http://www.critical-distance.com/2014/08/27/nier/

Just gonna plug in my interesting findings on nier analysis. The video mentions what the word "NIER" actually means, and that was neat. The article gets interesting about half way down the page when it talks about Taro's design philosophy on the concept of violence. His quote on why people kill because they think they are in the right is pretty interesting.

I think Nier is highly flawed, but it feels like a psychoanalysis of Taro's mind and that is what makes the game so fulfilling to me. It's like the man is opening up his deep seated problems with the world and letting us pick him apart.

Gameplay got so monotonous though. I couldnt complete the lighthouse lady quest because it required me to go through the robot dungeon over and over. Like damn if I have to go through all this boring gameplay just to experience an emotional side quest.

NIER: Dull world but some pretty interesting meta commentary on videogames.

Pathologic: Also more meta commentary on videogames.

Both have quirky and eccentric characters that present the commentary, so it's not just hollow/blunt exposition.

Arguing on internet is almost useless, but it is easy. Only way to move forward is to collect the facts, which is more difficult. Analyze the wealth distribution between colored people and white people. Even this is not enough though. You also have to analyze the amount of opportunities those in poverty have, to bring themselves out of it.
If wealth is an issue, but opportunities are not, then it is the fault of the poor for not acting for themselves.
If both are an issue, than maybe there is some ground for calling out indifference to race.

But there are also plenty of white folk in poverty, so must be careful about that as well. Al though one could argue about percentage wise, because whites make up larger portion of population. Also consider environment, we are molded by natural forces and economics. A successful cosmopolitan city in california vs. pockets of rural poverty in central america.
I think it definitely has less to do with race and more with class and income.

Pathologic for sure. Made me think how people should feel about death and the natural cycle of life. Should we accept our impermanence, or strive to overcome it, no matter how futile.
Needless to say, the reaction will vary from person to person, and usually differing views conflict.

I don't know. I'd have to play more recent titles before I make a conclusion, like Kentucky Route Zero, LISA, and upcoming NIER Automata. But it seems they're about the same.

only 2016 anime I'm interested in are Rakugo, Zaregoto, and Mob Psycho 100. Fune wo amu looks decent as well. I don't usually follow new anime. Hell, I don't even watch anime that much, but it's interesting to follow the community, cause tastes are so varied.

I wonder if Cage has even played classic narrative driven games like Gabriel Knight, Grim Fandango, Planescape Torment, Last Express, Pathologic, Silent hill 2.
You know, ones that dont sacrifice gameplay and dont over rely on cinematics at the cost of world building and atmosphere.

I might need to give chrono trigger another go. I couldn't really get into the story, cause of the "save the world" feel. Al though most of the games I list probably also have a "save the world" plot. I guess it's just a JRPG trope that can't be helped. But, I care more about the character's inward struggles and beliefs, rather than their outward powers and abilities. Which seems silly to look for in a videogames XD. But I've seen it done before, and pretty good too.
I guess chrono being a silent protag. kinda put me off. But the time travel was cool, for as far as I got.

Mother 3 looks really good too.

Yeah, Panzer Dragoon looks really good too.

Well, I mean, technically we are in a matrix, a biological one. I should say, we are a biological matrix. The brain is pretty much a computer that takes in information and internalizes it to create a reality for the body to navigate in the world.

But you dont have to see this as a negative cynical thing. I always think of the harry potter quote when Dumbledore says "Ofcourse it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?"