Altais
Smash Champion
Welcome to the 2B support thread.
2B is the heroine of NieR: Automata. She is a combat android of the YoRHa infantry. Calm, collected, and resolute, she lets nothing stand in her way. Her primary weapons are a one-handed sword, a two-handed sword, spears, and combat bracers. She can also fire from a distance using her assistant Pod, as well as use her Pod to glide. Her most unique feature is the blindfold-esque visor she wears.
NieR: Automata takes place on a post-apocalyptic Earth, where alien machines wreak havoc. Forced to take refuge on the Moon, humanity sends the YoRHa combat androids to battle the mysterious invaders. 2B's story begins when her assault team is wiped out, leaving her to fend for herself.
Personally, I'm hoping NieR: Automata gets ported to the Switch. PlatinumGames said that if Square Enix provides the funds, they'll do it. If that happens, I'm supporting the hell out of 2B, as I think she would be very unique, in terms of moveset. Since we already have one Square Enix character (Cloud), and one Platinum character (Bayonetta), it may very well happen.
For what it counts, Sakurai has shown interest in NieR: Automata. Yoko Taro, director of NieR: Automata, also wants to see the game on the Switch. Lastly, 2B's appearance in Soul Calibur VI has shown that Square Enix is willing to give her cameo appearances.
Source Gaming | “Thinking Outside the Box” — Sakurai’s Famitsu Column Vol. 526
Nintendo Life | NieR: Automata Director Yoko Taro Really Wants To See The Game On Nintendo Switch
And before someone shouts, "inb4lock!!" 2B has appeared in Phantasy Star Online 2 (released for multiple platforms, including the Switch) as an alternate costume. So strictly speaking, she does meet the unwritten rule of "Thou Shalt have Originated from a Video Game and appeared on Nintendo".
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In the past I said she didn't have a chance, but here's how 2B could still win.
As of late Square Enix has been crossing over with different franchises wherever possible. Noctis in Tekken, Behemoth in Monster Hunter World, Assassin's Creed in Final Fantasy XV, andin Smash Bros. (previously thought to be impossible) to name a few. Square Enix also has a solid precedent of working with Nintendo, with Nintendo publishing Dragon Quest I, VI, VII, VIII, and IX within Western countries (IX is notable as it was a third-party DS game published by Nintendo, something only done for Dragon Quest and Level-5 games in the DS era) and Square Enix creating a division of their company to specifically focus on making Nintendo Switch games. They've also worked closely together on Smash DLC, having now included characters from their two largest franchises in
Now, my eagle eyed readers are looking at me right now saying, "but tehponycorn! Most of those crossovers are with other Square Enix games!" To which I say this is still significant. There's a clear push within Square Enix to both increase and cash in on the popularity of Nier: Automata
- Gravity Rush 2 (in the form of a costume)
- Soul Calibur 6 (as a playable character)
- Final Fantasy Brave Exivus (as an obtainable unit alongside 9S and 21O, and later A2, Adam, and Eve)
- Valkyrie Anatomia The Origin (as an obtainable unit)
- SINoALICE (as an obtainable unit)
- Bravely Default Fairy's Effect (as a costume alongside 9S)
- Servant of Thrones (as an obtainable card alongside 9S and A2)
- Toji no Miko (as an obtainable card alongside 9S and Devola)
- Phantasy Star Online 2 (in the form of a costume alongside 9S and A2)
- Lord of Vermillion (as an obtanable card alongside 9S and A2)
- Final Fantasy XIV (not present, but her color inverted double 2P is an important NPC in the raid event, and 2B and 9S costumes can be unlocked through it)
- Star Ocean: Anemnesis (as an obtainable unit alongside 9S and A2) (sidenote, but this game also crossed over with the Persona series, adding Joker, Kasumi, Futaba, Yu, and Makoto as obtainable units)
- Spelunker World (in the form of a costume alongside 9S, A2, and Emil)
- Final Fantasy XV (cross-promotion with Nier: Automata getting Noctis' Engine Blade as a weapon and FFXV getting Nier: Automata music)
- Monster Hunter Frontier Z (as a costume alongside 9S and Emil equipment)
- and most recently, an upcoming collaboration between Nier: Automata and Shadowverse was announced for this Summer. Judging from precedence, 2B will likely be present in some form.
- Nier: Automata has also had music featured in Theatrym: Final Fantasy, which was a 3DS release
in a neverending cycle of promotion and profit. So, if there comes another chance to include a Square Enix character in Smash (which I would say is more likely than you'd think, fan patterns be damned), 2B would likely be a frontrunner.
It's also important to note the non-Square Enix crossovers are with prominent companies such as Namco, Sega, and Cygames. Namco is working on Smash Bros. with Nintendo, and has already negotiated with Square Enix to use 2B in one of their games. Square Enix is apparently difficult to negotiate with (though I find that hard to believe myself), so, if ease of negotiation is a factor for another Square Enix character, 2B could actually be more likely than you'd think. It also speaks to Square Enix's push for 2B that they would choose her over other prominent franchises of theirs, such as Final Fantasy among others.
