I just watched a friend beat Nier Automata's True Ending and it was the most incredible experience

tyfon · Oct 16, 2018

It's contending for the game of all time.. really :)
Just play it if you haven't!

I hope they give the Yoko Taro lots of money now for the next project (which surely have to exist).

Edit: I know Nier: A has been analysed to death, but I watched a rather new one last week by Michael Saba https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63PzQIbTrM8 that I quite enjoyed. I thought I'd share it.

DriftingSpirit · Oct 16, 2018

Beautiful game.

The themes and the way the game speaks on them was just wonderful.

Augemitbutter · Oct 16, 2018

the ending didn't work that well for me. i was playing the minigame until it wouldn't let me finish or something like that. there was no way to progress anymore, i had to quit to see the ending. it was weird.

Mechaplum · Oct 16, 2018

Gradon said:
This. Ending E wasn't as mind blowing as everyone made it out to be.

The original requiring you to delete your save made way more sense as well.

Nier's ending is powerful but Automata basically made it meta and

broke the fourth wall

so you as the player is 100% invested.

Lotus · Oct 16, 2018

Mechaplum said:
Nier's ending is powerful but Automata basically made it meta and

broke the fourth wall

so you as the player is 100% invested.

This.

Saving Kaine is great too, but helping actual people with your save file, and vice-versa is even better

Zephy · Oct 16, 2018

Question :

This must have been discussed already but there's something that's bugging me.

Statistically, it's just not viable if for every one player that beats the game, dozens of other player's saves are deleted, adding the consideration that not everyone even gives up their save.

So I think, either the server doesn't actually delete the saves but just pretends to for narrative purposes, and they are actually used for other people as well, or the saves and names we see are mixed with "fake" ones generated by the game.

It's just not mathematically possible that there would be so many disposable saves floating around for every player.

Either way, great ending, I'm just wondering about the technical aspect of it.

Jessie · Oct 16, 2018

The game devs sang the chorus.

Mechaplum · Oct 16, 2018

Zephyriel said:
Question :

This must have been discussed already but there's asomething that's bugging me.

Statistically, it's just not viable if for every one player that beats the game, dozens of other player's saces are deleted, adding the consideration that not everyone even gives up their save.

So I think, either the server doesn't actually delete the saves but just pretends to for narrative purposes, and they are actually used for other people as well, or the saves and names we see are mixed with "fake" ones generated by the game.

It's just not mathematically possible that there would be so many disposable saves floating around for every player.

Either way, great ending, I'm just wondering about the technical aspect of it.

I think it's just an illusion, like a magic trick. As in, the saves aren't deleted permanently on the server if you get them killed in your game.

J2d · Oct 16, 2018

I gave up on this after seven hours, maybe I should watch a story video on it atleast.

Deleted member 15395 · Oct 16, 2018

That ending was a master stroke. Glad your friend enjoyed it OP!

noyram23 · Oct 16, 2018

The best game of this generation and something we'll lock back as a classic in the future.

chogidogs · Oct 16, 2018

It's one of the most meaningful gaming experiences I've had in recent memory. I will treasure it forever.

nny · Oct 16, 2018

For me, the ending is elevated not so much by

the save sacrifice

, it's the moment you

get help, unexpectedly, from people from all over, when you're down and almost defeated

. The chorus and the action on the screen elevate you and the experience, it goes way beyond the world building a game does, it's about you. Kudos to Yoko Taro, for being successful, for this is his goal. As he explained, he starts with the experience he wants to elicit and works backward, building the story, etc to lead to that. I loved it, it's one of the most shining examples of why I love games so much, and the potential they have to allow unique experiences.

Fat4all · Oct 16, 2018

it's pretty great, one of those things you chew on in you head for a while

not because it's hard to understand, but because you wanna savor it

Salty Rice · Oct 16, 2018

Yeah the ending was one of the most amazing experiences i ever had and only possible with a video game.

I just feel pity for the people who were unfazed by it.

Mechaplum · Oct 16, 2018

nny said:
For me, the ending is elevated not so much by

the save sacrifice

, it's the moment you

get help, unexpectedly, from people from all over, when you're down and almost defeated

. The chorus and the action on the screen elevate you and the experience, it goes way beyond the world building a game does, it's about you. Kudos to Yoko Taro, for being successful, for this is his goal. As he explained, he starts with the experience he wants to elicit and works backward, building the story, etc to lead to that. I loved it, it's one of the most shining examples of why I love games so much, and the potential they have to allow unique experiences.

Agree with everything said here. I mean when Kojima talked about strings and helping hands, I was like Yoko already did something like this.

Laughing Banana · Oct 16, 2018

I just started route C. That game's logo though...

