Square Enix just released another trailer ahead of TGS this weekend. This time, we get to see a little more of the new characters that were revealed in this week’s issue of Famitsu magazine–which you can also see below!
Here’s a look at the characters. Below I’m listing their “souls”. There really is no meaning in the actual word “soul”. It’s just meant to represent their character as a whole, like the whole essence of their personality.
Pod153 Voice: Akiyama Kaoru Soul: 計画 Calculation Design by: Yoshida Akihiko 吉田明彦 (CyDesignation, Inc.)
These are standard support equipment for all YoRHa units. They are used for long-range attacks and can be equipped with various weapons. They can also be used as a short-distance transport device. They are able to display messages from headquarters and it is possible for them to exchange strategy information between multiple units.
Adam Voice: Namikawa Daisuke Soul: 憎悪 Hatred Design by: Nagai Yuuya 永井悠也 (CyDesignation, Inc.)
A mysterious young man. He wears glasses and is very intelligent. Although his temperament is rather cool, he can become very cruel in order to achieve his goals.
Eve Voice: Suzuki Tatsuhisa Soul: 依存 Dependence Design by: Nagai Yuuya 永井悠也 (CyDesignation, Inc.)
Adam’s younger twin brother. Unlike his brother, he tends to be impulsive and doesn’t like to think deeply about things. He adores his brother.
Operator 21O (two-one-oh) Voice: Hatsumi Meari Soul: 支援 Support
and… Operator 6O (six-oh) Voice: Isobe Keiko Soul: 支援 Support Design by: Nagai Yuuya 永井悠也 (CyDesignation, Inc.)
These are two of many communication operators stationed on the “Bunker”. They are in charge of relaying orders to deployed YoRHa squadrons and analyzing gathered information. Each operator has their own unique personalities; for example, Operator 6O, who oversees 2B, is bright and cheerful, whereas Operator 21O who oversees 9S is cool and impersonal.
Pascal Voice: Yuuki Aoi Soul: 親愛 Affection Design by: Nagai Yuuya 永井悠也 (CyDesignation, Inc.)
Even though Pascal is a Bio-machine, as a pacifist who despises war, she gathers with other like-minds in hopes to find a way toward peace. With great interest in the history of humanity and the Bio-machines, she is extremely knowledgeable.
Commander Voice: Kanou Chiaki Soul: 責務 Duty Design by: Nagai Yuuya 永井悠也 (CyDesignation, Inc.) Returning character from the YoRHa stage play.
She is the director of the “Bunker” orbital satellite and is in charge of all YoRHa squadrons. She usually appears very calm and collected, but she seems to worry about 2B and 9S. She also has some sort of connection with the prototype A2.
Emil Voice: Kadowaki Mai Soul: 生存 Survival / Existence
A returning character from the previous NieR. Much of his memory has deteriorated over the thousands of years of his existence.
Devola / Popola Voice: Shiraishi Ryoko Soul: 贖罪 Atonement / Redemption Design by: Itahana Toshiyuki 坂鼻利幸 (Square Enix)
Two old generation androids who reside in the Resistance Camp. They are aware of the incident that involved two of their same-model androids in the distance past and feel a deep sense of regret. Their ability to consume alcohol is extremely unusual for their model.
Orbital Base Station “Bunker” Location originally depicted in the YoRHa stage play.
This is one of the military installations setup in Earth orbit. A circular tube structure wraps around the station to create an area with artificial gravity, while the center area is left with zero gravity where a body repair shop, a storage facility for various weapons, and a catapult facility are located. Serving as the YoRHa squadron’s headquarters, the “Bunker” is where new units are created and equipment experiments are performed.
ACTIVE COMBATANTS: List of YoRHa units in this particular squadron
Squadron is comprised of 18 YoRHa units
Ground Surveillance: Pod Cam
YoRHa
Resistance Camp Location originally depicted in the YoRHa stage play.
The Resistance Camp is inhabited by androids who were deployed to the surface of the planet long before the YoRHa models were constructed. Those who managed to retreat came together to form the Resistance Army and, because of their deep sense of justice, are currently lending 2B and 9S their assistance “for mankind”. They operate shops to purchase items, upgrade Pod, and offer many sub quests.
