10 Secret Video Game Features That Make NO Sense

5. Self-Destruct - Nier: Automata

Nier Automata
Platinum Games

From a fairly convoluted inclusion to a pretty straight-forward one, Nier Automata’s secret video game feature is still equally as sense-defying.

For the uninitiated, Nier: Automata is a gorgeous experience with PlatinumGames’ iconic action gameplay, and truly captivating world-building. You’ll play it through a bunch of times to get the full story, but I’m not here to spoil any of that. For the first and second playthroughs you’ll step into the androidy shoes of 2B and 9S respectively. There’s a lot of moving parts here but basically all you need to know is your protagonists are machines, so in the same way you wouldn’t wanna take Lara Croft’s pick-axe to her noggin, you also wouldn’t want to self-destruct, right?

Well, for some reason, you can. By holding L3 and R3 at the same time you can blow 2B or 9S to smithereens. And why would you want that?

Well, it does make 2B’s skirt and 9S’s shorts blow up. Playing for an hour as 9S with no shorts on also grants you an achievement called “Not That I Mind...” so that makes it extra worth it to try and save the world in your undies.

Advertisement
Contributor
Contributor

Jess has been a journalist and content creator in the games industry for over 15 years and has been WhatCulture's resident Australian import and sorry cop since 2020, upping the quotient of swearing and apologising in WhatCulture Gaming's annual blooper videos considerably. She previously worked at GameSpot for 10 years, most notably hosting GameSpot News in addition to E3 live shows, and PAX panels. She regularly livestreams a variety of games on her 'jessmcdonell' YouTube and Twitch channels and hosts the 'Do It On The Day' podcast. She has won awards for her news and feature work in gaming as well as an accolade for her comedic writing (likely an admin error). She can be found on X at @jessmcdonell and Instagram at @jessicamcdonell sharing her current videogame fixations, industry insights, and videos of her cat, Karma.