Nier: Automata's Uplifting Existentialism (Story Discussion)

[@OmegaMetroid93]

"Skip the entire video to avoid spoilers" lol

[@bagel76]

"9S is weak in combat" Sounds like someone never used spears.

[@meganvincent5381]

HOW DARE YOU LEAVE THE BEST BOI ALONE

[@mflance7197]

Or the iron pipe

[@robertfarquhar2780]

He's really not though, his combat style is just different. I actually preferred his combat over hacking.

[@kyrlics6515]

@@robertfarquhar2780 because hacking is boring. And his combat style is different, but that doesnt make it NOT the worst. Hes boring physically. Hes suppose to be mentally captivating, he adds depth.

[@robertfarquhar2780]

@@kyrlics6515 what I'm saying is his combat is worse than a2 and 2b's but his combat even while still being shitty is still better than his boring ass hacking.

[@Yal_Rathol]

*BECOME AS GODS* and yoko taro stated he much prefers working with platinum, as it means he spends less time screaming in fury at his team and more time drinking. so, i'd say you essentially calling him "japanese counter culture" is probably on the mark.

[@LittleSparklingStars]

So he actually screamed at the bad game design from his previous companies? I thought he didn't really give a shit.

[@DeMomcalypseLive]

This isn't exactly related to Nier Automata, but I remember Lilo and Stitch somewhat tackling this concept with Stitch. The scientist who created Stitch commented on how Stitch was built to destroy, but notes on how Stitch is completely lost when there is nothing left to destroy. In a sense, there's no purpose for him. No memories to fall back on. No further ambitions because of what he was designed for. Like say Stitch does destroy everything. What's left for him to do?

[@CaptainNnif]

Ora Saikatsu It's not fair that comments (like yours) adding interesting, relevant discussion get buried yet an unrelated, low-effort, controversial comment like "Marxism is cancer" floats to the top. Thank you for choosing the high road. To tell the truth, I prefer how Disney chose to tackle this idea, so I'm glad you mentioned this.

[@stanley1698]

+

[@baburik]

Lilo and Stitch was so popular in Japan that they produced an anime spinoff series of it. 3 seasons and 2 specials actually.

[@tymandude1510]

And when Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer.

[@marcusanark2541]

I love Lilo and Stitch.

[@sidyT9]

In that context, it's also interesting that you can delete your save files ( self destruct like the machine lifeforms ) after you've played through the main endings ( fulfilled your purpose ).

[@lanzer22]

It can be interpreted in different ways, but I thought the deletion is a sacrifice which brings meaning to your existence through benefitting others. Which runs in opposite of the act of selfish obsession which ends on your own destruction when no meaning was found within that. These two lines of thoughts spawned hundreds of literatures in our time.

[@michaelman90]

Biggest mystery: how is the NieR: Automata soundtrack only 4.5 stars on Amazon???

[@MrShazaamable]

Is that all?!!

[@doot1967]

Absolute blasphemy

[@arielkandli]

truth

[@lain11644]

Probably because it doesn't include a bunch of tracks. It doesn't need to be said that the music of this game is among the best, that's not the problem.

[@DonnyKirkMusic]

@@lain11644 This. If I remember correctly, you can only hear some tracks by ripping them from the game's files or downloading a gamerip of the music-related audio files. This is the case for like 99% of games nowadays, including games with modern-classic soundtracks like the Souls games, but yeah. I love how I know this because I haven't even played Nier or Automata or anything Okabe has made music for but I still listen to his stuff all the time, since I was really young.

[@WritingOnGames]

Well, this is easily the most comprehensive piece on NieR:A's story and themes I've seen so far. Bravo, sir. ...also, thanks for the goddamn noodles

[@Endsville08]

As a video essay or overall? It's definitely the best video essay I've seen but I still think this analysis is the best I've read:: planckstorytime.wordpress.com/2017/04/25/nier-automata-analysis/

[@isletoflangerhans8281]

Lana Rain did a really good one too, and she didn't take two months to do it. And then she dressed up as 2B and masturbated on cam. Super Bunnyhop can't top that.

[@lalalaLaFlex]

islet knows...

[@joshlibrawood6779]

Islet of Langerhans my favorite part was when she put on glasses and did a footj#b.

[@FF18Cloud]

Writing on Games lol, yours was good, too, I definitely rewatched yours like, what, 5 times?

[@SuperSunshine321]

Having lived in Japan for a couple years (and planning on making it permanent), here's my two generalizing cents on the whole ganbaru-thing; Japanese will try to give it their all if it's expected of them (by their group, and perhaps to some extent society). They also have the word 我慢 (gaman), meaning to endure/persevere. And when I think about these two words, ganbaru and gaman, I can't help but think about how they relate to work-life in Japan. You will ganbaru and gaman at work. It's tough, and you are expected to always do your best (as touched upon in this video) in your work, whatever your superior may ask of you. As a foreigner, you don't quite have the same expectations placed on you, so I'm mostly looking at it from a spectators perspective. But as you are expected to always follow and not question your superior, for the sake of the satisfaction of the customer (more or less God here), and not stir up a scene as the harmony of the group is more important, Japanese employees will try to do everything at a ganbaru-level. Even if they are not qualified to do so. Japanese companies focus less on what skills you have, and hire you based more on your potential. Most of your skills will be taught at the company. Many times, people who lack the right skill-set will be put in situations where they are expected to still learn and perform something that may take years to become good at (skills which they should have at least to some extent learned before entering the company at university or through some other form of education after high school - this might be the case for education elsewhere too when I think about it). The above creates an issue though; inefficiency. Large Japanese companies tend to, in my opinion, become Jack-of-all-Trades, and are becoming less competitive and able to innovate. I think the above is the reason why people work themselves to death here. Many employees lack the skills necessary to perform what is expected of them; superiors are seldom questioned, and companies seldom try to focus on excelling at a few, well-thought ideas and services, but instead try to provide everything they can possibly come up with for the customer at ganbaru-levels. Japan is thus a great country for the customer, but a terrible place for workers. Bad ideas stay around for too long, and most decision makers grew up when the Japanese economy was expanding, therefore not understanding today's deflating and shrinking economic landscape (I call it "Showa Management", after the period in the Japanese calendar during which the Japanese economy was still going strong). Now, Yoko Taro might be flipping the coin in the case of the characters in this game, if I go by George's interpretation. Those people who do walk away from the above might find themselves in somewhat uncharted waters (from the individuals point of view); without the expectations of the group and society, some people might still feel a (phantom? lol) pressure to ganbaru, to find their own meaning in life. In this game though, it kinda shows that doing so obsessively will also lead down a rather destructive path. Maybe Yoko Taro thinks that Japanese people need to chill out more, and focus on and enjoy what's important rather than on everything (in other words, if everything is important, is anything really important?) or obsessively on one thing only? Perhaps he wants them to follow his lead? I could also be talking out of my ass. I'm fine with that too.

