NieR Automata ver1.1a: Differences Between Game and Anime in Part 2

Key Takeaways

Part 2 of NieR Automata anime greatly deviates from the game story, expanding on original events.
The anime introduces new scenes and reveals more about characters like 2B, 9S, and A2.
The final episode differs with A2 instead of 9S hacking, plus a fully shown Pod battle scene.

As someone who’s spent countless hours immersed in the world of NieR: Automata, I can’t help but appreciate the effort put into crafting this anime adaptation. It seems the creators have taken great care to delve deeper into the characters’ backstories, particularly A2 and the enigmatic twins, Devola and Popola.

In version 1.1a of NieR: Automata, the creators took immense care to preserve the essence of the original masterpiece from its source material. Although Part 1 largely followed the original storyline, Part 2 significantly departs in crucial aspects while maintaining the authentic tale of the game. Additional anime scenes enrich the roles of the primary characters and the resistance movement. Despite several events retaining their original conclusions, the manner in which they unfold is drastically altered.

In the second part, it becomes even clearer that the anime version doesn’t replace the game, but instead enhances the overall enjoyment. Here’s a rundown of significant narrative shifts in the anime adaptation of NieR Automata (Part Two).

Route C changes, expanding on the original story

2B and 9S Relationship

NieR Automata ver1.1a: Differences Between Game and Anime in Part 2

2B and 9S are given a scouting task in an additional anime scene, which leads them into the game’s Amnesia side quest. During this short storyline, it is shown that 2B’s true purpose – to eliminate 9S whenever he gets too close to uncovering the truth about YoRHa – is unveiled prematurely compared to the game. This revelation underscores the sinister undertones in their relationship even further.

YoRHa Assault And Destruction

In the anime adaptation, the attacks on artificial life forms are more elaborate and slightly altered compared to the original version. The character 9S leads a team of Scanner units in a synchronized hacking operation against machines. These Scanner units are developed further, displaying close bonds with their partnered Battler units. The show also highlights the efforts of resistance fighters joining the fight. Upon returning to the Bunker to save the commander, a corrupted 6O, who doubles as the voice of the Red Girls, attacks them. In the game, 6O is formidable off-screen, but in the anime she’s killed by Commander White following unfavorable remarks about the commander, suggesting a strong bond between her and her superior. After the fall of YoRHa, 2B lands in the City Ruins instead of the Flooded City, whereas 9S ends up in a desert where he meets a Hegel machine, mirroring A2’s initial battle on Route C.

9S and The Resource Units

9S discovers that Operator 21O is situated outside The Tower rather than within the God Box, as is typical in the game. Instead of meeting a grim end at A2’s hands, 21O impales herself to shield 9S and expresses her affection for him. In contrast to the numerous hostile adversaries found in the game when he reaches The Meat Box, there are only non-hostile machine entities present. Upon reaching the final box, 9S encounters no aggressive enemies but instead discovers 2B’s flight module, adorned with multiple screens displaying her memories. Unlike the original game, where he listens to 2B’s last message within the game itself, in this version he hears it during an optional scene in the Flooded City.

A2 and Pascal, The Greatest Deviation

Following A2’s act of killing 2B, she finds herself in Pascal’s Village rather than the Desert. Here, she spends a significant amount of time, earning a deep bond with the pacifist machines, particularly the young ones who grow quite fond of her. Unlike in the game, it isn’t a zombie virus that turns the villagers aggressive; instead, they are under attack by hostile machine lifeforms. Pascal and the villagers valiantly defend their home from these invaders. Initially, they manage to repel the attacks, but more machines arrive, eventually destroying the village. Instead of leading the children to the Abandoned Factory like in the game, Pascal takes them to the Resistance Camp. One of the children unknowingly infects several resistance members with a virus similar to a zombie infection, causing Lily to kill many of her allies. Stricken with guilt and sorrow, she is eventually mercy killed by A2. In the original game, the infected child commits suicide from fear. However, in the anime, it consumes the others to spare them from the same fate. When all hope seems lost, Pascal self-destructs, taking the child and the Resistance Camp with him. Unlike in the game, after the loss of his village and children, Pascal asks A2 to wipe his memories clean.

The Final Episode, An Anime Original Ending

The final battle between A2 and 9S is different in the anime. Here, 9S hacks into A2, attacking her with a psychological attack. She resists him and shuts him down. She encounters the remnants of the machine network as they offer her to join them in the Ark. In the game, 9S is the one to be offered to join the Ark by Adam and Eve. Like in the game, The Tower collapses and A2 dies. Similar to Ending E, the credits for the anime roll only to be interrupted by the Pods. The anime then shows the Pods battling hundreds of other Pods to save the three Androids’ data. While this is implied in the game, it is fully shown in the anime. Once the androids are revived like in the game, they wake up and greet each other. While A2 is repaired by Accord.

Devola and Popola’s Fates

In the game, Devola and Popola aid 9S in gaining access to The Tower by battling mechanical creatures guarding its entrance. Unlike the game, which reveals their past through text, the anime provides a visual portrayal of their shared life. Tragically, while Popola loses her life during the fight with the machines, her sister becomes infected with a deadly virus in the game. In this version, however, it’s Popola who perishes, and A2 ends up mercy-killing an infected Devola.

A2’s Extended Role

The anime provides a deeper exploration of A2’s role in the narrative, unfolding events following the Pearl Harbor Descent. In this continuation, Captain Rose assigns names derived from flowers to the androids, with A2 becoming Freesia. This name is shared with Lily shortly before Freesia meets her end. Unlike the game, where she confronts a Hegel Machine in the desert and initiates Berserk Mode for the first time, the anime portrays a different scenario: Freesia awakens in Pascal’s Village and later reconnects with Lily. In this adaptation, Freesia employs her Berserk Mode to protect Pascal and the Resistance, demonstrating a significantly enhanced power level compared to its game counterpart.

Other Various Changes

Operator 21O is switched to Battler mode during the attack. All resource locations are altered in the animated series. In an exclusive scene from the anime, character 9S meets a past version of himself who shares information about the outcomes of previous units and 2B’s true objective. In episode 22 of the series, it was verified that Nier is part of the canon storyline for the anime.

As a die-hard fan, let me walk you through all the significant alterations in part two of the revamped NieR Automata ver1.1a anime. Although the plot veers off from the original game on numerous occasions, it manages to preserve the core narrative and even amplifies the climactic ending that left gamers speechless.

2024-11-06 23:05