NieR: Automata - Game of the YoRHa Edition

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 776 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 671 out of 776
  2. Mixed: 60 out of 776
  3. Negative: 45 out of 776
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  1. ArtyomShpytyack
    Feb 12, 2020
    9
    Despite not up to date graphics and other flaws (like boring mmo-like side quests and unbalanced weapons) the game is one of the most memorable and atmospheric games of all time. The characters and the music are unique, and if you beat the game you will never forget it.
  2. Khrizs
    Feb 14, 2020
    10
    One of those game with an ending that doesn't leave you indifferent. The way it deals with issues such as conscience or destiny is worthy of the great masters. Love it.
  3. aosan
    Jun 19, 2020
    10
    Damn, this game is awesome. This is an art I think. Beautiful music, great story, excellent character design. The first time I did not understand this game. But the second time I couldn’t tear myself away from her. By the way, I was expelled from the university because of her xD I love this game. Yoko Taro - you fn genius)
  4. DamyanDG10
    Oct 28, 2019
    10
    What a game this is !
    Never thought I was gonna play it cuz i had some wrong impressions on it but man did i get wrong on this one..
    Everything in this game is just phenomenal but one thing goes beyond all and thats the story.
    PlatinumGames deserve a huge Bravo for this one!
    If you ever got in any doubt about trying Nier:Automata - dont be, just play it and be a part of this piece of art!
  5. Edugelion27
    Mar 18, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It certainly isnt a perfect game but a game that really makes u question so many difficult topics and what it really means to live. The emotions i felt during the final act are a one in a lifetime experiance.… Expand
  6. CraZyMIX
    Jul 7, 2020
    10
    A game like no other. The story is deep and engaging, the gameplay is fast and stylish, the music is out of this world, and the semi-open world is breathtaking. This game also features a lot of unconventional design choices that are very surprising and like nothing I've ever seen before, but they are sure welcoming surprises.
  7. TSoultz1995
    Apr 19, 2020
    9
    I was surprised with how much I ended up enjoying this game. It has fun, fast gameplay and feels to me like somewhere between Ocarina of Time and an old PS1 Squaresoft RPG. Its quirky, addictive, and has a good story with some interesting twists.

    My only criticism is that the second play through (there are 5 main endings, requiring 3 play throughs) is a little too similar to the first    I was surprised with how much I ended up enjoying this game. It has fun, fast gameplay and feels to me like somewhere between Ocarina of Time and an old PS1 Squaresoft RPG. Its quirky, addictive, and has a good story with some interesting twists.

    My only criticism is that the second play through (there are 5 main endings, requiring 3 play throughs) is a little too similar to the first and the character is no where near as fun to control as the one you start out with. I was finding myself doing less of the side quests on that one.

    Generally there is a good amount of freedom in the game to roam around and do quests at will, but it is done so in a way that you never feel like you lose the main narrative. Plenty to discover and some great settings. Music is unbelievable!    … Expand
  8. Zetsky
    Aug 1, 2020
    10
    Best game i ever played, the gun goes boom, the android goes blast blast, unique gameplayyy
  9. Momonga
    Mar 2, 2019
    10
    Best Game in Looooong Time Si es perfecto que mas puedo decir la musica la accion el hecho que lo pase bien y no me aburi como con los otros AAA que salen como productos sin almas. Este juego es una experiencia interactiva hasta el ultimo de los creditos. mexclando realidad con virtualidad en una forma que pocos ejemplares pueden hacerlo. le doy 10 no por fanatismo sino porque laBest Game in Looooong Time Si es perfecto que mas puedo decir la musica la accion el hecho que lo pase bien y no me aburi como con los otros AAA que salen como productos sin almas. Este juego es una experiencia interactiva hasta el ultimo de los creditos. mexclando realidad con virtualidad en una forma que pocos ejemplares pueden hacerlo. le doy 10 no por fanatismo sino porque la experiencia fue de 10 y al final todo lo que buscamos en un juego es esa cosa que nos dice me alegro de haberlo terminado y no de por fin lo termine.… Expand
  10. mayu_euphan
    Mar 21, 2019
    10
    simplemente el mejor juego de esta generación , recomendado a todos . Una historia sublime , personajes , jugabilidad de 10 etc , simplemente comprendo
  11. RaizenBS7
    Mar 9, 2019
    10
    I dont regret having bought this game.
    I believe that it is a game of 10 !!
  12. aladrin
    Mar 5, 2019
    9
    a masterpiece of good play action good music, history controls I recommend it
  13. hello_world
    Mar 9, 2019
    8
    Gameplay wise, there is nothing special about Nier: Automata. If you like Platinum games, you can enjoy the combat, though it is not as good as the Bayonetta series, it's not as bad as the Korra game.

