User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1804 Ratings

User score distribution:

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  1. Jan 21, 2018
    10
    Nier Automata is a post apocalyptic anime action RPG. It contains a wide variety of control styles.
    3rd person fighter, 2 1/2D side scroll platforming, bullet hell....
    It's approach is oddly similar to Dark Souls though a lot less focused on one hit deaths and hair trigger reactions. Obviously, being anime in style, you're unlikely to see much rooting in realism with your combat too. If
    Nier Automata is a post apocalyptic anime action RPG. It contains a wide variety of control styles.
    3rd person fighter, 2 1/2D side scroll platforming, bullet hell....
    It's approach is oddly similar to Dark Souls though a lot less focused on one hit deaths and hair trigger reactions. Obviously, being anime in style, you're unlikely to see much rooting in realism with your combat too.
    If you're looking for the very latest in graphic effects and the highest texture resolutions known to human-kind, you'll be disappointed... If you prefer a more holistic attitude to how something looks, this game will enthral you. It's not low res at all, just modest at times.
    The music is also completely endearing throughout and bosses often have their own 'theme song'. It's clear a great deal of care was put into that one area.
    There's a lot of highly negative reviews on here for very superficial or circomstantial reasons ("it looks crap", "I died and had to start again", "The graphics look old", "It doesn't work on my machine" - this is for reviews, not tech support) and despite that, this still has a user score of over 8/10 (as of 21/01/2018)
    If you like the look of this and EVEN if you couldn't enjoy a Dark Souls game (secret... I flipping hate them with a passion) give this a go... I'd advise PS4 if you can, but this works fine on a good PC with the FAR patch. A mindful Googling can find it easily.
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  2. Sep 12, 2022
    10
    Genuinely one of the most important pieces of games-as-art ever made, it's just a shame that the actual gameplay gets tedious later on. Still a must play.
  3. Apr 6, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fantastic game, only minor polish issues like graphics quality in cutscenes defaulting to low. Otherwise a near flawless game. What ever errors it has are more than made up for in concept and execution of story and gameplay.

    Multiple playthroughs don't feel like a chore, and right about when you're not sure you have the energy to keep slogging through the beginning segment (playthrough 3) is when the game unlocks chapter select, and allows you to swap characters. Which is useful for finishing side quests, etc.

    Honestly, the biggest thing that hit me is Ending E's final combat segment, and what getting "help" means. I was selfish, for now, knowing that dlc will be releasing at some point (those bunkers you find never open up during gameplay as of the time of this reviews writing). But afterwards if I 100% the game. I think I'll replay E, just to sacrifice my save data to help someone.
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  4. Mar 10, 2020
    10
    One of the best games I've ever had the pleasure and fortune to play. Quite possibly the best soundtrack of any video game (in my opinion, obviously). Story is great and very emotional. If you want to feel some things, this will make you feel. Gameplay is solid as well.
  5. Jan 14, 2018
    10
    Nier: Automata is 2017's GOTY. It is an experience that transcends the medium. To describe it at all would tarnish some element of the player's time in the game. Jaw dropping, heart pounding, tear jerking, and mind bending. Play this game.

    Don't give up. Maybe I'll save you.
  6. Jun 24, 2020
    10
    This is one of the best games to show how video games are a unique form of art.

    It allows you to feel whatever way you want without forcing it, yet you'll usually end up in agreement with the creators. Unlike a certain recent game that does complete opposite (check the upload time of this review).
  7. May 13, 2017
    10
    First and foremost, this is not the best PC port ever created, and 2 months later, the devs have still not provided adequate patching and support to fix several problems this game has on PC: such as crashes every 10 minutes, stuttering, strange resolution, etc. The 10 minute crashing is particularly aggravating when the prologue tutorial is 1 hour long and has no save point. The problemsFirst and foremost, this is not the best PC port ever created, and 2 months later, the devs have still not provided adequate patching and support to fix several problems this game has on PC: such as crashes every 10 minutes, stuttering, strange resolution, etc. The 10 minute crashing is particularly aggravating when the prologue tutorial is 1 hour long and has no save point. The problems vary immensely from user to user, even between those who have virtually identical PC setups, but I assure you that it is playable on every minimum requirement PC, you just have to...find the particular problem your PC has(I needed to drop to lowest resolution, set my game to high priority and disable all the odd numbered cores through task manager every time I launched). I can also verify that this game is 99% playable with mouse and keyboard: you do NOT need a controller to enjoy yourself. Just to reiterate, if you have a PS4 and a PC, get the game for PS4, but it is very possible to have a satisfactory experience on PC once you fix your crashing problem.

