If nihilism demands that humans find meaning in themselves, it is a bit paradoxical that androids find meaning in humans.

This is the central question that runs through NieR: Automata. Led by enigmatic director Yoko Toro, developed by Platinum Games, and published by Square Enix, the 2017 masterpiece debuted on PS4 and PC via Steam. The game did not run smoothly on either platform. But in 2018, a digital-only port of Automata was released on Xbox One. And of all the versions of the game, the Xbox One X version ran the best. The newer NieR: Automata Become as Gods Edition is back in the news as this improved version is now available to PC users through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Xbox Series X and PC with Xbox Game Pass. Here's why this title is a must-play for gamers.

At launch, the PS4 version of "NieR: Automata" had a resolution of 1600x900 and was not anti-aliased. This low resolution made the game look blocky, especially compared to other big action titles like "Uncharted"; the PS4 Pro version increased the resolution to 1920x1080 and added anti-aliasing to blur jagged edges. Motion blur was also added.

Because it is a Platinum Games title, "Automata" was effectively required to run at 60 fps. Even the PS4 Pro version could not achieve 1440p or 4K resolution because the developer prioritized the frame rate.

Oddly enough, the PC version via Steam had many of the same problems as the PS4 version. From screen size issues to frame rate drops, the community had to create mods to alleviate performance issues; Digital Foundry has a great breakdown of the PC port:

NieR: Automata Become as Gods Edition was released a year later as a digital-only title on Xbox One; the Xbox One X version ran much better than the PS4 and PC versions. The game's resolution was 1920 x 2160, which is half the number of pixels of 4K resolution, but the game used checkerboard reconstruction to output a 4K image; it is likely that the Xbox Series X/S version will use a similar technique.

Interestingly, the PC version of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the newer Become as Gods Edition. It includes a number of performance and other quality-of-life improvements that were not present in the original Steam release. Unfortunately, it appears that those who own the Steam version of NieR:Automata will not be able to get this slightly enhanced PC version; the Steam version has already been review bombarded by angry fans.

The gameplay of "NieR:Automata" mixes Platinum Games' standard action formula with shooter action. It is an odd fusion of genres. The game switches camera perspectives, taking you from third-person sword slashing to bullet hell shooting in seconds. It was Taro's quirky design sense that allowed him to fuse these two seemingly disparate ideas together.

More important than the inventive gameplay and mysterious open world, however, is the philosophically bouncy story. The game, which features an android who lands on Earth to kill alien robots, forces the protagonist to question the rationale for his actions. While many robots attack you, others evolve and question their own existence. The protagonist, 2B, also begins to question his own motives.

It is a fascinating world far in the future that still accepts gods and finds truth through morality. One also wonders how much humanity the AI of the future will exhibit; if AI will eventually have free will, does it deserve pure freedom as well, with the moral components removed from the Bible and the Koran? And is life without God good or bad?

The game names its characters and bosses after major historical philosophers, instilling in them the same qualities that lead to the downfall of real-life figures.

For players who do not want a heady existential portrayal, they can turn a blind eye to the story and enjoy the fast-paced combat.

"NieR:Automata" is one of those games that I mention so obsessively that it might seem pretentious. But for Xbox Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, I urge you to put aside your preconceived notions of cartoonish art, leotard-clad leggy androids, and snarky call names; dive into NieR and give in, and you'll be rewarded with a game that's so much fun you'll want to play it again and again, and again, and again. Before you know it, you'll be playing through the second or even sixth round of the game. It's also a great primer for "NieR Replicant" (the prequel to "Automata"), a remastered version of which will be released next month.

Oh, and the music is great, too.