    Where the game truely shines is its narrative. The game uses the works of philosophers like Nietzsche to tell the story and serve as a backbone for its core themes. While they don't    Gameplay wise, there is nothing special about Nier: Automata. If you like Platinum games, you can enjoy the combat, though it is not as good as the Bayonetta series, it's not as bad as the Korra game.

    Where the game truely shines is its narrative. The game uses the works of philosophers like Nietzsche to tell the story and serve as a backbone for its core themes. While they don't provide any interesting commentary on the works they reference, very few games even attempts on tackling this subject matter and they actually do some quite clever things to its narrative and gameplay to invoke the works they reference. The game ends with the most interesting moral choice in video games ever. I won't spoil it here, but I will say that unlike other games where a moral choice usually means you see one of two endings, this is a moral choice with actual consequence on the player making the choice.

    One main gripe I have with the game is the character design of 2B. I'm no prude, but I was disappointed that with everything else about the narrative of the game being so well thought out and deliberate, that the only justification the creator had for 2B's sexualised design was that he likes looking at hot girls. This is a rather shallow design choice as it sacrifices both realism and characterisation.

    On the realism front, there is no reason to send a battle android into battle in a dress. It offers no protection and later on you see that they could have put her in amour the entire time, they just chose not to.

    On the characterisation front, 2B is portrayed as a cold, aloof character that is actually emotionally vulnerable and caring on the inside. Again this is not reflected in her character design as nothing about a skirt suggests cold on the outside, caring on the inside. Again a suit of amour would have fit in better as it alludes to the fact that her cold exterior is just a defence mechanism to help her not get too close to those she cares about, but if you get past her emotional amour, she is vulnerable.

    With everything else being so well thought out, the decision to put 2B in a skimpy outfit seems like a missed opportunity.    … Expand
  14. shep131
    Jan 15, 2020
    10
    This is one of the best games on the ps4. I know that''s a strong statement but it's absolutely up there with the very best story games out there. The combat system is similar to dmc/bayonetta because it's platinum games and its arguably what they do best. The music is some of the best in gaming and is easily as strong as those found in classic final fantasy games. If you do play this thenThis is one of the best games on the ps4. I know that''s a strong statement but it's absolutely up there with the very best story games out there. The combat system is similar to dmc/bayonetta because it's platinum games and its arguably what they do best. The music is some of the best in gaming and is easily as strong as those found in classic final fantasy games. If you do play this then you MUST play all 3 stories otherwise you've not actually finished the game. I was genuinely gutted when I finished it as I loved the characters and the eorld… Expand
  15. Frank7
    Jul 1, 2020
    10
    One of the most wonderful games around. Deserves so much more attention than it gets. Wonderful music, profound story & incredible gameplay. If you're reading this. Buy this game.
  16. TheGoodGoat
    May 27, 2020
    10
    I have a habit of explaining to my mother the stories of games that I enjoy. This is the only game I have explained to her where she agreed that the point the game made was incredible and she did not say "You're 32, stop playing videogames." The one flaw of this game is that unless you get all the endings, the game will not seem that good. I know this sounds like a cop out but it is theI have a habit of explaining to my mother the stories of games that I enjoy. This is the only game I have explained to her where she agreed that the point the game made was incredible and she did not say "You're 32, stop playing videogames." The one flaw of this game is that unless you get all the endings, the game will not seem that good. I know this sounds like a cop out but it is the truth. The beauty of the game is exactly that. It vets the uncurious and simple players who just want to smash robots and win and leaves the rest of the game to be enjoyed by the ones who care about the story and are intrigued by the existentialist crises that occur through the game's many characters. I forced myself to play a second time around after getting the first ending and I was not really looking forward to it but the good game play made me enjoy it quite a lot. By the end of all the five main endings, I saw what the game was doing and I had the greatest gaming moment of my life. I will not spoil it and you should not look to see what it is but it is an incredible moment that is anti-nihilistic and explains the value of life, love, perseverance and helping each other.… Expand
  17. KayVen17
    May 9, 2021
    10
    Ein wahres Meisterwerk. Ich saß so oft mit offenen Mund und Tränen vorm Fernseher. Fast alles, was ich in Nier Replicant kritisiert habe wurde in Automata verbessert. Das Kampfsystem ist einfach hammer. Der Soundtrack wurde übertroffen. Das Backtracking wurde zurückgefahren.

