To be honest, the news about the Nier Automata anime caught me completely off guard. Although I had heard about it years ago, the lack of any updates led me to believe that the anime had been shelved. That was until it finally premiered during the winter 2023 season.

Naturally, I had reservations about the anime adaptation, considering how many video game adaptations fail to capture the essence of their source material. It’s simply impossible to condense 50 to 60 hours of gameplay into a mere 13-episode anime.

But you know what? The Nier Automata anime exceeded my expectations. It’s much better than I anticipated, and truly engaging to watch.

What Makes the Nier Automata Anime Exceed Expectations

Let’s address the elephant in the room – the story. While the anime retains the fundamental aspects of the game’s story, there are some slight differences. However, it’s these unique and interesting twists on familiar elements that make the anime truly worthwhile.

The Part Where 9S Hacks the Machine Lifeforms

If you’ve played the game before, you’re already familiar with 9S hacking into the machine lifeforms’ system. In the game, this involves engaging in a shooting game-like battle where you destroy enemies and eventually the core.

In the anime, however, the hacking process is depicted differently. Instead of a shooting game, 9S dives deep into the machine lifeforms’ system, unveiling the accumulated data. The discoveries he makes tie back to the world of Nier Replicant, which is fascinating to see.

The Puppet Show

Nier Automata has multiple endings, with A to E being the primary ones, and the rest considered bad endings. In the game, the bad endings occur without any cutscenes. However, in the anime, they are portrayed through a creative and humorous puppet show featuring 2B and 9S. It adds an entertaining twist to these fateful moments.

The Anime’s Departure from the Game’s Story

It’s important to note that the anime’s storyline diverges from the game’s plot. Although the original story was already fantastic, the changes made in the anime provide a more fleshed-out narrative and a connection to Nier Replicant.

In Nier Automata, we only catch small glimpses of what happened in Nier Replicant, such as when Devola and Popola appear in Ending C. By tying the narratives of both games together, certain aspects of the original story had to be altered. Surprisingly, this alteration adds to the anticipation and excitement surrounding the anime.

Where the Story Will Take Us Going Forward

With deviations from the original story, it’s certain that more changes lie ahead. Whether this will affect my overall opinion of the anime remains to be seen. Nonetheless, I find the Nier Automata anime captivating, even with its altered storyline. The tantalizing connection between Nier Replicant and Nier Automata only adds to the intrigue.

If you’re seeking a faithful adaptation of the game, this anime may not be for you. However, if you’re eager to explore the relationship between the stories of Nier Replicant and Nier Automata, this anime is definitely worth watching.

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