[SPOILERS] So, exactly what happened during Ending C? Can someone explain?

[Prolixus]

ROUTE C SPOILERS AHEAD!

A2 hacked into 9S's system with Pod help. That is clear. But what happened after that? I don't get the entire scene. A2 was supposed to remove the logic virus from 9S, right? But how she was going to do it is unexplained.

She ordered the Pod to take 9S's body away, then she touched that beam of light thingy and the tower suddenly crumbled. What was that all about? How did she plan to eliminate the virus? Why did the tower crumble? What was that beam of light-like thing in 9S's system?

[Narukami Ogosho]

she broke the network system, and the tower colapse, after the credits you can see the sword of 2B and backpack of 9S in the forest, suggesting the pods put their memories to rest
but the real ending it's ending E , no spoilers because i don't know if you finished
to do ending E you need to do ending C and D and pass the minigame in credits

[pxlwrld]

I think Ending C actually leads directly into Ending E, as noted by the fact that 9S is missing his arm in the final shot. As for what A2 did during her final moments is everybody's guess. It looked like she simply shut down whatever kept the Arch running. I think the huge beam of light was symbolism for A2s path to heaven (and with that, her long lost comrades from the Pearl Harbor descent).

[Prolixus]

Originally posted by Velvet ♥:

she broke the network system, and the tower colapse, after the credits you can see the sword of 2B and backpack of 9S in the forest, suggesting the pods put their memories to rest
but the real ending it's ending E , no spoilers because i don't know if you finished
to do ending E you need to do ending C and D and pass the minigame in credits :hacking:

I finished everything.

I asked the same question on reddit too, and a kind sir came up with a rather unexpected, but imo very good theory. I even consider it as an explanation.

Here is a link to the answer. But for those who want to read it here, I might as well copy-paste it. So this is was written by a reddit user, GreasebaIl:

I have a theory.

The machines and the YoRHa androids share the same cores and it's also mentioned in the report we learn about it that the androids with the machine cores have a tendency to go nuts.
This leads to believe that the "red eye virus" is the machine network's method of forcefully re-attaching a severed core into itself. This makes sense if one takes into account the similar outbreaks that happen in the carnival and Pascal's village.
Now...here's an even crazier theory...let's go back to ending C a bit...A2 is in the mind of 9S, she cryptically mentions that she knows how save 9S, goes deep into his mind, sends 9S to safety using the pod (or not, his black box goes puff anyway)...then she goes towards a white pillar of light that exists within the mind of 9S...a pillar where joyful, childish laughter is heard from...

Now let's make a sidestep into ending D and the encoded message from the OST...and the truth about the mind of 9S when A2 enters it.

First of all, we have all been in the mind of 9S, it's a straightforward floor with 6 corridors, containing the various programs and systems he needs to function...except in ending C, where it's a labyrinthian structure filled with twists and turns...and do you know why it's that?
It's because IT'S NOT THE MIND OF 9S! We had seen a similar structure when Adam was interrogating 9S during Route B! 9S is now part of the network due to the virus! A2 entered the machine network itself when the pod hacked into 9S!

Also, during ending D, the machine network has uploaded itself into an ark and it's preparing to leave this planet, just before it leaves, it sends an invitation to 9S (who is now part of the network) to join them in their adventure. 9S then has to choose between entering the ark...or remaining behind in an abandoned network with his body wasting away.
Furthermore, the encrypted message in the OST states that the inside of the ark was a virtual garden of eden...i suppose the most likely place for someone to hear cherubic laughter coming from...

Now let's go back to ending C with our newfound insight...
..A2 is within the machine network and she knows it, she searches around for the data of 9S, then instructs the pod to get him to safety (both body and mind, if one takes into account that his body on the slab "disappears" from the machine network). Having fulfilled her promise to 2B, she now returns back to her primary objective, saving what remains of mankind. By uploading themselves to the ark, the machines have left their network unguarded, having caught them with their trousers down, A2 approches the "gate" to the garden of eden within the ark and apologizes before she does...something to it...(possibly deletes the garden of eden along with all the machines inside it?) then the entire network collapses and the ark remains unlaunched.

As we have seen with Adam in the copied city, the moment the machine that is responcible for shaping and maintaining the voxel structures the machines use in their buildings dies, the structure starts to collapse. That's exactly what happens to the tower in the endings C/D, it's creator either dies (C) or disconnects entirely from it (D).

So, long story short, no network = no virus, no network = no missile launch. A2 wanted to save 9S and the human server on the moon and she found the perfect oppurtunity to take out 2 birds with one stone by inflitrating the machine network through 9S when it was completely unguarded and delete that ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

[HellYeah]

Originally posted by Prolixus:

Originally posted by Velvet ♥:

she broke the network system, and the tower colapse, after the credits you can see the sword of 2B and backpack of 9S in the forest, suggesting the pods put their memories to rest
but the real ending it's ending E , no spoilers because i don't know if you finished
to do ending E you need to do ending C and D and pass the minigame in credits :hacking:

I finished everything.