    Wenn ich irgendwas kritisieren müsste wäre es höchstens, dass 2B und 9S nicht an die Nier: Replicant Garde ran    Ein wahres Meisterwerk. Ich saß so oft mit offenen Mund und Tränen vorm Fernseher. Fast alles, was ich in Nier Replicant kritisiert habe wurde in Automata verbessert. Das Kampfsystem ist einfach hammer. Der Soundtrack wurde übertroffen. Das Backtracking wurde zurückgefahren.

    Wenn ich irgendwas kritisieren müsste wäre es höchstens, dass 2B und 9S nicht an die Nier: Replicant Garde ran kommt. Das wäre, allerdings Meckern auf Hohem Niveau.

    I love it.    … Expand
  18. weskergamer
    Apr 2, 2020
    10
    Mind Blowing masterpiece, one of the best stories i've ever interact in a video game, and the music is really beautiful. i regret not playing this game when it actually came out, but i had any money so is not my fault...
  19. RaidenHUN
    May 27, 2019
    10
    One of the best game I've ever played.
    The music is phenomenal the gameplay is prbably the best hack n' slash ever made (including God of War games or DMC), the story is good too - at least much better than 99% of other games.
    MOst reviewers who gave bad scores arent even finished the game, because there's a twist in it, A root (and even B) is only a prequel, though lot of reviewers    One of the best game I've ever played.
    The music is phenomenal the gameplay is prbably the best hack n' slash ever made (including God of War games or DMC), the story is good too - at least much better than 99% of other games.

    MOst reviewers who gave bad scores arent even finished the game, because there's a twist in it, A root (and even B) is only a prequel, though lot of reviewers thought it is the end of the game, but it is only a prequel of the rest.

