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[DreamedLint]

Well i mean, if you're making artificial life, better make it as hot as possible.

I can't say I have any idea why the Yorha androids dress the way they do in terms of the game's internal lore, but I think I get its thematic purpose. It's a way to further cement the connection between violence and pleasure. Drawing from his "Philosophies of Violence" interview, it's clear Taro is critical of the proliferation of "killing games" or games about competition and dominance. I feel like Automata is commenting on this perverse obsession using the costumes of the protagonists, among other thematic elements. The blindfolds play into this kink factor too, maybe even and S&M connection. (Which is pretty fitting of 2B's and 9S's relationship.)

 

[themaskedndi]

I didn't want to fuck anyone in this game, am I weird?

I have no interest in boinking any Drakenier characters. I'd raid the YoRHa closets, though.

No joke this is one of my favorite lines in the game. Right up there with Pod 143's lines in the final ending.

Same. It is a simple line but it really resonated with me.

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

So, more thinking

Pascal. I'm starting to wonder if his tragedy is even worse...Like thats actually possible.

When the insane machines go to attack the A2, Pascal, and the children Pascal insists on helping, and his attitude finally changes. His pacifism fails.

See at this point I had expected a different outcome from Pascal. I figured the loss of his pacifism would directly relate to whatever tragedy was guaranteed to befall him at this point. However it did not. The children all killed themselves out of fear.

What if though my initial expectation was right. The children were taught fear and Pascal blamed himself for that, but what if its even worse. What if what they were truly afraid of was actually Pascal.

this was before he left the room

 

[KO Traveling Hobo]

So, more thinking

Pascal. I'm starting to wonder if his tragedy is even worse...Like thats actually possible.

When the insane machines go to attack the A2, Pascal, and the children Pascal insists on helping, and his attitude finally changes. His pacifism fails.

See at this point I had expected a different outcome from Pascal. I figured the loss of his pacifism would directly relate to whatever tragedy was guaranteed to befall him at this point. However it did not. The children all killed themselves out of fear.

What if though my initial expectation was right. The children were taught fear and Pascal blamed himself for that, but what if its even worse. What if what they were truly afraid of was actually Pascal.



this was before he left the room

delete this

 

[Koozek]

So, more thinking

Pascal. I'm starting to wonder if his tragedy is even worse...Like thats actually possible.

When the insane machines go to attack the A2, Pascal, and the children Pascal insists on helping, and his attitude finally changes. His pacifism fails.

See at this point I had expected a different outcome from Pascal. I figured the loss of his pacifism would directly relate to whatever tragedy was guaranteed to befall him at this point. However it did not. The children all killed themselves out of fear.

What if though my initial expectation was right. The children were taught fear and Pascal blamed himself for that, but what if its even worse. What if what they were truly afraid of was actually Pascal.



this was before he left the room

 

[Seyavesh]

I can't say I have any idea why the Yorha androids dress the way they do in terms of the game's internal lore, but I think I get its thematic purpose. It's a way to further cement the connection between violence and pleasure. Drawing from his "Philosophies of Violence" interview, it's clear Taro is critical of the proliferation of "killing games" or games about competition and dominance. I feel like Automata is commenting on this perverse obsession using the costumes of the protagonists, among other thematic elements. The blindfolds play into this kink factor too, maybe even and S&M connection. (Which is pretty fitting of 2B's and 9S's relationship.)

yorha are built to be representative of the closest things to humanity because they're supposed to be designed directly by humanity
the androids understanding of humanity is pretty facile and they get that humanity's 2 biggest loves are sex and violence without the minute understanding of the 'whys' of that
basically the way yorha androids are designed is the same thing as the machine network making machines in adam's birth attempt to fuck each other by bumping bodies

there's probably a million more connections that can be drawn but yeah

 

[RubberLuffy]

Sometimes you just wanna see someone get ending E.

Sometimes the chat ruins it.

And I don't mean spoilers.

 

[LotusHD]

So, more thinking

Pascal. I'm starting to wonder if his tragedy is even worse...Like thats actually possible.

