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. Vainz
    Mar 25, 2017
    10
    One of the worst games I've ever played. Everything here is bad..history, gameplay, empty map and mostly graphics. I do not understand all the absurd notes, it's certainly an overrated game
  2. jarlaxle_95
    Mar 25, 2017
    10
    Remember that feeling when playing Demon/Dark Souls for the first time? When you realise that a master of his craft is at work here and you cannot help but carry on and see this through? Buy this game.
  3. GoombaJMR
    Mar 25, 2017
    10
    Gameplay (19.5/20): Excellent open world exploration that isn't too large or too small with multiple types of gameplay. Mainly is an action rpg but has top-down shooter, twin-stick shooter, 2.5D platformer, bullet hell, top down action, and more mini modes that make the game so much more than just your standard jrpg. Enemies and characters are both excellently animated and well-textured,Gameplay (19.5/20): Excellent open world exploration that isn't too large or too small with multiple types of gameplay. Mainly is an action rpg but has top-down shooter, twin-stick shooter, 2.5D platformer, bullet hell, top down action, and more mini modes that make the game so much more than just your standard jrpg. Enemies and characters are both excellently animated and well-textured, and little details like eye color and alternate colors make everything about the gameplay enjoyable. There could be more types of stock enemies, but it remains a minuscule detail.

    Story (14.5/15): Heart-wrenching story that really takes off after finishing the second playthrough. Each playthrough is unique in the sense that it's easier a new perspective or a continuation of the story. Finishing the first route will most definitely leave you unsatisfied, so make sure to play all endings (A~E) to get the ultimate picture, and try to do as many sidequests too, as they enhance the story. Overall, I was astonished with the emotional value attached to both the good and bad characters as I played through the game, and I still think about Nier: Automata as I go on about my life.

    Music (15/15): Some of the best orchestrated video game music to date has approached us thanks to Keiichi Okabe and his masterful pieces of art. Battle songs are simply amazing, requiem-esque and sadder songs strike all heart-strings, and location songs compliment the location more than well, with dynamic music increasing or decreasing in instruments and volume as the player approaches different parts of locations, or different stages of a boss, for example. The 8-bit tracks are simply amazingly done and the mixture of 8-bit and orchestra when playing as as certain character really is smooth and enjoyable.

    Art (9.5/10): Beautiful design for 2B, 9S, the machines, and everyone else. Symbolism shown with imagery and color usage in different areas (bunker, for example). Rust is shown clearly, buildings damaged but clean and accurate, large robots with the most fascinating design, androids with the smoothest movement and still animations, and list goes on. The water is beautifully textured as well, and nature is done at a very high level. Balls of energy are crisp and contrast with the background to help gameplay, and sand blows around the screen to create an accurate sight effect on the player.

    Presentation (8.5/10): Very clean interface with smooth ui and mostly easy to understand menu options. A slight lack of organization options for options such as plug-in chips and certain item folders reduce the quality of life feeling and there is occasional lag when either in battle (very rare) or crossing different parts of the open world (more common), which is noticeable but not very detrimental to gameplay and the overall experience.

    Length (9/10): 5 main endings spanning between 25 and 35 hours, then 21 short and funny endings for you to look for and achieve to push the final time you may put in this game from maybe 30 to 60 hours, including 100% quests, complete archive collection, and more. I'm still working my way through the extra endings and some more quests, so this game does admirably in this field for how much you're paying.

    Final Impression + Enjoyment (20/20): Simply such a fun game to play with such sublime music and a beautiful story. Overall, arguably one of the best games I've played to date when factoring in 'modern graphics', storytelling, and excellent music. I won't ever forget 2B, 9S, A2, Pascal, and many of the other great characters of Director Yoko Taro's masterful work.

    FINAL SCORE: 96 - EXCELLENT GAME    … Expand
  4. tomvs123
    Mar 24, 2017
    10
    This is a mature-themed JRPG that reaches philosophical levels. Like the original Nier, I believe it has gone beyond (in a good way) what people expect of video games. It does this in a different way than the original Nier, so don't expect the same game this time around.

    Unlike Yoko Taro's other games, which reach a climax (normally final ending) due to your actions, Automata is all    This is a mature-themed JRPG that reaches philosophical levels. Like the original Nier, I believe it has gone beyond (in a good way) what people expect of video games. It does this in a different way than the original Nier, so don't expect the same game this time around.

    Unlike Yoko Taro's other games, which reach a climax (normally final ending) due to your actions, Automata is all about the journey. That might make the game hard to digest for long-time fans of the series, but it's definitely still worth the journey for them. And like all of Yoko Taro's games, it takes a while (normally weeks) to fully comprehend what you just witnessed, so don't expect to come to a final conclusion immediately after finishing the final ending.

    Okay, for some normal review stuff:

    - Game play/action/etc: It works. you normally hit buttons until things die and try not to get hit. These bits of games aren't all that important to me. Though I hear it's comparatively very good. A few action segments blew me away, but I'm not sure how those compare to full-action games (since I don't play a lot of those).

    - The soundtrack is amazing and fits the world extremely well, But then again, everyone's music taste varies.

    - Story: Very good. It's more straight-forward (simple) than Yoko Taro's other games, but there's still plenty of strangeness it it to keep you interested. And this time around, you won't have to read external books or download extra DLC to get the full story. For the most part, it's all self-contained within the game.

    - Voice Acting: Japanese: top notch. English: below average (not as good as the original Nier).

    - Themes, Ideas, Thought-provoking-ness: The best I've played since the original Nier. The themes on show here are more numerous and varied than the original, so one of them is more likely to catch your attention, stick with you, and make you contemplate life/existence/etc. This is where the game is best to me and why I'm giving it a perfect score. Just be sure to do (and read) the side quests, as that's where many of the themes/ideas are explored by the world inhabitants.

