this post was submitted on 27 May 2025
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[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 36 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (7 children)

Holy shit somehow no one has mentioned:

Nier Automata

It counts as a masterpiece because of how well it blends game design, gameplay and story. I have played very few games as thoughtful, or that weaved the gameplay together into the story it was telling in such a meaningful way. I never thought once in my life that I would think philosophically about bullet hell but somehow Nier Automata has something profound to say and even manages to say it using bullet hell as a gameplay mechanic.

On top of all this, it also has a lot to say about classical philosophers, their works, and honestly deeply subverts things they had to say. It asks tough questions about their thoughts and ideas, once again, through gameplay. Numerous characters are named for classical philosophers: Pascal, Jean-Paul, Simone, Engels, Immanuel... (Yoko Taro obviously has feelings about how Jean-Paul Sartre treated Simone de Beauvoir.)

Further, Yoko Taro is doing something that a lot of game developers fail to manage to do: He is embracing gaming as a storytelling medium and eschewing the traditional three-act arc from film. Because gaming is not film. As Marshall McLuhan posited, "the medium is the message" and unlike other developers Taro's writing is aimed at the medium he is working in instead of leaning on the ropes and tropes of other mediums. (Referring back to above, tying the gameplay into the story, focusing on the medium)

It's basically impossible to not break down into tears at the ending.

Don't write it off because of the scantily clad anime women. Stay for the depth of the human condition. It is truly a masterwork in multiple respects.

[–] MarauderIIC@lemmy.zip 12 points 4 days ago

I appreciate that you justified your submission, unlike many answers here.

[–] Bbbbbbbbbbb@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago (1 children)

It's basically impossible to not break down into tears at the ending.

The god damn ending is a gameplay mechanic to tell a not yet finished story. Damn you Yoko Taro

spoilerThe wild part is that he's so good at subverting anime tropes, too. The "killing god" trope is mentioned in the first lines of the game... and then going on to battling the end credits themselves?? Literally killing the gods who created the world this all exists in? Taking it to the absurd yet logical extreme, so brilliant.

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Nier Automata

I loved Nier Replicant, but didn't get into Automata, maybe I'll give it another shot. I do love that style of storytelling though.

[–] TomSelleck@lemm.ee 4 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I didn’t know Chris Plante is on Lemmy.

[–] shrodes@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

Quick, go through their post history and see if they’ve mentioned any Neil Breen films

[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

For a moment I thought you were talking about the Newsmax host and I was very offended and confused, but it looks like there is another, lesser known Chris Plante in gaming journalism.

[–] TomSelleck@lemm.ee 2 points 4 days ago

And he fuckin LOVES NieR

[–] Katana314@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

Man, I wish I understood a single bit of this evaluation of the game after finishing every chapter (sorry - "Ending"). The whole thing felt mostly like a waste of time.

That said, I'm a fan of Spec Ops: The Line, a game that has much the same level of division among its players. Interesting how philosophical games get that reaction.

[–] msage@programming.dev 4 points 3 days ago

I tried to play that game, expecting perhaps a DMC-like gameplay.

Instead I got a 2D plane scroller?

Then 2D sort of platformer?

Then some weird 3D action that I did not understand at all?

What the fuck is that game.

If I enjoyed combat more, I could give it another go. But it was just not for me.

[–] mintiefresh@lemmy.ca 4 points 4 days ago

One of my favorite games of all time.