    Game breaking bug/crashes normally keeps me from reviewing any game to be 10 stars, but after playing through to reach 'the true ending' of the game, I have to say... from a story perspective, this just might be the single best game I've ever come across, and it would be a tragedy if the world forgot about it. This is the "Breaking Bad" of video games. This is "The Witcher 3" of 2017. The existentialist plot is about as deep as "The Matrix". The game is devised of 3 (different) playthroughs, but even hinting at what the tone of each ending is becomes a spoiler. This is a beautiful game, and all the hardships that come with playing it on PC masterrace...are ultimately worth it.
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  8. Dec 6, 2018
    10
    I'll give this game a 7/10 because it is a shiitty PC port. It's full of console menus and console controls in the menus that make it very inconvenient to play with on PC. From the start I had to install borderless windowed gaming for windows 7 because the native resolution of Nier Automata is 1080i instead of 1080p, which doesn't work well on my 25" widescreen monitor. The Arcade modeI'll give this game a 7/10 because it is a shiitty PC port. It's full of console menus and console controls in the menus that make it very inconvenient to play with on PC. From the start I had to install borderless windowed gaming for windows 7 because the native resolution of Nier Automata is 1080i instead of 1080p, which doesn't work well on my 25" widescreen monitor. The Arcade mode controls are also optimized for consoles and you can tell on the precision of the top-down gameplay where it accepts a clock hour-style directional movement optimized for D-pads rather than the smooth aiming you could get using mouse controls.

    So why am I giving this game a 10/10?

    Ending E.

    When the game became self-aware and talked to me as a player, I knew the way I saw gaming as an experience, would never be the same again.

    For me, it's mechanically the greatest ending in gaming history. You can only create an ending like this in games media and the execution is amazing and unforgettable. Roll the credits. Yoko Taro is a true genius.
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  9. Apr 23, 2017
    10
    Nier is a genuine masterpiece that defies conventional expectations and design norms. While not flawless, Nier is undeniably a work of art that is greater than the sum of its parts. With a wide variety of gameplay styles, a remarkably well-written story with incredibly deep characters, and a memorable sound track complete with a proprietary language, Nier is a definite contender for GameNier is a genuine masterpiece that defies conventional expectations and design norms. While not flawless, Nier is undeniably a work of art that is greater than the sum of its parts. With a wide variety of gameplay styles, a remarkably well-written story with incredibly deep characters, and a memorable sound track complete with a proprietary language, Nier is a definite contender for Game of the Year awards.

    PlatinumGames, while not known for deep complexity in their combat systems, have still managed to form a brand for themselves in the past few years thanks to big successes such as Metal Gear Rising and Bayonetta 2. Their heavily-stylized "character action" game design fits perfectly into the anime-esque world of Nier: Automata: characters swing and throw teleporting greatswords twice their size with ease, slow down time to teleport-dodge enemy attacks, and run with an acceleration that feels like a 2-legged racing game. This also extends into the flight sequences, where you command a transforming airplane mecha with a moveset not dissimilar to your grounded counterparts. While the ground combat is even more simplistic than MGR (you can often just hold the "light attack" button [while dodging] to auto-combo normal enemies), there is such a huge variety of gameplay that you never get bored. Flight combat, hacking sequences, creative use of locked camera angles, and even mini-VNs all break up the hack 'n' slash to create what is probably the most creative mainstream "AAA" game in the past two console gens.