[@mamayareborn]

You're not talking out of your ass. Yoko Taro is. He's nowhere even remotely smart enough to be tackling these notions and it shows.

[@zomars]

You should write a book. Good comment, would read again.

[@JordanSmith-yi3ji]

Good shit ya wrote here. People do need to chill out.

[@JordanSmith-yi3ji]

Aleph, you do realize that what Yoko Taro does and says is on complete purpose and an act to screw with basically everyone right?

[@ha10dud3]

There was a mod created to fix the problems with the port that anyone with a quarter of a brain can install. Despite that, the port wasn't even that bad honestly, I beat the game with only the resolution patch in place, and a keyboard and mouse. You either have a toaster, or you are just bad.

[@linkenski]

17:00 "I feel like Yoko Taro must've been someone who couldn't fulfill that [ganbatte] goal" I think you're completely right. There's that one side-mission in machine village with the "permanent recluse" in the B-playthrough which I couldn't help but feel was either a representation of the Hikikomori (recluses in japan) or Yoko Taro as a kid (maybe), because although maybe not a compeltely shy guy he does always wear that mask and isn't interested in the celebrity game that other game directors seem to like (perfect example would be Kojima). He strikes me as a thoughtful introvert and I could imagine there's not much space to feel "normal" in japan as one either. Then there's also the E-ending with the credits shootout. Square Enix's staff credit is so tough to shoot that you're likely to die at it or the following entries, most of which have to do with marketing and business and you need the *collaboration of the entire world* to beat it. I see this as a two-fold sublinial message. Yoko Taro isn't always fond of working with Square Enix and is often forced to make certain things under their mandate, so there's comical spite in having to work together to shoot Square Enix and marketing stuff. It's as if it's "everything that's bad about the gaming industry" from his POV or maybe because "work is hard!" and that's the second thing: Yoko Taro probably isn't one of those ganbatte guys because he does not like the pressure of competition or solo-workmanship it involves, and that's reflected in having to shoot together with help from an international band of player-bots who have uploaded their Nier Automata saves, to break the mold and fuck "ganbatte" because instead of being a solo-workaholic we work together and lift each other up. Maybe Yoko is one and doesn't like being one or he's not one and he wouldn't ever want to be one. Either way, I think it shows in the game and from some of his public statements that he doesn't like the sort of narrowminded competition you see in all kinds of industries. He's talked about wanting to break the mold of what has been done before in games which doesn't happen often because we're so limited by our own conventions. Instead of ganbatte I take it he likes to take stuff at his own pace and simply relish in exploring something new and exciting than being part of a race to be the best.

[@takkun3237]

you made a lot of sense here. just wanted to thank you for the great exposition

[@dmcpartlin17]

Thank

[@callum6224]

also yoko taro: "I just like girls"

[@pippop5828]

hmm, interesting. I always thought that credit shootout was a reference to the beginning of the game, when 2B monologued about killing God, which in her case would be the game developers. Guess Nier really is an onion of a game (cuz layers)

[@greciasoleble]

@pip pop Mhh that makes a lot of sense and also the game ends in the same way that it starts; in the bullet hell mode with a bunch of companions supporting you.

[@CJWest08]

The message isn't "you're not as special as you thought" it's "you' can relate to every human on the planet because we are all complex and in that sense we have the ability to connect with anyone at any time". The whole idea of "being special" is what fucks people's lives up.

[@CJWest08]

Machines and androids are exactly the same, they just didn't see it...

[@myusername3689]

@@CJWest08 That and they get killed and have their memories reset constantly so even if they find out, they’ll just get reseted back to square one and forget it. Having the same indoctrinated purpose as the previous cycle but not remembering any of the lessons or failures of the previous cycle leads to repeating the same mistakes as before. They’re perpetually trapped.

[@Phase4TheProphet]

One interesting note about the idea of "committing to something so hard it kills you", there is one person in Automata that doesn't commit to any one activity for long; the player. Maybe I'm stretching here, but I think it's possible to read the constant switch-up of gameplay modes to mark the player as a sort of unique entity in the world. And I think maybe Taro is subconsciously showing that flexibility is what's needed to break the cycle of violence and sadness he's presented here. While all the in-game characters are too fixated on one idea to adapt to new situations, the player is versatile enough to attempt to break the rules and salvage 2B and 9S's consciousness data. Even the pods, who bring up the possibility to begin with, can't do it on their own - they have to request your help.

[@Oathkeeperclash]

"... the constant switch-up of gameplay modes" what you should keep in mind is through the entire game the buttons and gameplay are almost identical in function throughout every single mode. no matter what you're doing the buttons always do the same thing, just on a different scale. R1 to shoot, Square to attack, R2 to dash, Triangle to heavy, Right analogue stick to aim, left to move. none of that ever changes. sure, you can't press square in a hacking minigame but sometimes you can't press square as 2B in the wild, either. the player only has 1 feature, and that is combat, you can't do anything else except ask people if they need a combat related solution or fish in a body of water.

[@061Hitachi]

I accepted defeat, sold the game and deleted save games manually, lol and sad at the same time.

[@marcusanark2541]

I think you might be up to something.