When the insane machines go to attack the A2, Pascal, and the children Pascal insists on helping, and his attitude finally changes. His pacifism fails.

See at this point I had expected a different outcome from Pascal. I figured the loss of his pacifism would directly relate to whatever tragedy was guaranteed to befall him at this point. However it did not. The children all killed themselves out of fear.

What if though my initial expectation was right. The children were taught fear and Pascal blamed himself for that, but what if its even worse. What if what they were truly afraid of was actually Pascal.



this was before he left the room

Fake news

 

[Bowlie]

So, more thinking

Pascal. I'm starting to wonder if his tragedy is even worse...Like thats actually possible.

When the insane machines go to attack the A2, Pascal, and the children Pascal insists on helping, and his attitude finally changes. His pacifism fails.

See at this point I had expected a different outcome from Pascal. I figured the loss of his pacifism would directly relate to whatever tragedy was guaranteed to befall him at this point. However it did not. The children all killed themselves out of fear.

What if though my initial expectation was right. The children were taught fear and Pascal blamed himself for that, but what if its even worse. What if what they were truly afraid of was actually Pascal.



this was before he left the room

delete your post and save others from this disgrace

no

no

 

[Roubjon]

I tried fighting Emil and got my ass beat. I guess I need to gain some levels...

I really don't enjoy having to beat up Emil and take his shit btw.

 

[RubberLuffy]

I tried fighting Emil and got my ass beat. I guess I need to gain some levels...

I really don't enjoy having to beat up Emil and take his shit btw.

the underground fight? I think I did it at 65-70 or so. What level are you?

 

[Jocund]

So, more thinking

Pascal. I'm starting to wonder if his tragedy is even worse...Like thats actually possible.

When the insane machines go to attack the A2, Pascal, and the children Pascal insists on helping, and his attitude finally changes. His pacifism fails.

See at this point I had expected a different outcome from Pascal. I figured the loss of his pacifism would directly relate to whatever tragedy was guaranteed to befall him at this point. However it did not. The children all killed themselves out of fear.

What if though my initial expectation was right. The children were taught fear and Pascal blamed himself for that, but what if its even worse. What if what they were truly afraid of was actually Pascal.



this was before he left the room

Nephew this won't stand

 

[OniBarubary]

Sometimes you just wanna see someone get ending E.

Sometimes the chat ruins it.

And I don't mean spoilers.

Most of the big time streamers or people with a lotta viewers I'm finding are kinda doofuses along with their chat. I was watching someone complete Route C and the guy was like "Ugh, that didn't make any sense" and his chat just kept saying shit like "SHE DIES AT THE END?! WTFBBQ THAT'S SO DUMB WHY DID SHE SAVE PUSSY BOY THIS GAME SUCKS" and like...I've found a number of good ones but it really is just reinforcing my idea that this game is not designed as a public experience and also that most of these kinds of gamers suck at paying the fuck attention. As someone who watches a lot of speedrunners, it's been incredibly disappointing watching speedrunners plays this game.

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

well, im glad you guys are seeing what I realized now...

The amount of emphasis they put on pascal's tone throughout that fight really has me believing my new read on it. Once hes in the Goliath hes all "I'll kill you, I'll Kill you"

Also now I'm starting to understand why a few reviewers didnt like the combat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiFw5oM7w94

this is the lets play I pulled that screenshot from...if all you do is fire the pod gatling and swing twice at a time then mash dodge...jeez. Hordes were so fun to fight, you could juggle them amazingly well, no reason to play this game so cautiously, you have so much control

 

[Roubjon]

the underground fight? I think I did it at 65-70 or so. What level are you?

Yeah, the underground fight. I'm level 70, but he hits hard and my hacking did literally no damage. I do love how when you enter that fight room there are 100 dead corpses on the ground though.

 

[Astral]

well, im glad you guys are seeing what I realized now...