    10/10

    Best game Ive played for the past years.    … Expand
  20. Alex_Pilgrim008
    Jul 27, 2023
    9
    Nier Automata was one of 2017's best action games. Developed by Platinum (Bayonetta, Vanquish), it's a blend of hack 'n slash and bullet hell gameplay. Featuring an involving story, a desolate world and evocative music, it's comparable to Shadow of the Colossus. You play as 2B, an android warrior tasked with neutralizing rebellious machines. If there was ever a Final Fantasy game directedNier Automata was one of 2017's best action games. Developed by Platinum (Bayonetta, Vanquish), it's a blend of hack 'n slash and bullet hell gameplay. Featuring an involving story, a desolate world and evocative music, it's comparable to Shadow of the Colossus. You play as 2B, an android warrior tasked with neutralizing rebellious machines. If there was ever a Final Fantasy game directed by Hideo Kojima, then it be like this. The Game of the Yorha Edition includes extra skins, avatars, a theme and DLC. "Automata" has plenty of action, but isn't perfect. It has stuttering issues, only a few tutorials and unhelpful map. To finish the story, you need beat the game three times!. Overall, this is a terrific game. I would rate it with a 9 out of 10.… Expand
  21. wangweixun
    Dec 7, 2020
    10
    The BEST OST of all time. I am still listening to its music a year since beating the game. Did I mention the story is a master piece too?
  22. LordOMO
    Jun 29, 2019
    8
    There is a lot of stuff to like about this game. For example the smooth movement and combat, the veritcality of the open world, a solid soundtrack, the way the camera adjusts to the situation (top down during bullet hell sequences, sidescrolling for platforming, free floating during sword combat etc.). However many people have pointed these things out already so i'm going to leave it atThere is a lot of stuff to like about this game. For example the smooth movement and combat, the veritcality of the open world, a solid soundtrack, the way the camera adjusts to the situation (top down during bullet hell sequences, sidescrolling for platforming, free floating during sword combat etc.). However many people have pointed these things out already so i'm going to leave it at that and move on to the negatives.
    - load times feel to long
    - i don't find any of the main characters in this game particularly interesting or likable (however they are not obnoxious either)
    - after I saw the credits rolling for the first time I was a little disappointed. The ending felt unsatisying and rushed, especially since I found many themes in the story to be quite promising. It also took me only 12 hours to get to the credits. Not a great first impression. New game plus added some interesting gameplay and story content. However the story content only added more to my confusion. A lot of stuff was added but it didn't explain the "Why" for me. At the end of the game i feel like i still don't know anything about YorHa or the robots on earth. And the main characters and their motivations only become less tangible throughout the game
    - graphics. I'm playing on a base PS4 and quite frankly was shocked by how ugly the game looks. Resolution is sub 1080p with heavy aliasing and despite targeting 60fps the game drops frames heavily quite often. Also texture quality is quite low. The art style doesn't help either, making for a bleak and overall rough looking image. It's laughable when you consider that games like Horizon which are similar in scope and released around the same time just look generations ahead. If you leave this game on the menu screen for a while a trailer will start playing and I feel like the trailer is how the game should have looked: it's a much smoother and clearer image with more vibrant colours. I don't know how the PS4 Pro image compares but on base PS4 graphics are a massive disappointment.

    All of this being said i think that Nier Automata is an overall good game. I would recommend it to people who want a "hard scifi" game mixed with fluent combat and are willing to look past the games superficial "ugliness". Otherwise there are a bunch better looking games to play.
    The game, especially the story is really overhyped in my opinion so i'd also recommend drastically lowering your expectations for the story and the music    … Expand
  23. SplitMind
    Jun 10, 2020
    8
    Let's get the first thing out of the way - it is a complete con to sell a new version of a game with the additional content on a voucher and not the disc, especially when this additional content is paltry at best.

    This game is unique and will forever be etched into my mind, however I think there were a few missteps where they tried too hard. The combat is generally good, however when    Let's get the first thing out of the way - it is a complete con to sell a new version of a game with the additional content on a voucher and not the disc, especially when this additional content is paltry at best.

    This game is unique and will forever be etched into my mind, however I think there were a few missteps where they tried too hard.

    The combat is generally good, however when multiple enemies are on the screen at once it gets very chaotic and I found it hard to dodge due to there being so much going on. It makes for a wonderful visual display but isn't always practical.

    The story is a highlight of the game which needs to be played to be properly enjoyed. There's nothing as memorable as robots having existential crises and identity issues. However the whole multiple endings concept wasn't very well executed and became tedious towards the (fifth?) ending. They tried to be a bit too meta here. On your first playthrough there is enough mystery to pique curiosity but after another few attempt it gets a bit muddled. I'd say I found the ending fairly unsatisfying really.

    The soundtrack is very memorable and haunting; definitely a highlight that I'd want to download to listen again later.

