Composer reacts: Weight of the World/the End of YoRHa | Nier Automata

Composer: Keiichi Okabe
• Weight of the World/th...
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#NierAutomata #Reaction

[@AtlasBenighted]

What do you think of the synthy 80s mini cover I did?

[@misterturkturkle]

No thanks

[@derpishopeeps3094]

Pretty fire

[@strife_fox]

This music is played during the end [E]. The choir is composed of the people who make up the game’s creation team. The beautiful thing is that this moment, this last level, is very hard, and we die quickly, and several times, but each time, messages from real players are displayed more and more, encouraging us to continue. The passage with the choir is triggered when we answer "yes" to the last question: "Do you accept that (insert nickname) joins you?" And then the random nicknames in the world join you to help you. What is all the more beautiful is that to appear in someone else’s home and help them finish, you have no choice but to sacrifice your backup data and all that you could accomplish (that’s when you get the end [E])

[@hpalpha7323]

Genius Yoko Taro

[@jotaeb8743]

@@hpalpha7323for me the best moment of the game, is amazing when all players playing togheter. nier change my visions of videogames 😢

[@silentcalling]

And the best part is, after all that effort, you actually want to. You want to delete your save data, after more than 40 hours of play time. "Would you sacrifice yourself, even in this small, insignificant way, to help someone you likely don't know, may never meet, and will never feel the gratitude of? Even if that person might be someone you dislike, or who dislikes you?" Me, sobbing: *"Yes, god, take it from me please"*

[@devinmurphy4665]

​@@silentcalling😂😂 so true

[@gastonberaldo6360]

There is an explanation for that intro. What a game , man.

[@derfyfenhu4056]

I know it's so amazing. Gosh I love NieR

[@RandomGuy010]

The moment in-game where this plays is very powerful. At a time where everything seems hopelessly difficult, other players from all over the world can sacrifice their save-game for a chance to help you get through it. This feeling of coming together is reinforced with the English, Japanese and French singers all adding to the song, along with the dev-team choir cheering you on louder and louder. In my opinion this song is better anti-war propaganda than any intentional overt messaging.

[@rebeccalee2155]

I didn’t realize that the choir was the dev team!

[@nyrahl593]

Its not French. Its Emi Evans singing in Chaos language.

[@nefarious8278]

If you listen to the full Japanese version of the track the main singer begins to cry towards the end of the track and they liked it a lot because it was very representative of what the end of the game makes you feel like so they went with that take.

[@AtlasBenighted]

If I was the producer on that song, I would have done exactly the same

[@misterturkturkle]

Nier automata Come for the cute/sexy bots... Stay for the existential crises Plural.

[@TheMajesticMrL]

GIVE UP HERE? DO YOU ACCEPT DEFEAT? IS IT ALL POINTLESS? DO YOU THINK GAMES ARE SILLY LITTLE THINGS? DO YOU ADMIT THERE IS NO MEANING TO THIS WORLD? >No.

[@Morkins324]

