NieR: Automata

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4607 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4,076 out of 4607
  2. Mixed: 223 out of 4607
  3. Negative: 308 out of 4607
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  1. RepentantSky
    Dec 19, 2017
    10
    It's pretty likely at this point that people don't need to hear me or anyone else sing this game's praises, but it really does earn all of it. It's a masterpiece that's far better than any advertising could have told you it would be. The story, the characters, the gameplay, the overall style of the game, and most importantly in a game like this, it's replayability make it not only one ofIt's pretty likely at this point that people don't need to hear me or anyone else sing this game's praises, but it really does earn all of it. It's a masterpiece that's far better than any advertising could have told you it would be. The story, the characters, the gameplay, the overall style of the game, and most importantly in a game like this, it's replayability make it not only one of the best games for RPG's this year, which is saying a lot on it's own, but it's one of, if not the best game of year.… Expand
  2. egoBorder
    Dec 19, 2017
    10
    Nier: Automata is simply a great game. It's not just the story or the gameplay, rather almost every single aspect contributes to an enjoyable experience that manages to hit some emotional notes, prompt a bit of philosophizing, and delight the eyes and ears, all without overstaying its welcome.

    On the surface, Automata is an open-world action-RPG, but it's perhaps more accurate to say    Nier: Automata is simply a great game. It's not just the story or the gameplay, rather almost every single aspect contributes to an enjoyable experience that manages to hit some emotional notes, prompt a bit of philosophizing, and delight the eyes and ears, all without overstaying its welcome.

    On the surface, Automata is an open-world action-RPG, but it's perhaps more accurate to say that it's a languidly paced story-focused action game. The distinction might seem silly, but the player won't find a Rockstar-style open world brimming with possibilities. The world in Automata is much more measured and precise, made to fit a pre-existing narrative. But the developers managed to pull off the delicate balance between too much and too little to do. As a result Automata manages to reward exploration without demanding it in excess.

    Aesthetically the game is a delight to behold, with particle effects that make the battles feel exciting and music that is sure to please. It's true that the range of locations is not as extensive as in other games, but what is there is always thematically appropriate. Much in the style of a Souls game, locations are memorable even when they're not impressive or richly detailed.

    The game is of course Japanese and much in the vein of anime. If that's an immediate red flag for you, this game may not change your mind. However, Yoko Taro and Platinum Games have achieved something that feels at once unique, new, and familiar.

    Do yourself a favor and play this game!    … Expand
  3. MiracSpectac
    Dec 18, 2017
    10
    Nier: Automata is an absolutely stunning experience. The music and atmosphere will instantly hook you as the deep and compelling story keeps you going. Although the overall narrative could've used a bit more direction, that doesn't take away from how otherwise magnificent this game is.
  4. sunnyk
    Dec 13, 2017
    9
    Platinum's best game by far. The story explores heavy themes with grace and nuance. The combat could stand to be a little more challenging, especially towards the end game. 9S's story route was somewhat of a drag to play, and A2's story in comparison was much too short for how fun it was.
  5. OtavioLAS
    Dec 13, 2017
    10
    I must admit, at the beginning the game didn't caught my attention, just bought it, at november's end out of the blue, but since then have done almost nothing but play, as the history unfolds, and you start to understand the meaning, and even meaningless of all, you realize that this is a game to be remembered, a great plot, if not one of the best a every had the pleasure to play, its goodI must admit, at the beginning the game didn't caught my attention, just bought it, at november's end out of the blue, but since then have done almost nothing but play, as the history unfolds, and you start to understand the meaning, and even meaningless of all, you realize that this is a game to be remembered, a great plot, if not one of the best a every had the pleasure to play, its good to know that even with relative low budgets, masterpieces like this can still be made, that is the word, NieR Automata is a masterpiece, a must play title to all video games fans… Expand
  6. BlueKetsueki
    Dec 8, 2017
    10
    Master class of a game first thing i played in years that felt different and unique, i don't rate a lot of games ten but this is one of them would recommend everyone to try once.
  7. Vadrael
    Dec 2, 2017
    5
    I enjoyed the game sadly it has a few points which i think could have been better.
    The story can be confusing but isnt to bad, but the major issues lies with the world which should have be a little bit bigger and the weapon upgrading system is kinda cheap with only a max of 4 upgrades per weapon.
    The Music was good and the game mechanics were fun as well as the great graphic but i    I enjoyed the game sadly it has a few points which i think could have been better.
    The story can be confusing but isnt to bad, but the major issues lies with the world which should have be a little bit bigger and the weapon upgrading system is kinda cheap with only a max of 4 upgrades per weapon.

    The Music was good and the game mechanics were fun as well as the great graphic but i wished for more content in exploration and customization.    … Expand
  8. dash383535
    Nov 30, 2017
    8
    Intro:

    An open world hack and slash game that did not really need to be open world. Despite this, It's a fun ride with a good story and memorable characters. Story: This game is a sequel to NeiR, a game that released on the Xbox 360 back in 2010 but if you are a newcomer you can get right into the story. It starts with a world run by machines. Humans live on the moon and have    Intro:

    An open world hack and slash game that did not really need to be open world. Despite this, It's a fun ride with a good story and memorable characters.

    Story:

    This game is a sequel to NeiR, a game that released on the Xbox 360 back in 2010 but if you are a newcomer you can get right into the story. It starts with a world run by machines. Humans live on the moon and have android go down and fight the machine to get the earth back. A team of androids, 2B and 9S, are fighting with several other teams.When 2B goes to take on a bigger threat, they uncover some clues that might explain what happened to the earth and may even lead to a solution on how to kill on the machines. The story is great, has a few twist and turns and feels complete and is very enjoyable to play through and find out what happens next.

    Gameplay:

    A great mix of hack and slash and RPG gameplay. It's a fast and fluent game that runs at 60FPS. Framerate can drop below 20 FPS for a second or 2 in intense spots but other than that, it's fluent. The open world feels a bit unnecessary in this game since most of it is very linear. This game should have been linear or semi-linear just due to the nature of the game and the story progression. Not only that but the map system is often confusing and you will be scratching your head at points while being frustrated not being able to access the next part of the game. Besides FPS and the open world, the game has great combat and boss fights that make it worth it to get to the next part.

    Technicals:

    This game looks great. The graphics are crisp and clear. Animations look stunning at 60 FPS. The open world as much detail (even if it is a bit empty at times.). Unforgettable soundtrack, boss music sounds incredible and gets you ready for a fight. No problems with the technical side of things.

    Final Thoughts:

    If you love hack and slack games or anything from Platinum Games, I highly recommend this game at its full retail price. If the open world aspect sounds bad to you but you still want a great story and fun gameplay, wait for a price drop. 2 points were decided for the open world, confusing map system and some FPS drop but that should not deter you from playing this great game.    … Expand
  9. martianmarcel
    Nov 28, 2017
    9
    I've spent more than a year without buying any games whatsoever and decided to come back to this world with Nier: Automata. What an amazing choice I made... This game is what I always expect and never get in a videogame.

    The graphics are beautiful in their own way. They don't have amazing textures or colors, but they work good enough in a world that life itself looks colorless, without    I've spent more than a year without buying any games whatsoever and decided to come back to this world with Nier: Automata. What an amazing choice I made... This game is what I always expect and never get in a videogame.

    The graphics are beautiful in their own way. They don't have amazing textures or colors, but they work good enough in a world that life itself looks colorless, without a true meaning or purpose. The fighting animations are so beautiful that makes you just wanna smash the button to watch 2B destroying enemies.

    The gameplay mechanics is probably the best Platinum Games has ever put the work in. So fluid, so simple and great.

    The audio work is so, so amazing. From the voice acting to the soundtrack, it makes you feel deep into the world Nier presents to you. It makes you emotional, afraid, hopeful. Few times or maybe never have I been so passionate about the sounds of a game.

    The story is almost perfect. Totally has that dark anime feel and it grabs you every single time there's a development in the story. It makes you wonder what is going on. You feel for every character. You empathize even for the things that try to kill you.

    Now, the only thing that stops me from giving a 10 to this is the fact that is so complicated to go back and forth through the places at times. So many blocked roads and places you can't go through and you take some 10 minutes just to find how the hell do you go to the place you're supposed to.

    Apart from that, Nier made me fall in love with videogames again. Thank you, Nier. Thank you, Platinum.    … Expand
  10. alekseyburakov
    Nov 26, 2017
    10
    Эта игра тронула меня до глубины души. А депрессия мучила на протяжении всего третьего акта и неделю после...
    Но я не жалею ни секунды потраченного времени.
    П,С, Еко Таро гений
  11. abdubda
    Nov 22, 2017
    10
    One of the best game ever, masterpiece in game industry and masterpiece in music industry (oh god, this soundtrack is incredible).
    Go and check it, i think you'll love it
  12. WingmakerPrime
    Nov 22, 2017
    8
    This game is the most mechanically apocalyptic that you will play for a long time on your PS4. It really is a complicated story with good things that will leave you thinking about what life is like. BUT ..... we come to value the game. Graphically it is very good, with some ups and downs but good at the end, lonque really keeps you playing is the frenetic pace of the fighting and theThis game is the most mechanically apocalyptic that you will play for a long time on your PS4. It really is a complicated story with good things that will leave you thinking about what life is like. BUT ..... we come to value the game. Graphically it is very good, with some ups and downs but good at the end, lonque really keeps you playing is the frenetic pace of the fighting and the music. This really makes what is on the screen even more pleasant. although it could have been better in some aspects is a great game that every holder of a PS4 must have if or if.

    SPANISH:
    Este juego es lo mas mecánicamente apocaliptico que jugaras en mucho tiempo en tu PS4, Realmente es una historia complicada y con buenas cosas que te dejarán pensando en que es la vida. PERO.....venimos a valorar el juego. Gráficamente es muy bueno, con algunas altibajos pero bueno al final, lonque realmente te mantiene jugando es el ritmo frenético de los combates y la música. esta realmente hace que lo que esta en pantalla sea aun más agradable. aunque bien pudo haber sido mejor en algunos aspectos es un juegazo que todo poseedor de un PS4 debe tener si o si.    … Expand
  13. dager47
    Nov 20, 2017
    10
    wow..from sight, sound to story, just beautiful ....once you start playing it immerses you with extremely satisfying combat, u'll be lost in this world between the sliding the dodging and the slashing.

    After playing hundreds of other games, ending up getting bored part way through and then praying to clear my back log,,,,,This is the first and only game iv genuinely enjoyed from start    wow..from sight, sound to story, just beautiful ....once you start playing it immerses you with extremely satisfying combat, u'll be lost in this world between the sliding the dodging and the slashing.

    After playing hundreds of other games, ending up getting bored part way through and then praying to clear my back log,,,,,This is the first and only game iv genuinely enjoyed from start to finish, it was so much fun i didn't want it to end :(

    .....You can literally feel the heart of this game,its world and of its characters....this is true art...im left in awe....

    Yoko Taro and Platinum games are truly the perfect team, i look forward with great anticipation what this duo create next.    … Expand
  14. EneChan
    Nov 15, 2017
    8
    Emotion is forbidden. Nier: Automata is a great game that comes with an amazing soundtrack, and it's plot is also one of those you will need to experienced yourself to understand the impact of it. Yoko Taro is hands down the most talented storyteller for the past 10 years. Though the game is amazing in the plot and music but the gameplay turns a little bit repetitive around mid-game, plusEmotion is forbidden. Nier: Automata is a great game that comes with an amazing soundtrack, and it's plot is also one of those you will need to experienced yourself to understand the impact of it. Yoko Taro is hands down the most talented storyteller for the past 10 years. Though the game is amazing in the plot and music but the gameplay turns a little bit repetitive around mid-game, plus the graphic isn't very appealing in the modern gaming industry. However it is still a must play for every plot-loving gamers out there.… Expand
  15. oni_no_oniichan
    Nov 14, 2017
    10
    The most stunning game I have ever played. I never expected my favorite game of all time to come out in 2017.

    I don't know where to start. The story is amazing. Ranging from silly to soul-crushing, this is a narrative masterpiece. The crisis of being a combat-only made android, thousands of years after your creators, the humans, left planet Earth, forbidden to feel emotions and made    The most stunning game I have ever played. I never expected my favorite game of all time to come out in 2017.

