A Story Analysis of Nier Automata 

A fun nugget I like to pass along is 2B’s opening monologue. It mentions if we’ll ever get the chance to kill the god responsible for the never ending cycle of life and death. At the end of the game, you get the chance to kill the developers, the “gods” of the game.

The most insane thing about Nier is that it exists as a continuation to the alternate or secret ending to the Drakengard games and the lore from those games is also insane

Both Nier games have amazing and beautiful soundtracks. Some of the best ever. I remember tearing up hard from the end credit section of ending E.

One of the few games that genuinely hits me with a wave of emotion when I think about it, such a well told story from all ends

Really had to make it past the 10 minute mark didn't ya?

Nier Automata is absolutely one of my favorite story-focused games. It's a fantastic take on the "what it means to be human" trope that often pervades tales staring robots.

Regarding the credits scene for ending E… I reached that point in the game during a moment where I had no internet access. I tried and tried and tried to beat it, but as you said, it legit was impossible. I never saw the messages from other players, never gained additional turrets. I thought there was no way through. The moment I regained internet access, I tried again only because I just didn’t want to give up and seeing those messages for the first time and finally hearing Weight of the World reach its climax with the hums and chants of all those voices together hit me like a truck. After being “alone” for so long, I finally had the help I needed to see this journey to the end. This game held and continues to hold such a deep significance to me, even helping me find ground in a philosophy I’ve adopted (as silly as it sounds with this being a videogame): Together, we as humanity can achieve anything.

7 years later and I'm still seeing videos on my all time favorite game/game series! The fact that crossovers, collabs, and media had successfully allowed this game to reach so many is unbelievable.

Broski honestly half the games you done i haven't or won't end up playing but i dig and appreciate these for the simple fact that don't miss out especially the storylines. Now im about to dive into this one.

I play Automata once a year and every time I get to the credits fight I'm just crying buckets and hope I can help someone else experience overcoming that one last hurdle.

It's crazy that I finished this game today, and I wanted to hear someone talk about it, and hear their experiences with this masterpiece. Then I accidentally found this video, which was published today, and then I heard that someone asked the same questions to himself as me while playing it, and it was truly fascinating. This game really is a treasure in almost every way and I'm kinda sad that it's not talked about more...

I’ve never heard a soundtrack as aethereal and memorable as NieR: Automata’s. Whole game is a masterpiece

I personally love that line from adam to 9s so much with the 4 ****. Because the more u play, the more you realise how many different words could not only be there. But how many words could fit there well

No game has ever made me proud to delete my data until Nier:Automata

In actuality, Pascal's village, the Amusement Parl and Forest Kingdom machines never did leave the network. They thought they did, but the red girls where still monitoring every action of theirs, trying to learn. They were all experiments ran by the red girls, they did have "free will" for as long as it was interesting for the observers, the zombie outbreak in the village was a stress-test from the girls to see how the pacifists would react when they needed to defend theirselves Also, before the game starts 2B has killed 9S 42 times already, that's why she's so emotionally broken "You really want to **** 2B, don't you?" can be "fuck", for the players and for 9S himself who is attracted to her; can be "kill" for 9S knows about the cycle and might have some internalised hatred for 2B; could even be "save" for 9S knows about the cycle but understands her pain and wants to free her from this

While I don't consider Nier:Automata a perfect game, I can't help but be in complete awe at the path that Route E takes you. It is in my opinion the best demonstration that video games are the greatest form of artistic expression where you can bring together themes, ideas and messages and show them in a unique way. I've never seen anything similar in any other game (and I doubt I ever will), but after suffering so much with the story and the credits and seeing how the game, in such an organic and natural way, reminds me that other people have been through it. The same thing that I felt in those moments, it was a blow to my feelings from which I will never recover. The sense of unity in a community that I really don't know anyone else about was something that left me frankly speechless and that I will remember and respect until the end of my days. After hesitating for a few moments, I also sacrificed my save file and it was this same sacrifice and feeling of unity that made me complete the game again, now knowing the sacrifice and weight of all my actions and those of the characters. It's a shame that I did this so long ago that I no longer remember my message, even so, the important thing was to help someone like others helped me.

I really enjoy your vids! Thanks for putting in the time and effort. I hope you can support yourself this way. Take care

You know a piece of media is good when it makes you feel the full range of human emotion.

This was by far the best video you’ve ever made. Your message to the other players almost brought a tear to my eye given the context of everything, absolutely incredible

Hearing you talk about ending E, how it made you feel, and you mentioning Weight of the World brought me to tears. I played NieR: Automata back in 2019, and it remains as my #1/#2 game still, and Weight of the World being one of the most meaningful songs I've ever listened too, let alone from a game. As soon as you mention the song I started crying and immediately sang the opening notes. I am so glad that you enjoyed the awesome game, as I wish so dearly I could reexperience my first time with it.

