NieR: Automata is an incredibly philosophical and artistic game. Here, I share my thoughts having played the game a second time... 3 years later. This video is as spoiler free as I could make it. I hope you enjoy my new style of video creation. *Don't FORGET to tune in (hopefully on Saturday, 4/25) for my new show that I hinted at last year. It's going to be... different and fun.* Special thanks to anyone who has supported me on Patreon this last year, as I was able to upgrade my camera and buy new audio equipment (used in this video) for the channel with the donations. Thanks again! -Loke

One of the best game of this generation and sadly one of the most underrated game of this generation too. This game is pure Art. Story, songs, characters, atmosphere. Everything.

"Art is what you find in a museum, video games are the museum." Wow, this Kojima quote really resonates with me.

Nier: Automata is one of my favorite games ever. a beautiful world filled with beautiful music and silky smooth combat. but that's not all, the game challenges you not just ethically, but philosophically. you start questioning why you do the things you do, and provokes emotion with every cutscene, not to mention the 4th wall breaks. I might be ignorant but I can't think of another game to blend all those factors into one game.

2017 had quite a lot of great games, but this one was probably my most favorite. It's a shame that Nier: Automata didn't get the amount of attention that it definitely deserved.

For me, this game has the most beautiful music ever. Hearing weight of the world in the end section will break me everytime.

Yoko taro knows how to give people depression

Nier: Automata is a milestone in modern day video game story telling. It was said in a review shortly after release: "If history forgets Nier:Automata, then f*ck history."

Even to this day I still tear up a bit when I hear any section of "Weight of the World". The True Ending of that game still resonates that much with me. My only complaint is that the game ended. But man, what an ending it was. I'll never forget it.

Who's excited for new upcoming nier replicant?

What's problematic is that the rest of mainstream media didn't really evolve with SOMA, Ex Machina and Nier Automata. These gems are so far ahead even new shows or games that are still going 'RoBoTs HavE FeElIngS ToO'. The entire point of these games aren't really about robots more than they are about giving a new perspective on the importance of particularly memories and how they shape a person. It's still about the human experience, not just some 'RoOoOBoOoTs aRe CoOl ToO' In like 10 years maybe we are gonna get a mainstream series that tackles consciousness as though you weren't a fucking child like these pieces did. But normally i hate this subject in media because these bad bois already tackled it so well and most other stuff is just so insufferably worse.

Despite it's flaws, this has to be the most memorable game I've played thus far. It's unfortunate many didn't get past the first route to understand the brilliance of this game.

This game is a masterpiece. The best game I've ever played. It is an experience that cannot be recreated or adapted to other mediums like a movie or a TV show, as much as I would love to watch it in that form, they would never do the story justice. You can't get that same experience watching a moving picture. I wish more people had access to it and had the patience to complete the game entirely. I know too many people who quit as early as the tutorial level because they died and had to restart.

Oh thank Goliath, I couldn't go any longer without my monthly thrust. 😫😫😫

Amazing video Tonald. It makes me happy to know that you appreciate this game as much as I, and many others do.

Meanwhile, at Gamefaqs, its being outvoted for GOTD by...Pokemon Silver and Gold remakes? Yeah, crazy world we live in.

Nier Automata is the heart of game. To anyone who didn't play I really recommend to try and enjoy it. 😊😊

Nier: Automata will be a masterpiece, even 20 years from now on ♥️

Bless us with your videos Lord Tonald!

As someone that played nier 1 first than nier automata I can say the nier series is an absolute master piece and yoko Torra is an absolute mastermind being able to construct such complex simple and emotion games

8:40 Optional quests does thankfully stay completed trough the repeating sections.

Not even gonna lie I teared up at the end to. Whenever the weight of the world starts playing I still get a little choked up. This honestly quickly became one of my favorite games ever it's amazing

Your videos have greatly improved with time! Love to see you grow as a creator, hope you find success.

Haven't seen one of your vids for a while. Really impressed with this one. Keep up the good work.

Straight up you have come a long way in making videos im enjoying what you are doing now more than a couple years back. Im looking forward to your next videos.

Tonald videos are art. I pray to the cosmic chicken that they will not end

It's as that one person said 3 years ago. The master you'll never play

Dude nice painting!

Nier automa is next up on my quarantine game list. I’ve been wanting to play it for years but had too many other games to finish and multiplayer games for in the way.