    I don't know where to start. The story is amazing. Ranging from silly to soul-crushing, this is a narrative masterpiece. The crisis of being a combat-only made android, thousands of years after your creators, the humans, left planet Earth, forbidden to feel emotions and made only to fight until your death is even more devastating than it sounds. The machines are now in ownership of Earth and it's the androids' job to retake their creators' land
    I gotta admit, I wasn't instantly hooked. The first playthrough goes by pretty quickly and is badass, playing the action-oriented character and all. However, in the second playthrough, you play as the data collecting one of the duo and uncover all the mysteries of the first playthrough, realizing how geniously written both of them are. Don't even get me started on the third one and all of its canon endings. Point is, this is the best video game story I have ever experienced.

    The gameplay? The gameplay is insanely fun. You can slice, stab and punch through enemies with a number of weapons while at the same time shooting barrage beams, missiles, and a laser, making insane combos each and every second of combat. The mobility is also amazing, with dodging dashing and jumping fluently, making it a joy to move around the map. Also, there are 3 kinds of bullet hell gameplay, each one of them being really fun.

    The OST is amazing, with both beautiful and badass tracks, the level of emotion given to the game by the music is giant. I listen to the whole, almost 7 hour OST on a weekly basis, that's how fantastic it is.

    The graphics are very good. The little framerate drops can be removed by simply disconnecting from the internet. The way it handles is graphics is very admirable, hardly ever dropping frames. The game just looks beautiful, no matter if you're in the vast desert, deep forest, ruins of a city from the human days or the digital world while hacking machines.

    There's also tons of side activities, collectibles, and optional endings. While some of them were a pain to 100% (fishing alone took me around 20 hours total), I still had a blast 100%-ing the game and getting all the parody endings, it's really worth it.

    In conclusion, everyone who can appreciate a genius story, dynamic gameplay and amazing music and atmosphere should play this. Game of the decade for me.    … Expand
  16. Cryope
    Nov 12, 2017
    10
    Featuring a complex and intriguing story and smooth mix of hack n slash and bullet hell gameplay and one of the greatest video game soundtracks ever, if all that sounds good you will love this game. Just make sure to see it through to the end.
  17. Alex1010500
    Nov 11, 2017
    10
    Шикарный слешер с отличным сюжетом и боевой системой. Жду продолжение или качественных дополнений.
  18. kiosia
    Nov 10, 2017
    10
    Beyond expectations. The soundtrack is a masterpiece, the plot moved the gears inside my head with all the philosophy references. Talking about the plot, it reminded of Ghost In The Shell, and now I know how a game based on GITS should be (with all the necessary adjustments to scenario, of course).

    Also, reminded me of how hyped I was for Final Fantasy XV and, it seems, all that FF XV    Beyond expectations. The soundtrack is a masterpiece, the plot moved the gears inside my head with all the philosophy references. Talking about the plot, it reminded of Ghost In The Shell, and now I know how a game based on GITS should be (with all the necessary adjustments to scenario, of course).

    Also, reminded me of how hyped I was for Final Fantasy XV and, it seems, all that FF XV failed to deliver, Nier: Automata delivered.

    Cons: when the game tells you that it is going to delete all your personal data and asks for confirmation, believe it.
    Pros: If you let the game delete your save, you can play it all again! :)    … Expand
  19. randomgamer88
    Nov 10, 2017
    10
    This game blew past everything I expected in the most positive way you could imagine. Everything just fits so perfect together. From this beautiful world to the awesome soundtracks for each location and boss fight that will just give you chills, the awesome badass and smooth combat system from Platinum games we all know and love, and of course the story . Without spoiling anything I justThis game blew past everything I expected in the most positive way you could imagine. Everything just fits so perfect together. From this beautiful world to the awesome soundtracks for each location and boss fight that will just give you chills, the awesome badass and smooth combat system from Platinum games we all know and love, and of course the story . Without spoiling anything I just want to say how much of a emotional roller coaster this games story is with so much happy and sad emotions . The game really delivers when it comes to story telling , also thanks to the different endings you can get. Everything is so thought out and makes sense in this game, all the weapons you can get have a backstory you can read, the ability management which uses "chips" that use memory because your a Android. , how you respawn and so much more.
    Now stop reading this review and BUY THIS GAME !    … Expand
  20. sumbodyshero
    Nov 10, 2017
    0
    This is without a doubt one of the worst games ever made. The grass is almost as tall as the characters, it has nothing to do with the first game. It has SPACE SHOOTER levels. The animations are pathetic. This game actually made me not be a Platinum Games fan anymore. I knew it was a mistake after one night of playing it. This game symbolizes what's wrong with the games industry. Luckily,This is without a doubt one of the worst games ever made. The grass is almost as tall as the characters, it has nothing to do with the first game. It has SPACE SHOOTER levels. The animations are pathetic. This game actually made me not be a Platinum Games fan anymore. I knew it was a mistake after one night of playing it. This game symbolizes what's wrong with the games industry. Luckily, the trade in value was more than what I paid for it! I will always love the first game.… Expand
  21. Quinby_Satchel
    Nov 8, 2017
    8
    I honestly don't even beat that many games. I simply don't have the time in my life to beat every game that I buy. I made a point of completing Nier and I enjoyed my time with it very much. That's not to say this is a flawless game but it's just bursting with personality. The story and characters all feel very fresh and interesting and it was fun uncovering what was going on in theI honestly don't even beat that many games. I simply don't have the time in my life to beat every game that I buy. I made a point of completing Nier and I enjoyed my time with it very much. That's not to say this is a flawless game but it's just bursting with personality. The story and characters all feel very fresh and interesting and it was fun uncovering what was going on in the story.
    The combat is engaging and is not afraid to punish you for being lazy while still being entirely fair. It combines 3D action/brawling, side scrolling/platforming and shmup segments elegantly together along with a somewhat optiional deep RPG system. I found you could level up your character and use the standard weapons fairly easily without worrying too much about the minute details, but rest assured that if you like trying to fine tune your character with special abilities and weapons that the option is there for you. If you want to be a glass cannon or a mobile tank; it is truly versatile. The story reaches several shocking revelations as you play through the game several times, experiencing it in different ways and from different viewpoints. Very cool!
    I wouldn't want to avoid talking about some of the aspects i thought were less then amazing. The graphics aren't anything to scream about. It was some wonderful art design but the graphics are mostly pretty simplistic. This is not the most important thing about a video game at all so this may not matter to you, but it's worth mentioning.
    There is an 'open world' you explore in this game that ends up being a little tedious when you are reaching many hours of play as they tend to be linear and predictable. It's an open world but only in the barest sense. And you WILL be retreading these areas time and time again. If you choose to seek out the games many secrets and hidden treasures you will be scouring every nook and cranny and that is the point where this world does not QUITE hold up. However, it's perfectly functional so your mileage may vary with this.
    Overall the pros far outweigh the cons and the unique voice, world, and storytelling of this game make it incredibly worthy of a visit. Most games don't aspire to anything near what this game was trying to accomplish in my humble opinion.    … Expand
  22. EnthusiasticGmr
    Nov 7, 2017
    10
    This is game is easily what Final Fantasy XV should have been. It has a complete well written story, amazing gameplay, and awesome soundtrack. Even the game has shoot 'em up elements, and also has
    an awesome soundtrack.
  23. zelda_R
    Oct 29, 2017
    9
    This masterpiece made me think about the idea of a video game really is. Absolutely mind-blowing, the story and mechanics (mixing hack and slash, bullet hell and some kind of platforming) were the best surprise I could have expected in this (awesome) year (Zelda, Mario, Horizon, Persona...). Definitely a must-have.
  24. EmilyMonster
    Oct 23, 2017
    9
    Finally got around to playing this, and I wish I had made time for it sooner. This now rivals Kingdom Hearts as my favorite action RPG game play wise.

    Pros - Solid and fluid combat, giving you a few different styles to mess around with - Memorable locations, despite the heavy use of browns due to it being post apocalyptic. I didn't need to rely on my map because I remember where    Finally got around to playing this, and I wish I had made time for it sooner. This now rivals Kingdom Hearts as my favorite action RPG game play wise.

    Pros
    - Solid and fluid combat, giving you a few different styles to mess around with
    - Memorable locations, despite the heavy use of browns due to it being post apocalyptic. I didn't need to rely on my map because I remember where everything is due to it being so memorable.
    - Amazing story and a few plot twists that had me speechless.

    Cons
    - The hacking mini game is a bit over used and over powered, but I still enjoyed it
    - To get the full story, you have to replay the game several times. I didn't have a problem with this, but by doing this many people will finish the first story not play the rest.    … Expand
  25. Steven105
    Oct 22, 2017
    10
    Nier: automata is a masterpiece , sure it has flaws but it is worth the experience and this is coming from someone who didnt even play the first one. When i first put the disk in, the first thing i noticed was the brilliant soundtrack , every song in the game just gave me the feeling of nostalgia to the point where i had to buy the soundtrack on itunes, it is amazing how the music immersesNier: automata is a masterpiece , sure it has flaws but it is worth the experience and this is coming from someone who didnt even play the first one. When i first put the disk in, the first thing i noticed was the brilliant soundtrack , every song in the game just gave me the feeling of nostalgia to the point where i had to buy the soundtrack on itunes, it is amazing how the music immerses you into the game . The story kept me on the edge of my seat the entire way through . There are multiple endings but when you get the true ending it is very satisfying . Do not listen to the bad reviews , these are people with no imagination who dont have the attention span to take the time to sit down and unfold a complex story . Yoko tarro and platinum games did a fantastic job with this gem , nier automata is now one of my favorite games of all time… Expand
  26. Canon89
    Oct 19, 2017
    9
    I have to say that Nier: Automata is a fantastic and addicting game. The graphics are beautiful, the music does exactly what it should do and that is immerse you deeper in the game. The story line is great and keeps you in the game. Overall, I was not expecting much but when I got this game I found a gem!
  27. preciado_101
    Oct 18, 2017
    9
    hours and hours of quality gameplay. Grinding is quite enjoyable, you don't really have to spend hours calibrating your gear, great variety of characteristics along the gameplya. Weak story.
  28. ryxerg
    Oct 18, 2017
    10
    Nier is the first game in 2017 that makes me cry a lot
    I cant describe much but the combat looks amazing, the soundtrack is really good, the feels you get from playing the whole walkthrough is beyond compare with other game in 2017
    There are also side mission if you want to complete it.
    You just have to play it and let your human feeling burst out!
  29. Ungodly_Phantom
    Oct 12, 2017
    9
    Отличное жонглирование различными стилями и механиками, очень крутая подача сюжета, занимательный сеттинг и боевка. НИКАКИХ СИЗОН ПАССОВ И МИКРОТРАНЗАКЦИЙ! Любителям отличный игр,и в частности рпг и слэшеров обязательна к покупке. Образцовый разработчик и издательОтличное жонглирование различными стилями и механиками, очень крутая подача сюжета, занимательный сеттинг и боевка. НИКАКИХ СИЗОН ПАССОВ И МИКРОТРАНЗАКЦИЙ! Любителям отличный игр,и в частности рпг и слэшеров обязательна к покупке. Образцовый разработчик и издатель
  30. seyiDALegend
    Oct 7, 2017
    9
    My Doubts
    Initially, I was fascinated by the trailers and videos I saw online but was also sceptical. Fans had hyped this game up with so much praise all of which sounded vague when you tried to understand what made this special. Things such as "it will make you cry", "it gave me an existential crisis", "the story is amazing" didn't prepare me for what was in store and to top it off the    My Doubts
    Initially, I was fascinated by the trailers and videos I saw online but was also sceptical. Fans had hyped this game up with so much praise all of which sounded vague when you tried to understand what made this special. Things such as "it will make you cry", "it gave me an existential crisis", "the story is amazing" didn't prepare me for what was in store and to top it off the rumoured "multiple play throughs" nearly put me off trying the game at all. I didn't want to buy into the hype only to encounter a game where the story and philosophical meaning goes completely over my head leaving me with nothing to enjoy.