NoblesseOblige · Oct 16, 2018

It's one of the greatest and most meaningful moments in a video game, asking the player to

selflessly sacrifice their own progress and saved data in order to help a complete stranger

Fat4all · Oct 16, 2018

Laughing Banana said:
I just started route C. That game's logo though...

the ultimate delayed title card

Laughing Banana · Oct 16, 2018

Fat4all said:
the ultimate delayed title card

I did not expect that, to be honest, especially when paired with the event that preceded it. That was quite something.

blackmass · Oct 16, 2018

Yeah, praise this game! It's never enough.

shan780 · Oct 16, 2018

I can't really articulate it, but there's something really nice about the closure of

deleting your save at the end.

it doesn't matter if you did every side quest, maxed out every weapon, grinded to level 99 etc., if you choose to give up your save them you'll be left in exactly the same state as a player that went through the game and ignored all the side stuff. for me, nier automata was a fleeting experience and I doubt I'll replay it, at least not for a few years

Nestunt · Oct 16, 2018

That and the ending of the first season of The Walking Dead are my crying moments in videogames.

Which is pretty impressive since both don't deal in photorealistic aesthetics.

Zelas · Oct 16, 2018

Taruranto said:
Yeah, I actually went "That's it?". I thought there was actually going to be more to the story. Definitely underwhelming compared to the original Nier.

Yeah I was hyped to see it for myself until I found out the crux of it was basically the same as the previous game. The shooter bits dont really do enough to set it apart for me.

CrocodileGrin · Oct 16, 2018

I kept hearing the game was a masterpiece, got endings A-D and didn't feel it deserved such a high level of praise it was receiving and thought it was too hyped up. Then I got Ending E. My entire perspective of the game changed. The final 10 minute experience made me rethink everything I had played for over 60+ hours and question the true meaning of the game. My brain and emotions where in such a whirlwind for a few hours afterward. It's so clever and powerful. There's nothing quite like it.

Jindrax · Oct 16, 2018

ok I'm curious.
So I don't understand the concept well. You have to replay the game 5 times to get the "true ending"

1. How long does this take?
2. Is it like I have to do specific sidequests to unlock the next ending? Or is it as simple as just replaying the game 5 times?
3. Is it really worth it? I mean playing the game 5 times?

Mechaplum · Oct 16, 2018

Jindrax said:
ok I'm curious.
So I don't understand the concept well. You have to replay the game 5 times to get the "true ending"

1. How long does this take?
2. Is it like I have to do specific sidequests to unlock the next ending? Or is it as simple as just replaying the game 5 times?
3. Is it really worth it? I mean playing the game 5 times?

First of all, you don't play it 5 times. Each run is different, the first two goes through the same story beats in different perspectives. The rest are entirely new experiences.

1. About 30-40 hours based on how many of the side quests you want to undertake.
2. No hidden stuff, just play through to each ending.
3. Yes because it's not 5 times of the same thing. Adding another yes for good measure.

Laughing Banana · Oct 16, 2018

Jindrax said:
ok I'm curious.
So I don't understand the concept well. You have to replay the game 5 times to get the "true ending"

1. How long does this take?
2. Is it like I have to do specific sidequests to unlock the next ending? Or is it as simple as just replaying the game 5 times?
3. Is it really worth it? I mean playing the game 5 times?

'playing the game 5 times' is not really accurate, methinks. Think of it as one long game divided into 5 chapters.

ryushe · Oct 16, 2018

My wife and I played that ending sequence together and when I realized just what was happening and the music started to swell, I legit got teary-eyed.

And this is coming from someone who finished the original NieR.

Scar · Oct 16, 2018

Does that mean the first person to beat the game had to suffer through the credits alone?

Psamtik · Oct 16, 2018

It was an inspired choice to shift the ending theme between languages toward the end, once the nature of the credits has become clear.

TimeFire · Oct 16, 2018

This thread has a funny dichotomy between "eh" vs "greatest ending of all time"

I'm team greatest ending all the way. It was my first Taro game and Nier:A is one of my favourite games of all time.

Thuddert · Oct 16, 2018

It teared me up.

Xita · Oct 16, 2018

Best ending ever. It was the first time I've ever cried tears of joy from a game.

Once you keep on going and see all those cheerful messages from people from around the world ahh. And then once you finally ask for help was just... mindblowing.

It was just as good seeking out LPs and watching their reactions too.

2017 GOTY

Deleted member 1849 · Oct 16, 2018

Scar said:
Does that mean the first person to beat the game had to suffer through the credits alone?

They already populated it with game testers AFAIK.

sapien85 · Oct 16, 2018

Falconbox said:
It was an ok ending. I didn't think much of it really.

Even if you thought it was a bad ending you have to admit it was creative and different.

StrangeRoboMemory · Oct 16, 2018

I really appreciated this moment, great end to the game.

Jessie · Oct 16, 2018

Jindrax said:
ok I'm curious.
So I don't understand the concept well. You have to replay the game 5 times to get the "true ending"

1. How long does this take?
2. Is it like I have to do specific sidequests to unlock the next ending? Or is it as simple as just replaying the game 5 times?
3. Is it really worth it? I mean playing the game 5 times?