I asked the same question on reddit too, and a kind sir came up with a rather unexpected, but imo very good theory. I even consider it as an explanation.

Here is a link to the answer. But for those who want to read it here, I might as well copy-paste it. So this is was written by a reddit user, GreasebaIl:

I have a theory.

The machines and the YoRHa androids share the same cores and it's also mentioned in the report we learn about it that the androids with the machine cores have a tendency to go nuts.
This leads to believe that the "red eye virus" is the machine network's method of forcefully re-attaching a severed core into itself. This makes sense if one takes into account the similar outbreaks that happen in the carnival and Pascal's village.
Now...here's an even crazier theory...let's go back to ending C a bit...A2 is in the mind of 9S, she cryptically mentions that she knows how save 9S, goes deep into his mind, sends 9S to safety using the pod (or not, his black box goes puff anyway)...then she goes towards a white pillar of light that exists within the mind of 9S...a pillar where joyful, childish laughter is heard from...

Now let's make a sidestep into ending D and the encoded message from the OST...and the truth about the mind of 9S when A2 enters it.

First of all, we have all been in the mind of 9S, it's a straightforward floor with 6 corridors, containing the various programs and systems he needs to function...except in ending C, where it's a labyrinthian structure filled with twists and turns...and do you know why it's that?
It's because IT'S NOT THE MIND OF 9S! We had seen a similar structure when Adam was interrogating 9S during Route B! 9S is now part of the network due to the virus! A2 entered the machine network itself when the pod hacked into 9S!

Also, during ending D, the machine network has uploaded itself into an ark and it's preparing to leave this planet, just before it leaves, it sends an invitation to 9S (who is now part of the network) to join them in their adventure. 9S then has to choose between entering the ark...or remaining behind in an abandoned network with his body wasting away.
Furthermore, the encrypted message in the OST states that the inside of the ark was a virtual garden of eden...i suppose the most likely place for someone to hear cherubic laughter coming from...

Now let's go back to ending C with our newfound insight...
..A2 is within the machine network and she knows it, she searches around for the data of 9S, then instructs the pod to get him to safety (both body and mind, if one takes into account that his body on the slab "disappears" from the machine network). Having fulfilled her promise to 2B, she now returns back to her primary objective, saving what remains of mankind. By uploading themselves to the ark, the machines have left their network unguarded, having caught them with their trousers down, A2 approches the "gate" to the garden of eden within the ark and apologizes before she does...something to it...(possibly deletes the garden of eden along with all the machines inside it?) then the entire network collapses and the ark remains unlaunched.

As we have seen with Adam in the copied city, the moment the machine that is responcible for shaping and maintaining the voxel structures the machines use in their buildings dies, the structure starts to collapse. That's exactly what happens to the tower in the endings C/D, it's creator either dies (C) or disconnects entirely from it (D).

So, long story short, no network = no virus, no network = no missile launch. A2 wanted to save 9S and the human server on the moon and she found the perfect oppurtunity to take out 2 birds with one stone by inflitrating the machine network through 9S when it was completely unguarded and delete that ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

This is really interesting. After I reached ending E, I didn't understand what the hell happened either (I was busy crying and could not concentrate on what happened), hence I decided to have my save file deleted and start anew.

[pxlwrld]

Originally posted by HellYeah:

This is really interesting. After I reached ending E, I didn't understand what the hell happened either (I was busy crying and could not concentrate on what happened), hence I decided to have my save file deleted and start anew.

That has to be the most savage 'noping out of a raw deal' I've seen in a long time. Lol'd.

[Prolixus]

Originally posted by HellYeah:

This is really interesting. After I reached ending E, I didn't understand what the hell happened either (I was busy crying and could not concentrate on what happened), hence I decided to have my save file deleted and start anew.

:D The struggle indeed. I think 2B's character benefits the most from knowing what's going on. At first sight she seemed boring and her emotional outbursts didn't make much sense, she came off as totally inconsistent. But knowing her true role that was given to her and story of her constant struggle sheds a very different light on her...

I really love how Taro bends our perception of his characters.

[Kuruseida]

Magic.

[Kylol]

God bless this game. That's all I can say.

Never in my life I played a game as deep as this one. I just wish there were more games like this one... or maybe not.

About Ending C's theory, it does make sense to me, it may not be the truth and perhaps we'll never know but I can bet all the above assumptions are not too far from Yoko Taro's own ideas.

[lPaladinl]

Originally posted by Kylol:

God bless this game. That's all I can say.

Never in my life I played a game as deep as this one. I just wish there were more games like this one... or maybe not.

About Ending C's theory, it does make sense to me, it may not be the truth and perhaps we'll never know but I can bet all the above assumptions are not too far from Yoko Taro's own ideas.

Play NieR:Gestalt on PS3/PS4. Thank me later.

It's why I knew I had to play NieR:Automata and wasn't disappointed.

...Well, except that Yoko Taro's team doesn't seem to make games that run smoothly, and then Square Enix doesn't understand how to properly port games to PC on top of it. But that's besides the gameplay and it's story.

[Kuruseida]

What is Gestalt and where do I get it?