    Multiple play throughs are great game design
    Fortunately, none of this happened. I found the multiple play throughs varied enough to be unique experiences, similar to experiencing the clever level design of a soulsbourne game - an ever-expanding maze. Just this time, we had different characters telling their side of the story within this maze. Some may disagree with me but the second playthrough was my favourite. It was quite fortunate that I didn't go into this totally blind as I stumbled across the best approach for myself. I played the first time through with a vanilla experience in mind ignoring the many side quests and focusing on the main storyline. This worked out perfectly as the second run with 9S - who had access to more elements of game - make exploration a lot more rewarding. You got to open more treasure boxes with your hacking ability and you received more cutscenes and world-building that were not available in the first playthrough. Also by then, I started to come to terms with the new weapons, the additional skills and items I picked up. On top of new equipment to customise my experience. I think this is best way to enjoy the multiple playthroughs. Treat the first one like a linear experience and explore the second one like a normal RPG. Try new weapons and fighting styles and you'll be better rewarded rather than burning yourself out on side missions and maxing your build the first time round. Which is what open world players tend to do. Also I would recommend saving buying the HUD Item Scan Chip for the second playthrough as it made exploration ten times better by making it less grindy more focused and rewarding.

    This is a work of art
    Everything about this game is fitted together in a jigsaw puzzle of emotion, philosophy, gameplay, character development, sound and art design. You play sections of this game from 3D Action style, Side stroller, top-down Action, geometry wars-style all the way to bullet-fest battles. It's a buffet of gameplay formats executed in timely fashion. Then you are delivered a story in carefully crafted trail of cutscenes, written text, individual character's moments, witty dialogue and plot twists. All of this is enhanced by the best soundtrack of 2017 or even this generation so far. This is how you utilise the video game genre to deliver a story in such a well-crafted way. Not many games go beyond cutscenes in terms of storytelling. Not many games draw upon elements from this many genres to deliver a complete gaming experience. I think this is what makes this game so special, it feels like a video game but at the same time, well-told story. Neither the storytelling or the gameplay are holding each other back. They work in parallel and it's beautiful.

    The game is feature packed, refreshing with enough plot twists to hold your attention on the most eloquent roller coaster ride you'll ever experience.

    The only cons I can say are the graphics / framerate / combat system which could have been more polished but that didn't take away from the experience at all.    … Expand
  31. SlimeCorrupted
    Oct 4, 2017
    0
    Generally speaking, incredibly boring gameplay, tedious enemy desing (most enemies look the same way). The game is just boring and characters are unemotional (because they are robots but it doesnt help me)
  32. maochan81
    Oct 3, 2017
    9
    What a mind bending experience. To be real i can't give this game a full 10/10. Here's why: The 2nd play through is kinda annoying, you play a lot of the same and sometimes the hacking mini games can feel like a chore. There's also not a great variation of enemies and the side quest are uninteresting. Other than that, it was a wonderful game with strong story, great visuals, really niceWhat a mind bending experience. To be real i can't give this game a full 10/10. Here's why: The 2nd play through is kinda annoying, you play a lot of the same and sometimes the hacking mini games can feel like a chore. There's also not a great variation of enemies and the side quest are uninteresting. Other than that, it was a wonderful game with strong story, great visuals, really nice combat and upgrade system. I was kinda skeptic that i would fully finish the game, because everybody says you have to play it at least 3 times. This sound stupid, but you realize that the story expands as you play and the 3rd playthrough is completely new. So not a big problem. Every time you think something is weird about the game, just tell yourself "oh well, it's a Japanese game" and you'll enjoy it. You probably never played anything like that...and that's a good thing :)… Expand
  33. SOLIDSNAKEN64
    Oct 2, 2017
    8
    Nier Automata is one of the best JRPGs that I have played this generation. That being said there where some things that kept me from giving this a perfect 10. I had put about 35 hrs into this game and something kept pulling me back to play and finish as much as I could. The story is entertaining and develops a lot more towards the end of the game. The controls are tight and the battleNier Automata is one of the best JRPGs that I have played this generation. That being said there where some things that kept me from giving this a perfect 10. I had put about 35 hrs into this game and something kept pulling me back to play and finish as much as I could. The story is entertaining and develops a lot more towards the end of the game. The controls are tight and the battle system is well done. Music in this game is great, but by the end of it you are tired of hearing the same songs. The RPG element isn't that in depth, you have plug in chips that you can customize to add different upgrades to your character and you have two weapons that you can use at a time that can be upgraded through NPC traders. This game is great for what it is but ultimately I feel like this game could of been an epic masterpiece if the devs had done some things differently. The big gripe I had with Nier was the graphics! It was like PS2/PS3 graphics, cmon this is next gen step it up. Also I didn't like having to play the first half of the game twice, one time as B2 to and the second as 9S just to get to the second half of the game. Also the simple fetch quests can get tiresome, and they could of had more rememberable NPCs and side quest. Could also use more of a variety of enemies, but there are some fun boss battles. Anyways I enjoyed my time with Nier just not as good of a game as it could of been! If you own a PS4 or PC definitely a game you should check out and experience yourself.… Expand
  34. quake2th
    Sep 30, 2017
    10
    Not much to say, this is like the most original game in the last 20 years...
    there's only one word to describe it: beautiful
    the story design is simply incredible, every 10 minutes you have an "holy sh*t" moment, something completely unexpected happens and your jaw drops to the floor this was the first game after so much time where I literally craved the next bit of plot, I wanted    Not much to say, this is like the most original game in the last 20 years...
    there's only one word to describe it: beautiful

    the story design is simply incredible, every 10 minutes you have an "holy sh*t" moment, something completely unexpected happens and your jaw drops to the floor

    this was the first game after so much time where I literally craved the next bit of plot, I wanted to know what happened next, I FELT for the characters, very few games can do this after 30+ years of gaming...

    It's a game you will never forget, it stays with you forever
    you will never forget the first time you enter the Amusement Park, trust me..., it's the single point in the game were you think "for the first time, my $ are worth it"

    pros:
    - story: simply incredible, you really feel for each character and you think about the meaning of life a lot
    - characters: they're more human than most humans I personally know...
    - ost: one of the best ever in a game, always the right music for the right section of the game, just think about Amusement Park..
    - enemies: they're incredibly good from the design point of view and they fit the plot perfectly
    - multiple endings: staying true to its roots (Drakengard and Nier), you have to beat the game several times to unlock the whole story, but each time it feels like a new playthrough, don't rush it, and be sure to beat the game at least 3 times, it is worth it (you need to beat it 5 times for the whole plot)

    cons:
    - controls: an horrible mess, why japanese developers cannot design anymore a proper control scheme is a mistery to me
    - graphics: the engine feels outdated, yet sometimes it struggles on a PS 4 Pro, unacceptable in 2017, of course, this does not really matters, given the amazing game it is...
    - dlc: totally useless, does not add anything to the story (unless you want to beat the sh*t out of SquareEnix's CEO), please use this money for a Nier Remaster, at least...

    now we just need to wait for a Nier Remaster, hopefully will come    … Expand
  35. EmanuelPop
    Sep 29, 2017
    10
    Nier: Automata is probably the smartest game of this generation. With philosophical themes such as existentialism transposed into artificial intelligence, it makes sure to challenge ideas that we already know from authors like Jean-Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche or Franz Kafka.
  36. Gotrek74
    Sep 28, 2017
    7
    An accomplished game with a seamless transition between 3D platforming and combat, 2D side-scrolling game and a top down twin stick shooter. The story is very good and the art design is good but it just doesn't excite me the way it seems to excite others.
  37. OrionHamake
    Sep 23, 2017
    10
    -Awesome game, it's bringing me several hours of fun. The gameplay is excellent and well diversified. It constantly changes to sidescrolling and when control your fly unit, reminiscent of old snes games like aero fighters. This was a very thoughtful addition to the gameplay that makes it more interesting.

    The soundtrack is beautiful. It surprises me that they managed to make a    -Awesome game, it's bringing me several hours of fun. The gameplay is excellent and well diversified. It constantly changes to sidescrolling and when control your fly unit, reminiscent of old snes games like aero fighters. This was a very thoughtful addition to the gameplay that makes it more interesting.

    The soundtrack is beautiful. It surprises me that they managed to make a soundtrack as good as the first one that seemed unique to me.

    -The game has a semi open world map, but it has several things to do. Constantly you will find some random missions and the game itself has many side quests.

    -The story is very good and I liked all the characters.

    The only things that I should criticize in this game are the carelessness with small details. Like for example, when the protagonists are talking outside the cutscene their mouths do not move. It would also be nice if the npcs looked more alive, having a cycle of activities and rest, as it works in games like skyrim and the witcher.

    However, this game is one of the best I've ever played, easily in my top10    … Expand
  38. Ieyasu
    Sep 23, 2017
    10
    This is not a game. This is art. It gives new meaning to the term "unfinished", with Route A leaving many questions unanswered and giving the answers only by playing Route B and C/D, both of which feel like entirely different experiences and will always keep you wondering what's happening and why. 2B is at first cold and emotionless, however 9S helps her understand emotions and develop aThis is not a game. This is art. It gives new meaning to the term "unfinished", with Route A leaving many questions unanswered and giving the answers only by playing Route B and C/D, both of which feel like entirely different experiences and will always keep you wondering what's happening and why. 2B is at first cold and emotionless, however 9S helps her understand emotions and develop a personality, while 9S's character arc in Route C/D/E is very well done, and some NPCs, like the pacifist robot Pascal, the traitor YoRHa A2, the villains Adam and Eve and the androids Devola and Popola are very well-written too, and that's not even counting all the sidequests! The combat is very fluid, both the hack-'n-slash and the shooting parts are awesome and each character plays differently than the others (2B uses the triangle button to do strong attacks and combos, while 9S uses it to hack into the enemy and make you play a shoot 'em up section to destroy the enemy from the inside. The music and the graphics give a sense of "This is the Earth, yeah, but is this my world or not?" and the bosses are great.… Expand
  39. YossaBlackMage
    Sep 22, 2017
    10
    There is no way a few words written here would ever do this game justice. I won't go in depth repeating all the reasons this game has been praised as an artistic masterpiece. Although there are people for whom this game didn't work, the majority seem to have come away feeling like they have experienced something special and unique. There is a quote going around that I think was from aThere is no way a few words written here would ever do this game justice. I won't go in depth repeating all the reasons this game has been praised as an artistic masterpiece. Although there are people for whom this game didn't work, the majority seem to have come away feeling like they have experienced something special and unique. There is a quote going around that I think was from a reviewer who said 'if history forgets this game, then f**k history'. And I believe that the videogame community at large and videogame journalists aren't actually capable of praising this game enough. Individuals can do it justice, especially some of the heartfelt youtube reviews, but the masses? For this reason I think, in spite of the 'masterpiece' and 'groundbreaking' rhetoric being used by some, Nier: Automata will become one of the - if not the most - underrated game ever created.

    Play this game. You are doing yourself a huge disservice if you pass it up as you will be missing a truly unique and moving experience. Couple of caveats though if playing on PC. Use a gamepad. If you don't have one, buy one. Also, download the FAR mod program that fixes a number of issues. The PC port wasn't handled well, but get a pad and the mod and it's all good.    … Expand
  40. maneinar
    Sep 21, 2017
    4
    A devil may cry wannabe that falls short in every aspect but graphics, world design and a hot robo girl to look at. Combat is repetitive, enemies become damage sponges as dificulty rises, cliche story, etc. Not for me
  41. JaySilver
    Sep 21, 2017
    9
    So, if you would describe Nier: Automata with one word it would be: underrated. The gameplay is quite simple, like its predecessor its a fast-paced action-based rpg, with fluent graphics, a beautiful open world and a monumental story. The campaing is about 7-8 hours long, but beware - to earn the true end of the game you have to complete it 2 Times in total and start new game plus. BelieveSo, if you would describe Nier: Automata with one word it would be: underrated. The gameplay is quite simple, like its predecessor its a fast-paced action-based rpg, with fluent graphics, a beautiful open world and a monumental story. The campaing is about 7-8 hours long, but beware - to earn the true end of the game you have to complete it 2 Times in total and start new game plus. Believe me - you will be richly rewarded!

    Pros:
    -Fast Paced
    -Beautiful Music
    -Weapons
    -Story
    -Clear open world
    -Great voice acting
    -60fps

    Cons:

    -The main character falls flat
    -repetitive quests
    -It takes some time to understand the upgrade mechanics

    This game is truly a gem.    … Expand
  42. worldcitizen19
    Sep 21, 2017
    0
    Very, very disappointed. There are just way too many Square Enix fanboys who would give anything a 10/10 even this linear rubbish with hardly any production value at all compared to their past games. The same linear corridor just different skins and coats of paint show this to be a $3 iOS rogue game nothing else. The teenage son of the cleaner at Square Enix cremated this game. Where’sVery, very disappointed. There are just way too many Square Enix fanboys who would give anything a 10/10 even this linear rubbish with hardly any production value at all compared to their past games. The same linear corridor just different skins and coats of paint show this to be a $3 iOS rogue game nothing else. The teenage son of the cleaner at Square Enix cremated this game. Where’s the graphics? Hello. It’s 2017 we have 4k consoles. Terrible, horrible graphics. This is just a very cheap indie with a tiny budget ripping off the naive. I bought it and am asking myself - where’s the game? It’s just a demo. The rogue element is to save production costs so you think you’re getting 60 hours of gameplay but you’re really playing the same game 10 times with a slightly different ending.