    And some other less-useful information:
    - The game is complete. There's no planned DLC, no micro-transactions, and no "to be continued" after the ending credits. It's like we're back in the 90's where game developers focused on completing a single good game before asking money for it.
    - The game was made possible by fans of Nier and made by fans of Nier (in Platinum Games), and it shows. The amount of content we're getting and the quality of that content seems to be greater than what you'd expect from a game with the budget this one had.
    - If you play the game like a JRPG (do some exploration, research, and side quests), expect at least 45 hours of playtime.
    - I put Dark Souls 3 on hold three weeks ago (when I was near the end) to play this. I don't regret it.    … Expand
  5. aquiles1990
    Mar 24, 2017
    10
    This is one of the best games ever made and i'm gonna tell you why . From a storytelling aspect just simply goes far as the human can go into philosophy themes even their characters like pascal or hegel just tell you how much heart this game has . It jump on the train of human existence question and takes the answer even further . From a soundtrack direction it simply has the finest songsThis is one of the best games ever made and i'm gonna tell you why . From a storytelling aspect just simply goes far as the human can go into philosophy themes even their characters like pascal or hegel just tell you how much heart this game has . It jump on the train of human existence question and takes the answer even further . From a soundtrack direction it simply has the finest songs from the last 10 years: Beautiful , sad , emotional that breaks your heart in to pieces. From a gameplay point of view is complete and fill with deep mechanics and 2d/4 wall breaking levels. It's just a complete package traying to reach perfection . Nier automata will be remember in the history of mankind as Art in the very best definition. I can't keep writing because there is too much talk i don't want to spoil this ride. Enjoy this masterpiece gamers it's just simply something else.… Expand
  6. dorthafiq
    Mar 24, 2017
    10
    Whatever else anyone can say of this game, Nier: Automata is undeniably unique. A breath of fresh air from the norm of triple-A open world games that have been dominating the gaming landscape for the past few years, Nier: Automata seamlessly blends multiple action genres with an emotional, thought-provoking world and story alongside sound design worthy of an Oscar nomination. If you haveWhatever else anyone can say of this game, Nier: Automata is undeniably unique. A breath of fresh air from the norm of triple-A open world games that have been dominating the gaming landscape for the past few years, Nier: Automata seamlessly blends multiple action genres with an emotional, thought-provoking world and story alongside sound design worthy of an Oscar nomination. If you have any interest whatsoever in JRPGs or Character action games, you owe it to yourself to give this game a shot… Expand
  7. PurplePoodlez
    Mar 24, 2017
    8
    To start off this review I believe it to be of note that this is my first time ever experiencing a Platinum game. With that being said I must say I was very much impressed with this game. Nier Automata is a game that takes place in the distant future where you take the role of a character named 2b and fight through a seemingly endless wave of "mindless" robots to complete your mission.To start off this review I believe it to be of note that this is my first time ever experiencing a Platinum game. With that being said I must say I was very much impressed with this game. Nier Automata is a game that takes place in the distant future where you take the role of a character named 2b and fight through a seemingly endless wave of "mindless" robots to complete your mission.

    The story in Nier Automata isn't one your likely to forget anytime soon as it plays out similarly to something straight out of an anime. While you may like anime this type or story telling leads to some cliche character personality and behavior making my personal experience a little less enjoyable. Even so throughout the whole game i never once felt bored of the characters, yes they maybe a little cliche but its handled very well through great voice acting and seemingly perfect soundtrack execution. Throughout my experience with the story I can say that Nier provides a great sense of direction and gives a peculiar sense of wonder as you hope to discover a deeper truth as to why the machines on earth are acting the way they do.

    Game play feels very solid and smooth and gives a great sense of accomplishment when taking down a hard boss. Though combat is buttery smooth I feel like there too much to spam instead of having well timed dodges I found myself just kinda spamming the dodge button while being attacked by a boss or a handful of enemies. My problems with the combat is that even after 12+ hrs of game play i still find spam to be the most effective way to dodge and counter attack my enemies. Nier Automata's combat mechanics pulls straight from the books of a dark souls game, be it this game is more forgiving through your skill and upgrades, once you die you will lose them unless you go back to your body and retrieve your skill chips. This death system made me feel like I actually had something to lose if I died and provided me some great incentive to not just Rambo and die, but think about my next attack and if I should be saving my missile salvo for the next wave or use it now. Nier Automata's combat in game play I can say has given my the most fun I have had in gaming in awhile

    Other things to note would be the performance of this game and how the PC port doesn't seem to run smoothly and needs more optimization

    in conclusion I can confidently say that if you are not planing on picking Nier Automata up for your PC/console in the future that your are doing yourself a disservice    … Expand
  8. Rasecnort
    Mar 24, 2017
    10
    NieR Automata es sin lugar a dudas un título fantástico. Una carta de amor a los videojuegos, puesto que junta de una forma sublime diversos géneros sin que quede raro. Además la historia es sencillamente sublime, el diseño de personajes, la BSO, los personajes, su mundo y lore...
    Si os gusta el RPG con una acción increíble a 60 fps, no dudéis más, que vale cada céntimo gastado.
  9. moonlight_shado
    Mar 24, 2017
    9
    Even just for the soundtrack game is worth it. One beautiful and melancholic experience.. .
  10. Mitsui
    Mar 24, 2017
    10
    A lot of people will judge the game on its graphics not as polished as some recents products but NieR:Automata will surpass those in all other aspects by far. If you played the first NieR, you won't need convincing as this time Square Enix let Platinium Games handle the development under Yoko Taro's direction which is a HUGE STEP for the franchise in terms of gameplay. It worked asA lot of people will judge the game on its graphics not as polished as some recents products but NieR:Automata will surpass those in all other aspects by far. If you played the first NieR, you won't need convincing as this time Square Enix let Platinium Games handle the development under Yoko Taro's direction which is a HUGE STEP for the franchise in terms of gameplay. It worked as NieR:Automata is Yoko Taro’s best game but it’s also now Platinium's best game without a doubt.

    Story: Simply beautiful in many ways, if you go through all the majors endings it will just blow your mind and will keep getting surprised by all the details and clever things happening. No spoilers, no clues, just go for it. So many emotions inside a game who the main protagonist is not even human...

    Characters: It was a doubt for me as we talking about androids/machines and some specifics design choices but I can easily says it’s one of the game's strongest points. They feel more believable and interesting than most humans in others games. I really enjoyed the antagonists as well.

    Graphics: It works very well in the atmosphere of the game, stunning at times. I liked (loved for some) all locations in this game. 60fps all the time for those who care. Beautiful cutscenes.

    Gameplay: A bit like the first NieR, the gameplay will switch smoothly from a shooter, small games to ARPG. It works really well, the fights are furious and explosive with a strong customization for your character. The open-world has a more limited scope which works well and avoid you the famous “fed-ex” subquests. The subquests are actually very intriguing, entertaining and sometime disturbing and they all work very well to serve the game’s universe. The way the game is made just creates a very strong replayability but you might still want to play it when you fully done.

    Music: This is the strongest part of the game in my point. The soundtrack is stunning beyond words… One of the best ever. There is a very clever sound design in the game that will let you enjoy it even better.