"but tehponycorn!" you say, "2B hasn't ever been on a Nintendo console!!!" To which I say you're correct. However, association to Nintendo isn't as strong an argument as it was in the past with the inclusion of
While I make a point to not cite insiders, there are multiple reputable sources in this community who say that negotiations for Banjo occurred and finished as early as March 2018, when Ultimate was first teased. Judging by this timeline, Joker would've been negotiated for far before Persona Q2–Joker's first appearance on a Nintendo console–was released. While Q2 was announced in 2017, the lack of Q2 content (rip Road Less Taken) shows that Q2 was less of a consideration in Joker's inclusion than expected. The fact that Royal, Persona 4, and Persona 3 content (Joker's grappling hook attack, music) were included over Q2 content further shows Q2's lesser influence. Joker's inclusion is on the flimsy ground of Persona being a spin-off of Shin Megami Tensei (a fact which is only stated in a single press release), and Cloud was included on the technicality of being in Theatrym: Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts (specifically Re: coded). While 2B has yet appeared on a Nintendo console herself, it's notable that the Nier: Automata costumes in Phantasy Star Online 2 are available on the Switch version, and Nier music has shown up on the 3DS in the afortmentioned Final Fantasy Theatrym: Curtain Call. I'd say this gives her the level of technicality that both Cloud and Joker had at the time of their respective inclusions.
Another thing that could facilitate 2B's inclusion is the relationship between Sakurai and Nier series director Yoko Taro. It's a given that Sakurai's relationships with Testsuya Normura and Yuji Horii were beneficial, if not essential, to the inclusion of Cloud and Hero respectively. Similarly, Sakurai and Taro have a good relationship between them. Most recently the two appeared together on a New Year's livestream, where they met for the first time. Before that, they have a history of correspondence dating back to 2011, with them generally encouraging each other. Sakurai has praised the Drakengard and Nier series in one of his Famitsu columns and referenced Yoko Taro as one of the big name game designers born in 1970 in his Sakurai x Normura interview., and Yoko Taro has contrasted himself to Sakurai in an interview on Nier: Automata. This shows that, at the very least the two are certainly on each other's radars.
Taro is also relatively easy to work with on crossovers, evidenced not only by the sheer number of Nier: Automata crossovers, but also his own statements. In an interview he said about crossovers:
Sakurai has been shown to go after franchises he likes for Smash, such as Persona and King of Fighters, so if he's a large fan of the Drakengard and Nier series, it's possible he would choose to include them in Smash if given the chance by Nintendo, or seek to include them himself. Given Taro's open stance towards crossover, it's not hard to assume that he'd be onboard instantly. Sakurai and Taro working togehter would facilitate negotiations for 2B between Nintendo and Square Enix, making the process relatively smooth for both companies.
"BUT TEHPONYCORN!" you say, "SMASH BROS IS FOR GOOD BOYS AND GIRLS! 2B'S COSTUME IS TOO INAPPROPRIATE!" to which I say:
Smash Bros has already dealt with censorship of characters to pass age ratings, with both Camilla and Mythra's designs being censored in minor ways to pass age rating. Similarly, for 2B's inclusion minor edits could be made (i.e. lengthening the skirt, removing the chest window, black void under the skirt, not referencing the self-destruct feature) to pass age ratings. The thing about Mai is that it's impossible to reconcile her design without creating a completely new one. One look will tell you that it wasn't worth the effort for a small stage cameo.
- Please stop yelling you're hurting my ears, and
- It's not as big of a deal as you think
Final Fantasy XIV, which as previously mentioned had a major Nier: Automata event, was able to keep it's Cero C (Ages 15 and up) Rating perfectly fine while including a major NPC designed like 2B and giving out 2B and 9S costumes. So, it stands to reason that Smash Ultimate could keep it's current rating while including 2B (they got Bayonetta in there for ****'s sake I don't think Sakurai is gonna let a little tiddies and ass stop him from including a character).
I'd say that 2B is in a similar position to Joker in base speculation. She's has a small fanbase who doubt her chances but has more of a chance than people expect given the massive popularity of her series and the position she's in. I absolutely would not be surprised if she were to be playable within the next year or two, and I hope I've made a convincing case to look out for 2B too.
The Stars have aligned in our favor.
At this point, I'm fully confident in 2B. Why? Expect a lengthy explanation/summary! Endure it! Endure it!
Let us start off with the obvious. We're getting more DLC fighters! (You already knew that though, didn't you?)
And, as a result, we can make the assumption that in this next batch of DLC Fighters, Square Enix will toss in yet another rep.
In the current moment of time, the characters people consider most seem to be Sora, Geno, and I believe 2B. Now with these two in the way, why would 2B get in? Fairly simple. This is going off of how things have been done thus far for such things.