    After FFXV all male game with females as an afterthought and this absolute rip off I’m keeping away from Sqaure Enix cash ins. And I trusted you guys 10/10 and went and bought this rubbish. People must be bored to death to play this. Even the music made me fall asleep. Should have bought a real game.    … Expand
  43. YellowKoala
    Sep 19, 2017
    10
    I'm having so much fun with this game. It's one of the few games I've played where the controls work how I want. Unfortunately, I now find some other games I play less enjoyable since the controls aren't as smooth or responsive. The battles are very enjoyable and if things start to feel repetitive, I just try out new weapons. It was also one of my favorite stories which kept me playingI'm having so much fun with this game. It's one of the few games I've played where the controls work how I want. Unfortunately, I now find some other games I play less enjoyable since the controls aren't as smooth or responsive. The battles are very enjoyable and if things start to feel repetitive, I just try out new weapons. It was also one of my favorite stories which kept me playing longer than I should at one sitting. If you enjoy action RPGs, I would definitely recommend giving this one a try (and make sure to play the story again after the credit roll).… Expand
  44. Anarch
    Sep 19, 2017
    9
    Nier: Automata is so close to being a master piece, it's beautiful, interesting, amazing music, and amazing character design, and hard to predict. Where this game fails to reach perfection is the gameplay itself, it just feels like it's missing a little something extra, there is much running around the world that just isn't fun.
  45. yar1k
    Sep 18, 2017
    10
    Best game evar, period. So much emotions, never felt something like this playing the game. Enjoying every minute of it. 10.0! Some people could not like games style or something else, but when game is in your heart you cant see the flaws
  46. zurikm
    Sep 17, 2017
    10
    This game is a masterpiece. While the combat and exploration were fun, the story is brilliant and incredibly deep and I'll likely be picking the game up for a second full playthrough. The level design and music is incredible as well. Highly recommended.
  47. Maist
    Sep 17, 2017
    10
    Wow, this word really summarizes the game for me.
    At first i saw the ads for this game and i wan't at all interested in it. However, after buying it and playing it, i can proudly say that it was each and every penny i payed for this game.
    This is indeed the Neon Genesis Evangelion of gaming. I rate it 10, and there are only four other games i rate the same: Witcher 3, Call of duty 4    Wow, this word really summarizes the game for me.
    At first i saw the ads for this game and i wan't at all interested in it. However, after buying it and playing it, i can proudly say that it was each and every penny i payed for this game.

    This is indeed the Neon Genesis Evangelion of gaming.
    I rate it 10, and there are only four other games i rate the same: Witcher 3, Call of duty 4 and GTA IV.    … Expand
  48. eyecanseeyou
    Sep 14, 2017
    10
    One word: AMAZING. Deep lore, great gameplay made by Platinum Games, ingenious OST and Taro's twisted mind behind the game makes Nier:Automata together with P5 to one of the game highlights this year. N:A easily puts to shame 99% of the recent AAA games.
  49. mackenzie129
    Sep 14, 2017
    9
    Is it good? YES! But honestly this is it. There is no other DLC or Expansions coming out. Once you beat the game you can run for the other endings and that's about it. It is really fun the combat is nice and quick a lot of free flow . The story is amazing and satisfying. For all the pervs L3+R3 enjoy
  50. SimonD00
    Sep 11, 2017
    10
    With a fun and complex combat system that nearly rivals bloodbornes perfected combat, beautifull visuals and probably one of the best and most original stories in a video game ever. If you miss out on this game I'm truly sorry for you.
  51. S_Stone
    Sep 3, 2017
    9
    A truly great game, fun to play and with a very interesting story and a unusual way to convey it.

    The game's mechanics are near perfect, combat is really fun and challenging, the chip setup to activate passive abilities or enhance your damage or defense is very useful (although it's quite hidden, I don't remember any prompt or tutorial about it). There are lots of things to do.    A truly great game, fun to play and with a very interesting story and a unusual way to convey it.

    The game's mechanics are near perfect, combat is really fun and challenging, the chip setup to activate passive abilities or enhance your damage or defense is very useful (although it's quite hidden, I don't remember any prompt or tutorial about it).

    There are lots of things to do. Almost too much, and that's my only problem with the game and why I can't give it a 10/10 (I would give it a 9,5, but Metacritic doesn't allow "half points").

    There are times you are given so much sidequests that the "main quests" are lost among them. Many sidequests are fun to do, and others help you to better understand the characters via exclusive dialogs and scenes. The problem, is that rewards are often very poor and that does not encourage you to do the sidequests.

    Other problem is that past a point in the game, you can't do them, until you've finished the game (where you can travel to any chapter in the game and do whatever you please to 100% it).

    If you have a PS4 and you don't have played this game, I don't know what are you doing.    … Expand
  52. TheBananaSalmon
    Sep 2, 2017
    10
    this game is truly special, a breath of fresh air in a word of AAA titles catered to the widest audiences possible. this is no AAA title but it goes very far with what it was given. take a look at any of the negative reviews on here and on many of them it is apparent they haven't even finished the game before judging it. even with such a loyal fan base. i was VERY hesitant to purchasethis game is truly special, a breath of fresh air in a word of AAA titles catered to the widest audiences possible. this is no AAA title but it goes very far with what it was given. take a look at any of the negative reviews on here and on many of them it is apparent they haven't even finished the game before judging it. even with such a loyal fan base. i was VERY hesitant to purchase this game due to a few really bad reviews that seemed to paint it as a game that i wouldn't enjoy. It was only after i saw a spoiler about the story of the game that i suddenly understood where all the negative reviews were coming from. i played the Demo again and immediately purchased this game. I could not be more pleased with the experience the game has brought me. I have purchased the DLC merchandise and hope to see more games from this creator. maybe even a sequel of sorts.

    i find it ironic that the same negative reviews that kept me from getting this game originally, is what ended up making me so sure i wanted the game. if you were considering this game but a few mixed reviews intimidated you JUST DO IT! you will likely not regret this purchase. i have met no one who has genuinely played this game to completion that has bad things to say about it. sure the game isn't perfect. however it breaks molds in this industry in ways that truly should be recognized!    … Expand
  53. TrophyHunter14
    Aug 29, 2017
    10
    NieR:Automata is a masterpiece of a game. This is the best game I have ever played. With amazing combat that doesn't get boring even after 35 hours, great graphics and an apsolutly amazing story it exceded my expectations. If you are going to buy this game make sure to GET ALL 5 MAIN ENDINGS!
    This is really important to understand why this game is a masterpiece (or at least an amazing game).
  54. RaFfr0
    Aug 28, 2017
    9
    Let me start with the two things that are on another level of good, the gameplay/combat and the music both are excellent, also the story is great and is extremely emotional with such good developed characters. Despite rating it as a 9, for me is a 9.5.
  55. Sigfrid0s
    Aug 27, 2017
    10
    Obra maestra, de esas que te entristecen cuando lo terminas porque no sabes como afrontar tus próximos juegos luego de tantas emociones.
    La banda sonora es sin dudas la mejor que he escuchado en mi vida y seguramente no escuchare otra igual.
  56. _Keiko
    Aug 27, 2017
    10
    comme par hasard on suce le jeu qd il est plus joli plus moderne plus ps4 hum .

    .
    .
    un jeu qu'il est excellent, un de mes all time favs
  57. TheFrog
    Aug 13, 2017
    4
    Boring, uninspired combat, particularly iIrritating when it goes back 30 years in time, forcing you to play an old 2D shooter a la Xevious. Bland and dull when it tackles 3D melee combat, with many different weapons that play essentially the same.
    Incredibly annoying and boring side quests. Go there, talk to someone. Go to another place, talk to someone else. Go to yet another place, find    Boring, uninspired combat, particularly iIrritating when it goes back 30 years in time, forcing you to play an old 2D shooter a la Xevious. Bland and dull when it tackles 3D melee combat, with many different weapons that play essentially the same.
    Incredibly annoying and boring side quests. Go there, talk to someone. Go to another place, talk to someone else. Go to yet another place, find body, quest over. Would be fun if combat were fun.
    Main quest? Storyline revealed after several playthroughs, and it still makes very little sense. Much more attention to classic JRPG dramatic scenes, that usually feel contrived and forced, than to a coherent and believable story.
    The environment is marred by abundant invisible barriers everywhere. Want to climb that cliff? Oof, you bounce into an invisible wall. Want to jump on that trellis structure? Ditto. This is terrible level design, especially considering how SMALL the game world is. Just a handful of small levels you'll need to traverse over and over (and over, and over).
    I see many people loved the soundtrack. Incredible, I wanted to poke a stick into my ears, after several minutes of bleating choruses in the forest area. The rest is at least sufferable, but forgettable.
    I guess this is another videogame you may love if you're into JRPG strangeness, and hate if you are not.    … Expand
  58. RegularNormal
    Aug 5, 2017
    10
    A model for the future of gaming. This was my favorite game to come out in the past 15 years. Not since KH1 has there been a game to do what this game did for me. The action and depth of play is relatively unparalleled in games of it's type. But the story somehow outshines everything, You might guess one of the twists before it's delivered, but that won't take away from how touching it allA model for the future of gaming. This was my favorite game to come out in the past 15 years. Not since KH1 has there been a game to do what this game did for me. The action and depth of play is relatively unparalleled in games of it's type. But the story somehow outshines everything, You might guess one of the twists before it's delivered, but that won't take away from how touching it all is.. I never give 10s. This was a 10.… Expand
  59. Oxtails
    Aug 5, 2017
    10
    I've been playing games for over 30 years. I'm at the age where games just don't excite me as much anymore. Call me a jaded gamer. This game brought my love of gaming back. Great animation, great story, and great music. Nier automata is the complete package. One of the few games that get better the longer you play. I still think about the game after I've beaten it. Not many games can do that.
  60. grimsfield
    Aug 1, 2017
    9
    This game isn't perfect. It doesn't have the best graphics and I've run into a few minor bugs. Nothing serious, but a little annoying. That said, this game is amazing. Simply amazing. The art direction, the soundtrack, the story, the engrossing environments. Amazing. This is one of the best games I've ever played--and my top game of the year so far for 2017. Besting my previous fav ofThis game isn't perfect. It doesn't have the best graphics and I've run into a few minor bugs. Nothing serious, but a little annoying. That said, this game is amazing. Simply amazing. The art direction, the soundtrack, the story, the engrossing environments. Amazing. This is one of the best games I've ever played--and my top game of the year so far for 2017. Besting my previous fav of 2017, Horizon Zero Dawn.

    It's criminal that this game is rated below a 9, and I can only guess that's because its visual quality isn't on par with the aforementioned Horizon Zero dawn. Because the quality throughout every other aspect of the game sets an extremely high bar. I've told people this probably has one of the best, if not the best original sound tracks of any game I've ever played. And while I know that might sound a little over the top, I think it might be true. i've found myself going back to certain locations in the game, just to hear the local music play.

    What I think I like most about this game though; it feels unique. The game play is rich and interesting and and the story does a great job of making you feel for the characters while not making you watch a ton of really long drawn out cutscenes. The voice acting is top notch as well. The little comments the characters 2b and 9s share with each other, while not long winded, are poignant and effective. And the sub-quests are thought provoking and interesting, while not distracting from the main overarching theme of the game.