    Conclusion: This is one of the best games I ever played and it is currently the best game available on PS4 in my opinion. It offers so much in so many ways and will absorb you in its universe like nothing else. NieR:Automata is a gem and will offer you a truly unique experience unlike many others as it is a NEXT-GEN game not by its graphics but everything else. I will always remember some part of it, Glory To Mankind.    … Expand
  11. dty
    Mar 23, 2017
    9
    Awesome game. Great gameplay, interesting story, incredible music. Only a few slight flaws in the entire title. There are some performance drops here and there, slight stuttering on certain missions in certain areas, but it's butter smooth outside of that (played on PS4 Pro). Only only problem I think is the huge difficulty jump between Normal and Hard. There is also Very Hard, which isAwesome game. Great gameplay, interesting story, incredible music. Only a few slight flaws in the entire title. There are some performance drops here and there, slight stuttering on certain missions in certain areas, but it's butter smooth outside of that (played on PS4 Pro). Only only problem I think is the huge difficulty jump between Normal and Hard. There is also Very Hard, which is set up so everything 1 shots you, but a lot of things 1 shot you on Hard too while the same hit from the same boss/mob on Normal will do barely 10-20% of your HP. I love difficult games, but I don't enjoy to get 1 shot especially when the punishment for death is so high. If I enjoyed gameplay where I got 1 shot I would of selected Very Hard. I wanted Hard difficulty without the possibility of getting 1 shot. I found Normal far too easy. I feel like Very Hard should be Hardcore, Hard should be Very Hard, and there should be another difficulty between Normal and Hard. Lastly it certainly suffers from a bit of open world syndrome in the form of tedious side quests. Having to trek back through previous areas and the like is simply not fun. When this game did quests right they are awesome, but you can't deny the filler quests that exist.
    Other than those problems the game is amazing. Variety of gameplay types switching quickly between them, fluid combat with satisfying mechanics, a story that's interesting from start to end and as I mentioned, absolutely incredible music.    … Expand
  12. Alex_c
    Mar 23, 2017
    9
    A great game that keeps testing you to see if you REALLY want to know how everything unfolds.
    Purposely start slow, and purposely make you do the first half twice, only to show to those who have the patience and the will to keep going its hidden meaning.
    And after all this, it bids farewell asking you something more. And that question, in my opinion, is one that few would dare to ask its    A great game that keeps testing you to see if you REALLY want to know how everything unfolds.
    Purposely start slow, and purposely make you do the first half twice, only to show to those who have the patience and the will to keep going its hidden meaning.
    And after all this, it bids farewell asking you something more. And that question, in my opinion, is one that few would dare to ask its players.    … Expand
  13. Genis94
    Mar 23, 2017
    10
    Nier: Automata is as close to a 10 as a game has gotten for me in a good while. It's rare to find a game that blends together so many aspects perfectly. From the soundtrack and story, to the gameplay and characters, Platinum and Taro don't fail to deliver. I can't recommend this game highly enough.
  14. matts82173
    Mar 23, 2017
    10
    Everyone should go out and get this amazing game right now. At least, try the demo! Everything about it is practically perfect from the plot, the ambience, the music, the animation, the fighting, the RPG elements. It has almost perfect balance. Also, it is a wonderfully intelligent and thoughtful game that could actually make you laugh or even cry. It's sort of a shame that it came out atEveryone should go out and get this amazing game right now. At least, try the demo! Everything about it is practically perfect from the plot, the ambience, the music, the animation, the fighting, the RPG elements. It has almost perfect balance. Also, it is a wonderfully intelligent and thoughtful game that could actually make you laugh or even cry. It's sort of a shame that it came out at the same time as Zelda and HZD because it should not have to share the spotlight with any other game. Truly unique and amazing!… Expand
  15. Azeriel
    Mar 23, 2017
    10
    Breathtakingly complex...this game can not be more perfect even if the gods themselves crafted it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    If history forgets this game, then **** history."    … Expand
  16. maestro_machine
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    Nier Automata is one of the best action RPGs I have ever played. It's a game that shares a lot of commonalities with FFXV, to the point where there is an appearance of a certain object in Nier Automata from FFXV. The game is fast paced, and fairly difficult on normal difficulty. The game is phenomenal, tragic and it has a deep story. It has 26 endings, the real endings designated by theNier Automata is one of the best action RPGs I have ever played. It's a game that shares a lot of commonalities with FFXV, to the point where there is an appearance of a certain object in Nier Automata from FFXV. The game is fast paced, and fairly difficult on normal difficulty. The game is phenomenal, tragic and it has a deep story. It has 26 endings, the real endings designated by the first 5 letters of the english alphabet, but really the first 2 "endings" are not endings because the game continues on with a 3rd part of the game that has 3 real endings. All other endings F through Z are joke endings that a player can get by replaying certain parts of the game and/or doing certain actions. If you love action RPGs, then this is the game for you.… Expand
  17. Baluberda
    Mar 22, 2017
    0
    Characters Model:8 (Pretty good, lacks a bit of color on the enemies, all mate shines)
    Characters Personality: 3 (the commander has a bit so +1)
    Gameplay: 7 (quite good but invisible walls takes 2 points off) Enemies: 10 (they are mostly perfect) Quests: 7 (good enough) Level Up/ Items:6 (Level up is good, items are not relevant) Enviroment interaction: 0 (doesnt have) History:    Characters Model:8 (Pretty good, lacks a bit of color on the enemies, all mate shines)
    Characters Personality: 3 (the commander has a bit so +1)

    Gameplay: 7 (quite good but invisible walls takes 2 points off)
    Enemies: 10 (they are mostly perfect)
    Quests: 7 (good enough)
    Level Up/ Items:6 (Level up is good, items are not relevant)
    Enviroment interaction: 0 (doesnt have)

    History: 3 (just 2 androids killing, dying and blood. Pascal gets +3 to this)
    Human History: 1 (Your commander tells you, no cinematics or photos)
    Alien History: 1 (Just a cinematic of dead aliens)
    Choice/non-linear development: 1 (just ending cinematics)

    Moral/censorship: 0 (it doesnt have censorship, neither sexual or blood)

    So i give it a 4, but the price...
    Price: 60 euros for an unfinished game that should worth 20)
    I give it a 2    … Expand
  18. DrakeNewman
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    Today it is becoming more and more apparent how beautiful video games are becoming, their was a time in peoples lives when still motion pictures were the gateway to the future, past and present, and today they still art. They have solidified their ways of storytelling as art. And now we find ourselves on the cusp of another such revolution, where the stories of the mind can not longer beToday it is becoming more and more apparent how beautiful video games are becoming, their was a time in peoples lives when still motion pictures were the gateway to the future, past and present, and today they still art. They have solidified their ways of storytelling as art. And now we find ourselves on the cusp of another such revolution, where the stories of the mind can not longer be express by just a novel or movie, but through video games.

    The story of Nier: Automata is one such example, this game is beautiful both visually and musically. ‎Keiichi Okabe and Keigo Hoashi have delivered a wondrous soundtrack that fuels the imaginative side of my brain and keeps me coming back for more. Nier: Automata tells a story with such emotion that it cannot be so easily conveyed through writing, you cannot describe the journey of 9S, 2B and A2 to your fiends and expect to garner the same reaction you would have had playing it. The game is just like that, you need to play it to truly understand.

