Introduction

"My doctor wasn't very happy about the condition of my liver. But I'm still drinking a lot. I might drop dead at any minute." - Yoko Taro

*****

Hmm... Huh? What do you want? I said I was busy and didn’t have time for any more Let’s Pl—huh? What? What do you mean someone let Taro Yoko make another game? C’mon man... how?! It better not be another goddamn Draken—oh it’s a Nier sequel? I... shit...

...

Fine... FINE! Goddammit! Let me get dressed...



What is NieR: Automata?
NieR: Automata is an inexplicable sequel to 2010’s Game of the Year Absolutely Nobody Played (GOTYANP™) NIER. Cavia might have fallen, but somehow Taro Yoko keeps getting work. And this time he was given an actual competent development team in the form of Platinum Games. Like their A-Team too. Not the skeleton crew of interns making all this subpar licensed properties like Legend of Korra or Ninja Turtles. Or even the band of cardboard cutouts standing in a room with Hideki Kamiya pretending Scalebound was ever going to be a real game. Like competent people good at making a video game!

I know, I’m as surprised as you!

Do I need to have played the original NIER to enjoy this?
Nope! NieR: Automata is set thousands of years in the future past the original game and has very little to do with it plot wise. It does have very overt references and some returning characters you’ll miss out on. While I’ll point out anything calling back to the original, I will be working under the assumption you’ve played the first game and spoil the hell out of it. If you’d like to learn more about the original game, I heard there’s a pretty good LP of that over here:
NIER

And while we’re at it, this is technically set in the same universe as the Drakengard games. Which I also might have LPed in some hazy point in the past:
Drakengard
Drakengard 3

How are they related? Well... It’s a long story I don’t have time to get into here. And almost not as all as far as this game goes. Except for the direct references. But err... Don’t worry about it too much! That was like four apocalypses ago! It doesn’t even matter much anymore. Mostly.

So what actually is this game?
It’s an open world action-adventure brawler RPG twin-stick shooter side-scroller platformer with the occasional visual novel element.

Wha...?
Yes.

I cannot believe you’re doing a SSLP for this Platinum action game! Please do an LP custom tailored to my tastes!
Analysis: Shits given - 0.
Proposal: Nothing is stopping you from making your own LP or finding a suitable screamboy on YouTube or Twitch playing this, champ. This game actually has buzz. It's not just me screaming into the void it's real good this time! If you'd like to have a series of articles going in-depth on all aspects of the game from how it plays to the weird dumb lore, hi. That's me! And what I'm going to do. This will be more comprehensive than any other motherfucker on the internet is gonna do. And there will be videos for every single part you'd actually care about. If that's not good enough for you... tough shit, hoss!

Or better yet: GO PLAY IT YOURSELF! It is legit a really fucking great game! I want you to go play it if you can.

How do you pronounce "Automata"?
Like "automaton". Auh-toe-mahta.

With that said, let’s begin...



Updates go here in a nice and orderly fashion for your viewing pleasure. Please don't make a mess.





Episode I: A Cautionary Tale
Episode I-B: Not Hard
Episode II: Marx
Episode III: A Real Junk Heap
Episode IV: Engels
Episode V: Black Box
Episode VI: Diagnostics
Episode VII: Bunk Beds



Episode VIII: The Last of Bots
Episode IX: Learning the Ropes
Episode X: Fishing Lore
Episode XI: An Elusive Request
Episode XII: 11B



Episode XIII: Jackass
Episode XIV: Another Life in the Sands
Episode XV: This Cannot Continue
Episode XVI: None Wang Angel



Episode XVII: Pipe Purgatory
Episode XVIII: Carnival Night Zone
Episode XIX: A Beautiful Performance
Episode XX: White Flag



Episode XXI: Pascal
Episode XXII: Urban Violence
Episode XXIII: Mars People
Episode XXIV: Proposal



Episode XXV: Executing Orders
Episode XXVI: The Most Dangerous Catch
Episode XXVII: In the Name... of SCIENCE!
Episode XXVIII: Revengeance
Episode XXIX: Repairs
Episode XXX: Welcome to the Family, Son
Episode XXXI: Family Matters
Episode XXXII: Machine Needs
Episode XXXIII: Hey, Mister!
Episode XXXIV: Existence Precedes Essence
Episode XXXV: Games Are Art
Episode XXXVI: Top Boy
Episode XXXVII: Deadly Alliance
Episode XXXVIII: Pick Up the Stick
Episode XXXIX: Long Live the King!
Episode XL: A2



Episode XLI: The Merchant
Episode XLII: Father's Day Gift
Episode XLIII: It Came From the Desert...
Episode XLIV: Pearl Harbor
Episode XLV: A Need for Speed
Episode XLVI: A Special Place
Episode XLVII: Animal Antics
Episode XLVIII: The King's Turf
Episode XLIX: Carrier
Episode L: Grün
Episode LI: Colossus



Episode LII: Scanning Doubles
Episode LIII: Missing in Action
Episode LIV: The Essence of Humanity
Episode LV: Round 3
Episode LV-2: Team



Episode LVI: Olive Branch
Episode LVII: Become As...
Episode LVIII: ...Gods
Episode LIX: Watcher



Episode LX: Lunch Break
Episode LXI: Electric Boogaloo
Episode LXII: Knack
Episode LXIII: Parasite Eve
Episode LXIV: Flowers for Machines





Episode LXV: Brother
Episode LXVI: Seeker of Knowledge
Episode LXVII: Hack the Planet
Episode LXVIII: Speedrun
Episode LXIX: Nice
Episode LXX: Trolling My Future Self



