I played the entire first story of NeiR: Automata. It’s a sci-fi RPG where you are playing as an android who is sent to earth in order to protect what few humans are left from hostile robots. These robots have taken over almost the entirety of earth, and you are placed in this game to investigate their motives, behaviors, and fight whatever comes at you. What’s incredibly interesting about the game is the focus on conscience and emotional behavior. There are very few humans in this game, and even fewer that express extreme emotion. The main emotions come from the robots and androids. Instead of following a general programming which is what almost all robots in video games do, almost all robots in this game, think for themselves, feel pain, fear, happiness, and even love. The two main antagonists that are twin android brothers are pretty cruel, don’t get me wrong, but after the one brother dies, the other is in incredible grief and depression because of his loss. About a quarter through the game, I encountered a mob of robots attacking me, but some within that bunch were screaming that “they didn’t want to die.” At another point, there is a group of robots that adopt a religion, but then they begin to commit a mass suicide together. Some within that group don’t want to die, however, and then they become fearful of their own beliefs. Many robots make friends, worship mentors, create families, and even establish a pacifist community. I think this greatly relates to digital humanities because it reflects a common perspective that many human beings have. Unfamiliar observations can lead to misunderstandings, fear, and even violence. There is a strong theme of evolution in this game and a struggle in trying to understand what or who the enemy is. I could argue that the character you play as and the system that you work for is the true enemy. Again, there are different perspectives that are in play and it makes the player question what exactly is inhumane about these machines that took over the earth.
-Grant Boyd