    This game is special, from the moment I first watched its trailer I knew it would be and so I bought a PS4 specifically for this game. The game play is fluid and fun with depth to explore as no 2 encounter need be alike, each character posses their own depth and style that you need to find out for yourself.

    So I advise you to give this game a chance, sit down and enjoy the ride, I finished the game in around 45 hours playing through and trying to do everything, and I still didn't accomplish that so I expect it to take me longer to achieve that, and this doesn't include a second run on a harder difficulty to see how deeply this story really connected.    … Expand
  19. Sangetsu-II
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    Amazing game, has different gameplay varieties, great story and the music is the best!

    Gameplay 10/10

    Story: 10/10

    Sound: 10/10

    Replayability: 10/10
  20. Peabody446
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    I love this game, the combat is fast and smooth, the music is absolutely beautiful, the characters are likeable and entertaining, the environments are gorgeous and the story is bizarre and interesting.

    Personally my game of the year so far.
  21. Ormegasm
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    I loved the first one and they managed to please my rabid fanboyism although I have bias its definitely worth the pickup. Gameplay story and characters all blend together well and the multiple endings will keep you going again and again.
  22. Leoeyeofskadi
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    Best game played in years, the true ending is impressive and full of creativity. Character, soundtrack, game play, the emotions in this game will make me smile in years to to come. It is a truly masterpiece and one that deserve to be called art.
  23. JasPalTors
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    A true work of art that deserves to be appreciated beyond its technical section, if you really want to enjoy the game to the maximum you must arrive until the last end
  24. Greedmachine
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    When this was announced, I was beyond excited and hyped myself up way too much, knowing I'd probably be let down in some way. Cut to me staying up till the sun rose the day after I got my copy delivered to me. Very good.
  25. Fulcan
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I thought I was getting crazy action, and goofy characters, but I left with gripping existentialism and devastating emotional blows. NieR: Automata centers around 3 characters in world set 10,000 years in the future where humans have seemingly retreated to the moon. Androids 2B, 9S, and later, A2, fight an onslaught of alien-made Machine Lifeforms as they unravel the mysteries of what happened to the world and the conspiracies behind them.
    The first act spends its time posing the machines in general as very human-like; they try and emulate emotion, desire, fears, and are posed, overall, as creatures attacking from fear of being destroyed. This sews the seeds of existentialism, asking what life is for these machines, created with a purpose but ultimately separated from it. You experience the first act from the perspective of 2B, then 9S, and see their relationship from both sides.
    The second act strikes hard, fast, and truly without mercy. All of the machines that were somewhat quirky in the first act, and all of your YoRHa (the Androids organization) comrades thriving full of personality, immediately become threats as each Android connected to their network is infected with a virus that turns them hostile, including 2B. The emotional culmination of 2B's journey until she hands over her torch to A2 brought tears to my eyes. You spend so much time with a character, only to see them die as you slowly become less capable of defending yourself.
    As far as the story goes, I'd call it a work of art capable only through the medium of a video game. Yoko Taro chooses to keep you in control of your character through all but the most grand cutscenes, which keeps you used to feeling the master of each situation. In the second act, he wretches your own power away from you and puts you helpless as the Android network falls, and adds a cherry on top by removing a feature present in the first act: the ability to retrieve your fallen body. If you die in combat now, you face nothing but the Game Over screen, and the option to load a previous save. Switching between 9S and A2 on the fly achieves the same multi-character driven effect as any TV series or Anime (likely moreso the latter of the two), When you're ultimately asked to choose between the two of them, the choice is all the harder.
    The story is helped along by an artful diversity of gameplay styles. No matter the character you control, you'll slip between a 3D beat-em-up, a 2D side scroller/shooter, and a Top-Down Twinstick shooter, even more so when you play as 9S whose hacking feature literally turns destroying machines into a twinstick shooter. Each of these changes to gameplay is a powerful choice. The most notable of this is in the final confrontation, when 9S hacks A2 4 times, you play through a hacking mini-game through a previously unseen arena, and as you progress, you slowly realize you're hacking straight into her pause menu, destroying it, and her, completely.
    The soundtrack (I'm listening to it as I write this review) is perfect. The combination of large orchestra, with beautiful vocals in languages I couldn't place, matched with the fast paced changes and dynamic beats of battle, pairs so well with the tone and play of the game.
    I couldn't possibly capture everything in this review, and I'm sure there are notes I've forgotten, but I'll sum up with this: The game is a work of art. It's not often I'm allowed to enjoy a game so thoroughly without my cynic's voice telling me about the bad parts. I have a tendency to exaggerate, but I will admit, from start to the end of the goddamn credits, this game had my undivided attention. If you have the opportunity to play this game, and you refuse, you're a fool.    … Expand
  26. Emisary100
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    Game fairly solid, really surprised me more than I expected. The world in which it develops has a rather interesting background, and its gameplay is quite fun to master. A pity that some people will reject it only by Fanservice.
  27. AllanFelipeS
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    Just finished Rout A with 25 hours of gameplay, i cant remove this game from my mind, hes perfect in manny ways, still theres routs B,C,D,E to go, Nier Automata is trully a epic master piece!!!
  28. golden_
    Mar 22, 2017
    9
    NieR:Automata is my new favorite game hands down.
    //
    The first two playthroughs are good but its the third and fourth that really make this a 9/10 for me. The story is a masterpiece, the characters are amazing, the gameplay is good, but it can get repetitive at times mashing R2 and square while holding R1 for several minutes. I preferred the Japanese voice acting over the English this    NieR:Automata is my new favorite game hands down.
    //
    The first two playthroughs are good but its the third and fourth that really make this a 9/10 for me. The story is a masterpiece, the characters are amazing, the gameplay is good, but it can get repetitive at times mashing R2 and square while holding R1 for several minutes. I preferred the Japanese voice acting over the English this time but both were great. The soundtrack is fantastic and I have been listening to my favorite songs in my free time. I would have liked to see a larger map with more playable area, more/better side quests, and better graphics. However this was the first game in a while where i couldn't put the controller down, and after I had completed all endings I was a very satisfied and happy person.
    //
    Pros: story, soundtrack, voice acting, customization, developers sense of humor, anime waifus, worth the $60
    //
    Cons: repetitive gameplay, small map, side quests kinda sucked, graphics could be better
    //
    I strongly recommend this game to anyone questioning whether to buy it or not.    … Expand
  29. Maximusplus
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    I have never been playing any Game of this Genre or any Game that's even close to this Game.

    Completing the Game now the for the 3rd time and I think a 4th will be following. I can only rate everything with a flat 10 and a critical 19. The Character Design is amazing, the fighting style not too complex yet not to easy (depending on the mode that you are playing it on), the Music is    I have never been playing any Game of this Genre or any Game that's even close to this Game.

