YoRHa: Pearl Harbor Descent Record is set in the world of NieR: Automata, a video game which is a sequel to NieR, a game spun off from the Drakengard series and which has had a couple of different versions released. This manga is not an adaptation of any of those games, however; it’s based on a NieR stage play.
But you don’t need to know any of that before starting Pearl Harbor Descent Record. Many millennia in the future, robotic aliens invaded and took over Earth. Humanity fled to the Moon, and they keep creating androids to win the war. Their latest model is the YoRHa, and 16 teen/young adult female looking models in spaceships/mobile suits are sent down to destroy the mother brain.
While people have improved their tech skills to make the YoRHa rather human-like, the aliens have also evolved, and most of the team is taken out before landing on the surface. No. 2 is unceremoniously promoted, much to the chagrin of No. 16. Meanwhile, No. 4 marches along while No. 21 analyzes it all with a clear mind. Realizing the mission has no hope of succeeding, 2 contacts their commander for permission to return home.
Request denied.
As I said in the opening, Pearl Harbor Descent Record is based on a play, but there’s no way I ever would have guessed that without researching it. Based on an anime, I absolutely would have believed. True, talented actors and scripts tap into audience’s imaginations to hide the stage, but this is an action series with mechanical robot enemies, and at one point in the story, we see hordes of them to represent the 128,000 heading their way. Perhaps there are additions to the tale, like the mech suits they don while heading to earth, but the manga does a good job of showing the war atmosphere and the dystopian landscape.
What it’s not as good at is the introductions. The manga (narrated by No. 2) briefly overviews the alien invasion and the war, but and then we’re thrust to the YoRHa’s descent. Numbers-as-names aren’t exactly great mnemonics to help readers remember who’s who, but despite the YoRHa’s blindfolds, it isn’t too bad. Then the cast expands with a whole bunch of flower names, and one of them and No. 16 both look and act a lot alike. Another is pointed out to be too small to be a battle android, but considering pretty much everyone is a thin, female-looking android, she doesn’t look significantly tinier than the other robots. It also isn’t explained why No. 2, who admits her stats are average and has low self-esteem, is the second-in-command. Are they named in creation order? Judged in another way? And why are there no male models?
Maybe my questions about the history of androids (and the world) will be addressed in the future. But it’s easy to forget these are created humans and not real humans, as Earth’s mechanical would-be saviors are expressive and have emotions. For better or for worse, as we see stress and atrocities wear on their minds.
YoRHa: Pearl Harbor Descent Record is off to a promising start no matter if you’re familiar with the source material or not. The YoRHa and allies face long odds to succeed, and the manga is already hinting at what’s going on behind the scenes. The manga could stand to do a little bit better in helping readers dive into this world. But despite the fact the heroines are machines in dresses, this looks to be one thrilling and emotional ride.