great video man, this was a real treat. thank you

My biggest problem with video games being labeled as art is that most games require a compromise of their artistic attributes in order to make the game user friendly and accessible to more people, (or people in general, regardless of the number) a game's ultimate goal is to make money for the company, there might or might not be passion involved but that doesn't change the true purpose of the game's development. Video games posses art in themselves but only in certain segments, and most of the time that art suffers because of the game's ultimate goal, models are simplified, textures are compressed and mechanics are dumbed down. I believe Hideo is right when he says that video games are more of a museum than an art piece, but that being said when you break down the game most of the time you get mediocre art pieces at best. Things in video games are not made for the sake of being made, they are made for the sake of appealing to someone else other than the game's developer, therefore the game's overall appearance and design is dictated not by the creator but by someone who will eventually consume that product. Another thing that bothers me with games being labeled as art is that all games are made as a sort of a playground that allows the players to be creative in some way, therefore i would much rather be inclined to label them as a new media canvas of some sorts than a standalone art piece. I haven't played NieR, but by your video's analysis it seems like a game that creates a setting, asks the questions, and then answers them. Also i don't believe that art has to be many-worded to be deep and therefore good, really simple and seemingly irrelevant things and motifs can drive someone to deep contemplation concerning something such as life or death or free will, just having something be thoroughly set up and based around a seemingly deep subject doesn't equate to it being deep and/or good. I understand your point, that the game does well, trough it's presentation and mechanics, to convey a certain message that it's trying to convey to the player, i don't believe that that makes it art, however i would say it's a good use of the medium and as such a good idea and narrative conveying piece, if that makes sense.

Awesome video thank you for bringing attention to everything that matters about this amazing, wonderful experience!!

Is it just me or has Downward thrust rising in quality? Wow. Haven't seen any clickbait videos about the death of . Rather, it's been thoughtful critique videos. Kudos to DT on turning the channel around

One of my top 3 games of the generation, great review again Downward. Cry like a child with the true ending :_( Greetings from Spain :)

3 years and years to come, this game will always stay my favorite game EVER

Played it for the first time recently after lusting over it for 3 years. Definitely a work of art... Maybe my favorite game ever

I did not expect such an in-dept video so long after the game has been released. Nice

Glad I came by your channel, you have great content! Nier Automata is one of my favorite games ever!

I recently played this through on PC and took my time with the game and absolutely loved It. Made sure to not skip side quest's and strived to get all weapons and pods.

Good to see that someone is still talking about this because I picked it up last month when it was $20 but had wanted to play it forever! It's definitely one of a kind and doesn't get enough credit.

After hearing "A beautiful song" I knew I had to play this game, I started watching videos about it while trying to not spoil myself. I eventually saved up for a decent computer to play it and it's my favorite game of all time, I've replayed it a few times and listen to the soundtrack a bit too much lol. Now I'm really excited to play the nier remake when it comes out

Nice painting, man!

Very well made video, thank you for making it

i actually recently wrote an essay for a art history and visual culture on a similar topic. my thesis was that nier automata as an art piece and as a narrative could only fully be expressed as a video game, and the story could never be the same expressed as any other medium. nier automata is my favourite game. this video is very eloquently put and i'm glad you made this video essay!

Your content has drastically improved since returning from your hiatus

I finally finished routes B-E a few months ago and it was absolutely incredible. Why I waited so long after finishing A I'm not sure. Such a beautiful story really different than most everything else out there. Fantastic video by the way

the OST was one of the most memorable things I have come across and the game itself is stunning. Yoko Taro put art in a way he saw fit and called it a game

Great work man keep it up!!!

I like the new style, keep it up!

I still listen to Nier Automata OST every day, it's just so amazing, a true masterpiece.

The style of this video is so close on the spectrum to Raycevick's it's like you're attempting to channel him. You've really upped your game here, man. Cheers!

I found Automata on sale a few months ago. Dived in, the endings convey so much. But E.. the entire journey is amazing That boss fight at the end though. that broke me

wow three years that was quick

i am just glad there are people who acknowledges the true meaning of the 3 different story line. i have seen review vids where the content creator says something along the lines of "the game gets you to repeat the story line with a different charactor with minor change to the story line", i am like, you really haven't been paying attention at all have you...... and that ending credit fight... who ever came up with it is a bloody genius

This game is one of the most beautiful games I've ever played.

Thank you for recognizing this game!

Thank God that Tonald has been uploading more. Join the intelecutal Toxic Brood Tonald! It is... inevitable!

Wow what are the odds I was just listening to the the soundtrack.

Glad to see you looking at NieR again!

The way you string words together is like poetry. Very mentally stimulating to me for some reason 🤔 great review and I'm buying into this game.

The passion behind this game is unmatched in my opinion. You can tell how much love and devotion went into every single inch of this game by how it pushes boundaries and how beautiful it is. Everything between the music, the story, the themes and the ending E makes this game a masterpiece. One I will likely never forget. This game is one that has a real power to resonate, one that can actually move people to look inward on themselves to ask how compassionate of a person they are and if they are willing to prove it. Game of a generation, for sure.

Wolf is round of you Love this video you’re doing great job

Last time I played this masterpiece by Yoko Taro was back in August 2019. Finished it from A-Z including a hidden ending with music video related to the machine story.

Just completed the game yesterday, had a blast playing it!

So not only can this dude jam out like a master on guitar, he can make crazy ass abstract art too? So much talent in one man!

I agree I don't think of games as art in a traditional sense. This game made me rethink that premise as it truly is an experience I have never had in a video game before. Other games may have better stories through a straight narrative but this game goes beyond that into existence and meaning of life itself. Truly a masterpiece kinda like bioshock in that regard.

Still my favorite game, 3 years on. Need to play it again, with some, 'Delicious mods'.