    I don't know what else to say... Do yourself a favor, play this game.    … Expand
  61. Caiobrz
    Aug 1, 2017
    10
    Nier:Automata is different and unique, and in that, it might not please some people .. some weird people. It has everything you would expect from a top game: gameplay, action, customization, leveling, easy to play but hard to master, great pace and varied - really varied gameplay. And it topples it of with an awesome thought provoking plot (and sub-plot, and sub-sub-plots, or just randomNier:Automata is different and unique, and in that, it might not please some people .. some weird people. It has everything you would expect from a top game: gameplay, action, customization, leveling, easy to play but hard to master, great pace and varied - really varied gameplay. And it topples it of with an awesome thought provoking plot (and sub-plot, and sub-sub-plots, or just random shower thoughts that hit you like a truck) and great replay value. That it changes game type often, from dual stick shooter to side scrolling, top view, 3D third person or hacking minigame is great to break the sameness of the plot, but it never overreaches to badly, so even when you dislike one of these game styles, you can be assured it will be over soon. If you like, you can seek them out in game.

    It might not feature the best graphics around, but this is a game that proves that you don't need the best graphic fidelity to be awesome. Its art style fits, and by the time you are in the middle of a bullet hell having to smash 4 buttons at the same time to master the field, you won't even care about graphics - and let it be known that this is on purpose, since the game strives to deliver 60 FPS nonstop, and manages to do so most of the time.

    That this game might not be considered the best game of 2017, of the best of our generation, is a testament to how much so many reviewers dislike the anime art style, or that it comes from a weird director from Japan. That despite that it is a huge success in both critics and sales, shows how good this actually is.    … Expand
  62. BedhedEdWed
    Jul 31, 2017
    6
    Nier: Automata is an overrated game, receiving undeserved praise for its quirky, and for lack of a better word, its Japaneseness. The gameplay, developed by Platinum Games, is surprisingly boring and stale. Platinum is known for its fantastic hack-and-slash gameplay, so I don't know what the **** happened here. Enemies will either go down in two hits or two-million hits. The combat isNier: Automata is an overrated game, receiving undeserved praise for its quirky, and for lack of a better word, its Japaneseness. The gameplay, developed by Platinum Games, is surprisingly boring and stale. Platinum is known for its fantastic hack-and-slash gameplay, so I don't know what the **** happened here. Enemies will either go down in two hits or two-million hits. The combat is repetitive and monotonous, lacking any real combo system. Instead, it has only a light and heavy attack, along with an A.I. pod that you will forget is even there most of the time. Over the course of the game, you will notice that the combat has devolved into dodge and spam light attack, OVER AND OVER AND OVER. The other aspect of this game, the story, is just alright. It was compelling enough for me to complete the game and obtain the platinum trophy in it as well. It is not a story that I would consider tracking through one more time, though. The story is the only reason that this game is a six instead of a four. I would not recommend it, but because of all the critical praise you've likely heard about this game, you'll probably pick it up anyway. I would just say that if you do, wait for a price drop.… Expand
  63. BlakDak666
    Jul 30, 2017
    10
    This will be my third and final revision of my score/quick review on NieR: Automata. I very rarely give 10s for games and while many can find this game to not be anywhere near that (and even enjoy it still) it is totally acceptable to say that this will not be for everyone. Considering the PC port still hasn't been fixed (let alone any patches for the game since launch on the PS4 either),This will be my third and final revision of my score/quick review on NieR: Automata. I very rarely give 10s for games and while many can find this game to not be anywhere near that (and even enjoy it still) it is totally acceptable to say that this will not be for everyone. Considering the PC port still hasn't been fixed (let alone any patches for the game since launch on the PS4 either), you will likely write the game off as buggy and untested. Even as you come into the game in full circle, characters behave awkwardly at times, quests can be boring to complete, fighting enemies can be mundane and lack spice of variety, the writing can have dips that don't make sense and really alot of its combat and system is pretty easy to exploit. Individually, each mechanic is basic at its core with nothing to write home about. Combined however and you have an experience that is outstanding.

    I love how this game is utilized. The way the medium is played is something I rarely see in games and on top of that work and don't come off as pretentious. While Yoko Taro is very blunt and straightforward with his odd persona the reflections of his views on the world are very much in this game and it makes it more interesting to me as a player to see how he feels about something. To put this as easy as I can. NieR: Automata is one giant stage play and philosophical trip of what we humans always seem to think about in our everyday lives to some degree. The world is bland, boring and really lacks any sort of splendor, but THAT'S the beauty of it: it doesn't need pretty graphic engines to prove it and it doesn't need much color to prove it's points. The enemy variety does leave alot to be desired and even after your first act done you'll become tired of fighting them, but THAT is exactly Yoko Taro's point: killing things that are so easy to you or coming at such a repeating pace is only going to numb your enjoyment to the finer moments the game offers.

    The characters are odd and eccentric and will clearly act out of character, but perhaps that's the point. 2B is clearly a parody of sorts to the typical male soldier that follows all orders and clearly doesn't want to show feelings or emotions, yet she does and isn't technically human. She says things that contradict her previous quote, so is it a glitch in her system? A mistake by the team? It's easy to see on the surface it's the devs doing this but I playing almost 100 hours of the game has made me tear back the layers it offers and realize so much about myself as a gamer and person.

    Considering the game is a budget game on top of that, you get a rare example of a indie/AAA game hybrid that is as niche and unique compared to many other games on the market. It's why despite the issues I might have in performance, it's style and delivery is superb as you finish the true ending and sit back and think hard. If you love art games like Shadow of The Colossus or Journey, then you will understand why you should approach this with a more open mind than simply "is the combat good? is the open world full of great content?" like some critics and people who I think looked at this game all wrong.

    A 10/10 game doesn't have to be deemed perfect. Nothing is and no matter the game there will always be flaws. NieR: Automata can have even major flaws, but I tend to judge it also on how much I enjoyed the game. I was skeptical initially but by the end I embraced the game's brilliance close to heart, bought the soundtrack out of respect for Yoko Taro and his team and have not faltered on my stance for the game. If anything, the more I return to the game and look at its layers of understanding, I felt a sense of wonder that I could not find in any other game in my life. Not the graphics, or the combat, but really the medium and how well it's handled that very few games do now in an age where risk is not worth the expense of profit loss.

    Call me pretentious, call this game pretentious but I love this game for what it set out to do and nailed it through and through. Yoko Taro and his team crafted a gem that only gets better as I enter back into the game time and time again. Once again, this is not meant to appeal everyone but with it's structure I'd wager it's one of the finest examples of how mixing genres and types can prove wonderful. A 10/10 breaks grounds on what games should try to match and proceed past that with greater effect. NieR: Automata, out of the hundreds of games I've played, is one of the greatest games of all time for me and will always stay strong in my mind for years to come.    … Expand
  64. reb0014
    Jul 30, 2017
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game could have been so amazing but a few things held it back. First off the disjointed storytelling does us no favors, jumping back and forth confusingly.

    Secondly and far more important is how the game won't tell you which quests will end the game (and rendering all open quests as failed) and this will result in people having to replay parts of the game to try and finish quests, or just deal with the knowledge that certain portions of the game have been locked away because you didn't complete them in their stupid arbitrary order that they definitely don't warn you ahead of time about. So if your a completionist like myself it's an exercise in frustration.
    There are 4 main endings (they are more like acts in a play) so that's a bunch of chance to ruin your game and not see cool side quests because you accidentally did the wrong quests in the wrong order.

    Finally and worst of all is the absolutely retarded hacking mini game that was shoe horned into act 2 and 3. They force you to use it by making bosses have retardedly huge health bars. The mechanic of hacking with a terrible old school asteroids style game forces you to play what looks like a 30 year old game instead of something that came out this year. Beautiful graphics don't matter when your forced into a washed out grey landscape filled with stupid space ship arcade like crap, which you absolutely will be to get through one of the areas in the 3rd act. And it's not one or two, but like 20 in a row. It is the worst area in the entire game and honestly ruined the experience for me. Being forced to do that crap multiple times really forced it home how out of place the hacking game is, and how they crammed it into the game to give the illusion of depth. I absolutely loathed the hacking game and it's a testament to how great the rest of the game is that I'm even contemplating finishing this game. But seriously **** whoever did the hacking game, or at least forced you to use it so heavily to get through the dungeon. The concept of the hacking game is actually not horrible however by forcing it to into such a large role was an awful idea.    … Expand
  65. Frankdnb
    Jul 27, 2017
    10
    This game is more of a philosophy than a game, it makes you ponder existentialism and what makes us human. Beautiful music, well developed characters and an incredible storyline. This game is...nier...perfect. BECOME AS GODS!
  66. geoxd88
    Jul 20, 2017
    7
    The only reason I give this game a 7 is for the idea, the story and (at some points) for the presentation. As a game I don't think it deserves more than 6. Platinum games has made a lot of well received games in the same genre, yet I see no progress. The mechanics feel aged, the weird restrictions send us back at least a decade and in general it has a playstation 2 era feeling from startThe only reason I give this game a 7 is for the idea, the story and (at some points) for the presentation. As a game I don't think it deserves more than 6. Platinum games has made a lot of well received games in the same genre, yet I see no progress. The mechanics feel aged, the weird restrictions send us back at least a decade and in general it has a playstation 2 era feeling from start to finish. It's a solid game, don't get me wrong, but I can think of at least 100 things that could be done better, especially considering the talent and technology owned by the development company. Be warned that It requires a lot of dedication to see the vision behind it in its entirety, otherwise you will be left with a bitter taste, unless you are satisfied with bullet-hell inspired projectiles filling your screen every 10 seconds.… Expand
  67. QwertyRevs
    Jul 17, 2017
    10
    Nier Automata was a masterpiece. Yoko Taro did it in my book, the game may not be for everyone but is sure as hell for me. Some may say the Combat was repetitive and in a way it is but only if you limit yourself to the same weapon types. Some also say that the game lacks originality and doesn't imply new mechanics, I mean if it ain't broke why fix it, sure they may not have implemented newNier Automata was a masterpiece. Yoko Taro did it in my book, the game may not be for everyone but is sure as hell for me. Some may say the Combat was repetitive and in a way it is but only if you limit yourself to the same weapon types. Some also say that the game lacks originality and doesn't imply new mechanics, I mean if it ain't broke why fix it, sure they may not have implemented new mechanics but they sure as hell did a good job the chip system was also great though not explained very well (Chips with a diamond means its the lowest possible Cost it can be, keep that in mind, Don't use the Offensive heal Chips as it makes the game too easy just my preference) but the further you play the more you'll understand. Difficulty wise i think playing on Normal mode is too easy and playing on Hard is probably the best way to play.

    Story 10/10 Story really reels you in the more you play it making more complex along the way. Completing side quests also adds to the lore of the overall game though its not necessary its a good way to fill some plot holes from the main story

    Gameplay 9/10 Sidequests are a chore and repetitive are what some negative reviews say and in a way they are, BUT and a big but like i said earlier sidequests add to the lore and if you're interested in the lore like i was it becomes less tedious and more exciting as you unravel the stories behind some of the sidequests. Combat wise its a normal hack and slash game that makes it interesting with the combination of weapons for new combos, the bullethell parts which i loved and the 2d, 3d, Top view parts are absolutely fantastic.

    Graphics 10/10 graphics were phenomenal and really captured the post apocalyptic feel of the game destroyed buildings, reclaimed areas, broken cars all the little details really add up to the total scenery of the game.

    Characters 9/10 I absolutely love the protagonists of the game and were in a way even emotionally invested in them some scenes gave me goosebumps some made me shed a tear some made blow air out of my nose more than usual, but in all seriousness the character development and relationships and interactions between characters really gives the game a lot of points from me. Though the only thing keeping me from giving it that one is the enemies its not as diverse as i'd like it to be they all look somewhat the same though some have different weapons its always better to have a wider variety of looks for regular mobs. All bosses were awesome though.

    Sorry if this was a bad review, this was my first one and i actually made a metacritic account just to make this review. I was that in love with the game that i just had to give it my personal opinions. I don't know if everyone will like it but YOU! yes YOU the one reading this you should cast all doubt aside and buy this. In all honesty i didn't expect a lot from this game was just interested from a post i saw somewhere that you can play a goth Loli with bad ass swrods, i though why not and bought the game thinking its just gonna be some generic Hack and slasher game, but in the end i just shot past my most favorite games of all time up there with the witcher 3 and Last of Us. You will not regret buying this game. You never know you might be looking at the game that will be at your Top list like mine :D    … Expand
  68. JamesKirk
    Jul 10, 2017
    10
    One of the few games that make intense feeling at the end which remains for a long time after passing. I would like to see more games like this. This game has a soul.
  69. VeGeTo
    Jul 7, 2017
    10
    Une superbe expérience !!
    Voila la preuve q'un jeux na pas besoin de beaucoup d'argent et de magnifique graphisme pour être bon.
    Il suffit juste d'avoir la passion du jeux vidéo.
    Merci Yoko Taro !!!!!!
  70. deimon1313
    Jul 5, 2017
    10
    Do you realize how they make a desolated world to become so beautiful?
    Do you realize how they make the music with powerful feelings and lyrics for every part of the game?
    Do you realize how they make even the side story quest so meaningful? And how they make us to not give up to find the [E]nding? I have played many games, completed almost side quests in every game. But, this game    Do you realize how they make a desolated world to become so beautiful?
    Do you realize how they make the music with powerful feelings and lyrics for every part of the game?
    Do you realize how they make even the side story quest so meaningful?
    And how they make us to not give up to find the [E]nding?