[@Andrewlik]

So, story time. TLDR: Nier Automata taught me many things, and many years later returning to the existential side of Nier and finding this video, I love how what I took from it is exactly what you're saying here. I played through Automata as my 'story game' for my 11th grade, year, finishing it during the summer after, 2019. Fantastic game, loved every moment of it, and for a long time it was the game I was 'working towards,' doing enough schoolwork to be able to afford enough time to sit down and be immersed for a few hours. I beat it, and the ending made me cry, hard. It hurt. Since then, though I've been listening to some of the OST and following the subreddit, I've actually been trying to avoid going down the full rabbit hole of both the existential philosophy and the rest of the franchise as a whole. I've been ruminating on what the game means to me and what it's lessons are; This is what I understood and have been repeating to friends since. "Life in and of itself has no meaning. The meaning it has is the meaning you give it; you live 'for' someone, for something. For your friends, for your fandoms, for your hobbies, for your significant others. And this is okay. But when you lose this someone... It's going to suck, your life may lose alot of its meaning then. But DO NOT let this loss consume you. DO NOT let this loss define you. Patch yourself up, and keep moving, because in time, you WILL find someone or something else to live for, someone or something that will make you happy again." 9S loses 2B, and goes mad. A2 loses her squad, and goes mad. Adam loses Eve, and goes mad. Countless robots in sidequests self destruct the moment they fail at whatever new goal gives them meaning. ... Nier Automata... It broke my heart. When I made the ultimate sacrifice and lost my save file, I was upset that I'll never be able to immerse myself in the world in the same way again. It was the game I was "working towards" at the end of the week, so when it was done, it took some adaptation and my motivations needed adapting. But I got the message this game was trying to tell. I found new games after Automata that I'm as or if not more passionate about, and though I may never be able to play Nier Automata the same way again, I can still talk so highly about it, tell stories, and remember what I learned about myself through this game. That can never be taken away from me. I like how I basically went through the same motions after getting dumped by my first girlfriend a few months ago. She was what I was working towards at the end of the week, and I wanted to be everything to her. A huge heartbreak followed by a loss of motivation and meaning followed. ... and yet, Automata already taught me how to approach it and move on, and so I've found new people be passionate about. And you will too. I don't know what the point of this tangent is, but thank you for the video, and thank you for reading this far.

[@lycorice2219]

Everything you said here is on point with my experience with this game. It's funny as you said, I've also stumbled a lot in life after playing Nier Automata. But just like what ending E said, I still survived through it and somehow got out of the mess I was in. It's been 7 years now since I've played this game but it's still the one that impacted me the most

[@YuriPRIMErpg]

*Upskirting Existentialism*

[@fonknight5625]

God damnit why does that pun fits so much to the game

[@novustalks7525]

​@@fonknight5625because its platinum games

[@fonknight5625]

@@novustalks7525 wow this was such a long time ago, but uh i know you didn't ask but i became a positive nihilist because of this game, this game quite literally changed my life

[@novustalks7525]

@@fonknight5625 I feel like it changed mine too. Its such a profound experience. Also whoops I did not see how old this video was. It just got recommended to me yesterday lol

[@gavinferguson2938]

​@@fonknight5625 positive nihilism = existentialism my friend 👍👍

[@salokin3087]

On one hand you have deep philosophical identity questions... On the other, 2Booty pics. Truly a great game

[@pumpkinman681]

A masterpiece

[@steveharrison4100]

George's analyses have all the philosophical depth of an edgy teenager's angst-ridden diary. If you think this is deep, it's because you haven't taken the time to study much philosophy.

[@cikame]

I don't think "studying philosophy" is necessary to form opinions and share them in a free world.

[@steveharrison4100]

+cikame Clearly, you haven't studied much philosophy. Sight may seem useless to a blind man living among other blind men.

[@cikame]

Philosophy is theory, i simply believe that just because someone doesn't want to read the words doesn't mean they arn't allowed to form opinions by looking at the pictures.

[@WeAreCameron]

you don't have to explain existential horror to us george that's what connects all of us who watch your videos

[@NoTimeNoEffort]

In my opinion, Taro's answer to the questions he raises is... well, opposite to yours, but still uplifting. Now, before people jump at my throat, I believe Nier:A is open to be interpreted in a few different ways, maybe depending on your state of mind. I'm not invalidating George's, I'm just saying what I got out of it. Now, Taro raises his existential horror, asks who we are and if our actions are enough to define us and (this is where I see the matter different from George) gives a solid answer of "no. Absolutely not". Because when you think about it, a lot of the machines didn't pick their purpose, it was picked for them by the Network, before detaching them, they were programmed to repeat one action, one human trait, endlessly, until it destroys them. That's where the "ganbatte" culture criticism comes in, I wholeheartedly agree with that. But to this it adds, subtly, that what makes someone alive, what makes one an individual, is growing past that. It's realizing their self destructive course is not okay and growing, evolving, defining themselves not simply as "the one that transports packages real good", but as complex individuals. It's not fighting to death, it's not racing to death, it's not being happy to death: it's realizing that's not ok and choosing your own course in life. Very few characters, in the game, manage to break off and choose their own destiny. Pascal chooses to have his memory wiped. Engels chooses death as punishment. The clown chooses to not be happy for no reason. Adam and Eve, strangely, being the most evolved machines, choose to pursue knowledge (for Adam) and brotherly love (for Eve) to their deaths, but I guess it's implied they chose these courses themselves and weren't imprinted by the Network. So yeah, to me Taro's answer is not "you'll find solace into the one thing you do well" but rather "you're a complex individual who should make choices for themself and are demonstably stronger with the help of other complex individuals who choose for themselves". After all, remember, sacrificing your save at the end is entirely your choice.

[@user-yr8ge3fz8o]

I agree with your main point (or at least I think I do, Im a little on the fence), except with the Pascal example. Are you saying that Pascal is one of the few who chooses their own destiny? Because to me that part seemed more like Pascal wanted his memory wiped, or to be killed (and the difference between these two things is totally arbitrary, because the game says on several occasions that memories are what define life, I think) because he met that same despair that several characters encounter when their singular purpose is lost. Pascal devoted his life to raising the children, and when that purpose was stripped away, he gave up. Just like 9S would have if he survived his fight with A2 (he says after making 2B's memorial that he'll be joining her soon). Also, whenever Pascal asks someone a different moral question, they usually tell him he should decide it for himself. I think A2 and 9S both do this. And I think that final question he asks you is another example of this. He wants to defer to someone else, when things get too difficult for him. Which is why I actually walked out of the room at this part. I feel like that is the only way to make Pascal really decide his own fate.