You only have to replay the game once, in Route B. That opens up Routes C/D/E, which take maybe three hours to get through.

deepFlaw · Oct 16, 2018

nny said:
For me, the ending is elevated not so much by

the save sacrifice

, it's the moment you

get help, unexpectedly, from people from all over, when you're down and almost defeated

. The chorus and the action on the screen elevate you and the experience, it goes way beyond the world building a game does, it's about you. Kudos to Yoko Taro, for being successful, for this is his goal. As he explained, he starts with the experience he wants to elicit and works backward, building the story, etc to lead to that. I loved it, it's one of the most shining examples of why I love games so much, and the potential they have to allow unique experiences.

Absolutely this, yeah.

The first game's ending is emotional but reaches nowhere near the same impact due to this. And I'd say...

It's not even just the help as much as it is those messages gradually appearing, from players all over the world, telling you that they did it so they know you can too. I'd been told about the people helping you bot in advance but I had no idea about that, and was struck by it. Definitely had some tears going as I finished it, hah.

Jindrax said:
ok I'm curious.
So I don't understand the concept well. You have to replay the game 5 times to get the "true ending"

1. How long does this take?
2. Is it like I have to do specific sidequests to unlock the next ending? Or is it as simple as just replaying the game 5 times?
3. Is it really worth it? I mean playing the game 5 times?

As people have said, you're only really playing everything once. Playthrough B is A from a different perspective (though with some different sequences as a result, and a large number of new sidequests appear as well) so there is some repetition of story but it's not that bad. Then you just have entirely new content with a choice at the end (that you can jump back to).

Elephant · Oct 16, 2018

I don't know, I thought it was cool, but I didn't feel that impact. I really enjoyed the game, but it didn't resound with me as much as it has done for others and perhaps that's why. Also i found it to be a relatively easy selfish choice as there were still endings and side-quests I needed to get. Maybe I'm just a bastard.

Hektor · Oct 16, 2018

While i can understand people who already played through the first NieR being a bit underwhelemed by the second game pulling a similar trick with the savegame deletion, i think Automata contextualized it in such a different manner that they're still pretty different and unique experiences.

People who only played Automata however, have no excuses for their coldhearted reactions to the ending.
You. Are. Monsters.

Gradon · Oct 16, 2018

Lotus said:
Sure it was. Clearly many people felt that way. You just happened to not be one of them. That happens sometimes.

I just guess I was just bummed out that people and friends were hyping it up for me with it and talking a lot about how amazing it was and I just didn't get it.

And it's not that I'm not a fan of

the meta elements of the game

, I just think other games did it waayy better such as

Undertale.

Puggles · Oct 16, 2018

I got bored by the second or third ending...which ever one starts you off as that robot. Maybe I should finish it one day.

Keym · Oct 16, 2018

I wonder what the first person who tried to beat the true ending saw. Makes me think it's all smoke and mirrors.

StrawberryJam · Oct 16, 2018

I cried all the way through the final ending and had no idea why. It was incredible. Journey is the only other game that's done that to me

Bakercat · Oct 16, 2018

Not gonna lie, I cried at the end. I deleted my save as well and I wasn't even upset or second guess myself, just had a feeling of happiness and calmness to do it.

Enilced2 · Oct 16, 2018

I got ending A and then tapped out shortly into playthrough B. I don't really get the GOTY or of all time talk even after watching some synopsis stuff of the game but I'm glad it found its audience

Pancracio17 · Oct 16, 2018

Its probably one of the single best moments in gaming.

OnanieBomb · Oct 16, 2018

This ending was so hyped up that I thought I missed something when I first experienced it. I went online and googled how to find the true ending and saw I already got it.

Jindrax · Oct 16, 2018

Jessie said:
You only have to replay the game once, in Route B. That opens up Routes C/D/E, which take maybe three hours to get through.

deepFlaw said:
Absolutely this, yeah.

The first game's ending is emotional but reaches nowhere near the same impact due to this. And I'd say...

It's not even just the help as much as it is those messages gradually appearing, from players all over the world, telling you that they did it so they know you can too. I'd been told about the people helping you bot in advance but I had no idea about that, and was struck by it. Definitely had some tears going as I finished it, hah.

As people have said, you're only really playing everything once. Playthrough B is A from a different perspective (though with some different sequences as a result, and a large number of new sidequests appear as well) so there is some repetition of story but it's not that bad. Then you just have entirely new content with a choice at the end (that you can jump back to).

So how does this work practically?

I finish it once, start again based on the previous saved file (MGS style) and it's route B, rince and repeat for CDE?

I just watched a friend beat Nier Automata's True Ending and it was the most incredible experience

Enlightened

One Winged Slayer

Enlightened

Unshakable Resolve

Woke up, got a money tag, swears a lot

Enlightened

Woke up, got a money tag, swears a lot

Attempted to circumvent ban with alt account

Enlightened

One Winged Slayer

User requested account closure

Knights of Favonius World Tour '21

Community Resettler

Saw the truth behind the copied door

Sometimes, it's not a fart

▲ Legend ▲

Attempted to circumvent ban with alt account