As stated on page 152 of GRIMOIRE Nier, this character is clearly listed as male, designated by the male pronoun "kare", which can be seen in this image: http://bit.ly/1QGk2ah
To my knowledge, the English version of the game makes no designation of gender through the use of pronouns. There is only one moment in which Tyrann chides to Kaine to "Kill him", referring to the shade rather than the robot at that point.
You may compare the scenes from both the Japanese and English version in the links below. It is clear in the dialogue between the mother and child shade that he is refereneced as being a boy, however this line was removed or changed in the English version. The following image is courtesy of chamo and gultigargar on YouTube, illustrating the difference in the original Japanese in Nier Replicant and the English in Nier Gestalt.
Japanese vs. English version of the conversation between Cleo/Kalil and his mother.
Japanese:
- 坊や、男の子でしょ。しっかりおし。
- "Bouya, otoko no ko desho. Shikkari oshi."
- "Child, you're a boy, aren't you? Be strong."
English:
- "You're almost grown up now, my child. Stay strong."
The line "otoko no ko desho" is a common phrase in Japanese that mothers tell their young sons who are upset and/or crying. It's a general "boys don't cry" sort of phrase.
drakengard-3.com (talk) 21:32, June 8, 2015 (UTC)