One of the other comments briefly mentions this, but I wanted to expand upon it. There are actually 4 versions of this song, which play in a specific order as you play through the various "Endings" of the game. Each one has specific thematic meaning and fits within its place in the story. SPOILER FOR NIER AUTOMATA Context: One of the principle themes of the game is about cycles of violence and the struggle to find purpose in a meaningless world. The core of the game is about a war between the Androids and the machine lifeforms on Earth. The Androids were created by humanity to fight the war while the machine lifeforms were created by aliens that had invaded the Earth. YoRHa claims that the humans are hidden away on the moon waiting until the Androids have won the war and reclaimed Earth. However, in the course of the story, you discover that not only is humanity long extinct, but the aliens that created the machine lifeforms is also long dead as well. Both the Androids and Machine Lifeforms were created for the sole purpose of waging this war, but both of their creators have long since ceased to exist, meaning that neither side is fighting for anything. They are just fighting a meaningless war that extends on forever. YoRHa was created as a lie to give hope to the Androids that had lost the will to live and die for a meaningless war. Ending A - English Version "Weight of the World". This is a melancholic but ultimately hopeful song. Important to this is that 2Bs purpose is actually to monitor and kill 9S if he ever discovers too much about the truth of the war. This means that she has killed 9S many times. The song is essentially a lament on the weight of this task and the hope for a better future. Ending B - Japanese Version "Song of a Broken World". If you translate the Japanese lyrics into English, it is totally different from the English version. This is a far more resigned and hopeless song. It is desperate and hopeless plea, a breathless wish for a better future. It comes at a time in the story where you have a richer understanding of what has happened and feel a deeper despair at the reality of it. This version of the song is actually so devastatingly sad in Japanese that the singer started crying while recording. She wanted to do another take, but they decided to use this one because it very much fit the theme of the song. Ending C/D - Chaos Version "Weight of the World". This song is sung in a made-up Chaos language. It has no translation and has no literal meaning. It plays at a time in the story where YoRHa has reached its end, destroyed by a virus, and there is no further hope for a better ending as 2B, 9S and A2 are all dead. Ending E - "The [E]nd of YoRHa". This ending actually starts when you finish Endings A, B, C and D. While the credits are starting to roll on either Ending C or D (you can complete these two in either order), the credits will be interrupted by a dialogue between two pods. The Pods are supposed to be non-sentient AIs that follow the characters around and support them throughout the game. The dialogue reveals that the final purpose of the pods is to collect the dead YoRHa androids and delete all of the data. However, one of the pods finds that there is some residual data from 2B, 9S and A2, and he refuses to delete it. He says that he cannot accept this resolution and asks the player if they want to try to recover the data from 2B, 9S and A2. If you say yes, the credit restart and "The [E]nd of YoRHa" starts to play. This version is a blended mix of the English, Japanese and Chaos versions with an 8-Bit intro and a choir sung by the entire development team of the game. A cursor appears on screen and the "hacking" mini-game from throughout the game begins. As the credits appear, they start to shoot out bullets, which the player has to shoot or dodge, and the player has to shoot each name in the credits. Essentially, you have to fight the developers of the game to earn a different ending. As the credits progress, it gets more and more difficult until finally it becomes basically impossible. When you die, the game asks if you want to give up, but you can press on. As this repeats you will see words of encouragement from other players. After you have died repeatedly, the game will ask if you want to accept help. If you say yes, then other cursors will appear to surround you, lending you strength and protection. It is at this point that the choir surges in. The choir is sung by the entire development team that made the game. A collective hymn ushering you forth towards the end of the game. Everyone coming together to overcome something that was impossible for you to overcome by yourself. At the end of Ending E, the game asks if you want to lend your support to another player. You can leave words of encouragement for them, just like you had seen when you were playing. To do this, you must delete your save file, wiping away all record of everything you had accomplished in the game. TLDR; The game is an incredibly rich masterpiece and all 4 versions of the song have specific thematic purpose.

[@c137riq]

Finally, more NieR osts. I highly recommend these ones that you haven't covered yet: -Wretched weaponry -Dark colossus -ShadowLord -Dependant Weakling

[@MaajidM]

Shadowlord goes absolutely nuts, especially the remake version

[@_GRiM1]

Bipolar Nightmare

[@kitiarautmatar1133]

The NieR: Automata soundtrack is a fixture in my home. My daughters and I love it and use it, specifically City Ruins to relax and help us sleep. The game itself is so amazing that we have played it repeatedly, and it’s always so unique to have these beautiful, haunting and relaxing tracks playing while fighting in the game. It’s the most unique game I’ve ever played and one of the best OSTs for a game ever.

[@AtlasBenighted]

Nier ASMR 😆

[@jhovanielperez4763]

Oh man oh man, prepare for a lengthy text wall and I apologize for that. But this song? It Broke me. I have never ever in my life as a gamer CRIED SO hard with a videogame. This song plays in the true ending of the game. I honestly wish to talk about it but I won't, I don't wanna spoil such an experience yet. But what Yoko Taro ( the creator) did with this ending? was something I have never seen before in a videogame. It was focused specifically, for the *player*. A beautiful message for those people that feel alone in this world. And I was one of those, it touched my soul and slapped my face. And this song was such a perfectly composed song for this ending. Fun fact: the developer team sang this song as well, rooting for the player at the end. Just beautiful man.... Now what role does the 8bit music play in the story? Well you were pretty close with your theory and that scares me. There is a certain part where you get this ability which allows you to hack the enemies (machines) and access this code like world. Songs that already play in the zone transition into an 8bit version. Yes, the song has vocals in chaos language too! Is fantastic, beautiful, perfection. Yoko Taro is a man that deserves respect for giving so much VALUE to his games. Like I have said before, I hope you play this game in a future mate... Also, the cover was amazing!!

[@AtlasBenighted]

I read these stories and make me both want to play it and don't want to play it, I don't wanna cry mate!

[@brandonbush2018]

@@AtlasBenighted play it man, it's worth every minute. I don't like to throw around the term a lot, but Yoko Taro is truly a visionary of the video game industry. If you think this song was amazing, there's so much more for you to see!

[@WarrenReport]

That song break any one with a soul

[@tommikoistinen2321]

The amount of crying i did during this song was unreal. I had an existential crisis for 2 weeks after finishing this game...no joke.

[@AtlasBenighted]

The feels

[@samusmp1_4]

It's funny you say that. I'm in a constant state of existential angst, sometimes it escalates to crisis. I was in a rough place when I played this game. Hearing this song for the first time and interacting with the E credits actually brought me some peace, which it still does every time I listen to it.