    Completing the Game now the for the 3rd time and I think a 4th will be following. I can only rate everything with a flat 10 and a critical 19.

    The Character Design is amazing, the fighting style not too complex yet not to easy (depending on the mode that you are playing it on), the Music is worth listening for several weeks and the Story behind this got me from the first till the last second.

    I recommend this Game to those who are willing to invest some time, to escape reality and have fun with one of the best games ever.

    You won't regret buying it nor playing it.    … Expand
  30. OneLifeLeft
    Mar 22, 2017
    9
    The combat system is fast, fluctuating, and startlingly innovative.
    The vocalized soundtrack is haunting, riveting, and all but ethereal.
    But above all else, the narrative will shatter any assumption you may have, that this is just another video game. NieR: Automata deftly achieves something that few games, to date, have even attempted. It compels us to reflect on what it means, to    The combat system is fast, fluctuating, and startlingly innovative.
    The vocalized soundtrack is haunting, riveting, and all but ethereal.

    But above all else, the narrative will shatter any assumption you may have, that this is just another video game.

    NieR: Automata deftly achieves something that few games, to date, have even attempted.
    It compels us to reflect on what it means, to be human.
    And the result is a beautiful feeling of emptiness, that will linger long after you've ejected the game from your console, for the last time.    … Expand
  31. gummibear
    Mar 22, 2017
    6
    Not a game for everyone!

    I bought this game after reading all the amazing reviews on metacritic. I realize this is a dissenting opinion but Nier Automata was not for me. I really wanted to like the game and pushed through despite that fact that I wasn't having a lot of fun. I won't give it a negative review just to offset the many 10s, instead I will give it what I got out of it.    Not a game for everyone!

    I bought this game after reading all the amazing reviews on metacritic. I realize this is a dissenting opinion but Nier Automata was not for me. I really wanted to like the game and pushed through despite that fact that I wasn't having a lot of fun. I won't give it a negative review just to offset the many 10s, instead I will give it what I got out of it.

    All these things combine to provide very little immersion factor from my point of view.

    1) The story and characters did nothing for me. Its obvious early on that there is no real purpose to the story if you do not care for the characters and honestly I just didn't care at all. Its a game where you never really feel a sense of purpose.
    2) Combat may look cool at first but there is not very much in terms of mechanics and there is virtually no challenge to any of the boss fights. I could care less for the 2D or top down shooter or hacker segments...seem more like pointless minigames.
    3) RPG element of the game is kinda missing with there being very little difference is what your skills or weapons are like from beginning to end. I was never looking forward to my next level, upgrade or weapon. It never felt that I was building my character towards any goals or improvements.
    4) GUI is serviceable but 3D map was clunky with very little instruction of how to use...eventually you figure it out but there were some annoying moments early on.
    5) I hated the shifting of perspective from 3D to 2D because it added nothing to the game beyond trying to hide the linear nature of the missions.
    6) Rigid environment where you are force-fielded out of passing through some areas where you should realistically be able to fit.
    7) Consider me not a fan of the sound track. Some segments were annoying, others depressing for no reason, others just weird for weird's sake. I can't say there was a single track which I actually enjoyed listening to.

