Nier: Automata Part 1 (EPS: 1-12) Review

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My Obsession with Post-Apocalyptic Settings

Hey everyone, I’m back with another anime review! Lately, I’ve been obsessing over post-apocalyptic settings, whether it’s an anime, show, or movie. Recently, on a close friend’s recommendation, I watched The Gorge, a movie with a similar setting (review coming soon), which I absolutely loved. I was craving more of those scenarios, so I browsed Netflix and ended up watching a zombie movie. I mostly skipped through it because it was so predictable, uninteresting, and typical. Frustrated, I turned to the internet and decided to google some good post-apocalyptic anime.

A Picky Taste

Even after browsing a few posts on Reddit, most people recommended anime that I had already watched or ones I had watched but hadn’t liked, so I had to refer to my watchlist where I list anime, shows, and movies. The entries mostly come from online reels that seem interesting enough for me to want to watch the whole thing.

Unbeknownst to me, I had the anime Nier Automata on my list, so after looking it up online, my reason for starting this anime was stupidly simple: the main character seemed pretty and elegant. Even though I’m not a fan of too many machines and androids, I still decided to give it a shot, being attracted by the post-apocalyptic setting, and also because it said it was game-based. I was curious about how I would imagine the anime in a game setting too, considering I had never played the game. I wanted to imagine it being a game too.

Finally Grabbing Snacks and Settling In

On one random night, I had already downloaded the anime, so I reached out to the anime folder on my laptop and played the first episode. In this dystopian setting where robotic beings are taking over everything, androids, human-like robots, are fighting a one-sided war against these never-ending machines on behalf of humans.

Initially, the getup of the androids, the fighting scenes, and the contrast of character between the two android protagonists, 2B and 9S, seemed very intriguing. Also, due to the mystery factor and vague setting, it makes you want answers to the whole setup while establishing only the characters, who seem, for certain, guarded by plot armor.

Robots Developing a Conscience and Mimicking Humans

As the plot progresses, the anime keeps you reeled in again with the mystery factor, making you want answers to all the questions, such as why Earth is filled with machines, where the actual humans are who seem to be passing orders from the moon, why Earth is so overrun with robots, and how these robots are evolving to the point where they are trying to form their own communities and mimic humans.

Disliking the "more robots and fewer humans" part, I mostly carried on for the plot answers. For me, it felt a bit monotonous and a little dull at times, to the point where I fast-forwarded through some typical scenes, like when they state the history, focus too much on robotic scenes, or have moments where you can tell exactly what’s going to happen because it’s just a typical exaggerated emotional anime stereotype.

The Annoying Part

Robots, also known as machines trying to mimic humans, was by far the most annoying part of the anime for me. Like, you’re a frigging robot, how can you develop any form of emotion at all? Just reading data doesn’t guarantee you can gain the sense to be like the humans you read about in books. What even urged you to mimic humans? Getting data on something and trying to be something are two different things. So yeah, most parts with these dumb robots trying to act all human-ish ended up being scenes I skipped.

The Fun Parts

Overall, I’d say the anime started off good and the plot had a lot of potential, but for me, as I watched more of it, it started getting less interesting and felt more like watching it for the sake of it. I’d say it was interesting from the start, having different arcs, the kind that make you think, oh, this definitely looks like a main plot quest in the game or this feels like a tedious side quest you’re only doing to level up and progress the plot.

It had its own good scenes showing how cities and places would look without any civilization, with only bushes and plants growing over time, remnants of humans and animals barely surviving against robots. Seeing androids comment on what it would have been like when humans were on Earth was a fun thing to watch.

To Watch or Not to Watch

I’d recommend this anime if you want something that isn’t too outstanding but not uninteresting enough to make you want to drop it, so something in between, I’d say. For me, I always prefer post-apocalyptic settings because I find solace in the quiet of a world where there are no people, where we are forced to go back to our roots and focus on survival and core needs. It somehow feels peaceful to think of such a world without people, with only the remnants of a place once populated with humans. Maybe this is due to my introverted nature, but yeah.

So, do give this anime a try, or better yet, check out the game and let me know your reviews in the comments!

The Next Phase

Anyways, Nier Automata, which I judged to be good but turned out rather average, led me to come across recommendations for Heavenly Delusion in many places across the internet, an anime that falls under the post-apocalyptic category. After downloading it on a whim, thinking guess I’ll check it out, I watched some episode highlights. You know when you are looking for something to watch, so you check out random scenes from a show or anime while skipping most of the first few episodes, then judge if it seems interesting enough to watch? If it is good, you stick with it, and if not, you move on to the next most wanted show and check it out.

Anyways, I initially judged this anime to be mehhh since it had too many kids and all, but after watching 12 episodes of Nier Automata, I decided to give it a proper shot for a change, and unexpectedly, it turned out really good. So yeah, it became the "looked dumb but turned out good" anime.

I only like to sit down and write my thoughts after I have finished the complete anime or show. That way, I can reminisce and write about the parts with the most impact since they stay in my memory with their strong impression, making it easier to pinpoint what I liked or disliked from the whole show. And so, I am still halfway through Heavenly Delusion, so it is too early to write a review, but so far, so good.

Stay tuned for my review on Heavenly Delusion, coming soon.
Also, feel free to drop any anime names you would like me to review in the comments. I would love to consider your preferences!