[@Alex-bw6yd]

Your final paragraph was perfection, it’s great to see someone actually understand Taro’s message.

[@Daniel-Rosa.]

Never... Never have text onscreen while your voice says a different sentence. Our attention doesn't _divide_, it goes back and forth.

[@joshuaamador6606]

"You're thinking about how much you want to kill 2B, aren't you?"

[@Keldrath]

I can't see it as being kill considering 2B is what gives his life meaning and purpose. He was in a position to kill her once, but killed himself instead and made her promise to never hesitate to kill him.

[@joshuaamador6606]

Keldrath It's stemming from this long, whacky discussion between Clemps and Pat on the SBF podcast, re: the original "2" and "9", their relationship, and those original "9" memories possibly overwriting 9S. I explain it poorly, though, and even then it's half-based on all the external media content.

[@Keldrath]

I'll admit I don't know about that podcast, or much of anything about the original 2 and 9. My external media knowledge mostly ends with Memory Cage, Memory Thorn, and Concert/Script.

[@wngmv]

Keldrath the story of 2 and 9 was told in the concert script #2.

[@TheDoomCake]

Joshua Amador I'm sure it says "fuck" because in the italian version fuck means scopare and in the text there are 7*, so that confirms it

[@JaytheLay1]

Wow, ya actually helped me figure out my problem. I actually live in constant existential horror. Thanks!

[@Artsificial]

It's easily the most reasonable state to find yourself in. Your countries population is probably in the process of being replaced. Your home might be torn down to make room for the new expressway. This planet will be toast when the sun blows up to a red giant after it has depleted all its hydrogen. If we haven't moved on by then, Hell on Earth will leave no living thing. A bit of a bummer, that one.

[@highlonesomed]

Artsificial I was gonna reply with a "crawling in my skin" joke, but I realize that might be in bad taste, now... SO. I'll just say that maybe you should realize that freedom is meaningless, and you should do something with it to give yourself meaning. If the fakey "great replacement" thing weighs on your mind that much, then you're living life wrong. (Also research the relevant demographics and do the math cause alarmist people on the internet aren't worth listening to. Seriously. You'll be surprised.)

[@N4CH0L]

I waited 2 years to watch this video because i couldn't play nier automata, today i finished it and got ending E. Im glad i waited to watch this

[@BreezyKun]

Same! Was planning to make the exact same comment too, haha.

[@FhtagnCthulhu]

On work ethic: I'd like to add that, when your entire sense of self/purpose is derived from a job or skill, there is another end result besides failure. You can succeed at your highest aspiration and that can be just as painful. As is mentioned earlier in the video, the machine lifeforms intentionally sabotage their efforts by constructing new enemies and fracturing themselves in order to avoid succeeding at their purpose. Once there is nothing left to do, when you've accomplished your wildest dream, you suddenly have nothing to strive towards any longer. The sense of longing doesn't go away. There is no event or accomplishment that can content you or make you happy forever, human brains don't work like that, however, your purpose is suddenly gone. I think Automata is an absurdist work at its core (Slightly different from existentialism): The universe has no (or unknowable) inherent purpose or meaning and neither do we. The struggle for purpose itself holds meaning.

[@htl5607]

Agreed. Also, I would like to add that this concept does not only apply to jobs. Because of the inherent meaninglessness of the world, one has to build his/her identity on certain qualities (skills, goals, or even just a belief). However, should these qualities become compromised, the crushing feeling of 'all my actions are pointless' can easily drive the person to end his/her life. In fact, merely realising the world's absurdity could lead to suicide, just like some mechines in the game inevitably did. To live is to constantly seek purpose to define oneself, this is one of the underlying messages Nier Automata tries to deliver. So, even though the video does have some excellent analysis, I can't help but feel that in the end, it went a bit shallow by having the various cases of existential crisis presented in the game contributed to Japanese work ethics. It is not something specific to Japanese culture, rather it is the concern of all human beings.

[@gavinferguson2938]

I never understood absurdism as a reaction to Existentialism. The initial idea that underpins existentialism (as a phil. Movement) was the notion that meaning begins with the individual on the subjective plane rather than beginning in the objective plane. Previously, religion was seen as objective supplier of meaning. But following the death of God, Existentialism took hold by turning that idea on its head. I often felt that absurdism always tried its best to return to meaning from that same perspective of meaning as an external thing. But in approaching it without any kind of external source. You are sort of logically obliged to make a paradoxical argument which cannot be falsified. Like everything is meaningless but struggle inbetween is meaningful. At that point, is meaning not already internal? If Camus was willing to admit that much, why not just make the leap straight to Existentialism?? More over, what many people overlook is that Camus himself was opposed Existentialism as a label mostly because he had personal issues with Satre who spear headded the Existentialist movement. Historically Camus is regarded as an Existentialist because whether he wanted to admit it or not, his argument stemmed from meaning originating within ones own struggles and therefor within. And if one can create meaning through struggle, they can likely create meaning through a variety of other means too.

[@D34DParadise]

I've been struggling to get a graduate job recently and this experience has left me thinking a lot about nier automata and what my purpose in life is. Man... life is so strange and enigmatic.

[@ChoooooChoooTrain]

I think part of what makes Automata such a thematically strong game is how many valid interpretations can be drawn from it. The conclusions drawn here were not the exact ones I drew but are still well supported, and I've seen lots of people take the ideas different way stills. But it never felt like a shotgun of ideas and people made up the conclusion they wanted. Anyone can play and get something different, possibly even personal, out of this game. You aren't just beaten over the head like many of these 2deep4U arty games, you see situations and concepts repeated from different angles in a natural way and are left to think about it yourself.

[@mjds]

I've been waiting for this video since I finished Nier. Your perspective is so interesting and no recent game has t ouched me as Nier has.

