REVIEW: ‘NieR Automata Ver1.1a’ Raises The Bar For Video Game Adaptations

In the distant future, humans based on the moon fight a proxy war via androids against a machine army built by invading aliens. As the centuries have passed, the deadlock has been unshakable. But thanks to advanced android models called YoRHa, the stalemate may soon end. As one such model, 2B (Yui Ishikawa, Platinum End), descends towards the earth, she ponders the puzzle she finds herself at the center of in NieR Automata Ver1.1a from A-1Pictures.

If you are new to the work of acclaimed video game creator Yoko Taro (NieR Replicant, Drakengard), the above synopsis will probably sound ridiculous. And to be fair, it is. While the world sounds like something out of a fever dream, it is what the narrative does with this setting that made the story shine in the original game and continues to work here. By having viewers follow androids and robots around as they learn about the deeper meaning of their existence, NieR Automata Ver1.1a allows the narrative to explore deep, philosophical concepts without any real-world baggage mudding the waters.

The philosophy of NieR Automata Ver1.1a explores concepts like community, truth, how we value ourselves, and the dangers of placing too much of our worth in external sources. As the show follows its leads, 2B and 9S (Natsuki Hanae, Demon Slayer), the realities of their world are called into question as the truths they always believed in fall out from under them. As these shifting realities impact the cast’s lives, we see the repercussions of their decisions in handling the changing world they inhabit.

One of the things that makes NieR Automata‘s larger themes hit hard is how the show frequently answers the questions it poses to both the cast and viewers. That is to say that it doesn’t. As each challenge is resolved, the show presents viewers with the choices of the cast without any definitive judgment about whether they are right or wrong. Despair or hope, kindness or coldness—both are presented to the viewer, bearing pros and cons as each scenario plays out—well, with one glaring exception.

If there is one clear theme that cannot be argued about in NieR Automata Ver1.1a, it’s the narrative’s rejection of blind obedience. From virtually every faction and character involved in the series, there is a truth that was held as gospel that turns out to be false. Blindly adhering to truth causes many of the worst moments for characters within the series, as the falsehoods they are come to be known.

While the big questions claim much of the audience’s mind space, more personal elements also fill NieR Automata Ver1.1a‘s story. From the often awkward relationship between 2B and 9S to the struggles of local android resistance leader Lily (Atsumi Tanezaki, My Hero Academia), the show makes sure to drive home the personal elements of its characters. These struggles keep the series grounded in a surprisingly effective way. Despite the bizarre scenario and non-human leads, the show keeps the audience engaged with the characters. They feel real, even if their world never does.

While the metaphysical struggles like truth and the hardships of loss and friendships are explored thoroughly here, the series doesn’t want for action. The show never misses a chance to showcase its action-game roots. 2B is an acrobatic death engine as she flips and twists through legions of enemies wielding her trademark swords.

The series painstakingly recreates some of the game’s most iconic fight scenes, not allowing any sense of the absurd to hold it back. Moments like the Opera Singer Battle, complete with waves of bouncing burgundy orbs filling the battlefield, are brought to life for fans to revel in. But while it adheres to the source material when needed, the show isn’t afraid to deviate when it sees potential to improve.

In the back half of the season, a large-scale assault takes place. While the original game talked it up like a major battle, budget, and graphical limitations kept it from showcasing the true scale of the fight. Here, NieR Automata Ver1.1a pulls out all the stops, letting the grand scale run wild and increasing the scope of these major moments.

The willingness to improve is not limited to the action, either. Several plot beats in the series are tweaked and changed, allowing for some surprising twists along the way. However, these changes never alter the larger thrust of the story, opting instead just to alter a moment. This makes it so long-time fans of the series can be surprised while not having the main story taken off course.

The only significant time this toying with the narrative falls flat is how it deals with the supporting character Pascal (Aoi Yûki, The Elusive Samurai). How the series drops the ball in the back half of the character’s arc lets several critical character moments fall by the wayside in preference to action and shock effects.

The series also plays with the narrative by expanding on information players learned about in side quests or expanded lore but never got all the details. These added touches feel natural and provide welcome information that fleshes out these side moments.

The final way that NieR Automata Ver1.1a plays with its narrative is one that fans will greatly appreciate. Through some clever reworking of plot beats, the series manages to incorporate brief cameo moments from characters in other entries in the franchise. Largely caught in flashbacks, these nods to fan-favorite characters are a delight when they come.

The final way this series stands out as an adaptation is in its audio. Barring the opening and ending tracks, most of the music comes straight from the original game. The musical work led by celebrated composer Keiichi Okabe (Summer Time Rendering) shines beautifully throughout the series. There is only one recurring situation where the music struggles a little bit.

The desire to pair characters and locales with their familiar tracks occasionally backfires during more rapid sequences. There are times when the series skips between moments quickly. Rather than pick the best track for the entire sequence and go with it, the series tries to dot each piece with its joined element. This can cause the music to feel disjointed at times as a piece comes and goes before it can get going.

The audio is further kept on track thanks to the return of the entire original voice cast. (Note: This is at least true for the Japanese language version. While I believe the English dub is as well, I haven’t fully watched that version.) The familiar approaches to the characters’ voices make the series feel truly familiar.

With a clear strive to honor the narrative’s core while expanding upon it in ways that build it up rather than detract, NieR Automata Ver1.1a manages to be a near-flawless adaptation. While its high success rate makes its stumbles feel all the more noticeable, they do little to diminish the depth of its meaning or the excitement of its battles.

NieR Automata Ver1.1a is streaming on Crunchyroll.