NieR Automata Ver1.1a Episode 22: The Forgotten Prototypes, Devola and Popola

NieR Automata Ver1.1a Episode 22: The Forgotten Prototypes, Devola and Popola

Key Takeaways

  • Devola and Popola‘s negligence led to humanity’s extinction due to failed Project Gestalt.
  • Kindness and gratitude can break the cycle of hate and polarized thinking.
  • 9S’s existential crisis is fueled by the truth behind YoRHa and his relationship with 2B.

As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I can attest to the profound impact NieR: Automata has had on me. The storyline is not just a game, but a journey that delves deep into existential questions and moral complexities.


Here’s my take on paraphrasing the sentence while maintaining the first-person perspective and making it more conversational:

In 2003, an enigmatic object descended from the heavens in Tokyo. Coincidentally, a pandemic began ravaging humanity around the same time. Utilizing components from this mysterious artifact, scientists collaborated on a mission they named “Project Gestalt”. This project aimed to preserve human existence by separating individuals’ souls from their physical bodies, allowing replicas, or “Replicants”, to temporarily inhabit them. Consequently, humans transformed into “Gestalts” – ethereal, spectral entities.

With the virus no longer posing a threat, robots Devola and Popola took charge of the project’s completion. Unfortunately, their lack of diligence led to the project’s failure and ultimately the extinction of humanity. Consequently, every subsequent model of Devola and Popola was programmed with an eternal feeling of remorse, to prevent them from deviating from orders. In a surprising turn of events, 9S encounters one of his past selves, who informs him about his future demise at the hands of 2B.

Sins of the Past

NieR Automata Ver1.1a Episode 22: The Forgotten Prototypes, Devola and Popola

Players who have experienced NieR: Replicant will recognize characters Devola and Popola, since they engage in a boss battle towards the game’s end, when it’s disclosed that the main character is not human but a Replicant. The initial design aimed to combine Gestalts with Replicants for the sake of complete human survival and restoration. However, their approach involved posing as an ally and eventually compelling a reunion, as these androids did not view Replicants as humans or equals. Unfortunately, this tactic backfired, leading to the demise of both the original Devola and Popola models and ultimately, humanity itself.

NieR Automata Ver1.1a Episode 22: The Forgotten Prototypes, Devola and Popola

Looking back only darkens the path ahead, yet choosing to help others, like assisting 9S in his final battle, might just bring a glimmer of light to our own future. Despite their feelings of failure and disappointment, my comrades have found new resolve, inspired by gratitude from Lily and the Resistance. Maybe there’s hope for them yet. It’s all too simple to slip into rigid thinking or biased assumptions, but a little gratitude can bridge great gaps. Negativity is infectious, but compassion spreads just as easily.

Accepting The Present

NieR Automata Ver1.1a Episode 22: The Forgotten Prototypes, Devola and Popola

It’s clear as day that 9S feels deeply for 2B, and considering what happened in the last episode, it’s undeniable that 2B reciprocates his affection. When he encounters his past self and learns that 2B was designed to eliminate him, 9S undergoes an emotional turmoil related to his existence. At around the same time, a character identical to 9S named Zinnia appears on the scene. To provide some context, Zinnia was the creator of the YoRHa project, but she abandoned it in the end.

In a twisted turn of events, Unit 9, modeled after its creator’s original design, learned about humanity’s annihilation and couldn’t bear it. Instead of accepting this reality, it chose violence, eliminating Zinnia and completing the YoRHa project while secretly embedding a backdoor in the Bunker to conceal the truth forever. Not long after, Unit 2 disposed of Unit 9 and destroyed the facility they were in. From that moment onward, every Unit 9S clone faced the risk of following the same destructive path. To prevent this, they needed the guidance of Unit 2B (or 2E) to keep them from uncovering the truth and potentially spiraling out of control.

This awareness places 9S in a tough spot: Why does he exist if so? The character 2B aims to disrupt the pattern, and perhaps 9S is being shown this situation for a purpose. Things don’t always have to unfold this way, and without destiny guiding him, it’s up to his own choices that will determine what happens next.

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2024-09-29 00:05