[@samueldaniels8415]

​@@samusmp1_4I've been struggling with these thoughts for years but things like Nier Automata and it's music are one of the few little things that give me the will to - to a moderate degree - disregard these anxieties because it makes me look forward to other things that might make me feel this way.

[@hpalpha7323]

this song makes me cry every time

[@AtlasBenighted]

It brings the feels indeed

[@TheNikos3000]

I was tearing up again as soon as it started, damn

[@AtlasBenighted]

The feeeels

[@silentcalling]

Bro, you too? Kowareta Sekai no Uta hurts me more, but god, what an amazing game.

[@austinmartin612]

"... but the truth is that.." I can't hear this song without tearing up, every. single. time.

[@Davixxa]

Ah yes, the credits sequence that is also a boss fight. That is to say, you fight the credits.

[@AtlasBenighted]

Credits, the ultimate boss, literally 😆

[@Hato1992]

That's one of the most beautiful game music I ever heard. When I heard it at the end of game, I almsot cried. It suits story so well and empower emotions you fell, it's just an art. It's my favourite game OST, with melodies of life from Final fantasy IX and Suki da ne from Final Fantasy X. All those 3 songs gets me so emotional.

[@noidsuper]

This song hit me like a freight train when I finished ending E. Still get misty eyed when I hear it Edit: Cried again during the reaction. Fuck

[@kylopen3706]

I just finished the game where this song is played and cried my ass off. I think it’s interesting that the chorus in the background of the main vocalist is the rest of the development team of the game, which I haven’t seen for square enix

[@corruptedfiles1989]

Nice one. This game has multiple playthroughs and each ending has a different version of this song with different lyrics and in a different language. There is an english, japanese and a chaos language version. And then this version which combines them all and choir vocals which I believe are all the game staff on this game. Great song. And the 8 bit will make sense if you ever play the game 😅 👍

[@frozenfury0]

Welp time to cry 🥲

[@samueldaniels8415]

I still tear up hearing this song even without having to actively recall story elements. Its connection to the feeling I had when playing the game has burned itself into my brain so deeply that I get emotional the moment the theme starts lol

[@AtlasBenighted]

Right in the feels indeed

[@eriponchi]

When you think you got over this song, and it just suddenly appeared in your recommended videos.. God damn it...

[@augenauf97]

There are several versions of this song. This one specifically being called "The End of YorHa" features the 8-bit intro because of the player character required to reach this ending; it's a nod to his whole hacking mechanic which plays an 8-bit version of whatever theme is playing in the background during game play.

[@Zach174.]

5:59 oh it plays in the credits, which is an 8bit twin stick shooter. There are other sections in the game with this style. It’s nice. 7:40 and if I’m not mistaken it’s English, Japanese, and Chaos (the fictional language).

[@seancass1084]

to speak on the 8-bit section, one of the most prevalent mechanics in the game triggers the music to change to an 8-bit version of itself when used, so pretty much every song in the game has an official 8-bit remix. its pretty sick.

[@tomasvillafane2052]

Oh, yes Weight of the World, my top 10 favourite tracks of videogames

[@nahuel3433]

This game has A LOT of 8bit songs because after a certain point of the game you can at almost any time jump into a hacking mini game, so the music transitons from it's normal orchestral version to the 8bit version of it. The song picking up where the last one left off, and then back to the orchestral after the hacking ends.

[@masterfox72]

You nailed the sentiment friend

[@AtlasBenighted]

Thanks!

[@themasterdou]

I need a full version of that 80s synth version, that really hit my feels!

[@AtlasBenighted]

Yes, yeeeeees! pour the teaaars! 😜

[@scotty110]

FFXIV has an Alliance Raid based on Nier, and it has a version of Weight of the World (Prelude) that goes a different direction than the original.

[@XxguaxinimxX.]

This music is really special Also, I've heard that the choir in the end are from the devs! Although I can't confirm that.

[@Ducilios]

It's really an exercise in futility to try to judge a videogame song without playing the game sometimes, when, where, what the player sees on the screen and what is the player is doing at the moment, that is all considered when making the song in most games. People have recorded themselves crying the moment the chorus kicks in because it's that powerful at that specific time.

[@jamfilledjars]

This song is what introduced me to the NieR franchise, lol. Best find I've ever made.

[@Gwydion_Wolf]

I know this video is a few months old.. but if you liked this one.. you should check out " Weight of the World - Prelude Version " from FFXIV.... they had a entire raid-series that was a crossover from Nier: Automata and XIV, which had a lot of the Neir songs re-composed for FFXIV :)

[@chokeonbread7285]

Yeah, this one is sort of a mashup of all the versions, plus the little choir bit. English, 8-bit, Japanese, chaos.

