Quick Look: NieR: Automata

Dan asks, something like, "what's the earliest example of [exploring the question of] 'is the robot conscious'".

Probably Mary Shelley's Frankenstein? Published 1818. Maybe there's something about Golems in older Jewish literature though.

Is there a more impactful way to deal ranged damage? The robot gun spam seemed kind of tedious during that boss fight.

Dang this game looks weird and janky. Kinda neat.

@lingxor: You can use pod programs for a burst of damage on a cooldown (the default is a laser beam), you can upgrade your pod for more damage and additional effects (the gatling can shoot a grenade after a certain period of continuous fire), as well as obtain different pods, like one that shoots lock-on missiles.

But mostly Alex just spent way more time than necessary fighting it at range. For most of that fight you can just get up there and melee that thing.

Whatever you do, don't stop playing after the second playthrough. The third playthrough is where the story really starts. :) Also the second playthrough is not exactly the same, it reveals a lot of things and fleshes out the story.

@lingxor: Yes, you get melee shockwave effects and stronger ranged attacks that work on cooldowns in exchange for bigger burst effects e.g. a giant hammer or spears popping out of the ground. Later you get different primary fires like a missile launcher.

I get the basic philosophical question behind: "What's the difference between a philosophical zombie and a human?" But why is 2B so insistent that these machines can't possibly have feelings? I mean, they were built by aliens, and the protagonists of this story are already hyper-intelligent androids anyway, so what's so weird about the aliens building emotional AI?

Anyway, I immediately assumed I'd hate this game, because I was put off by the blindfolds and 2B's ridiculous battle lingerie, but the fantastic music in the Machine Village, and the general existential-robot themes are giving me those good, good early 90's anime vibes, and I think I need to play it.

Time to go watch the first 5 minutes of the Ghost in the Shell film at max volume.

@mvhvtmv: Because they've been fighting the machines for hundreds of years and all they've seen them do is kill.

But mostly I think it's meant to be a statement on xenophobia. The androids have had it drilled into their entire existence for being by their creators and commander that machines are mindless killing machines. They have no reason to believe otherwise until they start encountering hard proof to the contrary. The android society is not one of critical thought and outward compassion. Their purpose is to eradicate the machines.

With the major spoiler from Peter Brown on the Bomb cast, I doubt any spoiler here could be worse.

There are different ranged attacks but the game kinda encourages you to mix it up. That boss fight would've been quicker if he'd dealt more close range attacks, but meh he got the job done so who cares.

I'm really enjoying this game, and this was a good QL!

Kind of sad Alex didn't end with (minor side-quest spoiler)

@frostmute: This is one of the most maturely written games in video game history I am not fucking joking, and they look like generic androids for a thematic reason

The machines have more personality with their physicality, but top to bottom this may be one of the most ambitiously written video games in history, and viewing this as a game with a "hot chick to drool over" says more about you than it does those that are hypnotized by this shit right now.

Like tbh if you created androids to populare the earth you would probably make them conventionally attractive too.

9S is a cutie too let's be real ?

One could say the first game was a nier miss.

I know this is old but this is exactly how NOT to play. It gives you all melee combo systems including a dodge which makes you imune and such and Alex did nothing but spamming.

I advice looking up the e3 boss demo if you want to see how this boss really should be fought.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO ATTACK THAT TANK!!

It was only shooting confetti...