#19
Nier: Automata (PS4)
YoY: +1
I am, and have always been a huge proponent of video games as a storytelling medium. Because of their inherent interactive nature, video games can create stories in ways that no other medium is able to. When done right, the resulting narrative can be something truly special, and very few games have taken better advantage of this than Nier: Automata. I had played the original Nier, as well as the first two Drakengard games before, and I was a fan of all of them, but thanks to the involvement of PlatinumGames, Nier: Automata was able to not only have an interesting story thanks to Yoko Taro, but the gameplay was also great.
Yet, it is the characters and story that truly make this such an amazing game. The themes the story deals with and discusses through the various characters are handled wonderfully, and often lead to some absolutely heartbreaking moments. Few games have impacted me in a similar level as Nier: Automata, and this game features one of only two moments in all video games I've played that forced me to take a break from the game, not because I didn't like it, but because of how hard it it. This is a beautiful, wonderfully written game that will remain with me for years to come.