The amount of emphasis they put on pascal's tone throughout that fight really has me believing my new read on it. Once hes in the Goliath hes all "I'll kill you, I'll Kill you"

Also now I'm starting to understand why a few reviewers didnt like the combat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiFw5oM7w94

this is the lets play I pulled that screenshot from...if all you do is fire the pod gatling and swing twice at a time then mash dodge...jeez. Hordes were so fun to fight, you could juggle them amazingly well, no reason to play this game so cautiously, you have so much control

Something I don't like about the combat is that you can't seem to launch or juggle enemies above your level. They were sponges.

 

[RubberLuffy]

Most of the big time streamers or people with a lotta viewers I'm finding are kinda doofuses along with their chat. I was watching someone complete Route C and the guy was like "Ugh, that didn't make any sense" and his chat just kept saying shit like "SHE DIES AT THE END?! WTFBBQ THAT'S SO DUMB WHY DID SHE SAVE PUSSY BOY THIS GAME SUCKS" and like...I've found a number of good ones but it really is just reinforcing my idea that this game is not designed as a public experience and also that most of these kinds of gamers suck at paying the fuck attention. As someone who watches a lot of speedrunners, it's been incredibly disappointing watching speedrunners plays this game.

Dude I think we were watching the same one lol

 

[Bowlie]

this is the lets play I pulled that screenshot from...if all you do is fire the pod gatling and swing twice at a time then mash dodge...jeez. Hordes were so fun to fight, you could juggle them amazingly well, no reason to play this game so cautiously, you have so much control

My game was using evade + slow time + shock wave + charging the pods' attack + changing from small to large sword depending on the enemy.

I'm only sad about not trying spears, combat bracers, or other utility-focused pod programs like gravity and slow, but it was already fun enough!

(I did only hack as 9S because it was just too OP, never attacked with him which was a little monotonous)

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

Something I don't like about the combat is that you can't seem to launch or juggle enemies above your level. They were sponges.

you can, have to stagger them first. I found with 2B her light attack charges would stagger pretty well. Square > Square > Square > hold square > x > triangle was my goto launcher, and it was working as long as the charge attack staggered. If it didnt stagger (usually if I didnt get a couple starter hits in) I would finish with a ground combo or dodge

I actually made a video to show someone my goto simple combo https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=Wo-_Bh4VvaU

My game was using evade + slow time + shock wave + charging the pods' attack + changing from small to large sword depending on the enemy.

I'm only sad about not trying spears, combat bracers, or other utility-focused pod programs like gravity and slow, but it was already fun enough!

(I did only hack as 9S because it was just too OP, never attacked with him which was a little monotonous)

Once My shit was significantly levelled, I gave up on hacking. 9S with combo bracers in one slot and spears in the other was absurd damage. But yea if you didnt switch up more often you really missed out. There are tons of attacks and combos that only happen with different weapons. Like hitting a bracer with a great sword like its a baseball, or spinning on a spear with a sword outstretched hitting things. Add in launchers, and sword throws, and the weapon that rotates around you and...theres a lot of options to be creative

 

[Astral]

you can, have to stagger them first. I found with 2B her light attack charges would stagger pretty well. Square > Square > Square > hold square > x > triangle was my goto launcher, and it was working as long as the charge attack staggered. If it didnt stagger (usually if I didnt get a couple starter hits in) I would finish with a ground combo or dodge

I actually made a video to show someone my goto simple combo https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=Wo-_Bh4VvaU

Oh so that's how it works. I guess lower level enemies stagger more easily.

 

[OniBarubary]

Dude I think we were watching the same one lol

Probably, I've been all over the streams these days.

I think, what's kinda amusing, is that the reception for this game can be split to:

Reviewers: Really like it
Individuals/Posters: Generally really like, like it or had problems. Varied, but those who didn't like it explain it well with most at least enjoying it.
Streamers/Let's Players: Generally annoyed or think "That's it?"

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

just to add one more thing to my lovely pascal theory...I remember distinctly that the game will not let you leave the room with the children until he finishes the line from the screenshot from earlier

 

[Bowlie]

But you're usually also playing for an audience, and trying to be entertaining. I can see how someone that's not 100% focused on the game in front of them wouldn't get right away what's being said.

