YoRHa No.2 Type B from Nier: Automata (Flare DX Version)

2B figure

I’ve had this figure of Nier: Automata’s YoRHa No. 2 Type B – hereafter called 2B – for some time; since I’m not getting many figures in the mail these days due to the current moratorium on EMS shipments from Japan to the United States, and since this figure recently went up for preorder again, I figure it’s a good time to take a look at her. It’s something of a wonderment that this figure was released at all; I don’t recall that Square allows many of their properties to be adapted into figures, at least not by third-party manufacturers. That they allowed Yoshizawa Mitsumasa to do the design is even more odd, but we’ll get into that in a bit.

2B figure

2B is the lead heroine of Platinum Games’s well-received game Nier: Automata. I haven’t actually played this game yet, in large part due to having played World of Warcraft for the last eight years, but I did buy it during a Steam sale some time ago. Unfortunately I’ve heard that the PC version suffers from some major technical issues without applying a fan-made patch, which is a little discouraging, but it’s on my list of things to play now that Warcraft has substantially fallen off in my esteem. Nier: Automata was a breakout hit for the developer – as it should have been, given the accolades it received, but the design aesthetic of the main characters has also attracted gamers in a way that the dichotomous male protagonists of its predecessor – one of whom was a hulking old man included as a curiously quixotic ploy to entice Western audiences – never had a chance of succeeding at.

2B figure

This figure of 2B is manufactured by Flare and was first released back in 2019 and is due for a re-release this October, presumably in conjunction with the release of the mobile game Nier: Reincarnation. No height scale is given but given that she stands about 168 centimeters in height and that this figure is about 28 centimeters in height, we can calculate that figure is exactly 1/6 scale, which looks right to me.

Flare released two versions of this figure, a normal edition that came with only a blindfolded face and a fully-clothed torso, and a DX version, which includes an additional head with an uncovered face as well as another torso which omits the dress. The DX version also includes a Pod unit, a flying, box-shaped robot; I don’t think the normal version includes that accessory, though I might be wrong about that.

2B figure

Despite the game’s relative recency, 2B’s design is iconic, as proven by the thousands of illustrations, cosplay, doujinshi, and other such examples of fan appreciation visible on the internet. Much has been written on the game’s characters, gameplay, music, and philosophical underpinnings so I’m not going to spend much time describing 2B; rather, I’ll just say that I really like her look, particularly her boots, leotard, and blindfold. Also, while I usually much prefer anime-type girls to have long hair, I think 2B’s bob cut is cute; her hair reminds me a bit of Rei Ayanami, and I’m much more of a Rei fan than an Asuka fan.

2B figure

Yoshizawa Mitsumasa – also known by the group name REFLECT – is, by my estimation, one of the most veteran sculptors still working in the figure industry. When looking at his work, several themes are evident: his predilection for long legs and lean torsos, mature and glamorous facial features, and tight-fitting outfits with high-heeled footwear. He’s also apparently no fan of large backsides, as virtually all of his figures have very flat rears. Further, these traits always supersede the canon appearance of the characters he sculpts; I’ve sometimes complained that figure makers are at times slavishly faithful to whatever illustration they are adapting as a figure, but that’s never a concern with REFLECT’s work.

All of this is to say that Mitsumasa was a very strange choice to design what is, to my knowledge, the only fixed-pose, scale-size PVC figure of 2B currently in existence. I’m a big fan of Mitsumasa’s work – I own a bunch of his figures – but I’m not so sure I would not have preferred a less idiosyncratic style. Or put more crudely, it might have been better had 2B been given a bigger ass, the way she is depicted in the video game.

2B figure

Regardless, it is what it is (a phrase I found myself using a lot in 2020). As mentioned earlier, this is the DX version, which includes an extra head sans blindfold. With her eyes uncovered, 2B’s countenance manifests in a steely, emotionless stare – appropriate for an android but perhaps not particularly compelling. Also as mentioned, 2B looks older than the typical teenagers that populate a great many Japanese games, though having not played Nier: Automata, I’m not sure how old she seems to be, or whether maturity is even a characteristic evinced within the game.

2B figure

Her basic costume includes this dress, evocative of Gothic fashion. Rather than make the dress removable, the DX version supplies an additional torso; the detachment point is not initially conspicuous but once you know where it is – it’s the prominent seam just under her bust – it becomes quite apparent.

2B figure

Swapping to the alternate torso leaves her clad in a high-cut leotard, which is also visible in the game if the player would prefer to admire her backside. An emphasis on sexiness has fallen out of vogue as an element of video game heroine design, but it’s nice to see that series creator Yoko Taro is as incorrigible as ever.

2B figure

In this display mode, one can see the slim waist and prominent hipbones common in Mitsumasa’s work.

2B figure

The unfortunate thing is that her backside is really flat. Lamentably flat. Indeed, her whole body is very slender, almost unhealthily so, if body mass were a concern for androids. That said, the thong back of her leotard is a nice inclusion.

2B figure

This flying robot pod is included in this version of the figure. The arms feature an impressive degree of articulation.

2B figure

The face of the robot looks scratched here, though it’s not as obvious in normal viewing as the pod is not particularly large.

2B figure

2B’s sword is impressively detailed. Thankfully, it’s also pretty easy to slide into her group thanks to the detachable handle. Instructions are included to demonstrate how to assemble and disassemble the figure and oddly enough, English translations are provided – that’s a very rare practice, and it’s nice to see that Flare appreciates their overseas customers.