    It's hard to talk about how good the writing in Nier is without spoilers. To put it simply, Nier is broken into two parts, each being played across two characters. One character, who surprisingly becomes the focal point of the story, has a gradual mental health degradation which even the game's support characters make it a point to notice. Most Japanese media seems to take characters who are "supposed" to be evil and has them instantly snap under pressure, typically caused by one traumatic event like a loved one dying. This game's character goes from a happy-go-lucky straight shooter and suffers multiple depressing events that I felt affected me more than him at times. His decline into insanity isn't a simple breaking point but a good dozen hours of misery that was so well written that it became the main driving force of the story. While replaying portions of the game again as a different character can become tedious, their story line splits provide a fresh look at each character and the main story itself.

    So many great ideas and designs are incorporated into Nier: Automata that its hard to cover all of them in a simple written review. Nier frequently defies player expectations, creatively breaks the fourth wall, paints a rich sci-fi lore with excellent world-building, and leaves enough room to fill in the blanks with your imagination that I expect a fanbase similar to Undertale to crop up around it. Nier is the best game I've played since The Witcher 3 in July 2015. Hopefully it receives the attention it deserves because games like this are really once a gen masterpieces.
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  10. Jun 1, 2017
    10
    I didn't know what to make of this game before I started playing. I purposely kept myself in the dark so as to not get spoilers.
    That was not necessary. No matter how much you read, watch or listening about this game, no matter how many spoilers you get, nothing, and I mean NOTHING, can prepare you for the rollercoaster ride that is Nier Automata.
    It's part RPG, part spectacle fighter
    I didn't know what to make of this game before I started playing. I purposely kept myself in the dark so as to not get spoilers.
    That was not necessary. No matter how much you read, watch or listening about this game, no matter how many spoilers you get, nothing, and I mean NOTHING, can prepare you for the rollercoaster ride that is Nier Automata.
    It's part RPG, part spectacle fighter and part bullet hell, but at the same time it's none of the above.
    When people tell you that you need several playthroughs to get the entire story, it's not exactly correct. You're not finished when you're finished. Your second playthrough is not like your previous playthrough. That's all I'm saying.

    This is a sad game. That's not to say it doesn't have comedy, and it does, but the overall story is tragic and sad, and there will be parts that will break your heart, but persevere because the real ending is nothing short of magic, life affirming and thought provoking.

    This is a masterpiece. Not technically (the PC version is buggy), but an unquestionable triumph of storytelling, game design and character development.
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  11. Mar 29, 2017
    10
    With a story without comparison this game follows the saga of Joko Taro games, we are set after the events of Nier. the Ost composed by Keiichi Okabe who worked in Nier and Drakengard 3 is back, this is by far the best game I've played in years it has well-designed environments characters enemies and a stunning beautiful Soundtrack with a godly tier in hack and slash gameplay surroundedWith a story without comparison this game follows the saga of Joko Taro games, we are set after the events of Nier. the Ost composed by Keiichi Okabe who worked in Nier and Drakengard 3 is back, this is by far the best game I've played in years it has well-designed environments characters enemies and a stunning beautiful Soundtrack with a godly tier in hack and slash gameplay surrounded with different archetypes of minigames and adventures, the development of the characters are amazing and the epilogue of everyone with 5 different main endings accomplish a successful and well written conclusion. Expand
  12. Oct 26, 2019
    10
    A magnificent adventure in a post-apocalyptic world among the piles of robots sneaking gentle creatures with blindfolds. Very difficult, very interesting, exciting game, great music. Passed on 99%, to kill Emil need still pass couple of times, someday...
  13. Oct 5, 2018
    10
    One of the best games I ever played! Really strong story! Graphics? Well, screw it - why do you need graphics with such A+ class gameplay, music and story? Simple genius. Story is really tangled and sad, but this makes the game even more amazing. Finally a real competitor to Bioshock Infinite. I still cheching my screens I made during the game and listening the music on youtube. HighlyOne of the best games I ever played! Really strong story! Graphics? Well, screw it - why do you need graphics with such A+ class gameplay, music and story? Simple genius. Story is really tangled and sad, but this makes the game even more amazing. Finally a real competitor to Bioshock Infinite. I still cheching my screens I made during the game and listening the music on youtube. Highly reccomended for anyone (xcept graph nerds prolly) Expand
  14. Dec 30, 2019
    10
    NieR: Automata is an artistic triumph. At first, playing this game feels like playing a well-executed sci-fi action adventure game. But after a while, it slowly dawns on you that this is a unique take on interactive story-telling using a video game as the medium. No game, including the vaunted MMOs like World of Warcraft, have created the kind of immersion that Nier achieved. Thank you soNieR: Automata is an artistic triumph. At first, playing this game feels like playing a well-executed sci-fi action adventure game. But after a while, it slowly dawns on you that this is a unique take on interactive story-telling using a video game as the medium. No game, including the vaunted MMOs like World of Warcraft, have created the kind of immersion that Nier achieved. Thank you so much to the creators of Nier. I will be rooting for your future projects! Expand
  15. Mar 20, 2017
    10
    I would like to thank the developers for this game. A powerful example of when a game is made by those who love games. Thanks for the release on PC in 7 days. Thank you for the incredible story. Thanks for the interesting characters. Thanks for interesting gameplay. Thanks for the game.
  16. May 10, 2017
    10
    Just the best game last 3 years, actually mb 3-4 last years. Perfect all things : graphics, sounds, music. Glad to play this game and need to continue NIER
  17. Mar 28, 2017
    10
    This game is art, really well crafted storytelling and a great use of the artistic expressions that can only be on a video game, square fix it to make it perfect
  18. Feb 13, 2020
    10
    Incredible... A masterpiece. TOP 10 of my life.
    1st gameplay - good
    2nd gameplay - ok
    3rd gameplay - wtf... MASTERPIECE.
    The PC port is bad thought.. I had to install mods to play it .
  19. May 13, 2017
    10
    Perfection.
    Brilliant visuals, brilliant sound design, premium platinum games gameplay, tons of variety, deep story with multiple endings. Even fully customizable gamepad controls!