I love Nier:A so much. It raised the bar for video games for me. Such a great story in a gorgeous video game. I wish I could play, experience more things like it. But it is heavy, I'm still not over it... and probably will never be ...until I die.

The "Art is what you see in a museum. A game is a museum" quote just blew my mind.

The first time I played it, everytime I got into a new area I'd just stop what I'm doing and just listen to the music being played. Good times.

3 years? Jesus the years are flying by

Tonald is back! Welcome back you wonderful person filled with entertainment!

Came for the super hot and thicc android waifu but stood for philosophy and the emotionally sad tone! 10/10

I played this game in December of 2018. I'm thankful for experiencing it as it helped me go through some tough times. This game lingered in my mind for 3 months after completing it. No other game has done that. I still listen to it's soundtrack to this day. I can definitely say, for me at least, that Nier Automata is one of the best games of all time.

7:10 You only have to restart Nier Automata once about halfway through the game. I'm pretty sure that's the opposite of countless.

We love you Tone

Funny enough I slept on this game for a long time. Of course I had seen it a bit but never knew much about it. I’ve sunk about 20 hours into Nier:Automata now and so far and It’s amazing. Definitely brings me back to playing kingdom hearts and final fantasy games when I was younger.

That dog is a true work of art

I hope you're doing well Tonald. Slice and dice brother, slice and dice

Definitely an underrated masterpiece!

I never finished the game because I got tired of playing any game in general. But this game has a special place in my heart because of the feel of it. The desolate post apocalyptic city with robots running around. I am an artist myself and I can really say, though it may not be the best game in terms of gameplay, it is one of the masterpieces of art(or a museum as some people in the comment says). I still listen to the soundtrack and watch screenshots to get inspired.

My favorite game of all time. The only point I would push back on is that things do actually change quite a bit each playthrough. The second, while replaying many of the sections of the 1st, has new sections as well as well as adding to the narrative in the parts that do repeat through the unique ability of 9s, hacking. Playing through as him is also a major difference. The 3rd playthrough is completely unique and takes place after the 1st and 2nd. The first NieR's multiple playthroughs actually function much closer to how you described.

There has been no game which as blown me away like Automata has. I didn’t expect it to be as detailed as it was. I reluctantly picked it up late 2019, now it’s my story favourite game. To this day I’m still in that satisfying reflection phase as if I’ve just finished all endings (especially ending E). Like god damn that all happened, it made me actively think about themes and most importantly FEEL and care for the characters which most games fail to made me do. I’m ready to sink in another 40 hours to explore the world again and play to absolutely completion.

Ur dog is Adorable!! I platinumed this game last week for the second time...it is still one of the best and unique games around and i need a sequel ASAP

You had me at doggo...

I love how you make videos! keep up the good work. I downloaded this game 1 year ago, I haven't played it, looking forward to do so. (thanks for the spoiler warning)

This game saved me from my depression after my first break up.

Side quests are actually one and done after your first play through on route A. Route B can offer those side quests if you hadn’t them plus adds ones for 9S specifically. You do learn more about the world and the android resistance on earth. Plus a little into 21O and 6P personalities and desires. I enjoyed the side quests and didn’t find them bothersome

NieR Automata has been quite influencal in my work as a university student doing a BA Degree.

NieR: Automata is a once in the Decade Event (hell could even be one a life time) in gaming just alone at the graphics or the story there is no game like it. it is one of my favourite games of the last decade for the prospective it trys to tell and the way it tells the story i nver felt that characters are more alive in any other game than this one and that allone is a pice of art

oh bummer, its been 3 years and i still havent finish it, so i cant watch your video just yet, but you have my like and share because im sure its a good video.

How come that video games, as a combination of all forms of art doesn’t get nearly as much recognition as some splashed paint in an museum? Maybe because videogames hasn’t existed for nearly as much but I believe one day they’re gonna surpass every other form of art.

This is a neat game. It's in my backlog, and I'm hoping to get around to earning the plat next year.

dang..u readin my mind or wat..been meaning to ply this game for a while now. jus finished the mass effect games, all 3 in 1 week..ya i know. Guess ill go ply nier now. ill surely watch this in full once i finish the game ;)

Planning on starting this today for the first time, feel like I've missed out for too long based on this game's amazing reception Wish me luck :)

This was a well timed video because I just recently started my second playthrough. As a game, it is good but has some noticeable shortcomings, most of which you mentioned. Despite that, it is the most profound video game I've ever played and easily ranks among my favorites.

Nier Automata was beautiful in many ways, the character arcs, main plot, musics, environment, ideology, philosophy... The beginning of the third play through is disastrous, everything happens so quickly that I don't have time to think and breathe !

The entire franchise (except DG2) is astounding, it's not a Work of Art, it's Art incarnate! Nier:A is a but a fraction of the mythos of the universe it inhabits, and personally not the best in the bigger picture for me DG3 still holds that crown.

Been contemplating on getting this and it looks amazing from the gameplay i've seen on KZfaq. Question for anyone who has played Nier Automata, does the game ever feel repetitive and overwhelming? Those are some of my biggest gaming fears.

Love it already. Like!