[@SkillUp]

I'm a simple man; I see a Bunny vid, I click like.

[@NachoBearYeah]

Skill Up lmaooo. Your video on NieR Automata was amazing man, keep it up!

[@SkillUp]

Yeah but did it have the communist manifesto? I think not!

[@NachoBearYeah]

Skill Up true, but you admittedly skipped over that because it would've been too much. You focused a lot on the music and that made me appreciate it a lot more. Now George made me understand and appreciate the philosophical references even more (although I already understood some of them, mainly Marx, Engels, and Hegel)

[@alfredotv3313]

I'm a simpler man. I see NieR in the title, I click.

[@BeingZlatan]

clever. never seen a variation of this joke before.

[@Bluecho4]

I never read it like 9S was in any way more "human" than the other androids. I read it that he was expressing the same capacity for "humanity" in a different way. Androids like 2B, A2, and the Commander are hardened soldiers, who have to cultivate a level of cold detachment and rigid determination, just to deal with the stresses imposed by an eternal war. When those defenses falter, all of them let deep, powerful emotions slip out. 9S is a scanner model, who hasn't engaged in many direct confrontations with the machines. It's natural that he would express emotions more openly. It's the same with 6O, who is stunningly emotive. It's not that the androids are naturally cold, and 9S is somehow special in that regard. He's just got different emotional baggage to those androids that are colder.

[@hatsunemiku8007]

it's like comparing a teen and a military officer, so I agree w you

[@MiloKuroshiro]

But in the extended material, they state pretty clear that he kinda is and there's reasons for that. And why he's bounded to "Discover the Fire" again and again.

[@myusername3689]

Scanners are naturally curious also so it adds to that.

[@LookADistarction]

I'm really happy that this game is getting viewed from so many different lenses and that they're all really interesting and thought provoking.

[@LongSinceDead1]

For the most part, the video is great. Fantastic even. But I have no idea what he's talking about in regards to Part C of Automata being "skimpy". While it's not perfect, it's by far the most interesting, thought-provoking and emotionally draining section of the game. More importantly, I have NO idea how is somehow incapable of understanding why the characters want to reach the top of the tower. It's made pretty clear why they're doing it. That's the most insignificant nitpick, mainly because it's not even a problem. It baffles me how he could grasp basically all of the game's themes and analyze them amazingly well and somehow not understand this very easy to explain detail. Other than that though, it's a good ass analysis.

[@user-yr8ge3fz8o]

Didnt he just say A2's part was skimpy?

[@PaszerDye]

you guys really let the meaning of that sentence fly over your heads just because you let one particular word upset you. Note he said 'skimpy' AND 'underwritten.' Focusing on the first word alone you thought he perceived the game as unclear about certain motivations or objectives that were relevant at that point of the game. But what he meant was there was so much more to the story than just trying to get to the top of the tower, the main focus and experience of the 3rd act. Like Zakku pointed out, A2's back story was presented as a novelized exposition dump. Same for Devola and Popola's back story. Given how everything else in the game was superbly conveyed, those novelized segments were presented in a way that came off as shoehorned, weak and disruptive to the story's overall pace. Basically what Super Bunnyhop said is that there were key points that could have been fully brought to light in the 3rd act, but were left underutilized/executed poorly. Which is why he said it was skimpy and underwritten.

[@LightAndDarkMdness02]

PaszerDye Those novels are sort of a Yoko Taro thing just like his multiple endings. Nier had a shit ton of them. HELL! The entirety of Kaine's backstory is a forty-five minute Novella in route B.

[@PaszerDye]

LightAndDarkMdness02 not saying they were bad, but they did break the flow of the game, at least for me. Most people don't expect to read stuff in a game unless it is about quest info or a nice trivia in a monster bestiary. And suffice to say, the style of writing for A2, Devola and Popola's back story seemed like it was seeking attention. I know it's sad and I'm supposed to care for them, but when reading, I like to be eased into the setting and slowly fed bits and pieces of what the characters are experiencing. I prefer a writing style that is confident but also respects the pace in which I consume its story. In the Automata novels, it felt like they were pulling my arm, forcing me into giving them sympathy. So while I understood their backs stories in the end, I barely felt anything. But that's just me. I haven't played the 1st Nier, but maybe I would have liked reading Kaine's back story.

[@josevasquez7099]

Long since dead+ I think your misunderstanding him.😐

[@TKUltra971]

This is George at his ***FINEST*** Keep fighting the good fight for video game journalism George!

[@wizzzer1337]

I have an existential crisis moment... I need something trivial to distract me, like video games!.... ohh wait...

[@autruff18]

why not try georgesockz?

[@Artsificial]

I played this game for about 90 hours. I have 5 hours worth of Nier music in my car, ranging from what seem to be 8-bit chiptunes to modern electronic music and orchestral arrangements. When I have a minute or two, I am sifting through 2GB worth of Nier inspired fan art, ranging from the cute and innocent to pretty much hardcore pornography. Then there's the forums, threads, comments that see people come together with but a minority trying to piss on a good thing they refuse to understand. What's not to like?

[@myusername3689]

@@Artsificial If the minority just said that they didn’t like it and moved on, then the conflict would’ve been reduced significantly. Some things are good regardless of whether you like it or not though.

[@LordFaust]

George, Terrific work as usual. You continue to be an inspiration to youtubers everywhere. Good luck and best wishes. -F

[@cypheru5]

The first 3 minutes of this video is better than any other entire reviews out there.

[@salt_factory7566]

10:45 he didn't just seize the means of production, he became the means of production.

[@SevenFingerDiscount]

Your ability to clearly, often poetically articulate your thoughts is beyond refreshing. I always enjoy listening to someone who knows his or her philosophy. Terrific video :)

[@TriforceElder08]

I SKIP TO 19:37 FOR CAPITALIST GEORGE BRAINWASHING I DON'T EVEN WANT A PAIR OF GEORGE SOCKZ BUT NOW I HAVE 18 PAIRS OF THEM ON THEIR WAY. YOU CAN'T EVEN WEAR THAT MANY SOCKS.