    Absolutely brilliant.
  20. Mar 19, 2017
    10
    Ok, let's make that simple and short.

    I've just finished all the 5 main endings in about 65 hours.

    It's just the best story i ever seen in my entire life !

    Few advices :

    1/ Play this awesome game
    2/ Do NOT stop playing after the first ending
    3/ Do NOT stop playing after the second ending
    4/ Thank me later

    Your gamer life will be probalbly changed forever...
  21. Mar 24, 2017
    10
    What I can say after 22 hours to played and with more things to unlock ahead, this game is awesome, a master piece, with a great history, if you played previously Nier and Drakengard this add an extra knowledge, but isn't important to play this game, and follow the stories of the protagonists.

    The gameplay is a master piece, the controls are great, the background music is marvelous, the
    What I can say after 22 hours to played and with more things to unlock ahead, this game is awesome, a master piece, with a great history, if you played previously Nier and Drakengard this add an extra knowledge, but isn't important to play this game, and follow the stories of the protagonists.

    The gameplay is a master piece, the controls are great, the background music is marvelous, the characters have a good design(2B is pure love) and the artistic details are good, the graphics are well, not like a Witcher 3 or Rise of Tomb Raider, but they work perfect.

    I own a good PC with a nvidia gtx 1080, and I don't have until now any major issue with this game, the fps are constant on 60fps, I use a 2k resolution to played, and everything works perfect.

    What can I say? Buy it, if you like the rpg and action games, these game is a master piece.
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  22. Apr 15, 2017
    10
    I came to this game via being a fan of Platinum. I never played the first Nier game and don't play a ton of RPGs in general. This combat system is a bit more forgiving than games like Metal Gear Solid: Revengance which platinum also designed, but I totally loved it.

    The system of managing your characters stats as chips is really cool. You have a finite area to plug them in, and the more
    I came to this game via being a fan of Platinum. I never played the first Nier game and don't play a ton of RPGs in general. This combat system is a bit more forgiving than games like Metal Gear Solid: Revengance which platinum also designed, but I totally loved it.

