I can’t believe I actually played a mobile game for more Nier. Anyway, it’s OK, which makes it probably the best mobile game I’ve played.

It’s got a phenomenal soundtrack, some great character design, and a cool atmosphere with some interesting lore. But it’s just completely saddled with ‘mobile mechanics’. A completely nothing empty battle system just had me running this on auto and sped up for the most part. Every single stat and upgrade (which there are FAR too many categories) road blocked by silly consumables that you have to grind monotonously for. I’m so glad I played this at the end of the life cycle when they were giving these out, I cannot imagine sticking with this before the free stuff.

I didn’t really care for a lot of the stories and just wanted to see the main plot unfold. This combined with the gameplay where I’m not really doing anything just kind of made me want it to be over. The wrap up of both Arc 2 and 3 were great, and all the stuff before it just felt like blockades in the way of these instances.

There is stuff to like here, with some genuinely great moments in the main plot, but I just wish these ideas and characters were used in an actual Nier game, and not through a mobile trudge.