E", an "executioner" unit assigned to repeatedly kill 9S whenever he discovers the truth about humanity, and that 9S was aware of this.[3]

9S—now insane and infected with the logic virus—challenges A2 to a fight, prompting the player to choose a character.[4] Choosing A2 leads to A2 saving 9S and sacrificing herself to destroy the tower. Choosing 9S leads to both androids killing each other; in his final moments, he is offered the option of joining with the now-peaceful Machine Network, as the tower has changed its function to launch an ark containing their memories. Once both endings are unlocked, Pods 042 and 153 defy their orders to delete YoRHa's data.[5] Despite the possibility that 2B, 9S and A2 will repeat events, the Pods have faith they will forge a new future for themselves.[6]

A crossover with the mobile game SINoALICE (2017) depicted 9S and 2B as part of a story based around one of the game's boss characters,[7] and PUBG: Battlegrounds (2017).[8] He also reprises his Nier: Automata role in the anime series Nier: Automata Ver1.1a.[9]

Conception and voice

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Natsuki Hanae (left) and Kyle McCarley (right) voice 9S in English and Japanese, respectively.

Game designer Yoko Taro started creating Nier: Automata by started from the final fight scene between the androids 9S and A2. He then envisioned the main storyline including why they were fighting and thus had to empathize with the cat. In developing the character, Yoko Taro decided to show 9S broken and A2 a more justice fighter. Believing the gamers would not care for 9S's character, he kept writing the story to balance their stories and how they go from playable characters to mysterious and uncontrollable. In the end, Yoko Taro was glad with 9S's characterization and external reactions to it.[10] 9S was designed by lead character artist Akihiko Yoshida, known for his work on Final Fantasy XII and Bravely Default.[11] Yoshida was brought in following feedback on the original game's character designs and original illustrator D.K's unavailability following an elbow injury.[12][13] For his work, Yoshida was given a guideline of sleek black designs.[12] 9S's early character designs were fairly consistent with his final appearance beyond color variations.[14]

In contrast to the darker narrative of Drakengard, Yoko decided that 2B and 9S deserved a happy ending, due to his belief that their experiences in Automata had "cleansed" the androids of their transgressions. Yoko considers the story of 2B complete with Automata, believing the narrative should not be continued.[15] However, for a later tribute concert, he wrote an audio play epilogue to Automata featuring 2B and 9S, a different method than the original Nier's epilogue, which is described in a game guide.[16] In the case of Nier: Automata, Yoko Taro wants to make it obvious that 9S and 2B kill many enemies, and eventually kill each other over and over again. In that sense, Yoko Taro wants to think that they were both punished for the sins they committed. So he then thought that the ending should be one that gives them a chance to cleanse their sins and gives them a sense of hope.[17] For the final boss battle in which the player chooses between 9S and A2, the developers considered removing character abilities based on their choice but decided against it.[18]

In Japanese, 9S is voiced by Natsuki Hanae with producer Saito finding he was given a difficult job as he has too much dialogue to play.[19] For the anime adaptation, 2B's actress Yui Ishikawa enjoyed her dynamic with Hanae due to the bond they share.[20] Hanae found the anime unique for displaying a different take on the characters' handling when compared to the original game.[21]

Localization company 8-4 found it challenging to translate the android dialogue, as it was difficult to balance their supposed lack of emotion with the truth of their highly emotional relationships and distinct personalities. Compared to 2B, localizing 9S was easier as he was already written to be more emotive in the Japanese script. The team had notes about how to write each character; for example, 9S would speak about things at length, while 2B would be more crisp.[22] In English, Kyle McCarley voices 9S and found his work in the anime to feel different from the game version as early episodes foreshadow the development 9S is going to have in later parts of the narrative.[23] He also highlighted that working for an anime despite having the same story as the video game had different technical inputs. This was also affected by Covid-19 pandemic.[24] In retrospect, the voice actor found 9S similar to Alm in Fire Emblem but finds that the android is more similar to him. McCarley said that while in the start of the game, his character had a happy-go-lucky personality, he becomes corrupted after 2B's death leading him to call 9S "emo Nines". While the game highlights the Yorha androids are not allowed to have emotions, 9S is always expressing himself. In regards to 9S' corruption, McCarley was assisted by John Ricciardi from 8-4 and was amazed by the story Yoko Taro shows in the game, regarding it as the first time he saw a work from such creator. He highly enjoyed 9S's and 2B's relationship, initially disliking the latter's cold treatment to the former until seeing latter scenarios where he was surprised by the plot twists.[25]