2B figure

I guess I don’t really participate in the figure-collecting community these days – I’m not actually even sure if there is a figure-collecting community, or where its nexus might be – but I seem to recall that there was some displeasure when this figure was unveiled, partly due to its price and partly due to the liberties taken with 2B’s design. I think that this figure has become more appreciated over time – both in terms of collector sentiment as well as monetary value. I have to admit I thought once or twice about selling mine since I left it unopened until just a couple of weeks ago. However, I’m very happy to have it and I think she looks great; I’m a big fan of REFLECT’s work, aside from the lack of rear definition, and while it wasn’t the most obvious style to use for a figure of 2B, I think it works fine. And even if it didn’t, there is not a surfeit of 2B figures to choose from, at least not in terms of licensed or fixed-pose products. But I’m more than satisfied with the way this figure turned out.

2B figure
2B figure

Incidentally, Nier: Automata endures in the popular consciousness of video gaming not only because of the game’s quality and telegenic characters, but also because Square Enix is happy to let the likenesses of its characters be used in numerous other games, including Soulcalibur, Phantasy Star Online 2, Final Fantasy XIV, Punishing: Gray Raven, and Shadowverse, amongst several others. Yoko Taro has said that he’s happy to see his characters in other properties, and as a fan of Epic Seven, I’m sort of hoping that game might get a collab that brings over 2B, 9S, and A2. Or really, anything but Hololive.

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12 Responses to YoRHa No.2 Type B from Nier: Automata (Flare DX Version)

  1. DP says:

    Nice figure and photography!

    2B is certainly a great design, and along with Kos-Mos my favorite video game android; the amount of 2B cosplay is a testament to the success of the art. It’s a real shame there isn’t a cinematic movie. I also hope to buy the PC version (plus patch, which seems easily available) at some point, though I’d also need to get a controller as I’ve heard playing it via keyboard is a pain.

    In this figure, her forearms look somewhat unusually skinny compared to the rest of the arm and body. I wonder if this is a visual artifact of the puffed sleeves or original design element?

    • Tier says:

      Thanks! Yeah, I think I’d agree with that ranking, at least off the top of my head. I need to figure out where I put my Xbox controllers so I can try the game out; I’ve got a bunch of games on Steam that I want to play that were really meant to be played with a controller.

      Nah, I don’t think it’s a visual artifact or a peculiarity of the photographs; the figure really is very slender in build. I know that 2B kinda has a reputation for thiccness as the kids say but that’s definitely not a feature of this figure.

  2. wieselhead says:

    This is a nice figure, iconic is a good term for her, gothic (girl) with boots and a chic dress.
    Her face is beautiful, also with this half blindfolded option. In general I mainly buy figures with a distinctive anime style, but I really don’t mind this more mature and realistic direction of its design.

    1/6 sounds like a great scale for this figure, 1/8 scale became extinct somehow, for this figure
    I don’t want to have it honestly, but some years ago we had more of those.
    I always wanted to play the game, I don’t know if I’m already too rusty for the controls and fast combo attacks, I should try it nevertheless, as it looks so cool and stylish lol.

    Her butt looks ok, I understand your sentiment about it though, I’m an expert and sadly many anime figures could need a bit more plastic in that area in my opinion XD
    While it is indeed small, the nice shape is there, I think. The saddest backside I have seen on a figure was Kashima from Amakuni, really her thighs and panties are so nice and then she gets such a lackluster flat butt attached, it’s sad, so sad. I will sell it… hahaha

    Apparently Flare did a good job with this figure and the little helper robot, which I really like.

    • Tier says:

      I did notice also that many figures these days are 1/7 scale; it’s something that I’m definitely okay with since I like bigger figures but I wonder why 1/8 scale has kinda fallen out of favor. (I’d kinda speculate that it’s partly because so many Fate figures are made in 1/7 scale and because Alter doesn’t make as many figures as they used to; they were always big on 1/8 scale).

      Haha, yeah, I feel like I wouldn’t be great at these sorts of games anymore; I don’t really have the patience or reflexes anymore. (I remember a few years back I was playing World of Warcraft and a guy in my raid group complimented me for putting out good DPS numbers while being an old man. I was just like WTF, and then I realized I was twice the kid’s age.)

      That’s unfortunate about Kashima; I remember she was one of the curvier Kantai Collection characters, if memory serves. I definitely agree that a lot of figures can use more attention in that area 😀 I guess the other 2B figure review will compensate for that somewhat.

  3. Adam says:

    I think r/animefigures and MyFigureCollection are the main places where figure collectors congregate on the web. There’s also MyAnimeShelf.

  4. LGrey says:

    Now I’m curious, what’s your take on 2B statue from Square Enix Masterline?
    Aside from its exorbitant price, that’s for sure ^^

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0UDAo6Icds

    • Tier says:

      I think it looks great but it’s really annoying and kinda toxic how they make you buy the three-statue DX version if you want to display 2B without the dress. That said, I’m thinking about ordering it, which is probably proof that I am out of my mind. I think I’ll have a little more to write about this in an upcoming review.

  5. Nefae says:

    Waiting for type a no.2

  6. Bostonbrandon says:

    Sorry to keep dredging up the past, but I have to ask. Is it just me or does 2B of comically long arms? Since photos first started appearing and looking at yours now I still see what almost looks like a Devilman type of character’s arms. Is it different in hand?

    • Tier says:

      Looking at the full-body photos, I see what you’re saying – her arms look really gangling. It’s a lot less apparent in real life, I think; she’s definitely very tall and lean but her body proportions don’t look too awkward, at least if you’re familiar with REFLECT’s style (though I have to imagine this is the first figure of his that many Nier fans bought, and I have to imagine some of them weren’t thrilled with this figure’s style). It’s definitely a big change from how she appears in the game, though; from what I can tell, she’s somewhat petite and more fully proportioned, and I still think it’s odd that Flare was allowed to make this figure.

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