Nier: Automata has an abundance of robots in it. These range from stubby little animatronics to YoRHa androids to towering Goliaths.
Some of these demonstrate a large amount of personality, while others simple exist to provide a shooting gallery for the player or to hand out fetch quests. We’ve decided to take a look at some of the more developed of the bunch, with the aim of ranking them from worst to best.
As with any Yoko Taro game, it’s recommended you’ve played the game before you read anything about it to avoid spoiling the experience. Consider this your final warning.
Let’s begin.
When not glued to the latest release, Jack Yarwood spends his time writing and talking about videogames online. You can follow what he’s up to on his Twitter and on his blog.
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Half-Wit Inventor
One of the many quest characters that are located around Pascal's Village, the Half-Wit Inventor asks the player for gears (the in-game currency). If you fund him, he'll offer you rewards that are equal to the value of the amount you've paid him. It's an odd, little quest, but one that celebrates the curiosity of the player.
Half-Wit Inventor
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Grun
A large machine lifeform created to destroy androids, Grun was sealed away in the sea for his tendency to attack other robots.
During the events of Nier: Automata, however, he somehow manages to return and attempts to reach land. Extraordinarily powerful, due to his electronic magnetic pulse defences, he's subdued by the scout 9S, after the android fires missiles directly into the machine's mouth.
Grun
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Masamune
Encountered in the Forest Castle Ruins, below the throne room, Masamune is a blacksmith who upgrades your gear and sells machine weapons.
If you speak to him, he'll also inform you of some powerful swords that can be found across the world map. These were made by his master and were sealed away after his teacher realized the bloodshed that they had caused.
Noble and highly proficient in his trade, Masamune is a useful supporting character.
Masamune
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High-Speed Machine
First seen in the City Ruins by a fallen Goliath model, the High-Speed Machine challenges the player to a number of races as part of the Speed Star quest.
This activity provides a neat little distraction from the main game, and culminates in a sequence that gives a further dose of humanity to the mechanical beings in the world.
If you're looking for something to do other than blasting away machines and catching fish, the High-Speed Machine has got you covered.
High-Speed Machine
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YoRHa Betrayers
8B, 22B and 64B are three rogue YoRHa units. Your tasked with detaining them, after they abandon their post and start causing problems for the Resistance forces on Earth. As it turns out, however, this wasn't necessarily the case.
After facing all three members, you return to the Resistance camp to find the Resistance leader. She'll tell you, however, that she was unaware of any threat from rogue androids, hinting towards a more duplicitous side to the YoRHa project.
The conflict with these units really makes you question your actions as a player. You never truly get the time to understand them fully, but there's enough evidence to suggest they weren't deserving of their fate.
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Robot Cultists
The robot cultists that inhabit the factory ruins are truly fascinating. You come across them while playing as 2B, with your intention being to broker an alliance between Pascal's village and the religious organisation.
However, their world descends into chaos soon after you arrive, when it's revealed their leader has kicked the bucket. For this reason, the robot cult can be seen as a scathing critique of organized religion and blind faith.
They also happen to be some of the most memorable robots from Nier; Automata and clearly show the developers weren't afraid to tackle some complex themes within the game's narrative.
Robot Cultists
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Jackass
Jackass is a resistance member who is involved in several quest lines. She enjoys experiments and likes to subject the androids 2B and 9S to different trials, in order to collect data.
Perhaps the most notable example of this is when she asks them to eat a Mackerel to see how the oil effects an android's body. Should you do this, it will result in one of the many 'joke' endings of the game, with the android dying as a result.
Always a valuable source of information, Jackass is a character worth keeping track of, if you're interested in completing the many side-quests the game has to offer.
Jackass
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Father Servo
Father Servo is situated on top of a building close to the entrance of the desert camp. He's a follower of the warrior's path and uses the player to become stronger, goading them to bring him spare parts to augment his form.
After each improvement, he'll task the player with defeating him, testing his newfound strength.
He's yet another example of a machine with a distinct personality and provides some fun fighting challenges for the player to overcome.
Father Servo
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Robot Acting Troupe
Romeo & Juliet is already a violent production. It involves murder, suicide and betrayal. Yet somehow the version that's performed by the amusement park robots in Nier: Automata manages to be even more vicious.
Should you revisit the theatre after defeating the Opera Singer, you'll be treated to a spectacular production where Romeo and Juliet beat each other into bolts and scrap metal. It's a highly amusing scene that's elevated by the wonderfully misguided performances from the acting troupe.
Robot Acting Troupe
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Operator 6O & 210
When deployed in the field, you're supported by the androids Operator 6O and Operator 210. These characters have drastically different personalities.
For example, 6O is vibrant, friendly and isn't afraid to share personal details about herself. 210, on the other hand, is stern and officious. It's this juxtaposition of extremes that helps them stand out among the cast of characters.
Operator 6O & 210