Critical reception

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Game journalists have often commented on 9S's characterization and dynamic with 2B. Christopher Byrd from the Washington Post said that 9S's issue is that vexes him the most is how machine life-forms like Jean-Paul are capable of higher-order thinking. His violent attitude can be often too much towards machines but at the same time comes across as realtisic and natural.[26] Kyle Campbell of RPG Site said that, while 2B was caring and loving, he noted that the need for her to constantly kill 9S prompted her callous "act". He drew a contrast between 2B's "bottled-up" sadness and 9S's reaction at 2B's death, in which he "lets his emotions boil over" while fighting impostors of 2B.[27] Anthony John Agnello of The A.V. Club stated that their "Hamlet-sourced name" was indicative of Nier: Automata's "obsession with classic existentialist philosophy", noting that 2B was disturbed by her partner's repeated deaths and memory wipes which something were equals. Nevertheless, the game makes it clear to the player that despite the tragedy there is a chance that 9S and 2B will live again.[28] Celia Lewis of The Escapist noted that the blindfold worn by 2B and 9S was a "deviant design choice" that indicated their "inability to see the greater picture", its black color scheme showing how she was limited to a "black and white" view of the war.[29] The duo's role in Nier: Automata Ver1.1a was praised for its fresh dynamic between 2B and 9S, the player's perspective constantly changing between them.[30][31] In particular, GamesRadar like the fight 9S and 2B have against the machine Simone in the theater especially because of how the anime adapts 9S's hacking ability in the enemy and the next scene where 9S brutally kills two machines that gave up.[32]

Polygon regarded the player's actions as 9S as one of the biggest spoilers of the decade due to the different fighting style he employs in contrast to 2B and gives the player a completely different perspective in regards to the story. The website further noted that the ending of the game was shocking as the duo suffer horrible deaths, praising Yoko Taro's writing in regards to the execution.[33] Because of 9S's arc from a friendly soldier to a revengeful renegade seeking to kill A2 after 2B's death, Paste Magazine regarded him as one of the best characters from 2017.[34] Kotaku referred to 9S and 2B as "as guardian angels sent by the deities in the form of the Council of Humanity" further enhanced by the amount of Machines they meet and help them in sidequests such as one who has questions to 9S about how can they make children while befriending them.[35]

In "NieR (De)Automata: Defamiliarization and the Poetic Revolution of NieR: Automata" Grace Gerrish from Boston College commented that 9S and 2B are free from Yorha for the first time when the bunker is destroyed by the virus and start travelling around the world on their own will establishing the trope of death of the author. This further gives the player freedom with the multiple endings they can reach from then on especially with the ability to switch between androids.[36]

