Video games, especially JRPGs, tackling heavy subjects as existentialism is nothing new. However, Nier: Automata’s take is very refreshing.
Warning: The following is not spoiler free.
Free Will versus Determinism
There exists a plethora of JRPGs where characters have stand offs with other characters, exchanging opposing views and ending up fighting each other. One party believes humans require guidance whereas the other believes otherwise and need to follow their own judgement. The guidance often comes in the form of religion. The group which believes in Free Will ends up fighting the group that believes in Determinism.
Nier: Automata features the same concept except determinism isn’t imposed by a religious institution this time although it could be interpreted as such. The game has you play as 2B, a character who’s role later in the game is revealed to be an executioner; a person who gets rid of any person who questions the system. Questions as “the point of it all” and “why do we exist” are asked by fellow Yorha member 9S, a scanner.
9S, the scanner or “human who questions their own existence” in the game asks Commander about the point of going to earth and fighting, a question to which the Commander answers simply by saying the Yorha unit were made for that purpose and what will you do if you don’t fight? The Commander believes there is no purpose for androids other than to take role in this never ending war whether it’s to gather data and hack into machines as scanners, fight as combat types or eradicate outlaws as executioners.
The Commander shares similar point of view to those who believe a human’s life is determined whether by religion or other ideology. If humans were not supposed to live according to this ideology then what are they supposed to do?
Nier: Automata asks this question; what if it’s revealed to us that we exist to take part in events and recreate such events and should we question the point to the events or express desire to abandon the roles dictated to us by such ideology, we get punished?
Is Determinism only imposed by religion?
Procreation is the first form of determinism featured in the game. After being notified of large enemy existence, that is a large number of machines, 2B and 9S make their way to a valley deep down in the desert where they’re greeted with a bizarre mass simulation of procreation process by machines. The process results in a powerful machine which resembles androids in appearance known as Adam.
The game also features other “mode of life.” such as working. Characters by the name of Marx and Engels ponder questions as the point to their existence and whether or not a life where they, highly destructive type of weapon known as the Goliath, cannot be used as such is possible? This is a clear reference to Marx and Engels critique of the concept of working to sustain oneself or “Class Struggle”.
The game also features a cult who turns the abandoned factory; a place where machines are built, into a place to practice their religion. A group of machines starting a religion and regarding a fellow machine as god is a clear reference to religions nowadays as a mode of life and an answer of the many answers to existentialism.
Beside going to work or following a religion, pursuit of beauty and seeking approval, two modes of life which the French philosopher Simone De Beauvoir addressed extensively, were also included in the game. One of the bosses you fight is named after the philosopher. When you play as 9S, you come across recordings scattered all over the world. Some of which, as the one by Simone, are by machines. These recordings often have explanation for the unusual machine behaviour as starting a cult or a kingdom or in Simone’s case seeking beauty. Simone, the machine, was subject to pressure to meet certain standards only so she would be accepted and admired.
Glory as a mode of life is included in the form of machines starting a kingdom. Some of us might want a roof over their head to protect them from the rain and all kinds of unfriendly weather whereas others are ambitious. Perhaps a little too ambitious. Maybe they want to run in the presidential elections? Maybe they want more than that? To be in charge of everything and have access to massive wealth and privileges and not be questioned by people? Ever?
Emotions emphasised through Gameplay
Nier:Automata features repetitive gameplay sequences but that is for a purpose. Not only it has repeated gameplay segments, the game has you go through it three times in order to get a full scope of the story. In the first and second play-through, you play as 2B and 9S. In the third you play as 2B, A2 and 9S and the perspective switches very often depending on the event that is taking place.
It felt exhausting just going through the playable portions of the game over and over. What if the androids themselves? Can you imagine them not being able to break free from the imposed norms and modes of life?
Now that we’re free, what do we do?
Nier: Automata may have the three main characters go against what’s been decided for them but the journey is far from over. The quest to find a meaning to one’s life is never ending. The game, however, does give ideas as what to consider a meaning to life.
Androids, whether operators, scanners, combat types or executioners establish various relationships, some of which are familial whereas others are romantic or friendly. Androids who grow consciousness, acknowledge new feelings and act in accordance to the feelings and consciousness or in strictly computer terms; data that don’t correspond with Yorha agenda, are prosecuted. Some even suffer malfunction and their operating system ceases to work.
Machines also establish various forms of relationships. Hostile machines aren’t destroyed for not conforming to a certain way of living as opposed to their non hostile counterparts as the ones in Pascal Village. Unless a machine and an android take part in this vicious cycle of war and killing, neither can find peace.
In the world of Nier: Automata, war is the status quo, peace is the exception. For some, relationships as family, friends and loved ones, community and peace are worth pursuing and protecting.
For others, resistance, non conformity and free thinking are also worth pursuing and protecting.
Whatever it is the meaning, only you can decide.
consciousgeek 