This (for me, at least) was a game that I needed to think, and rethink, to understand the characters, their motivations, etc. Even then I only understood who created YoRHa (well, not really understood since the game does not tell you, but reached a possible interpretation) by coming to this thread and seeing previous discussions.

Once My shit was significantly levelled, I gave up on hacking. 9S with combo bracers in one slot and spears in the other was absurd damage. But yea if you didnt switch up more often you really missed out. There are tons of attacks and combos that only happen with different weapons. Like hitting a bracer with a great sword like its a baseball, or spinning on a spear with a sword outstretched hitting things. Add in launchers, and sword throws, and the weapon that rotates around you and...theres a lot of options to be creative

Which weapon rotates around you? :O (by the end I stuck with Engine Blade for the alternate visual effects)

Argh, I need to replay this game.

 

[Lucentto]

So, more thinking

Pascal. I'm starting to wonder if his tragedy is even worse...Like thats actually possible.

When the insane machines go to attack the A2, Pascal, and the children Pascal insists on helping, and his attitude finally changes. His pacifism fails.

See at this point I had expected a different outcome from Pascal. I figured the loss of his pacifism would directly relate to whatever tragedy was guaranteed to befall him at this point. However it did not. The children all killed themselves out of fear.

What if though my initial expectation was right. The children were taught fear and Pascal blamed himself for that, but what if its even worse. What if what they were truly afraid of was actually Pascal.



this was before he left the room

Stop. Just stop.

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

Which weapon rotates around you? :O (by the end I stuck with Engine Blade for the alternate visual effects)

Argh, I need to replay this game.

Phoenix Dagger I think, not quite sure. Should check out some combo videos to see some really cool shit.

 

[OniBaka]

just to add one more thing to my lovely pascal theory...I remember distinctly that the game will not let you leave the room with the children until he finishes the line from the screenshot from earlier

Most the dialogs can't be interrupted, I can't save at the save machine when there's dialog.

 

[MetroidPrimeRib]

So, more thinking

Pascal. I'm starting to wonder if his tragedy is even worse...Like thats actually possible.

When the insane machines go to attack the A2, Pascal, and the children Pascal insists on helping, and his attitude finally changes. His pacifism fails.

See at this point I had expected a different outcome from Pascal. I figured the loss of his pacifism would directly relate to whatever tragedy was guaranteed to befall him at this point. However it did not. The children all killed themselves out of fear.

What if though my initial expectation was right. The children were taught fear and Pascal blamed himself for that, but what if its even worse. What if what they were truly afraid of was actually Pascal.



this was before he left the room

delete this

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

Most the dialogs can't be interrupted, I can't save at the save machine when there's dialog.

Yes, but that door opens automatically when you approach normally. This time it keeps you in the room for the conversation

 

[Voliko]

Just finished E. They finally put in a challenging shooting section but then I realized I can't do it with an analog stick... lol

Story wise I think there were too many elements that felt kind of pointless- Adam, Eve, the ultimate machine consciousness, connections to Nier besides Devola and Popola's story, the fucking aliens...

I liked the story's feeling of bleakness and the themes like existentialism that were addressed but none of the plot revelations felt to me like they had much impact.

 

[OniBaka]

Doesn't the same thing happen if you choose to walk away rather than kill/delete his memory.

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

Doesn't the same thing happen if you choose to walk away rather than kill/delete his memory.

I'm actually pretty sure the game lets you walk away as a 3rd option there

 

[OniBaka]

I'm actually pretty sure the game lets you walk away as a 3rd option there

I meant with the dialog, it won't let got leave until they finish.

Anyway I do like your possibility events.

 

[How About No]

So, more thinking

Pascal. I'm starting to wonder if his tragedy is even worse...Like thats actually possible.

When the insane machines go to attack the A2, Pascal, and the children Pascal insists on helping, and his attitude finally changes. His pacifism fails.

See at this point I had expected a different outcome from Pascal. I figured the loss of his pacifism would directly relate to whatever tragedy was guaranteed to befall him at this point. However it did not. The children all killed themselves out of fear.