References

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  1. ^ Sato, Ike (April 19, 2016). "Nier: Automata Details On The Recently Introduced Characters". Siliconera. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  2. ^ Commander: But tell me—why weren't you infected? / 2B: I don't know! / 9S: It's probably because I deferred our data sync. I noticed some weird noise in the Bunker's server data, so I paused the upload. (Route C, Chapter 11: Full-scale Attack)
  3. ^ A2: The 9S type is a high-end model. They knew you'd discover the truth eventually. But the model designation "2B" was just a cover. The official designation...is "2E". Number 2, Type E. They were a special class of members designed to execute YoRHa units. But you knew that... Right, 9S? (Route C, Chapter 17: The Tower)
  4. ^ Pod 153: Proposal: Cease combat. Fighting her at this point would be irrational and— / 9S: Pod 153! I order you to halt all logical thought and speech! This order shall remain in effect until you confirm the death of either myself or unit A2! (Route C, Chapter 17: The Tower)
  5. ^ 9S: This tower is a colossal canon built to destroy the human server. Destroy it ... and rob the androids of their very foundation. That was the plan devised by those girls. But they changed their minds ... This tower doesn't fire artillery. It fires an ark. An ark containing memories of the foolish machine lifeforms. An ark that sends those memories to a new world. (Route C, Chapter 17: The Tower, Ending D)
  6. ^ Pod 153: Question, Pod 042. Did the data salvage restore all of their past memories? / Pod 042: Yes. / Pod 153: And are those recovered parts of the same design as previous ones? / Pod 042: Yes. / Pod 153: Then ... won't that simply lead us to the same conclusion as before? / Pod 042: I cannot deny the possibility. However, the possibility of another future also exists. (Route C, Ending E)
  7. ^ Romano, Sal (April 20, 2017). "SINoALICE x NieR: Automata collaboration event announced". Gematsu. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  8. ^ Pattini, Chirag (April 4, 2022). "The Nier crossover is now live in PUBG". PCInvasion. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  9. ^ Keyword (in Japanese). Nier: Automata Ver1.1a website. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  10. ^ "Interview: Yoko Taro Talks NieR: Automata One Year After Release". PlayStationLifeStyle. April 7, 2018. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  11. ^ Romano, Sal (June 18, 2015). "NieR New Project producer and director talk happy coincidences, happy endings". Gematsu. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  12. ^ a b 『NieR』の新作は前作を遊んだファンほど混乱する!? ヨコオタロウ氏ら開発スタッフに直撃インタビュー. Dengeki Online (in Japanese). June 19, 2015. Archived from the original on June 19, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  13. ^ 「NieR:Automata」はこうして作られた。ディレクターのヨコオタロウ氏とプロデューサーの齊藤陽介氏が，シンガポールのゲームイベントで述べたこと. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). October 28, 2017. Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  14. ^ Taro, Yoko (December 17, 2020). NieR: Automata World Guide Volume 2. Dark Horse Books. ISBN 978-1-5067-1575-9.
  15. ^ Minotti, Mike (April 1, 2018). "Nier: Automata's Yoko Taro and Takahisa Taura on sentencing characters and turning 2B into a bug". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  16. ^ ニーア オートマタ. Famitsu. No. 1495. Gzbrain. July 26, 2017.
  17. ^ "ゲームデザイナー、ヨコオタロウの「仮面の裏側」に潜むもの". Wired (in Japanese). May 8, 2018. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  18. ^ ""It Felt More Like Hell Than Success:" A Nier: Automata Postmortem". Wired (in Japanese). May 8, 2018. Archived from the original on January 15, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  19. ^ "TVアニメ『NieR:Automata Ver1.1a』9S役・花江夏樹さんインタビュー「ここまで体に馴染んだキャラクターは珍しい」特別な想いのある9Sの魅力を語る！". Animate Times (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  20. ^ "TVアニメ『NieR:Automata Ver1.1a』9S役・花江夏樹さんインタビュー「ここまで体に馴染んだキャラクターは珍しい」特別な想いのある9Sの魅力を語る！". Animate Times (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  21. ^ "TVアニメ『NieR:Automata Ver1.1a』2B役・石川由依さんインタビュー【第1回】｜ゲームとの違い、先の読めない展開を楽しんでほしい". Animate Times (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  22. ^ Prescott, Shaun (September 23, 2017). "Localizing Nier: Automata, one of PC's weirdest games". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  23. ^ "INTERVIEW: Kyle McCarley, Voice of 9S From NieR: Automata at Fanimecon 2023". Anitrendz. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  24. ^ "INTERVIEW: Kyle McCarley, Voice of 9S From NieR: Automata at Fanimecon 2023". OtakuSpot. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024 – via Youtube.
  25. ^ "Interview with Kyle McCarley". TodasGamers. August 27, 2017. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  26. ^ Byrd, Christopher (March 14, 2017). "'Nier: Automata:' A bold and different Japanese role-playing game". Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  27. ^ Campbell, Kyle (April 23, 2017). "Death, Sex, and Love: A closer look at NieR Automata". www.rpgsite.net. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  28. ^ Agnello, Anthony John (August 31, 2017). "With one final death, Nier: Automata's ending redefines the meaning of life". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on August 31, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  29. ^ Lewis, Celia (April 24, 2020). "NieR: Automata Challenges Our Ideas of Morality with Its Character Design". Escapist Magazine. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  30. ^ "NieR:Automata Ver 1.1a". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  31. ^ "The Nier: Automata Anime Fittingly Wrestles with Its Own Existence". Escapist Magazine. January 10, 2023. Archived from the original on March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  32. ^ "The Nier: Automata anime is back and episode 4 nailed the best boss in the game". GamesRadar. February 22, 2023. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  33. ^ "The best game spoilers of the decade". Complex. November 14, 2019. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  34. ^ "The Best New Game Characters of 2017". Paste Magazine. December 13, 2017. Archived from the original on October 12, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  35. ^ Tieryas, Peter (December 30, 2017). "The Tragic Sidequests From Nier Automata's Machine Village". Kotaku. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  36. ^ "NieR (De)Automata: Defamiliarization and the Poetic Revolution of NieR: Automata". Digra. Archived from the original on August 10, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
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