9S is technically the second most important protagonist in the video game NieR: Automata. I wouldn’t rank him among the top 100 video game characters of all time, but he’s a fairly decent sidekick to the beautiful 2B.

Like the gorgeous 2B, 9S is an android fighting on behalf of humanity against hordes of rusty robots. He provides the most consistent support you’ll get in the game.

For about 80% of the time, he’s by your side—and he can definitely hold his own in a fight, even if it’s the typical video game AI support. And when the story takes him away, you really feel his absence. It’s surprisingly empty without him.

At one point, the strange duo Adam and Eve capture him but decide not to kill him. This gives 2B the chance to rescue him—a very touching moment for both characters.

It was also neat how 9S managed to hack into some robot bodies to provide backup for 2B when his own android body wasn’t in battle-ready condition.

Even though I haven’t seen the game’s true ending—because I simply don’t have the time to play through it three times—I like to assume that 9S and 2B got a happy ending.