NieR:Automata is a Must Watch

The NieR:Automata video games are well renown with good gameplay, likeable characters with some great designs, and, most of all, a fantastic story.

Of course, I’ll do my best not to spoil anything for anime only watchers like myself. If you don’t want to risk it, take my advice and just go watch it!

The announcement of an anime adaption for NieR:Automata was met with excitement from fans of the games and the anime community interested in having the story be animated. Recent adaptations of games – Cyberpunk Edgerunners and Arcane for example – have not only done an excellent job in adapting source material but also elevated interest in the source material overall.

NieR:Automata had the chance to deliver an anime adaptation of such quality and with A-1 pictures, a well-known studio with notable anime under their resume, hope for the anime was good.

NieR:Automata season 1 episode 1 was a stumbling jump. It had questionable CGI that left a bitter taste in anime only and game fans alike. The episode overall is good, but the criticism of the CGI left many worried for the rest of the season.

Episode 2 is where the shows kicks into gear with a fantastic episode that depicts machines developing strange characteristics akin to that of humans paired with the never-ending war of those on earth fighting against the endless hordes of machines. We see the possibility of machines learning and are thrown into the mystery of their origins, the secrets behind YorHa, and the birth of new machines lifeforms all together.

Although episode 1 had a rough start, the rest of the season picks up steam with the great arcs around Adam and Eve. Yes, criticism for the CGI was warranted but the effect it had on the rest of the season was unwarranted. Season 1 turned out to be great.

Season 2 is phenomenal. Every episode grips your attention, the reveals are jaw dropping, the twist are surprising, and the consequences are heartbreaking.

The first episode alone has a twist so unexpected that it reignites the mystery behind YoRHa once more. Not only does 9S do his best to learn more about the truth behind the actions of others but the audience is drawn in as he is stopped when just within reach of succeeding. With such a reveal for episode 1, one would believe that later twist will struggle to match it; they do not.

Episode four and five of NieR:Automata season 2 are some of the best episodes of anime I’ve seen all year and have the strength to rival some of the best I’ve ever watched. The twists in these two episodes rival that of AOT with the armored and colossal titan reveal, that of the Raizo reveal from one piece.

Even hinting at what happens is absolute disservice to the wonderful work done by everyone that has worked on this anime, so I will be brief but give a short summary with this: watch it.

Do skip the next two paragraphs if you wish to avoid possible spoilers.

Episode four begins with a full offensive on the machine lifeforms, an effort with the hope to be the final fight and claim victory. This plan fails however, and the machines counter offensive leads to absolute devastation. With the surprise from the machine lifeforms, YoRHa is left struggling with 2B and 9S leading the hopeful regroup that will lead them back to victory.

Episode 5, as simple as I can say, is a complete loss of hope. Such a twist, such devastation, and such a defeat that I was left speechless. An episode so gripping that you stare at the screen searching for hope, praying for a chance, and left with heartbreak.

Any more and it will be spoilers, though I believe I may have spoiled some things here. Episode 4 is fantastic, episode five I believe is perfect, together they are some of the greatest pair of episodes of all time.

As an anime, NieR:Automate is stellar. Fantastic voice acting, great animation, great soundtrack, it hits all the marks needed for an anime to be considered good. Its greatest strength is the writing and plot however, the mystery and history of the machines on earth, the secrets of YoRHa, the twist, the writing of the source material for this anime is absolute class.

If nothing else, everyone deserves to watch the season 2 ending, what a visual spectacle. But I hope more people will give it a chance as it is a fantastic anime that everyone should have the opportunity to experience. Truly wonderful. I recommend this show more than anything else this season, and possibly even this year.

On a final note, Pascal the goat. Thank you for reading!