2B (Nier: Automata)

YoRHa No. 2 Type B
Drakengard character
2B Nier Automata.png
Official artwork by Akihiko Yoshida.
First gameNier: Automata (2017)
Created byYoko Taro
Designed byAkihiko Yoshida
Voiced byEnglish
Kira Buckland
Japanese
Yui Ishikawa
Motion captureKaori Kawabuchi

2B,[a] full name YoRHa No. 2 Type B,[b] is a fictional android from the 2017 video game Nier: Automata, a spin-off of the Drakengard series developed by PlatinumGames and published by Square Enix. One of the game's three protagonists, 2B is a soldier for YoRHa, an android task force fighting a proxy war with alien-created Machine Lifeforms. Her story arc focuses on her backstory within YoRHa, and her relationship with her partner 9S, a reconnaissance android. She is also featured in related media, such as the anime Nier: Automata Ver1.1a.

2B was created Yoko Taro, director and lead writer of Nier: Automata, and designed by artist Akihiko Yoshida. Yoko's request was for a character that would be fun to cosplay. She is voiced by Kira Buckland in English, and Yui Ishikawa in Japanese; her motion capture actress is Kaori Kawabuchi.

Reception of the character has been generally positive, with some journalists noting her design as a prominent example of haute couture. Her design, featuring doll-like elements of artificial beauty and fetish wear-like clothing, was cited as making her a foil to the enemies she faces, a narrative element that is later subverted for dramatic effect. A popular character with series fans, 2B appears in both crossovers and merchandise.

Creation and design

Director and story writer Yoko Taro, who wears an Emil mask in public appearances due to camera shyness.

2B was created by Yoko Taro, director and story writer for Automata.[1] The game's entire cast are either androids or alien-crafted machines, with the narrative focusing on the flaws of humanity through the actions of artificial beings who look up to them.[2] In contrast to the original Nier which had different protagonists for the Japanese and Western releases, Yoko was given creative freedom to create a more traditional "delicate" female lead, catering to Japanese tastes.[3] A female lead was decided on early on, with Yoko joking about discussing the addition of an elderly lead character.[4] She was given a katana to add a fantasy element to the game's science fiction setting.[3]

Yoko resolved 2B and 9S's storyline on a more optimistic note than that of Drakengard, believing that, while the protagonists of previous games committed morally unforgivable acts, the events of Automata were sufficient for the androids to be "cleansed of their sins", and that they deserved a happy ending. Yoko considers the story of 2B complete with Automata, believing the narrative should not be continued.[5] 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.[6]

2B and other lead characters were designed by Akihiko Yoshida, known for his work on Final Fantasy XII and Bravely Default.[7] Yoshida was brought in following feedback on the original game's character designs and original illustrator D.K's unavailability following an elbow injury.[8][1] Yoshida, who appreciated the chance to work on a game outside the fantasy genre, was given a guideline of sleek, black designs, with Yoko requesting a design that would be enjoyable for cosplayers.[8][9] Yoko wanted 2B to wear a blindfold, described in-game as a visor, as it had not been done with many game characters.[4] 2B had some alternate designs, including one with long hair and another with a hooded top, though all maintained the same color and design aesthetic.[10]

Gameplay designer Takahisa Taura had the image of a dancing woman in mind when designing the combat, making it more graceful than earlier PlatinumGames titles. He drew inspiration for 2B's fighting style from the titular protagonist of Battle Angel Alita. They differentiated 2B from Alita by adding an elegant and refined style to her movements.[11] Hito Matsudaira designed her in-game 3D model based on Yoshida's concept art. He created the initial model in two weeks, drawing inspiration from the in-game characters of Yoshida's Final Fantasy XII designs. During later refinements, he added elements inspired by the "fragile [and] doll-like" qualities of the original Nier's in-game character models.[12]

2B was featured prominently in the marketing for Nier: Automata.[13] 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. While 9S was already written to be more emotive in Japanese, 2B had to be rewritten so she came off as "droll", rather than emotionless, in English. 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.[14]

Portrayal

Kira Buckland (left) and Yui Ishikawa voice 2B in English and Japanese, respectively.