What if though my initial expectation was right. The children were taught fear and Pascal blamed himself for that, but what if its even worse. What if what they were truly afraid of was actually Pascal.



this was before he left the room

*hyperventilating*

 

[Astral]

My friend wanted to play this game without playing the first. I forbid it. Automata has so many small moments that lack impact unless you've played the first game like Kaine's house, Emil, and Devola and Popola. When Devola and Popola stand in your way and say they've been waiting for you I just thought "fuck, again!?"

 

[Bowlie]

There were a lot of promotional material before the game's release including the twins and Emil, and I'm so glad I was in complete blackout.

When I saw lil' Emil running away from me and saying "WHOAAAAOAOAAAOAAOooooo!!!" I was taken aback.

 

[XxSlasherMcGirkxX]

I'm actually pretty sure the game lets you walk away as a 3rd option there

It's funny because I thought walking away was the most logical choice. Like Pascal our memories are the most precious thing we have, it is better to have loved and lost then to not at all. Those kids will remain with you forever. Killing yourself or erasing your memories is the easy way out. He didn't like me and I never saw him again.

 

[Roubjon]

There were a lot of promotional material before the game's release including the twins and Emil, and I'm so glad I was in complete blackout.

When I saw lil' Emil running away from me and saying "WHOAAAAOAOAAAOAAOooooo!!!" I was taken aback.

I had no idea Emil was in the game until I decided to upload my save data to the cloud and the fucking save data image is Emil's face. Thanks for spoiling that one for me Yoko.

 

[Voliko]

Why did the Replicants die out? Am I just forgetting something from Nier? Oh my god, that was 7 years ago

 

[Bowlie]

Why did the Replicants die out? Am I just forgetting something from Nier? Oh my god, that was 7 years ago

Shade/Gestalt Nier was helping the other Shades/Gestalts not becoming insane.

Once the player character killed him, the Shades went nuts, which in turn made every Replicant contract the Black Scrawl, killing them after a while.

The last part is obviously not shown in the game, since Nier 1 ends right after you kill Shade/Gestalt Nier, but you can imply from all you've learned how things would end for the Replicants.

I had no idea Emil was in the game until I decided to upload my save data to the cloud and the fucking save data image is Emil's face. Thanks for spoiling that one for me Yoko.

Emil is the game icon on Steam, but I thought he was there as a mascot of sorts, after Taro's appearance with his mask. Still did not expect to see him in the game

 

[Roubjon]

Shade/Gestalt Nier was helping the other Shades/Gestalts not becoming insane.

Once the player character killed him, the Shades went nuts, which in turn made every Replicant contract the Black Scrawl, killing them after a while.

The last part is obviously not shown in the game, since Nier 1 ends right after you kill Shade/Gestalt Nier, but you can imply from all you've learned how things would end for the Replicants.

I wonder if Kaine and Yonah died together in Nier's house.

 

[Astral]

When I first played Nier I didn't realize you pretty much doomed everyone to extinction by killing the Shadowlord. Thinking back now, that game had a very very unhappy ending.

 

[A-V-B]

Its still fuck. Its what you immediately think of! ITS WHAT EVERYONE WANTS TO DO

TBH I wasn't and that's still the first thing that came to mind. Dude was just mindfucking 9S all the way.

You just want to help 2B? Love 2B? Save 2B? Kill 2B?

I mean come on. What's the emotional effect of any of those words coming from a guy trying to unravel 9S's psyche (and thinks he has a good enough grasp to do so?)

It's fuck. Of course it is.

 

[Astral]

TBH I wasn't and that's still the first thing that came to mind. Dude was just mindfucking 9S all the way.

You just want to help 2B? Love 2B? Save 2B? Kill 2B?

I mean come on. What's the emotional effect of any of those words coming from a guy trying to unravel 9S's psyche (and thinks he has a good enough grasp to do so?)

It's fuck. Of course it is.

And I like to think the answer was yes.

 

[chrono01]

I finally completed this game today (Ending C/D/E) and can finally enter the spoiler topic! I do have a few questions, though. My apologies if these have already been answered, but this thread is rather large to sort through.

