| YoRHa No.9 Type S | |
|---|---|
| Drakengard character | |
&sq=crain_ford&lang=en&file=File:9Sconceptart.png) Artwork by Akihiko Yoshida | |
| First game | Nier: Automata (2017) |
| Created by | Yoko Taro |
| Designed by | Akihiko Yoshida |
| Voiced by | EN: Kyle McCarley JA: Natsuki Hanae |
YoRHa No.9 Type S (Japanese: ヨルハ九号S型, Hepburn: Yoruha Kyū-gō S-gata), commonly called 9S and informally "Nines", a fictional character from the 2017 action role-playing game Nier: Automata developed by PlatinumGames and published by Square Enix. 9S is a YoRHa squadron "Scanner" reconnaissance model known for his outgoing personality and curiosity about the world and the Machine Lifeforms. Nier: Automata is set in the year 11945 on a post-apocalyptic Earth abandoned by humanity. Earth has been occupied by aliens, who fight using an army of Machine Lifeforms. Androids, created by humans, fight against the Machine Lifeforms, with the conflict turning into a prolonged proxy war. The latest addition to the android forces is YoRHa, an elite android fighting force based in the orbital Bunker and communicating directly with the Council of Humanity on the Moon. YoRHa models 9S and 2B are sent down as part of a reconnaissance force to investigate local Machine behaviour and aid local Resistance forces. During their time on Earth, 2B and 9S suppress hostile Machine Lifeforms, coming into contact with other characters who exist on the world.
9S was created by game designer Yoko Taro from the final moments of the video game Nier: Automata, setting him as an antagonistic lonely warrior opposing the rebellious android A2 and then coming up with a new scenario that would explain his transformation from a kind android to such broken down character. He is voiced by Natsuki Hanae in Japanese and Kyle McCarley in English. Critical response to 9S's character has been positive for his role in the story and relationship with 2B in both gaming and animated adaptation Nier: Automata Ver1.1a. He was also recognized as a more human character by scholars in latter parts of the game where 9S is portrayed as establishing his own identity rather than being forced to fight for Yorha.