[@megamike15]

9s going from being very indifferent to the machines to wanting them all dead no matter what to just not caring about anything anymore is such a great character progression. he is going through the exact same arc that nier went through but he won't get what he loved back so he just becomes even more of a monster.

[@romainvicta.]

TL;DR BUY THIS GAME, EASILY THE BEST THING TO COME OUT THIS YEAR.

[@GoldStandardGames]

NieR Automata is revered as "The Most Important Game of 2017" by many critics.

[@lycorice2219]

I know it's been 6 years since you released this video, but I just want to say: I think you've nailed the point Nier Automata is trying to make. And thanks for making it understandable again after all these years since I played it

[@lexinah3292]

I remember watching this 5 years ago when this video was new. I thought "Wow, this game seems right up my alley". I didn't have the money for a PS4, nor did I have the time for video games back then. I finally picked up a PS4 a couple of months ago and Nier:Automata was one of the games I knew I needed to to play because of this video. Thankfully I forgot most of the spoilers and went into the game kinda blind. I absolutely loved. When Jackass killed me with a Mackerel she told me to eat, my first thought was "wow, George was right about Yoko Taro. I love this guy" Thank you George for all the work you've put in. For this video, all of the videos on the channel, and even all of the episodes on the Super BunnyHop podcast. Maybe I'll post another comment 3 years from now when I start/finish Death Stranding

[@illusma7822]

I find the alternative KZbin universe interesting where I keep finding the same people under a topic. I've seen your and a bunch of other people 's comments on jrpg vids like tales of arise for example

[@EctInc]

I'M SO EXCITED to watch this tonight after work

[@Dhlamedia]

Don't you mean "Part *3*: Ganbatte"? I'm glad that you enjoy the game in your own way, although it is heartbreaking that you thought less of Route C. I can understand your brief criticism, though. A2 as a character is underdeveloped even with the flavor text detailing her history (not including the concert), and her journey feels too similar to 2B that it may be best for 9S just to carry the whole route while leaving A2 a vital side character. If not for the budget involved, having A2 as a playable character would be beneficial for a full route of its own, not half of it. Also, what's not to get about the Tower? There's a clear emotional, if psychotic, reason for 9S to venture to the tower. It represents the pillar of what's responsible for him losing everything dear to him while finding another purpose to destroy. At that point, he wasn't in a happy place; motivations for him was mostly unsound.

[@lucan5453]

In a few interviews it is mentioned that Budget and Time were very clear Factors in what the Game became. From what it seems Nier: Automata was made in just about 2 Years by an active Staff of about 50 People, which is freakin crazy to me.

[@Dhlamedia]

It's actually not too crazy. It does look like a product being made by 50 people. Given the major studio backing involved, the game being somewhat unpolished (though comparatively much more accessible than Taro's prior works) under that knowledge isn't just unsurprising, it's a given. I do wonder what's gonna happen for Taro next, now that NieR: Automata is ironically a financial and critical success over his previous installments that are more about expressing his views instead of being well-made games. Will he have the freedom to do whatever he wants, and will he suffer under the same ego clout that affected Kojima?

[@lucan5453]

What I meant with "crazy" is the Amount of work done, not that there are a bunch of parts where you can see that they didnt have time to polish. ;) I am frankly stoked for the Potential of another Yoko Taro and Platinum Work with a better Budget and more Time.

[@Dhlamedia]

With no prior experience with game development, I can't fathom the pure subjectivity of what's considered "crazy" behind the making of a game. Can't be more crazy than the making of L.A. Noire.

[@Serocco]

DeL Keyes A2 probably needed to split Route B with 9S or something

[@Galaxy40k]

Excellent video! I really like how you focus in on discussing the themes in this video. Much has been said on the characters and narrative itself, but I find the underlying messages far more interesting to talk about with this game. Also, for anybody who clicked this video without playing the game - buy it! Even if it isn't a "10/10, obsessed with this gem" for you like it is for me, its definitely an interesting game, and interesting games are far too rare in the AAA sphere.

[@highlonesomed]

Why did I not notice the two bosses named Marx and Engels? I literally just got Capital. I'm ashamed of myself.

[@krombopulos_michael]

M. Gilley I noticed Engels but not Marx. I couldn't really find a connection though tbh between the robots and their human namesakes. I think it would have been better if they were somehow proponents of ideas similar to the historical characters. As it is, if feels kind of like pointless name dropping.

[@myusername3689]

@@krombopulos_michael Well the machines get punished for name dropping constantly by dying…. but then again given how this series works, even if you aren’t pretentious, you die anyway.

[@UTU]

Great job, one of your finest videos!

[@ArztMerkwurdigliebe]

2B and 9S have different operators that they report to. Look at their O-designators - they're not the same android. 2B's just happens to be optimistic and bubbly by nature, while 9S's is stern and no-nonsense. It's not that the same operator just decided to be a bitch to 9S for no reason...

[@Lightstep9]

Awesome video and insightful commentary that had me pause rewind and bookmark to watch again for further review. Thank you for doing it as it gave more sense to the game and yet offered new questions.

[@dbqpOO]

There was a point in the begining of the game, when I was like: "ummm this is gonna be good". At the resistance camp the weapon trader said that he s supplying his friends with weapons to protect them, but he made a silent point about how actually he might be shortening their lives. This king of struck me, so I had to stop and think for a bit ;)

[@eninfinite2176]

This is probably the best video I’ve watched compared to other people’s videos on this game. Great job dude!

[@Spectacular_Insanity]

"A future is not given to you. It is something you must take for yourself." I got chills up my spine when I heard that in game. I really loved this game's message and the themes it presents. Lots of desolation, but still ultimately hopeful.

[@zeemod1556]

I appreciate how you've given Route B much more meaning, it's the most understated route and people seemed the least enchanted with it. Also I want to steal you're coining of "main kick" :)

[@titanspirit7238]

Robot toy dog funerals? Hovering noodles? Body pillows? Japan.

[@merlink.7287]

TITANSPIRIT to be fair, anyone can use a body pillow at least haha

[@NachoBearYeah]

TITANSPIRIT you forgot C O M M U N I S M

[@CoconutRouter]

TITANSPIRIT Psyco Mantis?