The best compliment i can give you for this video is that you did Nier Automata justice. Fantastic watch. This has been my personal favourite game ever since I completed it for the first time (....and I'm hardcore souls fan), and you even found a couple of things i missed. Thank you.

Taro Yoko has always been a firm believer in making side materials for games. It’s something he does naturally. Automata itself originates from the Stageplay YoRHa after all! Which is where A2 first appears. The mind boggling extent with which he connects things get crazy. Like how the two Gacha games Yokos been involved in, Sinoalice and Nier Reincarnation, are…… “Sequels/Sidequels” to the story of Automata thanks to revealing a short story and the Human Server are integral to Reincarnation.

The 4 letter word directed at 9S in regards to 2B is 'Free'. Its said as much in Nier Reincarnations Automata crossover event...which i'm sure EVERYONE had access to...ugh

I feel slightly different about "2B's" emotional awakening in ending A since I felt it was her mask of emotional numbness falling off from the repeated stress of having to lose/kill 9S repeatedly, only not completely losing it because he had transfered himself. Its a little hard to tell sometimes what the characters feel. Edit: I have been shown who is the boss!

Intro to Route C is probably the best moment of any video game ever

Finally. I waited so long for it. Thank you.

Your message at the end almost made me cry, amazing video i cant wait for your next upload.

Wonderful timing i needed a break at this exact moment

Wow I didn't realise this video was a day old, holy shttt. Feed the algorithm :)) great video!

Wow! This was so beautiful! You did a fantastic job bringing all these pieces together. Thank you so much!

nier is my favorite game series of all time, everything about the series is a master class, the soundtracks are the perfect

Another great piece of work. Thank you for providing this content some of the most enjoyable

I love these long videos covering my favorite topics, i can say i had a similar emotional response when i first played this game, as it is one of the only games to make me actually cry. I think you did a great job covering the story as well

Bro, you don't know how badly I want a Returnal video from you! I love the way you break these games down, and I'd love to see that for one of my favorite games of last year!

Yes!! I have been waiting for this video! Love your videos and love Nier. Perfect combo

I have been waiting for this to drop🎉

Thanks for this video, man! Love it! ❤❤❤

Ay let’s go, always know what I can expect from your vids bro. Thanks for all the effort and work you put into these videos.

Favourite story teller youtuber back at it again with another banger, thank you!

this came at a perfect time! I finished the game yesterday and really needed a comprehensive recap like yours to gather my thoughts. Thanks and good job on this analysis!

Ohhh boy. Another banger! I need to make some popcorn for this ❤

It’s crazy to see how old this game is and still see it impact the way it did when released there is no form of art that has even come close to this yet

Been looking forward to you talking about Nier👏

How does gingy manage to pump out such good videos so consistently? It’s magic man!

Such a fantastic game! If only we had a third adventure to tie everything together

Okay you wanna know where this gets even crazier? FFXIV brings this full circle with its Nier raid series. The ark lands on the First, one of several dimensionally overlapping "shards" of a single world. The first is very strongly aligned toward Light aether, which is order taken to an extreme of stagnation and crystallization. It gets a bit iffy from there but it's implied that the machines master magic and the Ark gets corrupted by the Light, turning into the Seeds of Destruction from Drakengard and slipping into a portal, presumably to start the cycle all over again.

another great video essay! thank you gingy

Once again, you have absolutely blown me away with this story analysis. You have a serious talent for this and i absolutely love your content keep up the amazing work

I cry every time I hear Weight of the World and your description of the ending brought me to tears again. Thank you, truly. Keep doing what you believe in :)

I only started watching these videos like a week ago but I'm already excited when new videos drop

Now THIS is ganna be a masterpiece of a video

34:12 Minor nitpick, it's actually Kaine's theme that plays here. The one that plays in the credits of Nier Replicant is Ashes of Dreams. Kaine (Salvation) hits much more in this area, not just because of her shack being recreated, but also the fact that Kaine was the one who helped Emil come to terms with his eyes and skeleton form, always seeing him as Emil, her friend, and not a monster.

Game gave me an existential crisis and mild depression. 10/10 will partake again lol

the one game that truly made he sit and think. no other game i can think of makes you just sit in darkness watching the end credits roll thinking on life. it truly is a great.

Been waiting for this vid LETS GOO

this game is on my list of games to play, i would love to watch this vid gingy but i cant spoil. ive been wanting a new gingy vid too

I literally just played through this game all the way to ending e and finished the day this video was uploaded. What impeccable timing

Enjoyed this very much, great job

Been waiting for this one 🗣️

This was amazing! Thank you!

its 2.25am for me and you posted this shit? FUCK! im getting my popcorn.