    The graphics are also something to behold simply due to the framerate. I've not seen many games on the PS4 achieve such a high framerate that is consistent. It causes my PS4Pro to sound like a jet engine at times but this didn't concern me.

    Overall, this game is well worth it. I actually didn't enjoy this when I first played it but reading up on it showed me just how much I missed out on. One further criticism I'd have is that I had to read up on a bit too much for this game, from story analysis to consequences of choices offered in game. I found this more annoying than interesting. Still well worth the price tag these days.    … Expand
  24. aramx
    Jul 8, 2020
    10
    This is probably the most underrated games of all times. I have enjoyed every single second spent in this unbelievable Universe which is a brilliant mix of Isaac Asimov, Arthur Clark, The Holy Bible.

    You MUST complete at least the first 3 parts of the game in order to reveal all the secrets and deep philosophy of this unbelievable world.

    THE BEST GAME EVER.
  25. Piaskoryb
    Aug 6, 2019
    10
    Read very good reviews about this game. I give it a try and now i understand why people call it a masterpiece :) one of the best games ever played. Highly recommended for those who like great story, characters, action and something more, hiding beneath simplistic surface. Realy great game. But know only one thing, this game is designed for multiple walktrhoughs! And good luck.
  26. DevilsDivide
    Apr 26, 2019
    9
    One of the best games I ever played. Thank you! This game is immaculate in game industry.
  27. ExquisiteDust6
    Jan 15, 2022
    8
    Nier Automata it's a great, intriguing story filled with great music (it's literally one of the best game soundtracks I've heard), but not in the best shell. The art design is pretty good, but the technical part is pretty badly executed. This is due to the small development budget.
    If you are ready to put up with and turn a blind eye to certain roughness of technical performance, then    Nier Automata it's a great, intriguing story filled with great music (it's literally one of the best game soundtracks I've heard), but not in the best shell. The art design is pretty good, but the technical part is pretty badly executed. This is due to the small development budget.
    If you are ready to put up with and turn a blind eye to certain roughness of technical performance, then this video game will definitely give you emotions and make you think about some things.

    Many thanks to Yoko Taro and his entire team.    … Expand
  28. gloryformankind
    May 19, 2019
    10
    Only thin i have to say about this is if you havn't played it yet your missing out big time. This game is so unique and amazing the story will make you speechless.
  29. PepeDelCielo
    Nov 5, 2019
    10
    Mind blowing masterpiece. The story, the combats, the narrative, the musics, the technique. Graphically imperfect, but I am in love so... 10
  30. DespairZz
    Dec 3, 2019
    8
    Very simple fought system and empty open world is a main disadvantages of this game. But...
    But, great music, serious adult plot and cool graphic style make this game one of most atmosphered game ever.
    Honestly, I like this game.
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best PS4 Game of 2019
44
#44 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. DarkStation
    Apr 3, 2019
    90
    Nier: Automata is a really compelling piece of science fiction. It builds on the thematic foundation of sentient robots and takes into a bold and heart-wrenching direction. The emotionally rich saga is further bolstered by an intensely memorable soundtrack that add so much flavor and extra dimension to the multiform narrative.
    Read full review
  2. RPG Fan
    Apr 2, 2019
    97
    If you've never played NieR: Automata, this package is the perfect way to experience this bizarre and haunting masterpiece.
    Read full review
  3. Gaming Nexus
    Mar 19, 2019
    95
    NieR Automata: Game of the YoRHa Edition was my first foray into the NieR series and I personally loved it. I know some people soured on having to basically replay the same game again just to get to the third run that opened up more of the story, but the first two routes don’t take incredibly long to play through if you don’t do any side missions. Then again doing the side missions just made the game more fun for me and I kept forgetting that I needed to finish the main story to write this review. If you’re into hack-and-slash RPGs and don’t mind having to play through the game three times to experience the full story, give this game a shot.
    Read full review
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