Recently it came to light that a bunch of games with some socially progressive views on Steam were getting Review Bombed by people who didn't even own or play the games they were reviewing. They complained about how social justice themes didn't belong in games, and how game developers should just focus on making a good game. "Stop forcing politics into gaming." they cried!

I find this kind of thinking about gaming funny. And not in a "HaHa" sort of way. It's funny because these reactionary gamers* who enjoy shitting on Social Justice Warriors think themes as simple as "Respect people" are going overboard when it comes to the politics hidden with the games they play. They will quickly review bomb games made by western indie developers who are just trying to make art that reflects their own view of the world. They complain about seeing representations of Gays, People of Color, and Transgender people as having politics shoved down their throats. Then seemingly without reflection, these same gamers will brag about how games from Japan are superior stock for being apolitical.

Odd, because of nearly every RPG or Action Game out of Japan, from the Video Game Crash to Today, in some way push either an Anti-Imperial, Anti-Religion, or Anti-Fascist political message. Many of them starring young kids and teens fighting against their elders shitty outdated beliefs. Even one of the most celebrated games from Japan for 2017, Nier: Automata, absolutely shoves themes about how gross things like Toxic Masculinity, Racism, and Endless War are. They prop these games up as bastions of "Everything Good About Games.", all while these games utterly shit on their own reactionary personal beliefs. As a result, Reactionary Gamers liking Nier: Automata, because you can see 2B's butt, is one of the greatest self-owns the video game industry has ever given the world.

While they are complaining about feminism, and representation of rarely heard voices being you know represented in games, Nier is in text totally dismantling their shitty worldviews as being outdated and worth fighting against. While these gamers are cosplaying as Nazis and Neo-Nazi's on twitter, it's pushing a strictly Anti-Fascist narrative to the viewer. In the process, it does a wonderful job of explaining the need for Anti-Fascist responses to those that would harm innocent people. In resisting against things like Racism, Sexism, Classism, and even Homophobia.

Pascal starts off as a stereotypical Hippy Non-Combatant, building a commune inhabited by other non-combatants, artists, and philosophers. They live sequestered from the harsh reality going on outside their small village, trying to ignore the violence and hatred going on around them. Later in the game, this hiding from the evils going on around them results in them becoming the very victims of that same hatred violence. Their commune is destroyed by it, and Pascal who starts off as an extreme pacifist has a moral change where he understands self-defence might have been necessary to save his people.

Going against his pacifist nature, he joins 2B and 9S to try and save the few people he can, as well as seek revenge against the ones who destroyed his world. In the end, the loss of his friends and his grief for having to rely on vengeance hurt him more than proactive self-defence would have. His arc in the story ends with him begging for his memories to be erased, even his life to be ended after so much loss. It's a heartbreaking moment. To me, it rivals scenes like Fickblix's sacrifice in FFXI and Emil's sacrifice in the original Nier game.

Nier: Automata really was one of the most impactful games of 2017. It really has no good ending, leaving you with no sense of hope as you are ushered past the last moments of the androids struggles. That is up until you get to that very last moment and it asks in no uncertain terms, "Would you give everything you have to save your neighbour who needs help?" That question is a tenant of Anti-Fascism and is more political than these Reactionary Gamers understand. The last interaction that game gives you is an ultimate loss and total sacrifice, all for a small chance at hope. You win and finish Nier's final narrative by giving everything you have to save those you love. Even if you don't know them, even if they are different from you. "Love Thy Neighbour."

Please, loved ones. Have a Happy New Year. Save everyone you can.