I haven’t played this for years and even still seeing you go through the final ending and what it means as well as what it meant to you made me tear up the same as when I played it myself. Truly a timeless masterpiece.

Let's freaking go dude

mannn i remember sobbing while playing through the credits minigame lmfao. thank you for a masterclass analysis of this game. concisely explained all the details and reasons why i love this game. can't believe i haven't played replicant, but i have it installed now, so i have that treat ready :) anyways, cheers!

Yesss i was waiting for this

thanks for making this video, this is one of my favorite games of all time

Nice! Well done!

You always upload just at the right time

nice. glad a vid about this games comes up today

Great watch as always 👊🏿

Love the videos

Great vid bro.😺

Aaamazing video! 🥳 Thanks for explaning stuff like Emils side-story 😁

I finished it recently and man this game was an emotional rollercoaster with one of if not the best soundtrack I've ever heard in a game

I finished up a second playthrough in preparation for the upcoming orchestra concerts and happened to see this video just days before completion. Great recap and analysis. I committed to wiping my save data this time, as I didn't have the heart to do so last time. My message was similar to yours: "This world is rife with hardship. And yet, the whole world is rooting for you." Such a touching game with one of the most beautiful endings. Thank you for this video.

What a great video! I just finished the game last night, and I appreciate your thoughts and comments on the many different questions the game asks us.

❤❤ 😊 Thanks for an amazing video. I'd love to see you cover the first Nier game.

very nice videos !

Dear Gingy please keep this style of videos up, I consumed this video multiple times and highly enjoy the infos that are layed out on golden plate, you Sir, are very good at doing this.

Thank you for this beautiful video

One of the best NieR lore videos I've seen. Thank you Gingy This is my favorite game of all time and will forever hold a place in my heart until the end.

Always amazing

The ending always makes me cry. Please do your best ❤

Great recap, Thanks for telling.

Nier 1 had a song called Hills of Radiant Wind. It used to play every time you used to go out into the grassy plains. One of the most beautiful songs I've heard in a game and the soundtrack to a very happy part of my childhood. 😊

Thank you- I’ve platted this almost 10 years ago, and have never been able to shake the questions the game asks of the player. It’s never been given the proper love outside of a handful in the know.

Only YoRHa actually share the same core as Machine Lifeforms, other androids have a standard AI. YoRHa having an machine core was a deliberate choice since giving those androids a standard A.I was seen as "too cruel" for those whose purpose is to die out in the end.

Your videos a good bro… like really really good well done gg

hey love the video,made me have a think for while after the video . i hope the next video be pacific drive or warhammer 40,000 rouge trader.

the weight of the world is such a perfect song to wrap up the game with. the first line that is sang in that song made me go from feeling emotional, to instantly crying. i legit had tears going down my face because of how amazing it was. like, when we as gamers talk about good moments in gaming, good endings, good games, whatever have you, this is one of them. its one of those things that without context, you wouldnt understand at all. if you only played the last few sections of the game, you wouldnt understand it. if you played the first few sections and for some reason skipped to the ending, you wouldnt understand it. after playing through a solid 40ish hours of story and paying attention to all of it, i genuinely cannot believe someone would hear that song play and not feel at least somewhat emotional. i dont have much to say that wasnt said in the video, but i cant get over how amazing the ending was. i just played the game in may of last year, and im shocked that it took me that long to give the game a try. i even gave up on it in the first couple hours the first time i bought it. refunded it because it didnt click. never stopped hearing about how amazing the game was, and after i watched the episode in the anime where they fight the opera singer machine, i decided to give it one last try. completely changed my mind before even reaching the end of route A. such a masterpiece of a game, albeit a hard sell to some people because of how many different things it tries to do, even if thats part of what makes it so good.

Gingy uploading always put a smile on my face.

Eu simplesmente amo o seu canal, de todo coração você é incrivel! Por favor faça um video sobre disco elysium..

FUCKING YESSSSSSS!!!!! IVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO RUN THROUGH THIS GAME! SO EXCITED!!THANK YOU SIR GINGY!! GangGang💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

Amazing especially the ending

There's also the part when you're 9S in the second fight with Adam and Eve (in the Alien base) - the girls appear for a split second behind them. Scared the crap out of me when it happened.

My god, GREAT video 10/10 for a 10/10 game

I just hope 2B gets her shirt🥲

This game will forever be one of the greatest gaming experiences I've ever had I'm so happy you made a video on it

Easily one of my top 10 favorite game of all time. The music, the story, the combat... everything is just perfect

Love being blessed with more Gingy content