    I have played many games, completed almost side quests in every game. But, this game got me so much with all their beautiful aspects and mostly the story is way beyond my expectation of this (machine world) game. Absolutely stunningly beautiful and sad at the same time. I hope this game is GOTY 2017 or even if it not, it is till GOTY for me.    … Expand
  71. eldesgraciado
    Jul 3, 2017
    9
    ...............................................................................

    Came for the thighs, stayed for the cries.

    ...............................................................................
  72. CyrusDrake25
    Jun 29, 2017
    10
    I just beat the game and still need to get the other main endings. I think I can say, without a doubt, this is an absolute great game. I don't usually care of hack n' slash games but this one kept my attention for a solid 20 hours so far. I think that is because the world is very thought out, superbly detailed, and the music is extremely top notch. I've heard better voice acting but it isI just beat the game and still need to get the other main endings. I think I can say, without a doubt, this is an absolute great game. I don't usually care of hack n' slash games but this one kept my attention for a solid 20 hours so far. I think that is because the world is very thought out, superbly detailed, and the music is extremely top notch. I've heard better voice acting but it is done well enough to enjoy. There is actually a lot of humor in this game which brings some light to a very dark and grim post-apocalyptic setting. Also, game mechanics change up often in this game so it is not just pure hack n' slash. This is also very much an RPG so there is leveling, upgrading weapons, and finding new abilities. It keeps you hooked.

    I don't want to spoil anything for you. You just need to play it yourself.    … Expand
  73. Turbodowg
    Jun 25, 2017
    10
    Nier: Automata is one of my favorite games of this year. I had no expectations for the game and would have ignored it if I hadn't read reviews on this site. So I decided to give it a go. Within an hour I was hooked. After my current play time of 45 hours I'm still hooked!

    Nier: Automata is an action role playing game with a lot of focus on combat. It at first appears to be a straight    Nier: Automata is one of my favorite games of this year. I had no expectations for the game and would have ignored it if I hadn't read reviews on this site. So I decided to give it a go. Within an hour I was hooked. After my current play time of 45 hours I'm still hooked!

    Nier: Automata is an action role playing game with a lot of focus on combat. It at first appears to be a straight forward action rpg but dig deeper and you find it is an absolutely genius game packed with quests, deep story lines, beautiful graphics complemented by an unforgettable soundtrack, a unique and insanely varied combat system, multiple endings, secrets and many items and weapons.

    Nier is a game you must play through more than once or you will miss out greatly. The first play through is like the tutorial to the the world, combat and characters, the second is the main game. I realised after first completion I'd barely scratched the surface. My play time was 15 hrs at the end of my first play through, I've since added an extra 30 hours (at time of writing and have still not finished the second playthrough.) There is so much more than simply completing the main story.

    The characters you play with have varied combat styles making each playthrough different. They also have different story sequences. 2B the female android used two weapons along with her pod (a machine used as a long range weapon). When using her the game works like a part shooter part brawler. 9S has the ability to hack machines, hacking takes the form of a top down bullet hell shooter. During battle you can instantaneously jump into hacking a machine and within a second be back to hand to hand combat, it works flawlessly.

    I've enjoyed everything about this game. The dungeons are unique, once you enter the game changes from the 1st person perspective to top down to side scroller which adds an interesting variety that shakes up gameplay. Boss battles are fun and varied with memorable boss characters.

    The soundtrack is absolutely beautiful, so good that you will want to buy it separately. It's such a unique soundtrack and unlike anything I've heard in a game before.

    Anyway, I've praised the game enough. So here are a few small issues I have with it. The first is so small and pedantic you may not even notice but it did irritate me. The o button is used to open chests and pick up items. The o button is also used to interact with your AI partner. The amount of times I'd pressed o and started a conversation instead of opening a chest was bloody annoying!
    The other issue is that on second playthrough I couldn't chose to equip items onto 2B which would have been a cool feature.

    And the biggie; frame-rate can drop badly. It is by no means gamebreaking but can pull you out of the action. These are insignificant compared to the overwhelming list of positives.

    So I believe it deserves a 10/10 score. It isn't 100% perfect but it is a game so beautifully crafted and so fun to play it fully deserves top class recognition.

    Edit. I've no beat the entire game and must point out that there is a 3rd play through with an entirely new character A2, a new story-line that continues from where ending A&B finished and entirely new areas. There is so much content to this game. Even the ending (ending E) throws in a genius surprise.

    Absolutely epic game!    … Expand
  74. badgerryan19
    Jun 19, 2017
    9
    The hidden gem of 2017 is right here. The game no one unfortunately will play but should. This is one of the most engrossing stories I have played in a while. The soundtrack is incredible and each character is very unique. The game is surprisingly short for an RPG which I was fine with, but make sure to get all those endings.
  75. gq_foine
    Jun 17, 2017
    10
    I wrote this review because Nier Auotmata is the greatest RPG game ever made! People play RPG games mainly for the story, right? And therefore this is truly a masterpiece! The game is absolutely beautiful and artistic. I wrote this review because it whole heartily deserves a 10/10. I just finished the game with the “True Ending” with over 50hrs of play time. Be prepared to bring someI wrote this review because Nier Auotmata is the greatest RPG game ever made! People play RPG games mainly for the story, right? And therefore this is truly a masterpiece! The game is absolutely beautiful and artistic. I wrote this review because it whole heartily deserves a 10/10. I just finished the game with the “True Ending” with over 50hrs of play time. Be prepared to bring some tissue. This is NOT a perfect game, but it’s a masterpiece which I will later elaborate as to why and share some minor issues I had with it.

    Pros-

    +The Story – 10/10- It’s about a story of elite special forces (YORHA) who are helping humanity from the tyrannical machines. You don’t know much about the character’s, background, and what exactly happened to humans? We are being told they fled to the moon for safety? The story will begin to unfold after the 2nd play through and that is why you have to play through till the end to uncover the truth. If you want the best ending, you need to play the 3rd time. I was frankly confused after it ended so abruptly on the first run. If you are able to get to the “True Ending” which I consider is route E, where it has the mini-game at the end of the credits- you have finally made it! But there are multiple endings if you are interested in those others. The story is deep and philosophically intriguing.

    +The Music is by far the best I have ever heard in any video games- it is an absolute gem– 10/10! Classical and melodramatic tones really brighten up the environment, characters, and story. I even downloaded and purchased the soundtracks since I couldn’t get enough of it and I wanted to listen to these songs on my Iphone every day! The entire album is absolutely amazing! They work harmoniously with the game and is perfect for the battles, stages and ending.

    + Gameplay– 10/10 – It is primarily a hack and slash, but they added so many different and other variety of ways to play -such as side scroller, top down- airplane mode similar to Gradius, mini hacking games. While the battles can seem overwhelming at times and unfair because you forgot to save and to have to reload and start from where you last left off so don’t forget to save! They incorporated the different variety views/angles, side games, and etc, which shines through rather than just playing the hack & slash the entire game.

    Indifference-

    *Graphics are ok but not great for PS4. I thought it could have been better with more livelier environments- like Horizon Zero Dawn. The CGI cut scenes are great, but some of the environments seem rather dull.

    *The lack of variety of enemies and boss machines are a little sparse? I would have added some more mechanical beasts and or other different machines.

    *Lack of equipment. They have variety of weapons. You use chips to incorporate to enhance some skills - defense, offense, support and etc. But where is the armor? -None, which I would have liked some. The variety of weapons are nice and upgrading level is fine, but what about adding chips to weapon or armor to add more customization to increase different stats?

    *When you have 9s or 2B fighting alongside of you there should more customization rather than setting them as Balance, Aggressive, and etc. under game settings. I would have liked them to back up the main character for healing, or other various purposes.

    Cons:

    -The difficulty level is very erratic. NOTE: Make sure to equip the Auto-item chip so it automatically heals you when your life is low when you are in a middle of battle. Enhancements on your character can do some real damage. Some hacking games can become almost impossible to clear because movement is very fragile and sensitive. If the hacking games become too difficult then adjust the difficulty to “easy” to have it automatic shoot and move – assuming you have the chips.

    -Some minor bugs and frame rate issues on PS4 (not Pro) in certain areas of the game – Like weapons list doesn’t show the picture. Frame rate drops.

    Summary:
    Overall, if you are looking for a profound story with beautiful music and unforgettable/memorable characters (2B, A2, 9S), this is a game not to miss! The game can be unforgiving without the proper save points and forcing you to restart again, but don’t let these frustrations overcome the beauty of the story, music and characters! If the hacking game becomes too challenging switch it up to easy and then switch it back up to normal/hard. Nier Automata's story is so fresh and enlightening. Frankly, it was emotionally draining and can make you sad at times and confused. But the real truth and reality can be unsettling. This game does not have the best graphics, some minor bugs, difficulty unbalanced, and improper save points, but this game simply has the most unforgettable story, music and characters, which makes it the BEST RPG GAME TODAY! Chrono Trigger & Persona 5 have been dethroned.    … Expand
  76. UncutSuspiria
    Jun 16, 2017
    7
    UPDATE: I lowered from 8 to 7. This got boring real quick. I will definitely pick it back up again, but it drags.

    I will start off by saying I was hesitant about buying this game because I HATE anime and Japanese styled cartoons/characters/story/etc/etc/etc.... But, I am glad I bought it. Gameplay 10/10 - Extremely fun and addictive. Soundtrack 10/10 - Some of the greatest music    UPDATE: I lowered from 8 to 7. This got boring real quick. I will definitely pick it back up again, but it drags.

    I will start off by saying I was hesitant about buying this game because I HATE anime and Japanese styled cartoons/characters/story/etc/etc/etc.... But, I am glad I bought it.

    Gameplay 10/10 - Extremely fun and addictive.

    Soundtrack 10/10 - Some of the greatest music from as game that I can recall.

    Story 8/10 - Definitely not original. Almsot the same as Horizon Zero Dawn. Luckily is told in a different way.

    Characters 7/10 - The main characters are androids/robots, thus they act like them. not characters you will get attached to. 2B sexy af though.

    Innovation 8/10 - how the game cycles camera modes and goes to 2D and aerial view is pretty genius.

    Visuals 10/10 - The style is fantastic. Like Horizon Zero dawn, this games visual are stunning.

    Graphics 8/10 - Graphics are great and run at 60fps. Those that say they are bad failed to see that at times they are intentionally meant to be this way at times. Some parts are supposed to be grainy, some parts are supposed to be black and white.

    Again, I was hesitant but bought it anyways. Something I do not regret. It has been a long time since I owned a game where I counted the minutes until I could go home and play it. I would give this a 9 but I have yet to fully complete it.    … Expand
  77. Dreizehn
    Jun 14, 2017
    10
    This is probably one of the best well-done and mature games I have ever played. The issues suffered by their characters are very tough & philosophical, and show deep questions and thoughts about rich human concepts like existence, family and solitude. I am amazed.
  78. Wifflum
    Jun 12, 2017
    10
    This game has the best execution of a story that I've seen in my life. I say execution because, while the plot points have a pretty substantial effect on me, the emotional moments are hundreds of miles beyond any other game, or even movie. Without a doubt this game is a highlight of my video gaming life, and I strongly doubt I'll ever forget about this game.

    As for the combat and the    This game has the best execution of a story that I've seen in my life. I say execution because, while the plot points have a pretty substantial effect on me, the emotional moments are hundreds of miles beyond any other game, or even movie. Without a doubt this game is a highlight of my video gaming life, and I strongly doubt I'll ever forget about this game.

