Y'all, they did it - they managed to adapt Automata in a narratively satisfying manner. I am stunned to be honest. I don't want to go into the details, but the ways they change events around make them hit so much harder than they would have, if they just adapted the game beat-for-beat. I would still recommend playing the game first, as the things they change really work having already known the original - but I can imagine anime-only watchers still being plenty engaged and shocked throughout. I was spoiled on the ending, which took me a bit out of the experience at the very end, butbesides that, I absolutely loved it.
I still prefer the game overall, but they did an amazing job.
Peak - really hoping we see an OVA or a movie expanding on some of the side materials present in the NieR universe not represented here.