English Dub Review: NieR:Automata Ver1.1a: “a mountain too [H]igh”

Overview: 2B (Kira Buckland) and 9S (Kyle McCarley) are assigned to investigate a case of missing androids. 

Our Take: With their mission over, 9S’s bigotry and pessimistic view on machine lifeforms has gradually seeded, growing his scornful side. His lines are naggingly repetitive at times and could use more nuance for smarter writing. 

The commander using resistance as decoys is compelling in the moral plight of those lives weighing on her. Her struggles demonstrate YorHa’s deplorable treatment of their android soldiers. The larger inhumanity of their soldiers also injects a dose of tragic irony in their mission to save mankind.  

2B and 9S’ arrival at the amusement park demonstrates the phenomenal art design with gorgeous vintage, Victorian-esque lighting and architecture. The art design is so stunning that I wish more time had been spent on the park and have a hankering to explore the finer details of the map’s art design within the game. 

The machine’s play uses tight camera work and angles to further propel the insane speed and depth. The theatrical fight highlights the Songstress’ mechanical mechanisms and features, along with 2B and 9S agile fighting, to flourish, visually. The stage play is also a deeply powerful commentary on the machine lifeforms’ ongoing quest for beauty, similar to humans. The machines’ seismic complexity wonderfully works in tandem with the jaw-dropping sequences and heart-wrenching music. The love and care is on clear display in the stylistic and narrative attention to detail of the boss fight. 

9S’ cold execution of a robot mother and daughter is a brutal ordeal to stomach with his hatred blossoming into something twisted.