    The system of managing your characters stats as chips is really cool. You have a finite area to plug them in, and the more special chips (with a diamond symbol) can perform the same routine while taking up a smaller number of "slots" so you get the same stat boost more efficiently. The game allows you to re-arrange and swap out chips to rebuild your entire character's spec as needed. I really enjoyed remapping the whole stack for boss encounters - really unique system and I hope other games steal this idea.

    Two of my favorite gaming genres are fighting games and shmups, I love arcade style action. Platinum managed to blend those styles of play into a JRPG of all things. Very impressed.

    I just finished playing 3rd play through (2nd is a different perspective same timeline, 3rd is continuation of the story so at least 3 needed, don't stop!) and wow - it shot to the top 5 games of all time for me. Don't miss it - what a surprise. Masterpiece. These don't come along that often.
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  23. Jul 18, 2020
    10
    A masterpiece of a game with a lot of philosophical elements. Fantastic soundtrack and great combat as expected from platinum games. Could not review this game higher.
  24. Apr 7, 2017
    10
    I want to say something but I dono what to ... 2B, 9S, A2 .. this game will be in my memory forever as a melancholy ..I learned a lot from this game... Best game i have played.., there is simply nothing other like this game.. I do not want to say any more.. a word to those who haven't finished the game yet, enjoy every moment of it..

    Pros : - Great fluid and seamless combat - Mind
    I want to say something but I dono what to ... 2B, 9S, A2 .. this game will be in my memory forever as a melancholy ..I learned a lot from this game... Best game i have played.., there is simply nothing other like this game.. I do not want to say any more.. a word to those who haven't finished the game yet, enjoy every moment of it..

    Pros :
    - Great fluid and seamless combat
    - Mind blowing music (best soundtrack in video game history)
    - A simple plot turned to be a very complex one laid through multiple endings
    - Great game design with 2D,3D everything combined well
    - The concept/theme of game is great, some of the characters are very memorable
    - Skill progression system in form of chips is unique and offers lot of playstyle combined with the large amount of weapons available

    Cons:
    - Few side quests are boring
    - Have to use Borderless window software to go fullscreen properly
    - Discrepancy between standard and hard difficulty

    The thing is non of these cons are major enough affect your experience of the game.. After playing for a while you won't even notice any of these issues, since the game is so engaging. At the end of the game you are left with the amazing feeling and lot of sad emotions . This is simple a masterpiece and has become one of my most favorite games of all time.
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  25. Jan 29, 2022
    10
    One of my favorite games of all time, the gameplay is insanely smooth, they worked a lot on all the animations, the various weapons etc. The OST is also amazing.
  26. Mar 19, 2017
    10
    Definitely a great port from platinum's side. This game is hard to emulate on a M&K combination due to its genre mashing elements, thus a controller is recommended.
    The performance is stable, with no frame rate drops below 40 on heavier action scenes,
    Great port, kudos to platinum.
    The full screen bug is there, hope it gets fixed soon. Temporary fix will be to use Borderless Gaming App.
  27. Mar 23, 2017
    10
    Breathtakingly complex...this game can not be more perfect even if the gods themselves crafted it.

    I've been playing video games for around 18 years now and all this time has left me jaded towards the medium. I've found it increasingly harder to find games that can capture my enjoyment and provide me an awe inspiring experience that can take me away from the real world like when I was
    Breathtakingly complex...this game can not be more perfect even if the gods themselves crafted it.

    I've been playing video games for around 18 years now and all this time has left me jaded towards the medium. I've found it increasingly harder to find games that can capture my enjoyment and provide me an awe inspiring experience that can take me away from the real world like when I was younger. Nier Automata is one of those rare gems in gaming that brings me back to why I fell in love with the medium in the first place. Nier is the only game since the Witcher 3 that had me blink and 10 hours had passed without my noticing. Yoko Taro and his team have created a masterpiece that nobody should miss.

    I will start by saying that I haven't played a Yoko Taro directed game before, but I have heard a lot of great things about his weird world that he has created that links between multiple games and franchises (Nier/Drakengard respectively) so I was really excited when I heard that Square decided to give him a good budget and a very well known studio for their character action games (Platinum) to make a sequel to the original Nier from the previous generation. So without any doubt and after hearing that it got a PC release I instantly purchased it, because I was fascinated by what Yoko Taro could do.