In all spoken appearances, 2B is voiced by Kira Buckland in English and Yui Ishikawa in Japanese.[15] Ishikawa began her recording work for 2B before the in-game assets and cutscenes were finalized. Ishikawa played 2B as having a hidden emotional side under the enforced lack of emotion, with it coming out during her interactions with 9S.[16] Ishikawa did not understand the full story during half the recording sessions, trusting in Yoko's direction for her performance. While generally playing her as cool and distant, 2B had moments of high emotion where Ishikawa could act out, though she was sometimes told to tone down her performance.[6] Buckland found the role of 2B challenging, as she was used to playing more outgoing and emotional characters, while also showing care towards 9S.[17] Buckland recorded her lines prior to her going into full-time voice acting.[18] She used the Japanese version as a reference for her performance even if individual lines were tonally different for the English version.[17]

2B's motion capture was performed by Kaori Kawabuchi, who also performed A2 and voiced some characters in the game.[3][19] Beginning motion acting during the 2010s on the Final Fantasy series, she had first met Yoko working on Drakengard 3 (2013). The motion capture was done under Yoko's supervision, with Kawabuchi doing both voice lines and movements for the cutscenes. Her performance then acted as a guideline for Ishikawa's lines, with Kawabuchi matching her facial capture to the final recording. Kawabuchi recorded cutscene and battle actions separately, with more recording dedicated to animations between sword attacks.[3]

Appearances

Nier: Automata

YoRHa No. 2 Type B, commonly referred to as 2B, is one of the three lead protagonists of Nier: Automata.[9] 2B is presented as a "B" (Battler) combat android for YoRHa, a newly-created squadron dedicated to reclaiming Earth for humanity from the machines created by invading aliens in a prolonged proxy war.[20][21] While presented as working for humanity, YoRHa is part of a ruse to convince the android population that humanity exists following its extinction following the events of Nier, while the machine lifeforms killed their alien creators and use the android conflict to further their evolution. While classified as a "B" model, she is really a disguised "E" (Executioner) model assigned to kill the scanner android 9S whenever he learned the truth about YoRHa. Consequently 2B is burdened by grief and guilt about her role, and tries to keep 9S at a distance emotionally.[10]

During the first two playthroughs, 2B and 9S are sent down to Earth to support the local android Resistance and assess or confront local machine threats. The two find groups of machines emulating human societies, discover the massacred aliens, and are confronted by the Machine Network controllers Adam and Eve. They also briefly fight A2, a prototype precursor to the 2B model who went rogue after her squad was left to die.[10] During one machine attack, 9S is captured and tortured by Adam. 2B frees 9S, killing Adam in the process, but this drives Eve insane with grief. After killing the rampaging Eve, 2B is forced to kill 9S after he is infected with a logic virus, briefly breaking down afterwards. 9S's current version survives in the surrounding machine network.

During the third playthrough, YoRHa launches an assault on the Machines following Adam and Eve's deaths, but succumbs to a logic virus attack that eventually infects 2B. Meeting A2, 2B uploads her memories into her sword and asks A2 to "take care of the future". 9S witnesses A2 mercy-killing 2B, misunderstanding the scene and swearing revenge on A2. During her story, A2 absorbs 2B's memories, which impacts her personality. During the ending, when all three androids have died, Pods 042 and 153 restore their data and bodies. Despite the possibility of events repeating themselves, the Pods hold faith that the three will create a new future.

Related media and crossovers

2B featured in two spin-off novels; the novelization Long Story Short, and the short story collection Short Story Long, both written by Yoko and Jun Eishima.[22][23][24] 2B is also a lead character in the 2023 anime adaptation Nier: Automata Ver1.1a, which features an alternate story supervised by Yoko to fit the new medium.[25] 2B was one of the characters featured in a crossover event with the mobile game Nier Reincarnation (2021).[26] Merchandise representation includes a Play Arts Kai figurine,[27] and as part of a cast statue alongside 9S and A2.[28]