[@kuasocto3528]

Plot twist, Dutch invented a body pillow (an early version of it) and then Japan made it.... Japanese.

[@zetetick395]

Psycho-noodle

[@Dementis1049]

This is exactly the kind of video I wanted to see after finishing the game. Some well thought out ideas and observations in this video that doesn't shy away from going a bit deeper without taking itself too serious.

[@wrathofthetyrant]

George socks won't cure my existential pain

[@Opblaasmaatje]

thank you for the spoiler free time mark i really enjoyed your video

[@benzur3503]

cool video, but why is there a 19:40 minutes trailer before it starts?

[@Ikuconodule]

I come back to this video now and then. Just for the final few lines starting at 18:45. I think you really hit the nail on the head with them, George.

[@JackgarPrime]

"Skip the entire video to avoid spoilers" Sounds about right.

[@rafael471992]

First time that George socks is the least absurd element of your video. I love this weird game to death. Great insight as always my man.

[@salokin3087]

...Clemps be on his way

[@stinkmeaner19]

I REAAALLLY needed this.

[@anonimen31]

This game is special and important.

[@mohamedabdelfatah7297]

Not really

[@KiddoBestBoi]

F u c k y e a h

[@Bearprom]

i think this has to be the best video youve ever done george

[@Jaspertine]

This is my game of the generation so far. Not kidding.

[@yoshy321]

After discovering how amazing your channel was.. The instant I finished this game all I wanted to hear was your fantastic analytical mind. Thank you. This is a game for the ages. I honestly haven't felt so compelled since HL2

[@ThelemaAndLouise]

I hope, 200 years from now, this game and Yoko Taro are viewed the way we view the great philosophers of the past and their works.

[@krombopulos_michael]

Arthur we won't.

[@pupprinateacup660]

They’ll all be forgotten

[@inigo137]

You need to read more

[@vasqueos]

Damn thats so sad and cringey

[@myusername3689]

That’s a bit weird considering this game mocks philosophy quite often.

[@hannahhorst4059]

Emil's lunar tears Side quest was one of my faves tbh cause I could revisit Nier:Gestalt and be sad that Emil forget about them but still feels emotions over his forgotten friends and the adventure they had. It made me tear up an made me miss these characters I love too

[@HenrikRudi]

"SPOILERS: Skip to 19:37 TO AVOID SPOILERS" nice one

[@katphoodplaysagame9260]

11:36 That reminds of a certain part in the game which said: it's as if 'failure' was the goal itself. From an esoteric point of view, one could say that humans purpose in this world is to learn how to deal with problems/mistakes/failure and that in itself is one of many steps that the soul takes on its way to ascension.

[@GearGearRingLeader]

I think one of the isms you where likely looking for is Absurdism, I mean from what you have said about the ending of the game, saying (I am likely butchering some of this) although life has no meaning it simply means we should as individuals not only except that but to also look for and create our own meaning in life. (It unlike Nhillism advocates for people to in the face of the uncaring world, simply laugh and understand the way the world is but to not give up into despair or lash out in anger against the world.)

[@AluinKali]

Holy shit, I played this game so much and even made a 3.5 hour podcast about it and still it needs the amazing George to shove my nose into all the details and references I missed. Thank you so much. NieR:Automata is amazing and this video helped me a lot to untangle its themes.

[@SherryNiles1312]

This is so fucking fascinating thanks gorgeous George

[@1gnore_me.]

honestly, one of your very best videos. loved it. more people need to play nier automata

[@eruno_]

I think Japan needs to have more rebels like Yoko Taro against a part of culture that is only worsening life of average Japanese worker everyday.

[@katsurades]

A most thought provoking video. Well done Bunnyhop! Well done!

[@Screwy]

6:54 Given context clues, yeah that definitely signals "kill" instead of what most people thought it was

[@mr.kenway4554]

In Japanese, yes, it denotes "kill".

[@theMoporter]

It denotes both, as demonstrated by the multiple translations of the game all choosing a number of characters which could stand in for love or sex and violence. This is also supported by Jackass commenting that androids experience the same kind of emotions when fighting that humans did in love.

[@ledjon]

I loved this game and love your videos. keep up the good work! it gives me a deeper understanding and appreciation for three games.

[@TheStrxggler]

2A. Really George?

[@bazzy5644]

Jep, that was really bad in combination with the C critisism i had to pause the vid and think about how much he could've gotten wrong form there on out. He offered a new perspective and interesting points on the game i haven't tought about myself yet, so it was a great video regardless at the end.

[@Kingdom850]

Does it really matter? Her full name is still YoRHa No.2 Type A

[@newmoonlake]

The order of the letters and numbers denotes prototype models from finalized models. A2 is the prototype for the B models and both 2B and A2 use the 2 personality data.

[@willferrous8677]

I just want to point out that A2 is prolly a pun on "Et tu", as in "Et tu, Brute?"

[@zetetick395]

2A or not 2A - that is the question.

[@ulfhunden]

I think eternal recurrence is another important yet often overlooked theme in Nier Automata.

[@myusername3689]

Making the same mistakes again and again because you’re constantly being memory wiped to square one. Having the same indoctrinated purpose as the previous cycle but not remembering any lessons or failures from the previous cycle. Being perpetually trapped.

[@ParanoiaGentlman]

i cant believe yahtzee took the games story as nothing yet the majority is seeing something amazing about it.

[@Largentina.]

ParanoiaGentlman That's probably because Yahtzee is the worst game reviewer on the planet. He's pretty funny, though.

[@DeMomcalypseLive]

ParanoiaGentlman Well that's Yahtzee for you. He's known for having differinv opinions, but his opinions are justified

[@seroccoprime2774]

He did the same for the first Nier. He just doesn't really understand it, or care to understand it.

[@seroccoprime2774]

They take off their blindfolds when they want to express who they really are as people.