    And what a fantastic job he and his team at Platinum Games have done. A game that shouldn't be passed on by ANYONE, because it does something that I, personally, haven't encountered in a game before (which I won't spoil here, because you HAVE TO experience it yourself).

    Imagine a Platinum game that has exquisite combat, a director that is so masterful in how he presents the story giving small information and tidbits as you go along and a soundrack by a composer that is well known (Keiichi Okabe) that you take a few moments from playing the game just to listen to the music..it's THAT GOOD.

    I won't go much into the story of the game, because it's very easy to spoil, but the story and overarching plot is so well done and it makes you question a lot of things about humanity, emotions, life itself and many other things.

    This has been an eye opening experience that I will never forget. From the amazing soundtrack by Keiichi Okabe to the wonderful directing and story by Yoko Taro and the combat by Platinum games..they all mesh together to create one of the best Action RPG's that I have ever played. Yes, the fetch quests can be tedious and grinding can be a pain at times to achieve everything this game has to offer, but I did not waver and was fascinated by this world.

    I will now post a quote from Jim Sterling's review that resonated with me so much that I cannot state it better as an ending to this lenghty review:

    "Nier itself is important. It is, as far as I’m concerned, historically significant in terms of its design and the way in which it uses the framework of a videogame to tell an evolving story. If I had my way, every budding game developer would play this game to the point of acquiring endings A, B, C, D, and E before acquiescing to its final and alarmingly direct request.

    Few games are able to showcase the power of the medium like Nier: Automata.

    If history forgets this game, then **** history."
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  28. Apr 17, 2019
    10
    You got a Royal Edition FF15, which got sloppy story and they give up dlc to explain all the **** now. Create more problem.

    And Nier Automata GOTY, which got great story and thoughtful meaning.
    I guess it's not that hard to choose then.
  29. Oct 23, 2019
    10
    One of the best games I ever played.
    Sorry.
    I take my words back. THE best game I ever played. And I have strong suspicion it is the best game ever and will remain such.
    The soundtrack is a masterpiece by itself too.
  30. Mar 21, 2017
    10
    This game is pure awesomeness, combat system is great, and superfluid ( IF you are fan of DmC, MGR or even Bayonetta you cannot miss this game ) and newcomers can play it also without knowing Nier
    Nier Automata is one of the greatest game I've ever played; the story is so much engaging with a lot of hidden messages and plot twisted; open world feel great, the combat system is one of my
    This game is pure awesomeness, combat system is great, and superfluid ( IF you are fan of DmC, MGR or even Bayonetta you cannot miss this game ) and newcomers can play it also without knowing Nier
    Nier Automata is one of the greatest game I've ever played; the story is so much engaging with a lot of hidden messages and plot twisted; open world feel great, the combat system is one of my favourites, you can create as many combos as you like. Also, the thing that keeps me playing for hours without getting bored are the soundtracks; I can't find any others game that has this kind of music that is so epic. The game running 2k/60fps smoothly in my PC
    Resolution fix: Download Borderless Gaming and Enjoy
    Gameplay: 10/10
    Graphic: 10/10
    Story:10/10
    Soundtrack: 11/10
    Overall: 10/10 ( If I can grade 100/10 I'm still giving it 100) best game ever
    This game by far is the greatest Yoko Taro game that I enjoyed
    I'm not recommended this game if you have a job or school, u will get addictive enough to drop all your life behind and finished it
    Best game of the year confirmed will play it again and again and again, money well spent
    GOTY Confirmed
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Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 12
  2. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. May 11, 2017
    90
    Sometimes frustrating but always compelling, Nier: Automata is a wondrous and strange experience that could only ever be a game. [Issue#261, p.60]
  2. Apr 10, 2017
    91
    This unusual action game set in an offbeat world created by Taro Yoko is a treasure trove of pleasant surprises. It's not often that we meet such a stylish, offbeat, memorable game.
  3. Apr 5, 2017
    70
    There is no doubt that Nier Automata is a great game, but the PC version does not do it justice. A new case of a shameless port for PC.