Introduced at this year’s E3, Square Enix’s new NieR game, developed by Platinum Games, now has an official name and new information on one of its main characters.
Officially titled NieR: Automata—because, sure—the action RPG takes place in a future where mankind has been driven from the planet by alien invaders and their mechanical creations. This week’s Weekly Famitsu introduced the game’s plot as follows:
遠い未来。
突如、侵略してきた異星人。
そして、彼らがくり出す兵器“機械生命体”。
圧倒的戦力の前に、
人類は地上を追われ月へと逃げ延びていた。
地球を奪還するために、
人類側はアンドロイド兵士による抵抗軍を組織。
さらに、膠着した戦況を打破するため、
新型アンドロイドである
戦闘用歩兵“ヨルハ”部隊を投入する。
人のいない不毛の地でくり広げられる
機会兵器とアンドロイドの熾烈な戦い。
やがてそれは
知られざる真実の扉を開けてしまうこととなる……
A rough translation to English reads:
A distant future.
A sudden invasion by aliens.
And their weapons, “mechanical organisms.”
Against their overwhelming power,
humanity was driven from the Earth and fled to the moon.
In order to take back the Earth,
humanity created a resistance army of android soldiers.
And in order to end the military stalemate,
a new android
the battle infantry, the “YoRHa” unit, was sent into the field.
In an uninhabited world,
a fierce battle between machine weapons and androids,
eventually,
opens a door of unknown truth...
Translation by Toshi Nakamura
Aside from the base story, details on one of the titular android warriors, the YoRHa 2 Model: B, designed by former Square Enix designer Akihiko Yoshida, have been released.
Called “2B” for short, the android is an all-purpose combat model android who uses swords for close-range battles and a support system pod for long-ranged attacks. (She probably doesn’t have a willy).
While she was unmasked in the initial trailer, her profile description states that, “Because she wears battle goggles, she rarely shows her eyes.” Also that, “androids are forbidden to have emotions, but each model has its own distinct personality. 2B is a rather cool and quiet model.” Images in the magazine show her with a black cloth wrapped around her eyes like a makeshift blindfold.
Update: Here is some gameplay footage that was taken at Paris Games Week... Platinum sure knows how to do their action. (Hat tip to fbh for the cleaner version video)
NieR: Automata is scheduled for release on the PS4. No word on an official release date yet.
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