Before I start to answer the question in the title, I want to talk about my relationship and experience with playing NieR: Automata. The first time I played this game was maybe around 2018 or 2019 on the PS4. The release of NieR: Automata was in 2017, developed by PlatinumGames (makers of the Bayonetta series, among other titles), and published by Square Enix.
NieR: Automata is an open-world, action-adventure RPG, and the mid-to-late 2010s were a time where there was an inundation of games that were either open-world, action RPGs, action-adventure, or a combination of these genres. Critically-acclaimed games released during this time were The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Horizon: Zero Dawn, and Super Mario Odyssey. Horizon: Zero Dawn was visually stunning. Breath of the Wild nailed the action-adventure formula almost perfectly. Super Mario Odyssey had innovative ideas and was so much fun to play. However, I think the game that had the biggest impact on me around that time was NieR: Automata.
I only recently played through NieR: Automata a second time because I wanted to re-experience what made this game feel so special. Although the game plays like a typical open-world, action RPG, the whole experience of playing NieR: Automata could not be any more different. The game take place in the far distant future during a war between the machines who have occupied Earth and the androids (created by the humans, who have since taken refuge on the Moon) trying to take their homeland back. I will not talk anymore about the story, but as I played through the game and discovered the game's plot points and revelations, I felt like NieR: Automata was speaking to my soul.
Even though the machines and androids are just physical creations, these races could not be any more human. You see the machines try to replicate humanity on Earth with societal constructions and emotions. The androids are not supposed to be emotional, but there are android characters who become more empathetic as the game goes on. The overall writing of NieR: Automata is excellent, as the game illuminates themes and narratives of pacifism, rage, and despondence, but does not over complicate itself with the specifics. There are a few sections where the game plays like a visual novel and every word in its delivery hooked me. I had the ongoing feeling of sadness playing this game, but it is like an empathetic sadness where I relate to the characters I interact with during the game.
I want to specifically talk about the soundtrack of NieR: Automata. I think the soundtrack of NieR: Automata is the greatest soundtrack in video game history. It is a masterclass of beauty; from the layering of the instruments to the hauntingly magnificent vocals (which are in a made-up language, which I find even more astounding). This is a soundtrack where I get goosebumps listening to many of the songs. I would hear certain songs while playing the game, and I would stop playing just so I can listen to the beautiful music. The soundtrack elevates the experience of playing the game so much, and the soundtrack fits so well with the environments, themes, and characters.
I will mention some other quick points about NieR: Automata. There are elements of other video game genres in this game, including 2D side scrolling, and shoot-em-up style arcade shooting, and I like how seamlessly the game goes from one genre to the other. NieR: Automata does have some faults. Although I like all the different environments in the game (and you can get some great views from the draw distances in this game), the overall visuals are not particularly great and lacks detail, even at the time of release. Also, although you can customize the playstyle of your character with different weapons and chipsets, the combat feels distinctly average and does not differentiate itself from combat from similar games.
NieR: Automata is a beautiful, flawed masterpiece, and has all the makings to be a cult classic like the previous NieR/Drakengard games. Except this game is not a cult classic. In fact, NieR: Automata has sold millions of copies on various platforms since its release, so many gamers got to experience this game. To answer the question: why is NieR: Automata such a special game, I think it is because the story and the themes feel so unique to other video games. There are gameplay elements in this game that I have not seen in any other game that reinforces the messages from this game. NieR: Automata is a video game that made me feel so many emotions and that I could not just invest my time, but rather my undivided attention from my soul. You add in the orchestral soundtrack, and NieR: Automata transcends being a video game, but rather an experience. There is nothing like NieR: Automata, and I do not think there will be another game that can capture the same feeling.
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