SPOILER WARNING: Contains almost insignificant details about how NG+ works, and details about the backstory that leads to the NieR universe, but, without discussing NieR Replicant nor spoiling Automata!
NieR: Automata, by Yoko Taro, is not going to be an easy-to-make review.
Taro in an interview discussed how, in a game, just a different camera angle can completely change its genre, and this game is proof of that statement.
While Nier is technically a third-person ARPG, likely hooking people in for the looks of the main protagonist, subverts any expectations by opening as a bullet-hell space fighter. The game continuously switches camera angle and genre, going from 3rd person to a platformer 2D, to a hack-and-slash isometric/diablo-like. The camera is one of the strongest tools of the game instead of a limitation as it often is.
The way all these camera angles and genres work so well when other titles struggle at the one thing they should do really shows the mastery not only of the team of Yoko Taro but Platinum Games as well.
The gameplay is probably one of the best and most refined ARPG platinum games ever made, so fluid and satisfying to fight in, satisfying with each movement and character feedback to my actions. I loved every second of it and never backed out of a fight! The game is full of secrets and often they are also well hidden but not unobtainable.
Nier's story begins with the alternative ending of a completely different game, Drakengard, in particular the E finale path. Here, Drakengard's protagonist and Queen Beast end up traveling through space and time to a modern-day Tokyo, where the fire-breathing hero defeats her.
The death of the Queen Beast unleashed what is known as the White Chlorination Syndrome. The disease known as WCS started in downtown Shinjuku and quickly spread, causing devastating effects. Most people who contracted it would gradually turn into salt, while others became violently insane.
By 2009, the country had become a warzone, with uninfected humans fighting against a mad, unstoppable horde known as "Legion".
This eventually leads to the events that take place in NieR: Replicant, which I won't get into as important, yet not necessary to enjoy Automata.
Eight thousand years later, in addition to all the issues caused by the WCS and discussed in NieR: Replicant, Earth is invaded by alien machine life forms. Eventually, the remaining human population decided that they had had enough and fled to the moon, where they could be relatively safe. From there, they can send combat androids to fight against the machines and reclaim their homeland.
This is where our story begins, following around 2B, an android part of the YoRHa team, and her adventures, featuring her companion 9S and another android. These are all playable characters at some point.
The game has 26 endings, the canon ones being A through E, and the rest are non-canon a bit more on the funny side. The game is HEAVILY focused on the concept of a pseudo-NewGame+, inviting the player to finish it and start again using the same save file. So much so, that the game must be completed several times to see all the endings, including the true ending. Like many NG+ in games, items are carried over and so are side mission objectives. Beating the game the first time will give you the A ending, but instead of simply restarting and increasing in difficulty, the game will offer a different POV to the story, in the second route, and wildly change in the third route etc.
As a player who started this game without any knowledge of the previous work of Taro, this took me by surprise and I have never found a title using a game machine so brilliantly.
The soundtrack is something absurd, always spot on and catchy; keeps up with the moment and mood you are going through very well. Tracks from this game, years after when reviewing this review, are still some of my favorite music.
Sadly, the PC version used to not be perfectly optimized when launched.
Hell, we didn't even know it would come out a week after PS4 until days before launch. It had some flaws, for example, in fullscreen the game would not be rendered at the targeted resolution but stick to 900p as on the console. But many of these problems were solved with the FAR mod quickly after release.
The great news is that after the release of NieR: Replicant on PC, Square came back to this title, patching and optimizing the game as it should have always been, fixing many optimization issues, and adding support to FSR and 4K icons for the HUD.
The game also has a DLC that is primarily an arena mode with unique objectives and costumes for all characters, fun overall!
The game is well deserving, and I don't think my describing it further would only spoil what a wonderful experience the game is.
Just know, it's hands down one of the games I suggest to anyone I know.
It is, without a doubt, one of the best gaming experiences I've ever had.
9.5/10
NieR: Automata, by Yoko Taro, is not going to be an easy-to-make review.
Taro in an interview discussed how, in a game, just a different camera angle can completely change its genre, and this game is proof of that statement.
While Nier is technically a third-person ARPG, likely hooking people in for the looks of the main protagonist, subverts any expectations by opening as a bullet-hell space fighter. The game continuously switches camera angle and genre, going from 3rd person to a platformer 2D, to a hack-and-slash isometric/diablo-like. The camera is one of the strongest tools of the game instead of a limitation as it often is.
The way all these camera angles and genres work so well when other titles struggle at the one thing they should do really shows the mastery not only of the team of Yoko Taro but Platinum Games as well.
The gameplay is probably one of the best and most refined ARPG platinum games ever made, so fluid and satisfying to fight in, satisfying with each movement and character feedback to my actions. I loved every second of it and never backed out of a fight! The game is full of secrets and often they are also well hidden but not unobtainable.
Nier's story begins with the alternative ending of a completely different game, Drakengard, in particular the E finale path. Here, Drakengard's protagonist and Queen Beast end up traveling through space and time to a modern-day Tokyo, where the fire-breathing hero defeats her.
The death of the Queen Beast unleashed what is known as the White Chlorination Syndrome. The disease known as WCS started in downtown Shinjuku and quickly spread, causing devastating effects. Most people who contracted it would gradually turn into salt, while others became violently insane.
By 2009, the country had become a warzone, with uninfected humans fighting against a mad, unstoppable horde known as "Legion".
This eventually leads to the events that take place in NieR: Replicant, which I won't get into as important, yet not necessary to enjoy Automata.
Eight thousand years later, in addition to all the issues caused by the WCS and discussed in NieR: Replicant, Earth is invaded by alien machine life forms. Eventually, the remaining human population decided that they had had enough and fled to the moon, where they could be relatively safe. From there, they can send combat androids to fight against the machines and reclaim their homeland.
This is where our story begins, following around 2B, an android part of the YoRHa team, and her adventures, featuring her companion 9S and another android. These are all playable characters at some point.
The game has 26 endings, the canon ones being A through E, and the rest are non-canon a bit more on the funny side. The game is HEAVILY focused on the concept of a pseudo-NewGame+, inviting the player to finish it and start again using the same save file. So much so, that the game must be completed several times to see all the endings, including the true ending. Like many NG+ in games, items are carried over and so are side mission objectives. Beating the game the first time will give you the A ending, but instead of simply restarting and increasing in difficulty, the game will offer a different POV to the story, in the second route, and wildly change in the third route etc.
As a player who started this game without any knowledge of the previous work of Taro, this took me by surprise and I have never found a title using a game machine so brilliantly.
The soundtrack is something absurd, always spot on and catchy; keeps up with the moment and mood you are going through very well. Tracks from this game, years after when reviewing this review, are still some of my favorite music.
Sadly, the PC version used to not be perfectly optimized when launched.
Hell, we didn't even know it would come out a week after PS4 until days before launch. It had some flaws, for example, in fullscreen the game would not be rendered at the targeted resolution but stick to 900p as on the console. But many of these problems were solved with the FAR mod quickly after release.
The great news is that after the release of NieR: Replicant on PC, Square came back to this title, patching and optimizing the game as it should have always been, fixing many optimization issues, and adding support to FSR and 4K icons for the HUD.
The game also has a DLC that is primarily an arena mode with unique objectives and costumes for all characters, fun overall!
The game is well deserving, and I don't think my describing it further would only spoil what a wonderful experience the game is.
Just know, it's hands down one of the games I suggest to anyone I know.
It is, without a doubt, one of the best gaming experiences I've ever had.
9.5/10