    I can actually understand all the 10 reviews because this game is very much about tastes. If you are really into Japanese Action RPGs then you might just love this. This genre has been hit and miss for me and this time I'm afraid that Nier Automata just hit on all the parts that I tend to not like.    … Expand
  32. AzureYukiPoo
    Mar 21, 2017
    9
    Not the best but really worth the time and money. Initially was hesitant to buy this game because of ME:A but after playing the early access of ME:A, I decided to get NieR instead. The developers are taking some risks but it paid off with gamers like myself. Of course this game has tough competition going up against Horizon and Zelda but this is a must get to any PS4 or PC game collectorNot the best but really worth the time and money. Initially was hesitant to buy this game because of ME:A but after playing the early access of ME:A, I decided to get NieR instead. The developers are taking some risks but it paid off with gamers like myself. Of course this game has tough competition going up against Horizon and Zelda but this is a must get to any PS4 or PC game collector to add in their library. Really deep story and a lovable main character if i may say so myself… Expand
  33. cfli731
    Mar 21, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. My review resonates with most of the reviewers, so I won't go into the art, story, and music, which has already been covered.
    I would like to bring the attention to the game's clever use of game mechanics as narrative through out the entire game.
    A particular example would be the opening top down shooter segment, where firing of your weapons is initially restricted, even after one of your teammate has been shot down, because engagement has not be authorized. As it is the tutorial, of course, you were not allowed to do many things because it was a way to show you different buttons one at a time, but the game does not waste that opportunity to give you a sense of the military rigidity the characters must conform to, even in the face of danger and death.
    The robotic reaction and adherence to the rule sets the tone for this game even within the first 30 secs of game play.
    Obviously, there are much more to this game to deserve my rating of 10, but the intricacy and attention to details is what stood out to me the most.    … Expand
  34. EtroGoddess
    Mar 21, 2017
    10
    If we rate our games based on perfection, none will get 10/10. There is no such thing as a perfect game. However, what NieR: Automata offers you is a 10/10 experience.
    The fast paced combat is developed by Platinum Games, the king of hack and slash. The gameplay is very action based, but it does have RPG elements. There is a deep customization for chips that players can carry to combat.    If we rate our games based on perfection, none will get 10/10. There is no such thing as a perfect game. However, what NieR: Automata offers you is a 10/10 experience.
    The fast paced combat is developed by Platinum Games, the king of hack and slash. The gameplay is very action based, but it does have RPG elements. There is a deep customization for chips that players can carry to combat. 2B moves are thrilling and satisfying to look at, while 9S offers very interesting combat style that may not capture all players. The mix of game genre from the original NieR make it's way back fantastically. Overall, the combat is satisfying and smooth, but for replayability, one can only wish for a deeper, purchasable combo system.
    While gameplay is not perfect, the game delivers its story and its characters better than any game recently, which is a driving force of the game that should be reckon with. Yoko Taro's characters and narrative is something to be respected and, in some cases, feared. NieR: Automata's version of Earth fits it's story perfectly. It's memorable cast of expressive and lovable characters is something to be appreciated. The story is tragic and deep with a(or many) message(s) for more mature audiences.
    Of course, last but not least, it is a crime not to praise the amazing soundtrack written by Keichi Okabe.
    In conclusion, NieR: Automata is a gem for gaming this year that absolutely no mature gamers should miss.    … Expand
  35. immdata
    Mar 21, 2017
    10
    I love this game. Now you're probably didn't come to see me singing praises, so I'll tell you right now: this review and score are entirely subjective, and my 10/10 doesn't mean that it's objectively perfect. I felt that story was really great and I love the melancholic and depressing tone of it(really resonates with my depression). The gameplay is an improvement of the previous Nier, andI love this game. Now you're probably didn't come to see me singing praises, so I'll tell you right now: this review and score are entirely subjective, and my 10/10 doesn't mean that it's objectively perfect. I felt that story was really great and I love the melancholic and depressing tone of it(really resonates with my depression). The gameplay is an improvement of the previous Nier, and with the help of Platinum Games's refinements and smoother 60fps update(compared to 30fps of the original) slaying robots feels really solid and satisfying. The art design and music are also amazing, enhancing the feel and tone of the story. I recommend that you play the demo, and then buy it if you liked the demo. Don't spoil it with YouTube videos, please.… Expand
  36. uVimOvil
    Mar 21, 2017
    10
    increible juego, nunca habia jugado a nada tan innovador en todos los sentidos de la palabra hasta sus creditos del final son unicos, el juego no acaba cuando acaba ni acaba cuando vuelve a acabar y a cada vez que lo 'reinicias supuestamente' todo cambia y te van dando mas informacion hasta que pum al final todo cuadra y la historia que te cuentan es Amazing ;) un 10 ... mencion especial aincreible juego, nunca habia jugado a nada tan innovador en todos los sentidos de la palabra hasta sus creditos del final son unicos, el juego no acaba cuando acaba ni acaba cuando vuelve a acabar y a cada vez que lo 'reinicias supuestamente' todo cambia y te van dando mas informacion hasta que pum al final todo cuadra y la historia que te cuentan es Amazing ;) un 10 ... mencion especial a los 3 protas 2b, 9s y a2 son increibles...… Expand
  37. Monuminides
    Mar 21, 2017
    10
    NieR Automata es una historia profunda que llega al corazón, este tipo de contenidos son muy poco frecuentes por no decir casi inexistentes en los videojuegos. Cuando un logra que las horas se hagan minutos sin recurrir a deslumbrantes gráficos es indicativo de que algo grande se cuece. La mente brillante detrás de este proyecto el señor Yoko Taro ha logrado plasmar en este RPG de acciónNieR Automata es una historia profunda que llega al corazón, este tipo de contenidos son muy poco frecuentes por no decir casi inexistentes en los videojuegos. Cuando un logra que las horas se hagan minutos sin recurrir a deslumbrantes gráficos es indicativo de que algo grande se cuece. La mente brillante detrás de este proyecto el señor Yoko Taro ha logrado plasmar en este RPG de acción multi-genero, una historia que es una obra de arte en si misma. Personajes entrañables, un diseño de niveles bello a pesar de no contar con los mejores efectos visuales, el trabajo de los actores de voz (un gran reconocimiento a los seiyuus japoneses), una banda sonora sublime donde la música se fusiona de forma espectacular con la narrativa (un gran reconocimiento al señor Keiichi Okabe), y una historia que te atrapará por completo dan lugar a una verdadera "Masterpiece".
    NieR Automata no son gráficos espectaculares, no es la mejor resolución en pantalla, no es un juego perfecto. Pero sin lugar a duda estamos ante una obra maestra, y definitivamente personajes como 2B, 9S, 2A y compañía no caerán en el olvido y décadas después seguiremos recordando con cariño aquel momento que nos marcó en la historia de los videojuegos.    … Expand
  38. Kujolo
    Mar 21, 2017
    9
    One of the best game i've ever played!
    Let's get down with the points shall we?
    Gameplay 8/10: Platinum games always bring high value gameplay and design and Nier automata is none the less although we have few animations and combos you can do and finishers are quite useless in the mid-late game. About the RPG elements we got the old classic level up and a stunning 128 slot (well 126 if    One of the best game i've ever played!
    Let's get down with the points shall we?

    Gameplay 8/10: Platinum games always bring high value gameplay and design and Nier automata is none the less although we have few animations and combos you can do and finishers are quite useless in the mid-late game. About the RPG elements we got the old classic level up and a stunning 128 slot (well 126 if you don't want to die) perk tree where u can fit as u can see fit for the battle or situation you have to face. And last but not least the upgrade mechanic of weapons that can be tedious as some point but it's nice and simple. The game is also quite challenging if you dont level up with some side quests (by the way they are fun and quite different between them) and it also have the insane difficulty fvor the most hardcore players, where you will die in a single hit.

    SoundTrack 9,5/10: it's outstanding how a soundtrack with vocals can fit into an adventure game even if sometimes the soundtrack and overwhelm the character voices during a battle for example.

    Story 10/10: nothing to say about the story, it's amazing, it's sad, it's bright, it's dark, it got everything a good script must have to be a mastrpiece. The only thing that i raccomand is to play Nier first cause there are tons and tons of references from the previous games, but still you can enjoy this game as a standalone.

    Graphic and Design 8,5/1: Graphics are good, not amazing, but we have to tune down something to put up everything else, those "outdated" graphics can lead the PS4 to run this game at a stunning 60 FPS (with some major drops to 40 in the most intense battles) so its a good compromise to have this smooth gameplay. About the design we have a little issue with the world, it's not a full open world, some areas will unlock as you progress the story so there is no "oh s**t it's 20 levels above me, maybe i have to return this area later" istead the are a lot of closed doors or barricades made especially for you, but the game feels anyway good and full of thing to explore once you have everything unlocked (fast travel too).

    Characters 9,5/10: And we are at the characters, what can i say, Yoko Taro already said to us "I really like girls", that's why the ENTIRE central command of the androids is filled with stunning beautiful female model of the Yorha Project (except for the Scanner type, more specific 9S in the game) so we dont have a large diversity friendly characters. About enemies there are something like 60-70, if not more, types of enemies and all feels very unique. The main protagonists have a great develop during the entire game, at some point you can easily predict what they are going to do in certain situations, this is what i call a good character design.

    And that's it! i couldn't say more than this becouse even going 2 hours into the game we would have spoilers that compromise the first half of the game, so the best thing you could do now is go and grab this game!    … Expand
  39. Fishyfishy
    Mar 21, 2017
    10
    probable the biggest surprise of a game I have played on the ps4 as while I have never played the original nier I am a fan of platinum games and after the disappointment that was tmnt mutants in manhattan I am happy to say they have made a great comeback with this game. It has some of the best combat I have experienced in a game, some great characters (love 9s some damn much) and a plotprobable the biggest surprise of a game I have played on the ps4 as while I have never played the original nier I am a fan of platinum games and after the disappointment that was tmnt mutants in manhattan I am happy to say they have made a great comeback with this game. It has some of the best combat I have experienced in a game, some great characters (love 9s some damn much) and a plot which while confusing at first is actually really well done all things considered. I highly recommend this game to even people like myself who have never played the original and I will problem start by looking more into this series as a whole ( I do know that nier is meant to be a spin off of another series but you know what I mean right).… Expand
  40. Mauge
    Mar 21, 2017
    10
    Playing this game has left me in a state of serious existencial crisis.
    It feels like i can't go on with my life as i did before.
    This game is larger than life, filled with emotion, beautiful score, and likable characters. It succesfully breaks the way we understand and play games, and does this without feeling gimmicky. For me personally this has been one of the biggest, maybe even    Playing this game has left me in a state of serious existencial crisis.
    It feels like i can't go on with my life as i did before.
    This game is larger than life, filled with emotion, beautiful score, and likable characters.
    It succesfully breaks the way we understand and play games, and does this without feeling gimmicky.
    For me personally this has been one of the biggest, maybe even the biggest experience of my life of any medium.
    There simply put is nothing that compares in existence. This game is a pure work of art,
    and therefore the best game i have ever had pleasure of experiencing.