[@shaomy_okamy]

Nier automata teach me something [even if it's just a game][this is still serious][never give up]

[@user-ch7pp8gm4n]

The coolest part is the 8-bit suites the background lore in the ending, both our hero/heroines are losing their intelligence and life.

[@AtlasBenighted]

Oh noes

[@sainkuvg]

the part when the english voice sing and the japanese voice answered to the english voice its very beautiful and allways breake me

[@CorvoPuc]

The only game that made me cry

[@misterturkturkle]

KBEB

[@RandomGuy010]

Play Clannad or Umineko :D

[@CorvoPuc]

@@RandomGuy010 Clannad i watch the anime. Very sad at end

[@misterturkturkle]

@@CorvoPuc kbeb

[@ShadowNeo_2]

I really hope you'll give the original Japanese version a try as well. Man, I love this song. It makes me tear up every time. 💜

[@gc2ld]

Please check out Kaine Salvation, another from NieR:Automata❤

[@Daiyamaruu]

i don''t know if anyone mentioned it yet but here goes an amazing fact about this song: there's actually 5 languages(if you count 8 bit) being sung in this song, and each represent a part of our world: 8-bit: the digital world english: the americas french: europe japanese: asia chaos language: it's an language created for the game so it represents itself All of this to say that we are all connected, sharing the weight of the world. And this gets even stronger when you get to the very end of the game and "avatars" from people from all around the world that played the game starts helping you defeat the final "boss", while the choir plays as if everyone in the world is cheering for you.

[@kobokanaeru4569]

I love this song so much.. Except that we must shoot all SEnix's division on the credit...

[@himeshthakur6614]

Well won’t lie , was one of the best and depressing game I played alongside nier and drakengard 3

[@aelfycarcini3992]

Destined to be always separated... So f+kin sad...

[@Pontus28]

The 8bit is played during hacking minigames in the game.

[@LuiCambio]

There's different versions of this song. You should look up Weight of The World English Version

[@claytonmize6159]

I always felt that the song and its various forms represent characters in the game. The Japanese version is 2B. The English version is A2 8 bit version is 9S. While the chaos version is the machines. End of Yorha is us the players experiencing the game to its entirety. Canonically we the players are referenced in the game in the E version of the game while this version is playing. This is shown in the choice we have that I will not spoil (the game may be almost 7 years old but that does not change the fact that it should be experienced rather than told.) The End of Yorha version is all of these versions coming together to create this perfect sympathy of each character and enemy in the game coming together to sing their experience.

[@nesoukkefka1741]

Actually if you read the lyrics and refer to which version play during which ending : -English version is 2B -Japanese version is 9S Chaos version doesn't have actial understandable lyrics, so nothing is sure but following the pattern, we can suggest it's A2. For 8 Bit version I like to think of it as the Pod actually, but that's just my theory ^^.

[@arjanzweers6542]

@@nesoukkefka1741 The Chaos version is this song is an actual language which you might have heard of, it's called French

[@nesoukkefka1741]

@@arjanzweers6542 Dude I'm french and, I guarantee you 100% this is not french language, I don't know why they do it they label these version as french but it's not french it's the made up language they use in most of the soundtrack.

[@claytonmize6159]

@@nesoukkefka1741 Yeah chaos version is most definitely not French. I would go into more detail with why I believe English to be A2 but it would involve spoiling the game which I refuse to do. The reason behind my assessment for 8 bit being 9S is because other than route E ending the only time you hear it is during the hacking minigame with 9S.

[@nesoukkefka1741]

@@claytonmize6159 I guess this is up to interpretation the english lyrics can get along with both 2B and A2 depending of how you interpret it, I like to think it's 2B because it plays at the end of Run A which is 2B side of the story, Japanese version lyrics clearly refer to 9S tough, but admitadly you could interpret 8 Bit as being 9S tough due to hacking being his all gimmick in gameplay.

[@b0r3al1s8]

Hey dude, been watching your content for ages and you should go back and listen to most of the Destiny 1 + 2 raid OSTs

[@AtlasBenighted]

I just did one

[@MarkEvans-xw5ix]

My only complaint for this song is i wish they mixed the volumes of all three singers better, Emi Evans vocals are too quiet conpared to the others.

[@elevown]

wrong version :( didnt everyone recommend the Jp version?

[@NocturneCXIV]

Agree, jp version is much more sensitive and beautiful 😢

[@rafaelribeiro3375]

So sad

[@SchwaWasHere]

Personally I always felt this song was overrated

[@misterturkturkle]

Underrated

[@MaajidM]

Accurately rated

[@iaxacs3801]

It's definitely a more emotionally charged song. If you haven't beat ending E or if it didn't emotionally resonate with you it wouldn't be as powerful as a song