Episode LXXI: City Escape



Episode LXXII: The Golden Boy
Episode LXXIII: Heritage for the Future
Episode LXXIV: The Flame of Prometheus
Episode LXXV: This Continued



Episode LXXVI: Party Pooper
Episode LXXVII: Look My Way
Episode LXXVIII: Problematic



Episode LXXIX: Reclusive
Episode LXXX: Traveling Fast



Episode LXXXI: 21O
Episode LXXXII: Wandering Gold
Episode LXXXIII: Game Dev QA Session
Episode LXXXIV: Spread Love Throughout the World!
Episode LXXXV: Father Servo's Final Lessons
Episode LXXXVI: A Wise Man Once Said...
Episode LXXXVII: LA NoiRHa
Episode LXXXVIII: Poor Financial Decisions
Episode LXXXIX: Weird Science
Episode LXXXIX-2: You Can't Hug With Nuclear Arms
Episode XC: The Lord of the Valley
Episode XCI: This Sure Is Sad



Episode XCII: Adam and Steve
Episode XCIII: Missile Command



Episode XCIV: Incoming Text Message



Episode XCV: You Got Served
Episode XCVI: Gated Access
Episode XCVII: Glory to Mankind



Episode XCVIII: Rapid Reentry
Episode XCVIII-2: Online Housing Crisis
Episode XCIX: Or Not to Be





Episode C: Onward to War
Episode CI: Like a Kid
Episode CII: War and War
Episode CIII: Bingo
Episode CIV: That's An Order!
Episode CV: Loss



Episode CVI: Please State Your Intentions
Episode CVII: Hegel



Episode CVIII: The Tower
Episode CIX: To Mourn
Episode CX: Shut Up



Episode CXI: MERCY.EXE
Episode CXI-2: Reunion
Episode CXII: To Remember
Episode CXIII: Of Course a Japanese Stage Play is Canon
Episode CXIV: The Solution to All Problems
Episode CXV: The Bad Bot
Episode CXVI: Play With Us!
Episode CXVII: Machine Philosophy
Episode CXVIII: An Inevitability
Episode CXIX: pacifism.txt
Episode CXX: I Taught Them Everything...



Episode CXXI: Intel and Inventory
Episode CXXII: The Trouble With Twins
Episode CXXIII: The Completionist's Dilemma
Episode CXXIV: My Memories



Episode CXXV: Die Alone
Episode CXXVI: Family
Episode CXXVII: Auguste



Episode CXXVIII: Atonement
Episode CXXIX: No One Stops
Episode CXXX: You're Tearing Me Apart
Episode CXXXI: Overdue Books
Episode CXXXII: Give Him a Hand
Episode CXXXIII: Grin
Episode CXXXIV: The Ascent
Episode CXXXV: Official Designation
Episode CXXXVI: Meaningless Code



NieR: Automata Intro
Episode CXXXVII: Post Game
Episode CXXXVIII: 3C3C1D119440927
Episode CXXXVIX: BattleBots
Episode CXL: Roll the Dye
Episode CXLI: Bunny Hop
Episode CXLII: House Guest
Episode CXLIII: Naughty Boy
Episode CXLIV: Hail to the King
Episode CXLV: Real Steel
Episode CXLVI: Elation
Episode CXLVII: Revealing
Episode CXLVIII: Failure in Motor Function
Episode CXLIX: Combat Data
Episode CL: Deserving of Life
Episode CLI: My Immersion...
Episode CLII: Spawn Goddammit!
Episode CLIII: Emil's Determination



Episode CLIV: Childhood's End
Episode CLV: The End of YoRHa





Fanart and assorted junk made in the LP thread goes here. Spoilers a-plenty, obviously. Sheesh!


Rirse reminds us of 2B's voice actress' dark origins.


AndwhatIseeisme knows the score.


Obnoxipus axes us a question.








Adnor chronicles my journey through Kingdom Hearts 2.




Fredrik1 has some top boys for us.


Elkyrie shares some little dudes having fun.


AirborneNinja has prohibited fun on this roller coaster.


Elkyrie shows us the eternal plight of 2B.


Morbi has an interesting interpretation of 2B's eating habits.



Morbi should know jokes are prohibited.


Morbi holy shit...


Obnoxipus has regrets for their words and deeds.


Fioaimes (my wife) came tumbling down with this.


Ledgy has questionable ethics when dealing with orb boys.


Fioaimes has created an actual murder machine.


Ursine Catastrophe has shown a corrupting influence.


FrostyJones knows the path to deification.


megane knows a top boy or two.




TurnipFritter wants a quiet life for 2B.


TurnipFritter has different ideas about hacking.


FeyerbrandX reminds us of much more dire times.


Fredrik1 knows class.


NHO picked the forbidden fruit fish.


Gutter Owl questions YoRHa's place in the world.


MShadowy has a deep cut for us.


Neddy Seagoon sums up Yoko Taro's writing process.


Adnor sees good things in 9S's future.


KamikazePotato is just trying to help.














Solar Tornado is receiving a C&D order from Yukiko Yoko's lawyers as we speak.


Jetamo has returned from the darkest timeline.


Tunicate is a bad person but totally right here...


Nohman really wants to **** 2B.


RoeCocoa is here to blow our minds.


The Ayshkerbundy questions the Red Girls' fashion decisions.


Tunicate has peered into the machine cores.













My son has some NieR: Automata commentary to share.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-XtMNYHsZc
Seshoho Cian steams a mean ham.


Occasionally I'm an irresponsible parent but... c'mon... This is pretty good.




Doodmons I'll be the roooooundabout! The wooooooords will make you out 'n' out!


Malachite_Dragon is immune to FoxDie.


Squarely Circle implores you to visit Mt. Emilmore.