Sora is fairly likely to get in, I'd say, though I believe 2B is more probable. The top four Square Enix franchises thus far in terms of sales in order are: Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts, and the DrakeNier franchise. Of course, going off of this pattern, it'd be natural to assume that Kingdom Hearts is the next in line to get the rep, right? Well, I'm not entirely sure about that to tell the truth. Potential Disney drama aside (because it's been repeated to death at this point, and personally I now feel as if Disney won't hurt nor boost Sora's chances. At least not significantly.), there are some things 2B does happen to have going for her that Sora does not, which I will go into further below.
As for Geno, I believe the odds are against Geno's favor, more so than Sora. Admittedly, outside of the Smash community, he's rather niche on a global scale (I'm sorry for anyone he's a big fan of him, I intend no offense,) and not only that, Fighters Pass DLC thus far seems to have been consistent in one "rule" if you will as stated by Reggie: All new DLC reps are those of franchises that have yet to be in Smash in any shape or form. This is likely to be the case with the next wave, as stated by Sakurai (choose to interpret it literally or not if you will, I choose to do so; Reggie stated something similar before and it ended up being literal)...
The implication here is that the next wave will continue to "add game worlds to the series", or continue to add characters who're not from franchises in smash in any shape or form thus far, as it has with the first Fighters Pass. This doesn't prevent him from being a Mii Costume, however, but I feel as though that'd really be the best case scenario for Geno.
Now, as for the things that point towards 2B? There's many things in her favor.
❖ Sometime in May this year, Yoko Taro stated that 2B's voice actress would soon reprise her role again. This isn't just to suggest that it is for smash, however, but exciting nonetheless isn't it? There's a very good chance that it is for Yoko Taro's next game, which is supposed to be unveiled to the public "next chance he gets", likely Tokyo Game Show 2019. This indicates that Square Enix indeed sees NieR as a valuable franchise to promote to ensure its growth.
❖ Yoko Taro stated he would gladly lend 2B out to put her into as many games as possible, Smash included. Square/Yoko Taro have put 2B/Nier in multiple games already. Some more popular ones are SoulCalibur 6, Gravity Rush/Daze, Monster Hunter Frontier Z, Phantasy Star Online 2, Lords of Vermillion, FFXIV, and countless others (sadly, many are also Japan exclusive). This indicates that she'd be one of the characters Square Enix is far more eager to lend out, especially if Yoko Taro or Yosuke Saito have a say in it.
❖ Sakurai favors NieR: Automata, and has played every game in the franchise. Sakurai has stated before that he loved NieR: Automata, and enjoyed Yoko Taro's works. He's also written a famitsu column on the game as well (link here). Interesting thing to note, many of the more 'recent' games Sakurai has written famitsu columns on thus far have been put into smash one way or another. Sakurai wrote 2 columns on Persona 5 (Joker), even wrote one on indies talking about how he's enjoyed Undertale (Sans Mii Costume), etc. I suppose you could say there's a bit of Sakurai bias on this, as most DLC characters thus far are those of franchises or games Sakurai has enjoyed.
❖ Japan favors NieR: Automata. In Japan, Famitsu published results based off of a large survey on what the best games of the Heisei Era were. On this list, NieR: Automata ranked third. It has also grown worldwide appeal thus far, and continues to grow in popularity today at a stunning pace considering its circumstances.
❖ Yoko Taro and Sakurai are good friends. They've become fairly friendly with one another in recent times. Not only will this make it easier for him to obtain 2B, but Sakurai has also put characters belonging to friends in the game. (Snake.)
❖ The other consistent "rule" for DLC thus far, being characters from a game after 2016 being unable to make the cut due to when the first Fighters Pass choices were finalized, is thrown out the window. This is because this fighters pass is new and reason, undeniably getting rid of the biggest roadblock for 2B.
These are merely a few of the main things that are in 2B's favor. These are also the things 2B holds over Sora being in Smash, save for potentially the friendship Sakurai and Yoko Taro hold merely because Nomura is also friends with Sakurai. Admittedly, the only things standing in 2B's way now is the possibility of Sora making it in over her (though I strongly believe her to be more likely than Sora in this case), and the other "rule" of characters needing to have appeared on a Nintendo Console. Though, you could say she already qualifies for that "rule", being in Phantasy Star Online 2, which is also on the Switch. Even then, if that doesn't qualify her, Yosuke Saito, Yoko Taro, and Takahisa Taura have all agreed to wanting to put NieR: Automata on the switch. Therefore, if she doesn't qualify for that rule now, she most likely will very soon.
I'm sorry for making you read so much of this long post. Unless you didn't read it all, which is understandable.And rude.But hopefully this all makes sense to you all.
Let us hope this is all correct. Unless you're rooting for Sora or Geno instead of 2B, I guess.
Glory to Mankind! and whatnot.
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