[@DeMomcalypseLive]

Thanatos388 You know, in Yahtzee's defense, he has expressed the fact that he heavily dislikes JRPGs in the past. So, in all honesty, what did you expect, exactly? So what if he didn't think the game wasn't as great as you thought it was. Like Yahtzee once said before, if you genuinely like a guy, then the criticisms shouldn't get to you

[@TheTrueMerrio]

Well that was profound... and a long advertisement of almost 19 minutes for the heart of this video.

[@evilpopehat]

Can we have an analysis on the exploitation of the workers who create Georgesocks by known bourgeois capitalist George "Huey Emmerich did nothing wrong" Weed-man through the lens of dialectical materialism?

[@deliciousdishes4531]

After missing the point of the first NieR in my eyes, this is amazing. Thank you!

[@harrison.kaiser]

I haven't played the game I skipped to 19:37 All I got was georgesockz

[@malvonanaliseiv8629]

I've open this video up about a year or more ago, got spoilers from run A, shut the video off and thought to my self, "I should play the game first". Got the game but never played it. Resolved it was about time last week, downloaded it, finished the rout A and started B, stoped after the boss from the theme park. Decided it was about time to watch this video. Started from the beginning. Got spoilers from rout b. I will stop by in a thew weeks hopping not to get spoilers again. And thank you for motivating me to experience this game, what a masterpiece.

[@Jagerbomber]

You pass butter.

[@joshlibrawood6779]

Josh Russell oh my god.

[@ToastyMozart]

Josh Russell "That other machine passes butter better than I can..." [Explodes]

[@kylerclarke2689]

I thought I would roll my eyes at the socks ad at the end but I'm just cracking up now!

[@BrewYourMeade]

YESSSSSSSS YOU PUT A TOMATO IN THE VIDEO

[@Hetsig]

Thank you so much for the 2 nier videos! This universe is so intriguing.

[@thanatos7007]

The robots kill themselves because they run out of cache. LOL. Seriously though, you touch on the rise of class consciousness in the robots and then admit that there aren't much in the way of economic issues in play, but that's because you don't understand the currency. "Cache," before it was computer jargon, was sociology jargon, it roughly means, any resource that can be allocated to affect a change, be that bulging muscles, a winning personality or cold hard currency. Hell, we call money "cash" as a lip service to this old idea. In this story the robots are representative of the underclass, they have no ability to affect any change to their circumstance, the realization of this powerlessness is a major driving force of most of the game. The Yorha are representative of the middle class, they appear to have the ability to affect change, but that is eventually revealed to be an illusion. Adam and Eve, and the little girl are the upper class, they have all the cache and through that agency, they can give their lives real meaning. Nier: Automata exist in a world in which a scarcity based economy is ridiculous on the face of it. Nobody needs stuff, so nobody needs money. The only truly precious thing in this world is an understanding of one's place and meaning in that world. In Nier: Automata a bot without meaning is a very poor man indeed.

[@d0nj03]

*effect a change

[@papermaniacs]

that's great man good comment

[@ErebosGR]

+d0nj03 Effect is the noun, affect is the verb. You were wrong, John Pratt was right.

[@d0nj03]

Effect and affect can both be either nouns or verbs, and as verbs they have quite different meanings. This context required the verb "to effect" and not the verb "to affect". Better luck next time. Do try to at least consult a dictionary until then.

[@ericfreack]

Didnt want to get spoiled, clicked the timestamp, still the best video of the month.

[@TheVGameMusic]

Hmm, at 8:30 he says the same line twice?

[@bazzy5644]

I think he forgot to cut that out. :D

[@shooterb0y23]

Listen to what he said and try to decipher why he said it twice in two different tones.

[@MrXMysteriousX]

TheVGameMusic My take was it was a refference to doing scenerio A and then B but drawing a different take from his intonation.

[@kirbyfreek]

man, I really love George videos. Also, timestamp​ told me i have to watch the whole video. oh well

[@Kuschel_K]

I really want to watch those bunny hop nier vidoes but I can't play nier 2 till I've played nier 1 xD

[@DivineRainor]

His first video on Nier was a plot summary of Nier 1. Watch that then play Nier Automata

[@ProfessorStaircase]

you don't really need to play the first one to play Automata, I went in without playing the first Nier and had a great time and understood the game.

[@residentgrigo4701]

You really don´t need to. As they barely related and this the 5th game in the "series" too.

[@OmegaPrime_]

Playing the first is not mandatory but there are some things that you will not be able to appreciate in Automata without playing NieR I recommend playing the first game first simply because it's a good game and deserves to be experienced by a player and not through a lets play

[@HunterRodrigez]

there are some pretty comprehensive and detailed plot summaries of the Drakengard games (which take place in the same universe as Nier) and the first Nier on youtube by some guy called Clemps, watch these and you are more than prepared to play Automata and pick up on the references to the earlier games

[@NukedGaming]

One of your best videos! I've just finished watching it for the 3rd time

[@aaronseet2738]

So the moral of the story is, Wear socks when gaming.

[@makowiec2k]

Why do I love automata so much? It feels like the feels of the whole civ were thrown at me, smashing and pushing me to the dirt then giving me a hand to stand back up. It was, and still is, an amazing experience

[@qinoga]

Why is it that the slightest mention of politics turns people into raving know it alls?

[@highlonesomed]

Sometimes you can guess which youtubers they listen to by their arguments.

[@DakNJaxter]

Awesome video as usual. Only, I've seen a few people mention that they found 9S cooler during Route B, but honestly, I already thought he was cool during Route A. He was backing you up constantly from the get go. He uploaded your (well 2B's) data over his own, effectively sacrificing himself. The factory escape (he's clearly been busy off-screen), the battle with Eve (throwing that haymaker). And I didn't get the sense that it shone 2B in a negative light either, since it was also obvious from the start she was hiding legit feelings for him.

[@randytyson]

So I haven't played neir yet. Can I still watch this and not lose so much surprise for when I actually play it?

[@crowman1795]

Bruce Wayne is Nier

[@EternlDepression]

crowman You son of a bitch , put a spoiler warning next time

[@TMTLive]

Don't watch it.

[@seablade214]

I would say no, wait till after playing

[@lusteraliaszero]

no

[@Darkholow]

Thank you for this in depth analysis of this game's story..really enjoyed it a lot!