    10 out of 10    … Expand
  41. PrinceNoctis47
    Mar 21, 2017
    10
    This game is truly and utterly amazing. The graphics are good,, the characters are surprisingly good considering they're androids, make sure you completely endings A-E so you can have the full experience. This game is simply amazing
  42. marisa3
    Mar 21, 2017
    10
    I would appreciate it if it was the best work done after the rating line. OST is the part. You have to give me a sequel. I can not compare it with the previous works.
  43. RpgLover1
    Mar 20, 2017
    9
    Things I don't like about this game.

    No autosaves. The first hour of this game has no checkpoints whatsoever so if you die at at any point you go all the way back to the beginning. This is the only part of the game that's like this however. It turns into an open world game with save stations around the place and some bosses have good checkpoints. Some don't and you have to listen to    Things I don't like about this game.

    No autosaves.
    The first hour of this game has no checkpoints whatsoever so if you die at at any point you go all the way back to the beginning. This is the only part of the game that's like this however. It turns into an open world game with save stations around the place and some bosses have good checkpoints. Some don't and you have to listen to the boss monologue for 10mins before the fight starts over and over again.

    Enemy design.
    It's pretty basic if you've played a platinum game before you'll fight hoards of enemies throughout this game and they only have a couple of different attacks, but it's still better then dynasty warriors. The bosses get reused a lot as well and some are straight up boring to fight. You can't even get close to them to attack in melee so you're forced to use the gun which you can't aim because there's no lock on hard and above.

    Wanted to play this like Bayonetta in a 2nd playthrough.
    There is an overclock chip in this game which gives you slow down on your perfect evades, but it doesn't give you iframes. In other words you just die and have to continue boring yourself to death only attacking enemies with the pod. This chip completely worthless.

    Obviously I was able to live with these problems and thoroughly enjoyed this game. You will too.    … Expand
  44. JackKasket
    Mar 20, 2017
    9
    Standout music and SFX, and surprisingly awesome story. The two gripes I really have with this game is, firstly, the battle system on foot, which is at times a bit too much. On the other hand, it is a breath of fresh air for a life-long gamer, albeit, I never could shake the feeling that the system is actively working against me, due to having to use most of my fingers to optimize eachStandout music and SFX, and surprisingly awesome story. The two gripes I really have with this game is, firstly, the battle system on foot, which is at times a bit too much. On the other hand, it is a breath of fresh air for a life-long gamer, albeit, I never could shake the feeling that the system is actively working against me, due to having to use most of my fingers to optimize each battle outcome, and struggling with all the cr*p on the screen during bigger fights.

    Secondly, the game isn't visually the best, and the FOV is at times frustratingly narrow/short. I can understand if some of the choices here were made to optimize performance, but the game does not actually *look* like a 2017 title. Not a big deal considering the aspects in the plus-column.

    Definitely worth buying through.    … Expand
  45. gamertaboo
    Mar 20, 2017
    10
    Absolutely awesome game. Since the second I set foot in Nier: Automata, I have felt this familiar feeling to a game series I've been playing for over 25+ years since I was pretty young. That series would be the Legend of Zelda series. Nier: Automata feels like a Zelda game (to me) through and through, with the sometimes goofy NPCs you meet around the world, as well as the enemies andAbsolutely awesome game. Since the second I set foot in Nier: Automata, I have felt this familiar feeling to a game series I've been playing for over 25+ years since I was pretty young. That series would be the Legend of Zelda series. Nier: Automata feels like a Zelda game (to me) through and through, with the sometimes goofy NPCs you meet around the world, as well as the enemies and bosses.

    Where this game really shines is in it's combat. It is a hack n' slash game for sure, but it's a hack n slash game that rewards skill if you can believe that. Sure you can likely beat the entire game just by button mashing everything you come by and hoping for the best, but if you learn the combos for your weapons you can really do some awesome fighting moves.

    I went into this game completely blind, with only the trailer on the store page giving me a short preview of what the game looks like. It IS a port, and there are a few issues here and there. If you do not have a decent rig, you might have some issues. KB/M is doable in the same way that KB/M is doable in a Souls' game, in that you can, but a controller is much better.    … Expand
  46. darkwyve
    Mar 20, 2017
    10
    I'll start with saying I am a fan of the original . I love the haunting melancholy of this world. Personally I feel it carried over perfectly. The characters at first seem one dimensional, but have many subtle layers and countless subtext in their conversations that fleshes out well as the story unfolds.

    The dark visual beauty of Nier is a joy to explore and the phenomenal soundtrack    I'll start with saying I am a fan of the original . I love the haunting melancholy of this world. Personally I feel it carried over perfectly. The characters at first seem one dimensional, but have many subtle layers and countless subtext in their conversations that fleshes out well as the story unfolds.

    The dark visual beauty of Nier is a joy to explore and the phenomenal soundtrack is something I'll continue to listen to long after I'm done with the game. The one thing that was a drastic change was the combat and that was entirely for the better in my opinion. It is so fluid and entertaining that I never tired of battling enemies to level up even when doing the simplest of side quests or exploring the world.

    Last, but certainly not least, is the incredible story that isn't truly or fully experienced unless you do three play-throughs of the game. While you can get a satisfying ending in one run, you cannot experience the true depth of the world and story itself until the third run concludes.. With 60+ hours as I completed the game on Ending 'E' (which I consider the true ending) I felt a sense of true awe and connection to my fellow Nier players.

