English Dub Review: NieR:Automata Ver1.1a “[N]o man’s village”

Overview

As a result of the previous battle, the Machine Lifeform Village was destroyed. The machine lifeforms confirmed alive have evacuated to the Resistance Camp. However, a new reaction from a Goliath-class machine lifeform is detected advancing toward the area. Later on, a serious virus contamination has occurred within the Resistance Camp. Resulting in A2 and Pascal proceed to work together to understand the situation and respond accordingly. Meanwhile, 9S encounters a machine called a “God Box”…

Our Take

Compared to how the game played out in its “Route C” story, this anime has done a great job of shifting certain plot points while maintaining the overall narrative and selling the drama when it’s needed. The changes make the show feel fresh and engaging, even for those familiar with the original story. I also appreciate how the anime develops supporting characters, giving them more depth and making their roles more meaningful to the proceedings.

The episode continues to explore heavy themes, with moments that convey a sense of despair and loss. The emotional weight of the story increases as the characters face increasingly difficult challenges. Each scene is filled with intensity, keeping viewers engaged as the stakes rise and the characters confront their struggles.

Overall, the episode builds on the tension that has been present throughout the series. The pacing is strong, and the animation holds up well, especially in action scenes. With only a few episodes left, the story is heading towards an intense conclusion, and fans of both the anime and the source material will appreciate how the adaptation has unfolded and with 3 episodes left, I’m curious how faithful this will stay to the games or if it’ll do its own thing…