    As for the combat and the large changes in gameplay, I think you'll get a lot of mixed opinions from people, but personally I'm playing through fresh once more. The gameplay is good enough to make doing everything again on a harder difficulty appealing, but maybe that's me. I also don't want this game to leave my life for as long as I can hold onto it.    … Expand
  79. dharma
    Jun 10, 2017
    8
    Weird. Eccentric. Completely bonkers RPG- Bullet hell- hard stylish Platinum style fighting game hybrid is a sleeper hit. You have to finish the game a couple of times to see the true ending (which shamefully,I haven't done :p). Platinum Games, collaborating with reclusive Game Designer Yoko Taro and Square Soft, given the opportunity, always create some of the best games in the market.Weird. Eccentric. Completely bonkers RPG- Bullet hell- hard stylish Platinum style fighting game hybrid is a sleeper hit. You have to finish the game a couple of times to see the true ending (which shamefully,I haven't done :p). Platinum Games, collaborating with reclusive Game Designer Yoko Taro and Square Soft, given the opportunity, always create some of the best games in the market. This shows you that Japanese developers are back in the market after a long slump. Bravo.… Expand
  80. Aurro
    Jun 10, 2017
    10
    I can't put how I feel about this game into words. There are many other reviews that dissect everything about the game so refer to those if needed. What I can say is that from the opening moments I was thrown off balance in a way that I haven't been by a game in years. I didn't know what to expect next, and every time I thought I'd seen everything the game has to offer it took me inI can't put how I feel about this game into words. There are many other reviews that dissect everything about the game so refer to those if needed. What I can say is that from the opening moments I was thrown off balance in a way that I haven't been by a game in years. I didn't know what to expect next, and every time I thought I'd seen everything the game has to offer it took me in another unexpected direction. Nier Automata is a blend of things we've been playing for years wrapped in a package that is utterly and blindingly fresh and original. And the soundtrack, exquisite.. I had chills so many times from the lush, varied songs. I've never had an experience like this game and I doubt I will again for a long time to come.… Expand
  81. bellonman
    Jun 10, 2017
    10
    This is the first game in a while that had me searching through all pieces of story through intel or extra content in order to understand more about the story and characters. This truly a masterpiece of storytelling, which makes good use of multiple endings and different perspectives. It's a very unique experience. I think where this game truly shines is in its themes and characters. EveryThis is the first game in a while that had me searching through all pieces of story through intel or extra content in order to understand more about the story and characters. This truly a masterpiece of storytelling, which makes good use of multiple endings and different perspectives. It's a very unique experience. I think where this game truly shines is in its themes and characters. Every single mission and character is important to expanding on the themes and thus enhancing the story. Most videogames lack themes which make the games have unique experiences. This game takes full advantage of it. Also, the music is some of the best I've heard in a videogame. The combat is cool too.… Expand
  82. whiteclover
    Jun 10, 2017
    7
    Visually it's amazing, the main character looks really cool... I found it a bit stressful to be honest. I had high expectations for the storyline but got a bit disappointed in the end. I guess I was expecting a plot twist or something lol
  83. JVuo
    Jun 8, 2017
    10
    Masterpiece to say the least. I can't find any real complaints I have about the game so I will just mention the best parts.

    OST: Absolutely god sent. Can either send you into war or have you tearing up. They even have their own language for some of the songs. Truly a masterpiece. Dark and twisted stories: A great main story and some even more intense side quests that will have you    Masterpiece to say the least. I can't find any real complaints I have about the game so I will just mention the best parts.

    OST: Absolutely god sent. Can either send you into war or have you tearing up. They even have their own language for some of the songs. Truly a masterpiece.

    Dark and twisted stories: A great main story and some even more intense side quests that will have you questioning life and the human race. Pair it up with the amazing ost and it is just mind blowing.

    These are my favorite parts about the game. Everything else is still absolutely great. I enjoyed the game from start to finish. This game is the hidden gem of the ps4, a must play for everyone who loves these twisted mind stories.    … Expand
  84. kstpeter
    Jun 8, 2017
    10
    10/10 One of the best games I've ever played. It's one of those games that keep you thinking about it long after you've finished playing. This game had me willingly erase my save file with no regrets and then after drying my eyes after the ending credits, I immediately started a new game and kept playing. This game has a lot to offer. It's fun, stylish, thought-provoking, but you must be10/10 One of the best games I've ever played. It's one of those games that keep you thinking about it long after you've finished playing. This game had me willingly erase my save file with no regrets and then after drying my eyes after the ending credits, I immediately started a new game and kept playing. This game has a lot to offer. It's fun, stylish, thought-provoking, but you must be patient with it. The game misleads you into thinking it's ended after the first act (about 15 hours in), but to get the full experience, you need to keep playing. Trust me, you won't want to stop. As much as I hate how everything is described as 'like Dark Souls' these days, but let me just say that, like Dark Souls, you need to talk to everyone and read everything to get the full scope of what's going on. This isn't a story that is going to hold your hand and spoon feed you all the answers. It wants you to think.… Expand
  85. bassman2112
    Jun 6, 2017
    10
    Back in 2016, I continually caught myself saying “games haven’t had a year this strong for a very, very long time.” I’m thankful to be eating these words a bit, because so far, 2017 has provided us with an even greater bounty of amazing experiences - some of which I now consider among my all-time favourites. We have games like Persona 5, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Horizon: Zero Dawn, NightBack in 2016, I continually caught myself saying “games haven’t had a year this strong for a very, very long time.” I’m thankful to be eating these words a bit, because so far, 2017 has provided us with an even greater bounty of amazing experiences - some of which I now consider among my all-time favourites. We have games like Persona 5, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Night in the Woods, PUBG, among many more - and we're only halfway through the year! I think the most noteworthy trend among these great games which has stolen my heart has been the resurgence of fantastic, weird Japanese developers. There is no question in my mind that NieR: Automata is not only the weirdest, but also the most fantastic. Please, let me share with you just some of the reasons why NieR: Automata has taken its place as my favourite all-time game.

    The combat system is simple, but fun, and engaging. Your character is adorned with a light attack, heavy attack, and a “pod” - your little robot buddy who can fire missiles/shoot bullets/pew-pew lasers at enemies, as well as provide other special moves. You have a massive selection of upgradeable weapons, and can upgrade those pods of yours too! Another interesting mechanic is the “chip” system, wherein you can upgrade your character’s hidden stats. You can add healing chips, so that you heal a percentage of your health back over time. Want a more active heal? Then you can get lifesteal stats. Want more critical hits? There’s a plugin for that. How about a sensor that reveals the location of all the hidden items onto your minimap? It has that too. There are far too many plugins to list here, but there are so many that - no matter your playstyle - you’ll find a combination which sits well with you.

    Gameplay doesn’t just take place in the typical 3D character action game mold, however. There are sections which split into 2D platforming, top-down bullet hells, and a hacking minigame which ends up proving both difficult and a little frustrating down the line. Overall, the game’s willingness to change itself time and time again is one of the reasons I like it so much. Often you’ll find games that try to do something drastically different from its main style of play crash and burn because of it (think The Walking Dead season 1’s shooting sequences), but one of N:A’s strengths is that all of these systems work together to create a cohesive, engaging experience.

    MONACA studio, as well as Keiichi Okabe knocked it twenty times beyond the park with their music. There are over 40 pieces of original music, each of which has alternate versions depending on the scenario you’re engaged with. (If you want to dive deeper into how this works, look up ‘layered soundtracks’) Not only are each of these pieces of music unique, strong as standalone music, and stylistically diverse; they each carry weight. They are emotional, and they perfectly convey what director Yoko Taro is conveying with his story. I feel that this game would not be half of the experience that it turned out to be were it not for such a spectacular soundtrack.

    All of these positives being said, I’m not going to say N:A is perfect. There are several things that I felt mixed about. For example, the performance/framerate on my OG PS4 was often middling (sometimes downright bad, if there is lots of vegetation). I was also not in love with the format of a number of sidequests (a few too many fetch quests for my liking). I also ended up having difficulties due to the lack of autosave on a few occasions (though, to be fair, that is more on me than the game). Truth be told, when contrasted against all of the amazing parts of N:A, these criticisms barely detract from my overall feelings on the game. I was never pushed away from the game because of any of these issues.

    This is the part where I should be gushing about NieR’s story, and its characters; but frankly, I’d be doing a disservice by simply running down a list of why I feel it is great. Let me put what little credibility I may have on the line by issuing a declarative statement: NieR: Automata is the most important video game I have ever played - a masterpiece. I had strong, emotional reactions to multiple parts of this game. Its storytelling flawlessly accomplishes what games like Spec Ops: The Line tried their best to do, and subverts every one of your expectations. It actively made me question my own ethics, morality, and perspectives. Not only did I feel emotional about the main plot and characters; there were also seemingly minor side characters who, when their full story was concluded, left me holding back tears. By the end of my 50-hour playthrough, I was so emotionally drained that I literally had to take a hot bath to calm my mind.

    As I reflect upon my time with NieR: Automata, I have an enveloping sensation of nostalgia for my first time - longing to have all of those “first experiences” again.    … Expand
  86. NZAnimeManga
    Jun 4, 2017
    10
    Exquisite game. 10/10 - an utter masterpiece of a game by Yoko Taro and Platinum Games. Seriously - go buy it... so many hours in and I still feel like I'm only scratching the surface.
  87. dramatickid
    Jun 4, 2017
    8
    Nier:Automata is a super stylish game both in its visuals and in its gameplay. The story is very involving too and above all interesting since it revolves around themes such as human nature and the meaning of life. The only weak point lies in the combat system which, after a while, becomes a little repetitive and the same can be said for its building-up system. Anyway it's a UNIQUE gameNier:Automata is a super stylish game both in its visuals and in its gameplay. The story is very involving too and above all interesting since it revolves around themes such as human nature and the meaning of life. The only weak point lies in the combat system which, after a while, becomes a little repetitive and the same can be said for its building-up system. Anyway it's a UNIQUE game that doesn't look like anything else on the market right now.… Expand
  88. Chenhanhnannnah
    Jun 3, 2017
    10
    For me this game is a 10/10 because I have never seen anything like this before. Either the game is a master piece per se or because I am not an experienced gamer. Overall, this game is as impressive as MGSV and TLOU.
    The game play is intense. The story, taught by multiple play throughs, is mind-blowing. The Art design is a bit plain but suitable for the apocalypse setting. The sound    For me this game is a 10/10 because I have never seen anything like this before. Either the game is a master piece per se or because I am not an experienced gamer. Overall, this game is as impressive as MGSV and TLOU.
    The game play is intense. The story, taught by multiple play throughs, is mind-blowing. The Art design is a bit plain but suitable for the apocalypse setting. The sound track is one of the most beautiful one I have ever heard in a video game. It even echoes in my head days after I have finished the game.    … Expand
  89. destinyfan1
    Jun 3, 2017
    9
    Unexpected blast
    positive
    + One of the best music that I have ever heard in a game + grimmy enviroment + great combat that gets somehow not repetetive + one of the best story in a game in years ( my opinion) + mix of genres ( per example it changes into a twin stick shooter at some point) + great boss battles negative - the graphics are good but definitly not stunning - some    Unexpected blast
    positive
    + One of the best music that I have ever heard in a game
    + grimmy enviroment
    + great combat that gets somehow not repetetive
    + one of the best story in a game in years ( my opinion)
    + mix of genres ( per example it changes into a twin stick shooter at some point)
    + great boss battles
    negative
    - the graphics are good but definitly not stunning
    - some sidemissions are repetitive and boring
    conclusion:
    Platinum games brought their best game yet with an almost perfect game experience that you have to play NO MATHER WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    … Expand
  90. jrpgmaniac201
    May 31, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have been a fan of JRPGs since i played one of the Tales series from bamco, but never i have encountered a game that's both cool and emotional. This game perfectly express each and every moment during your gameplay, from the curiosity of entering a amusement park in a post apocalypse timeline to the last moments of your life leading to an inevitable death. IMO this is one of PlatinumGames' strenghts, since Metal Gear Rising they have hit the mark in the soundtrack, you can feel every moment as if you're living on it. In terms of storytelling, Yoko Taro may have created his greatest work in my honest opinion, the plot was perfect, the different perspective is perfect, the slight but great freedom of choice is amazing, even if its just for the joke endings still. NieR: Automata is no doubt my GOTY, Game of the Generation even. Out of the all reviewed games in metacritic, i think this game deserves to be on top of the list, this game is just to perfect to this imperfect world.… Expand
  91. autoclav
    May 31, 2017
    10
    I liked this game very much!!!! Nier automata has a beautiful history, wonderful moments, i loved play with A2...
    gameplay 10
    soundtrack 100
    history 1000
    inovation 10000