1) From what I understand, Androids already existed before the Alien/Machine life-forms hit (never played the original Nier, but considering Devola/Popola are Androids and existed during that time-frame, it's clear they were around). Where were they made? I originally thought it was the Bunker that created/sent them out, but considering the whole idea behind that was only to serve as a temporary rally effort to continue the war against the machines (and not as a permanent form of residence), as well as Androids existing long before the Bunker was even a thing, makes me question where all of the Androids were assembled.

2) 9S mentions that the YoRHa squadron were created to be destroyed, hence the backdoor plan and the installation of the Logic Virus. I get why there had to be YoRHa members, such as 2B/2E, to "silence" -S models who got too close to the truth, but why was it decided to ultimately end them? Why forcibly cause a reset when/if the Android side were so close to winning? Also, on the subject of the Logic Virus, did they explain how it was formed? I just assumed it was due to the mismatch of Android/Machine parts, that ultimately caused YoRHa members to become corrupt, but from the sounds of things it was planned (as a means to kill of YoRHa). But then, judging from the Pearl Harbour records, Resistance members that weren't part of YoRHa were also affected, so I guess that kind of disproves that theory.

3) What exactly was the Ark? Was it just a means to gather information/data on the current planet (as well as resources), to later shoot off into space to colonize another planet after leaving the current one? Or was its primary goal simply to destroy the Moon, the last place where human data was stored? At the end of Route D, it sounds like all of the "souls/cores" of the defeated Machines within (i.e., Adam/Eve) were being sent to some other planet (which may or may not make the journey, according to the Terminal). Was the Ark Alien or the Machine-made? The reason I ask is because it resembled a lot of the Copied City, which Adam created.

I think that's everything. I still need to let everything that happened marinate in my brain for a bit. There's a lot to process. :/

 

[Shandy]

He just wants to quiz her.

"The million-dollar question: Humans are...
a) Extinct
b) Extinct
c) Extinct
d) Extinct

Ow. 2B. Why did you stab me? What did I do?"

 

[chrono01]

He just wants to quiz her.

"The million-dollar question: Humans are...
a) Extinct
b) Extinct
c) Extinct
d) Extinct

Ow. 2B. Why did you stab me? What did I do?"

The answer is 2B.

I love multiple-choice questions.

 

[KO Traveling Hobo]

When I first played Nier I didn't realize you pretty much doomed everyone to extinction by killing the Shadowlord. Thinking back now, that game had a very very unhappy ending.

Feel with me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxgJ_8AgQbo

Lyrics

Once there were trees full of birds,
Meadowlands vibrant with flowers;
Carefree the songs our children once sang
Gilding our minutes and hours.
Clouds came and covered the sun,
The breath of the baleful unease
Turning to ashes flowers in their fields,
Silenced the birds in their trees.

Hidden so deep in veils of deceit,
Imprisoned in twisting spells -
Are we the plaything of fiends, or merely the dreams
That we're telling ourselves, telling ourselves?

Strive till the phantoms are broken,
Fight till the battle is done;
The squadrons of night can't conquer the day,
Nor shadows extinguish the sun.

Stories of danger, fearless attack,
Specters of plague and pain.
All of these ghosts of our own delusions come back;
And we'll be haunted again, haunted again.

For tho the storms are over and past,
Tho the thunder's rage is quieted at last
Well this nightmare's laid me down in the rags here to mourn,
Here to mourn.
The night has left us crippled with grief
As we strive to keep alive our belief,
But a loss so great, it clouds all our hopes for the dawn.

Hidden so deep in veils of deceit,
Imprisoned in twisting spells -
Are we the plaything of fiends, or merely the dreams
That we're telling ourselves, telling ourselves?

Stories of danger, fearless attack,
Specters of plague and pain.
All of these ghosts of our own delusions are back;
Have we been fighting in vain? Fighting in vain?

 

[Astral]

I finally completed this game today (Ending C/D/E) and can finally enter the spoiler topic! I do have a few questions, though. My apologies if these have already been answered, but this thread is rather large to sort through.