The PlayStation TGS presentation began this afternoon at 4:00pm. I get out of work exactly at 4, but my boss drove me to the station around 3:30, so I could watch the beginning portion of the presentation on the train. Just after I switched train lines and was just one more station from my stop, the new NieR:Automata trailer began. I’m sure the people around me thought I was very strange… (No, I wasn’t swinging from the ceiling like the guys at Hooked probably would have, but still…!)
Many of these lines are a bit difficult to hear, but this is my tentative translation of the spoken dialogue during this clip (Possible spoilers are in white text; highlight them to view):
Pod042: Good morning, A2.
Commander: Remember! The pain of losing our home! We will never give up. The ocean, the sky, the earth… We will reclaim the Earth that the atrocious Bio-machines stole from us!
2B: You knew all along, didn’t you, 9S?
9S: Shut up! What are you saying? What the hell do you think you know about us?!
Pod042: 9S. …system…
Deep Voice (Adam/Eve?): Do you really think you can win? Hmpf.
Pascal: My name is Pascal. I am the head leader of this town.
Man (Adam/Eve?): Where are the humans you put such faith in?
Emil: We fight because we believe someday we’ll get through this!
Girl (Devola/Popola): We… we will atone for our sins!
Man: That’s it! That feeling! Hatred! Ahahahahaha!!
Commander: Even if we manage success with but a tuning fork, we will end this war here and now! Glory to mankind!
Operator: Please hold, okay?
Operator: The YoRHa Squadron has launched.
2B: If that’s what you (9S) say we should do, then that’s what we’ll do!
There’s a line or two that I’m not confident about (shown in italics) and another that I’m pretty sure I heard it right, but still can’t be 100% accurate (underlined).
According to Game Jouhou, the following characters have been confirmed:
Square Enix just updated their site with items that will be available only at this year’s Tokyo Game Show! I was hoping there might be some more NieR:Automata goodies than what had already been revealed…but… This is still great!! <3
T-shirt – 2B
Size: Mens (L) / Womens (M)
2,900 Yen
T-shirt – Emil
Size: Mens (L) / Womens (M)
2,900 Yen
Mug
1,800 Yen
You can view more images of these goodies that Yoko Taro & Saito Yosuke had posted on their Twitter accounts in this post here.
Like every year around this time since I moved to East Japan, I need to think what to wear to TGS.
One thing that’s important to understand about TGS is that… the crowds are insane. Imagine the last train from Shinjuku on a Friday or Saturday night, but way worse.
I’m not a crowd person. I don’t like to be squished between sweaty strangers who are trying to make it to a certain booth for free stuff. I’m not a cosplayer who spends the night in town so they can get up early and get in line to change into their costumes. I’m just an average, semi-otaku, anime/game freak. Nothing special about me, but I do occasionally want to show my appreciation for the series and titles that I love.
Last year, I brought two costumes to play around in:
I first went semi-dressed as a female Kung Fury so that I wouldn’t have to wait in line to put anything on… and I brought a small suitcase with my 2B costume to change into later. Apparently, I got the the venue a little later than expected and walked around longer than I thought as Kung Fury that… there really wasn’t any time to switch over to 2B. orz I really don’t know why I tried at all.
So, this year I was thinking what I should do. I don’t have the patience to try any actual cosplay this time around, but I still wanted to do something fun… so I thought, why not get a custom made T-Shirt with something NieR related?
Back in January, I asked a friend of mine on DeviantArt to illustrate a couple characters for me. One was, of course, 2B from the up-coming NieR:Automata, and the other was an illustrated version of my YoRHa OC, No34, that I cosplayed back in 2014 for Halloween. Here’s what she came up with:
Shortly after going to see the first run of Yoko Taro’s stage play YoRHa, I thought up my own character, with stats and her own backstory.
Long story short, I just received the T-Shirt that I had custom made… and I’m really happy with it! I still need to try it on and take a couple pics, but… That will have to be a little later. ^^