    i would like play Nier automata 2 right now!!!!
  92. Zenketsu1
    May 31, 2017
    3
    On Route C to the game, I decided that in between me running to my objective I decided I haven't saved in a while and I should probably do that. So I decide to jump down a hole towards a save point. I jumped down this hole dozens of times before to get to this save point. But because of the fetch quest I was doing at the time, something different happened. It triggered one of the game'sOn Route C to the game, I decided that in between me running to my objective I decided I haven't saved in a while and I should probably do that. So I decide to jump down a hole towards a save point. I jumped down this hole dozens of times before to get to this save point. But because of the fetch quest I was doing at the time, something different happened. It triggered one of the game's joke endings with the hilarious punchline of kicking me back to two hours worth of progress. Nier Automata does not respect you or your time. It makes jokes about how much it wastes your time and about how boring the tasks you have to do are, at the same time forcing you to do the same tedious tasks it makes fun of. The story it offers is really solid, but the monotonous garbage you have to go through in between each story beat is insulting. Every quest is a boring fetch quest. Warp to location, run to the objective marker, run back, warp to the quest giver, rinse repeat. The dialogue is always either funny, dark, provoking, or some combination of those and is genuinely great content. It's so much running back and forth with the characters also complaining about how boring the task they've been given is. For a pro tip, this doesn't make your game clever, it makes it pretentious and annoying. Aside from running what you also do is some of the dullest combat in an action game I've played. In terms of complexity, the combat is a tick lower than God of War with 9S being one of the most boring experiences I've had in a AAA game right up there with Bioshock Infinite. There is zero combo potential and only about 4 weapon types that all don't actually change how you approach enemies. Pod customization doesn't really add much either, the only Pod plug in that makes combat more interesting is the zip line type utility. With such a lack of depth, the combat loses its charm extremely quick. You don't learn any new moves, your initial moveset is extremely limited, but the most insulting part is that you don't get better at the combat. There's nothing new to learn. The only "advanced" technique I've been able to find and see people discuss is self destruct cancelling. Which all it does it let you do your standard Square combo faster. A massive disappointment from the company that made the Wonderful 101. And then there's all these smaller, more obnoxious moments like when you have the option to tell an NPC how horrible and useless the map is. The NPC then gives you a smug response saying that you should go explore instead and not rely on the map. Listen, I'm running through this map back and forth for hours accomplishing your side quests. Sometimes, I would like to have some clarity on my objective so that I can run through the same area I've been through 30 times a little bit faster. And when your map is actually useless in areas like the Factory and Forest, it's **** boring to run around the area and guess where the quest marker is. I already explored these areas the first time through. I just want to go through the boring side quest to get the actually decent content. Exploring the same area 50 times for each side quest is not a fun experience and it's not something that you should make fun of you player for complaining about. And I think that small, meaningless interaction summarizes Automata. It expects you to put up with tons of garbage to get to anything meaningful or quality, which is such a shame because the story is great. Although even the story doesn't hold much respect for the player, or at least it feels like it was written by 5 different people. Which is strange considering how focused Taro's other visions are. 2B and 9S' opinion on things is so radically different for each quest it may as well be different characters doing each one. Like when you're in the valley where robots committed suicide, 9S informs me "Don't trust them, they're only machines". This is after hours and hours of content where the characters assume the machines are life, with 9S telling 2B to be nicer to machines of all things in a ton of these. Another thing, at the beginning of Route B, 9S looks on a machine that considers another machine his brother and 9S responds "You can't make him your brother." But in a later side quest, 9S is confused by what a family unit is when talking about the old world. These are only the inconsistencies I can roll off my head after finishing, but playing I recognized a lot more and i couldn't take 2B or 9S seriously until the ending of Routes A and B where they finally became somewhat consistent.… Expand
  93. gyigyo2
    May 30, 2017
    3
    Spoiler ahead. first of all i really loved NIER1 for PS3 and XBOX360 but...this game is just overhyped thats all,..
    when you reached ending E (what everyone say the true ending) that was bullsh*t how the hell everyone landed a different area when everyone was dead? inside the big Tower? that ending is more likely a badly developed "FORCED" happy ending... The game graphics is like a 2008    Spoiler ahead. first of all i really loved NIER1 for PS3 and XBOX360 but...this game is just overhyped thats all,..
    when you reached ending E (what everyone say the true ending) that was bullsh*t how the hell everyone landed a different area when everyone was dead? inside the big Tower? that ending is more likely a badly developed "FORCED" happy ending... The game graphics is like a 2008 PS3 game, the game is 51gb and 27gb full of RENDERED movie with 30fps and the game is 60fps. side quest was very boring i only finished 68% and i decided to go only and focus to the story because that was interesting! the characters was bad really bad, 2B? well its an overhyped character because she have "great "ass" thats all, i never felt sorry for her, or 9s, 9s was a BABYACED little kid, If 9s was so "smart" why he never realized it in the first place that androids and machines are same lol when i started the game after 1-2 hour i realized machines have feelings too maybe nore than many android in this game.i never understand japanese people 9s was clearly in a kid body 14-15 year old and 2b is a more likely a 19-20 year old teen body why the hell they need relationship (lovers) this is just so ugly, then why not make both of it mature body like in NIER1 was (part2), or not lovers just Brothers feels. A2 was okay character the only interesting character in the game. the music? that wasnt bad at all, but nier1 music is still way better! i never understand why everybody love platinum games gameplay mechanic in nier automata have full of irritating things in combat, and gameplay,Ai is a joke i dont even want to mention that..The minigame hacking was *** irritating, i really hated it! it was like a good concept but in reallity was a bad mistake. overall its a boring game! overhyped/ overrated as hell, NIER1 was better than this, the only interesting part of this game more or less was the story.    … Expand
  94. mugsy
    May 29, 2017
    9
    When I finished this game for the first time, I thought "This is it? All the hype for this? I mean the game is not bad, but not quite good to be receiving such amazing top-tier reviews. It's also rather short". And then I thought "Surely this game can't be getting all these 9s and 10s just for this?". Little did I know that the first playthrough was a mere prologue and that the REAL gameWhen I finished this game for the first time, I thought "This is it? All the hype for this? I mean the game is not bad, but not quite good to be receiving such amazing top-tier reviews. It's also rather short". And then I thought "Surely this game can't be getting all these 9s and 10s just for this?". Little did I know that the first playthrough was a mere prologue and that the REAL game starts on 2nd and 3rd playthroughs. After beating the game properly, I can say that all the 9s and 10s are well deserved. This game is a masterpiece. I'm giving it a 9 though, because it still has few flaws.

    Pros:

    - Great, deep and touching story
    - Badass design of main characters
    - Memorable main characters with expressive personalities
    - Amazing soundtrack
    - Smooth, responsive controls
    - Smooth, satisfying combat
    - Amazing English voice acting
    - Great atmosphere
    - Surprising, unusual narrative, plot twists and gameplay mechanics

    Cons:

    - The game forces you to tediously run around back and forth on the open world if you want to be doing side quests. This has caused me to give up on some side quests because I just couldn't be bothered to do all that long, boring running around.
    - While interesting design-wise and atmosphere-wise, the open world is empty and plain and it doesn't live up to 2017 open world games standards
    - Graphics are not quite up to 2017 standards as well. While the character models look ok, the rest of graphics are unimpressive and often feel like a budget or previous-gen game
    - Robots are too childish IMO. After seeing the first gigantic boss, I expected robots to look badass and menacing. When I saw that they look and act like childs toys, I was actually kinda disappointed and put off. But I got used to it eventually.

    Overall, I can say that you will be thinking about this game for long days, weeks, months or maybe even years after finishing it. One of the best games of all time.    … Expand
  95. janusian_mikan
    May 25, 2017
    10
    I play a lot of hack and slash and JRPGs. This game mixes the best of both worlds for gameplay. However, what really shines for Nier: Automata is the soundtrack and storytelling. I haven't fallen in love with a game since almost two decades ago (i.e. FF6 and Chrono Trigger) and this game rekindled that passion.
  96. kiddy23
    May 25, 2017
    10
    This game is great in gameplay, with an emotioanl story and with fast pacce combat syle. People who play this game is important to know that you must not stop in the second round since that just a prologue to the story, the real story start in the third round of the game ehere it gets better from there in term of storywise.
  97. Aridos
    May 25, 2017
    10
    This game is worth your time.

    The most polished game made partially by Yoko Taro I've ever seen, and the only one I've played. I have a problem with games that have great story, but make you suffer through the gameplay, so I'm glad Platinum took the reigns partially while Yoko stayed in the back and chugged beer while occasionally also designing. Gameplay: Platinum gameplay.    This game is worth your time.

    The most polished game made partially by Yoko Taro I've ever seen, and the only one I've played.

    I have a problem with games that have great story, but make you suffer through the gameplay, so I'm glad Platinum took the reigns partially while Yoko stayed in the back and chugged beer while occasionally also designing.

    Gameplay: Platinum gameplay. Played Bayonetta? Bam. Devil May Cry? (Not that DMC thingie) Bam. It's fluid, it has huge amount of options, and best of all, it complements the story.

    Story: Convoluted but straightforward. Easy to see the twists, but very very hard to see the real ones.
    You'll think you get Nier:Automata, and then Yoko will come back the back and pull the rug under you. Until today I hear multiple opinions from people who themselves have multiple opinions of what this game is trying to say. But, if you think you need to be a philosopher to get this, you're wrong. All you need to do is play the game.

    Special: The game is action, it's bullet hell, and it's also 2D platforming? The story is very weird-japanese but actually has a lot to do with everyone. There's also no fetish shaming to be found, so go for it, young man!    … Expand
  98. Muzzle131
    May 22, 2017
    10
    A true gem/masterpiece, gameplay, story, and especially the music.
    There isn't really much to say except to try it yourself and trudge through to the end that it somewhat hides from you meaning you have to put in the effort so it's not a game to play casually.
  99. VaclavBeran
    May 21, 2017
    10
    The game surprised me very pleasantly. Strong atmosphere, gorgeous soundtrack, fun combat, engaging storytelling. In spite of criticism, the graphics are nice, and they match the other aspects of the game.
  100. Sventendo
    May 21, 2017
    8
    While "Nier - Automata" offers a highly compelling story about existentialism, side stories as well as the open-world are often not interesting enough and fail to keep the player engaged.

    The story of this game is outstanding and sets a new standard for games to come in the future. The depth of this story is phenomenal and also the main characters are extremely likable and unique.    While "Nier - Automata" offers a highly compelling story about existentialism, side stories as well as the open-world are often not interesting enough and fail to keep the player engaged.

    The story of this game is outstanding and sets a new standard for games to come in the future. The depth of this story is phenomenal and also the main characters are extremely likable and unique. Additionally, the gameplay is everything you would expect from a Platinum Game, especially on the higher difficulties are extremely challenging. The soundtrack of this game is the **** too.

    The main flaw of this game is the open-world, which does not really feel like one. Side-Stories are repetitive and fail to convey the depth of the main story-line. Also, the graphical composition of the over-world, which mostly contains of ruins, is not as good as it should be and feels rather outdated. Overall, the second playthrough is way too repetitive.
    .    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best PS4 Game of 2017
6
#6 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017
6
#6 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 101 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 98 out of 101
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 101
  3. Negative: 0 out of 101
  1. Gamers' Temple
    Aug 21, 2018
    95
    NieR Automata: Beyond Gods Edition was a total shock to me with how much I enjoyed it. It takes a very solid experience for me to enjoy an RPG lately and NieR grabbed me quite well from the beginning and kept me entertained throughout. It's the type of game where I want to do everything that I possibly can just to make the experience longer - a type of game I rarely find nowadays. I went into NieR Autamata with no expectations other than the good gameplay that I usually find from Platinum Games, I went away floored with a near perfect action game.
    Read full review
  2. Power Unlimited
    Oct 19, 2017
    87
    NieR: Automata is not for everybody. In fact, the game looks to be aimed at the most refined fans of the medium by not caring about the regular gaming conventions, in the same way the works of David Lynch are perfect for the hardcore moviegoers.
    Read full review
  3. games(TM)
    Jun 14, 2017
    80
    Melancholic, wistful and creative at every turn. [Issue#186, p.80]
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