2B featured as a playable guest character in Bandai Namco's fighting game Soulcalibur VI (2018).The DLC featured a scenario around the character, themed moves and weapons, and an alternate white variation dubbed "2P".[29][30] Given the inverted colour scheme of 2B when playing as a second player, the name "2P" was adopted as a play on being player two, and it sounding similar to 2B. Yoko Taro jokingly suggested the P stands for Panasonic.[31] 2B appeared alongside other Automata characters in a content patch in Shadowbringers, the third major expansion for Final Fantasy XIV.[32] The scenario, titled YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse, released in three parts between 2019 and 2021.[33][34][35]

2B featured in a crossover with the mobile game SINoALICE (2017), featuring a story based around one of the boss characters and appearances from other in-game characters.[36] She also appeared in a crossover with the third-party title Punishing: Gray Raven (2019).[37] Costumes themed after 2B have featured in a number of Japanese and Western third-party games including Gravity Rush 2 (2017),[38] PUBG: Battlegrounds (2017),[39] Star Ocean: Anamnesis (2018),[40] Phantasy Star Online 2 (2020),[41] Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (2020),[42] and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege (2022).[43]

Reception

Anthony John Agnello of The A.V. Club states that 2B's "Hamlet-sourced name" is indicative of Nier: Automata's "obsession with classic existentialist philosophy", noting that she is disturbed by the repeated deaths of her assigned partner, 9S, finding it painful that his memories get deleted.[44] Kyle Campbell of RPG Site says that while it is "hard not to assume 2B is written as a stereotypical hardened-military archetype", her true personality demonstrates her "tragic predicament". He states that, while 2B cares about 9S deeply and only stays with her assignment because she loves him, she is doomed to a hopeless situation when she is constantly forced to kill 9S to protect vital intelligence, and therefore puts on a callous "act".[45] Stating that "2B bottles up her sadness and only lets it out once 9S has been killed," he contrasts it with 9S's reaction at 2B's death, in which he "lets his emotions boil over" while fighting impostors of 2B.[45] Paste magazine writer Holly Green included 2B as the best new game characters of 2017.[46]

Celia Lewis of The Escapist noted that the blindfold worn by 2B is a "deviant design choice" that indicates her "inability to see the greater picture", with its black color scheme indicating how she was limited to a "black and white, good versus evil" view of the war. She also stated that 2B's "beauty is purely superficial", a piece of "visual design trickery" that makes the player believe she is different from the "ugly", "expendable" machine lifeform counterparts.[47]

Kimberley Ballard of PC Gamer calls 2B a "draped and ruffled china doll" in her design, also noting her outfit's connection to fetish wear due to its prevalence of "blindfolds, collars and black materials". She states that this emphasizes that "YoRHa are fetish objects, created by humans not just to reclaim the Earth but also a kind of dominance," while also noting that her blindfold indicates total trust on the part of the androids and a willingness to follow commands.[48]

2B's inclusion in the Nier: Automata Ver1.1a was the subject of praise due to the new dynamic she has with 9S as the perspective constantly changes between both of them.[49][50] Meanwhile, her inclusion in Soulcalibur was found ridiculous by Kotaku for whether or not she fits its roster as well as fellow guest character Geralt.[51] Polygon noted the character to be highly popular as with her addition to Final Fantasy XIV has led to several players imitate her design through their own characters.[52] A lifesized figurine was also made by COCO.[53]

Controversy

2B's costume design was controversial with a subset of players, who called it both overly sexualized and impractical.[48] Yoko, known for making games with unabashedly adult and sexual themes, was not swayed by the criticism. Shortly after the game's release, a hoax in which an explicit fan-created 3D model of the character was swapped with her in-game version prompted erotic fan art. In response, Yoko jokingly asked for the art to be collected and sent to him "in a Zip file", expressing surprise when fans complied with the request.[54] In 2019, billionaire Elon Musk shared a fan-made portrait of 2B created by artist Meli Magali on Twitter, causing a widespread backlash amongst fans of the game when he refused to credit the artist. After a wave of support for the original creator, he deleted the post and his profile picture, a reaction described as a "Twitter tantrum".[55]

References

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Notes

  1. ^ Japanese: トゥービー, Hepburn: Tū Bī
  2. ^ Japanese: ヨルハ二号B型, Hepburn: Yoruha Ni-gō B-gata
fonte: https://web.archive.org/web/20230219172020/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2B_(Nier:_Automata)