1) From what I understand, Androids already existed before the Alien/Machine life-forms hit (never played the original Nier, but considering Devola/Popola are Androids and existed during that time-frame, it's clear they were around). Where were they made? I originally thought it was the Bunker that created/sent them out, but considering the whole idea behind that was only to serve as a temporary rally effort to continue the war against the machines (and not as a permanent form of residence), as well as Androids existing long before the Bunker was even a thing, makes me question where all of the Androids were assembled.

2) 9S mentions that the YoRHa squadron were created to be destroyed, hence the backdoor plan and the installation of the Logic Virus. I get why there had to be YoRHa members, such as 2B/2E, to "silence" -S models who got too close to the truth, but why was it decided to ultimately end them? Why forcibly cause a reset when/if the Android side were so close to winning? Also, on the subject of the Logic Virus, did they explain how it was formed? I just assumed it was due to the mismatch of Android/Machine parts, that ultimately caused YoRHa members to become corrupt, but from the sounds of things it was planned (as a means to kill of YoRHa). But then, judging from the Pearl Harbour records, Resistance members that weren't part of YoRHa were also affected, so I guess that kind of disproves that theory.

3) What exactly was the Ark? Was it just a means to gather information/data on the current planet (as well as resources), to later shoot off into space to colonize another planet after leaving the current one? Or was its primary goal simply to destroy the Moon, the last place where human data was stored? At the end of Route D, it sounds like all of the "souls/cores" of the defeated Machines within (i.e., Adam/Eve) were being sent to some other planet (which may or may not make the journey, according to the Terminal). Was the Ark Alien or the Machine-made? The reason I ask is because it resembled a lot of the Copied City, which Adam created.

I think that's everything. I still need to let everything that happened marinate in my brain for a bit. There's a lot to process. :/

I will try but someone might do a better job.

1) I'm not sure they ever mention WHERE they were made in the original Nier. Humans created them though.

2) Killing them all right as they were so close to victory was precisely the point. Every time one side is close to victory, some shit happens so that victory is prevented. The machine network and androids (I think. It might just be the network behind everything) want the war to continue endlessly because they were all programmed to fight. Without a war to fight they'll lose their reason for even existing and wouldn't know what to even do with their lives.

3) Yes the ark was created to gather all the memories of the machines that wanted fuck all to do with the endless war and send them into space.

Feel with me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxgJ_8AgQbo

Lyrics

Stahp. I have that shit memorized

 

[Bowlie]

*snip*

1- According to Grimoire Nier, which is always an important reading if you haven't done so already, androids were created in 2032 to assist the Replicant System since humans wouldn't be around to manage it. It does not say when or how they were created, though.

2 - As the game said, YoRHa was never meant to win the war, just to continue this war of attrition as long as possible. If they did win, that would mean that the "humans" in the moon, which do not exist, would need to reveal themselves. Humans in that world are treated as divine beings by the androids; exposing that the humans are dead for millennia would destroy the androids' morale.

The people that created YoRHa, and are unknown to us, would rather have war and lies than peace and hopelessness.

2.1 - The definition for logic virus, in the stage play, is:

Logic Virus: A virus that infects a machine and destroys it systematically. Once infected, it causes various malfunctions and hindered mobility. There are destructive types that affect the android's electronic brain by forcibly rewriting the data to destroy it, and trojan types with the purpose of espionage.

I guess it's just a virus that affects bio-mechanical lifeforms, be they androids or machines.
YoRHa used to have a protection against the logic virus. Once they were almost winning the war, they disabled that protection (enabled the "backdoor"), allowing the logic virus to enter and mess every YoRHa android up.

3 - I have no idea, lmao. We have like 5 minutes of exposition and that's it. I think it's open for you to interpret however you want it.

 

[OniBarubary]

The Ark was the machine collective basically seeing all the events of the game and going "Fuck it, this war is horseshit" The Tower was a big gun to shoot the moon and destroy humanity's data but after thinking about it the Machine Network decided not to keep perpetuating the war and to send the data of all the machines into space instead to hopefully reach a planet where they could just exist without the need for "gods" or, at worst, just float as data for eternity.