    I can firmly say this is the best game I have played in the last five years, and I have a feeling it may end up being one of the top ten games I ever play in my life. Very few games merit a perfect score from me, but this one is wholly deserving of it.    … Expand
  47. Memoflame
    Mar 20, 2017
    10
    More a work of an art than a game. Nier Automata is a truly brilliant masterpiece that refuses to restrict itself to one thing. It is an action game, but it is also a bullethell shootem up. It can be very weird and goofy, but also very profound and deep. It will make smile and it will make you cry. My biggest criticism towards this game would be the difficulty , which can be very easy onMore a work of an art than a game. Nier Automata is a truly brilliant masterpiece that refuses to restrict itself to one thing. It is an action game, but it is also a bullethell shootem up. It can be very weird and goofy, but also very profound and deep. It will make smile and it will make you cry. My biggest criticism towards this game would be the difficulty , which can be very easy on normal, but borderline impossible on hard with so many enemies capable of one hit killing you ( unless you are overleveled)

    This aside, this is a game that needs to be experienced and one of my favorite games of the last 10 years    … Expand
  48. incendras
    Mar 20, 2017
    10
    Absolute fun, the games combat style employs a hybrid of high speed combat, bullet-hell scenarios, and even a merciless '1 hit die' difficulty. After playing through normal I can honestly say that 1 hit mode is for the extremely patient. Nier: Automata offers a lot of content that does extremely well at avoiding the dreaded fetch and return style we have all come to know and despise fromAbsolute fun, the games combat style employs a hybrid of high speed combat, bullet-hell scenarios, and even a merciless '1 hit die' difficulty. After playing through normal I can honestly say that 1 hit mode is for the extremely patient. Nier: Automata offers a lot of content that does extremely well at avoiding the dreaded fetch and return style we have all come to know and despise from the 21st century flood of MMORPG's.… Expand
  49. Gwyndolin
    Mar 20, 2017
    10
    It's not just genre mashups that makes this game a masterpiece, it's the perfect blend of wistful serenity and adrenaline fueled excitement. Yoko Taro + Platinum Games is definitely a marriage made in heaven.
  50. Niebo
    Mar 20, 2017
    10
    This game is unique, something different. Myself i compared it to undertale as it triggered similiar emotions. For me it's GOTY. For the Glory of Mankind!

    Put into bucket slasher, rpg, bullethell, sidescroller and a beautiful story which is the main point of this game!

    One final advice - See it to the very end, you won't regret it!
  51. Bovinus
    Mar 19, 2017
    10
    Before buying the game I thought it would be just another game with great combats made by Platinum Games, but Nier Automata is so much more than that. The lore is amazing, the characters are great and I felt myself fully immersed in the plot during most of the of the time.
  52. Deadheadbill
    Mar 19, 2017
    8
    Meh. First off, I will admit that I am not the biggest fan of jrpg's. However I am a fan of great games regardless of their genre and so with all the good rviews decided to give Nier a shot.

    This is just a meh any way you slice it. Combat alone is a 9, but the story, idiotic dialog, bad camera angles and crappy save system are constant disappointments. Wish I had redboxed it or waited    Meh. First off, I will admit that I am not the biggest fan of jrpg's. However I am a fan of great games regardless of their genre and so with all the good rviews decided to give Nier a shot.

    This is just a meh any way you slice it. Combat alone is a 9, but the story, idiotic dialog, bad camera angles and crappy save system are constant disappointments. Wish I had redboxed it or waited for a deep discount rather than dropping full priced coin on it.    … Expand
  53. xGodModeONx
    Mar 19, 2017
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. So I just beat the ABC paths with a couple of random endings (41 Hours on Normal) and I have to say the game, while mostly enjoyable also leaves a lot to be desired and is a bit tiring.

    Solid but inconsistent game play elements helped me trudge along through a good story that is unfortunately supported by numerous cookie-cutter fetch-quest side missions which I thought we hated these days. The combat is good but lacks the depth from previous Platinum titles. There's no special attacks to really unlock and you enhance your stats through "chips" which you find everywhere which you must assign to a limited amount of slots allowing you to create anything from a damage absorbing tank to a glass-cannon. An additional game play twist in the game is the perspective will switch to overhead or side view at points which is a neat novelty at first but isn't really very good except for the overhead view hacking portions which have some real nice game play elements in there.

    Graphics are fine, nothing special, but performance ranges from excellent to nauseating through a lot of the areas, especially the Forest which has frame rates somewhere between 30-40fps with awful jittering and this is on a PS4 Pro.

    So a very important bit here. There are two halves of this game (your first ending isn't the "real" ending, (there are 24 I believe) but you have to play the first half all over again with a different character to get to this second half. The problem with this is that I don't believe the game respects the time you put into it but forcing you to replay this only to get some additional story info and some additional side-quests they could of easily rolled into your first play through (why not switch characters on the fly?). So here you are trudging through most of the same stuff a second time while also having half your combat ability taken from you but you can hack into enemies at this point which is fun but wears out its welcome come the third play though.

    Music in this game can be really good as well but if I could turn off the vocals, I would. When my wife is in the other room asking me to turn it down because the "singing part is annoying" there is problem. In fact there is a jukebox in the Resistance camp where you can play the soundtrack and can turn the vocals off. The Music is best at this point.

    The story itself has some strong moments and will keep most interested but I can't help but think we've seen most of it before. Themes of the soul, what it means to be alive, and if artificial beings can have feelings are prevalent and there are moments of tenderness and bonding that not even human characters have in games. But the story is also too stretched out by forcing you to replay many parts and in my opinion is kinda of hindered when you have these mature themes but your enemies are dorky trash-can looking robots that sound ridiculous. The story does pick up in the third run (second half of game) when you are given control of the third primary character who is interesting but never really is given a lot of time to develop back story as it happens mostly through text archives you find in the world. In this part of the game is when everything starts getting explained as well.

    There is a very good game here but it is under a layer of odd design choices that make it hard to really hold on and not let go. It will take a bit of patience to really get going so I suggest not getting into it if you can't spare the time.

    It gets a 7 from me which is "Good" in my book.    … Expand
  54. DanielPeled
    Mar 19, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I would have given this game a 10 even if the gameplay wasn't great, because I enjoy all of Yoko Taro's stories. The gameplay is pretty satisfying for most of the game however, and slightly underwhelming when playing as 9S. However the soundtrack, the songs, and the plot are great. It would be a bit better I think if they left some major plot points less ambiguous, but I guess that's Yoko Taro for you.
    The bad thing is the ending section with the credits needs to be easier offline. I am pretty good at bullet hell games, but for the ps4 controller it was hard for me to navigate the last scene. I had to go onto multiplayer.    … Expand
  55. SuperkenGaming
    Mar 18, 2017
    7
    Nier Automata
    A game that plays itself.
    Nier Automata is a 3rd person hack and slash open world action adventure rpg game where you play as android 2B accompanied by 9s and a droid This game takes place after Nier, though this is a spin off, there are nods to the past game here// but other than to appreciate those moments, playing the past games is unnecessary.. This continues the    Nier Automata
    A game that plays itself.
    Nier Automata is a 3rd person hack and slash open world action adventure rpg game where you play as android 2B accompanied by 9s and a droid
    This game takes place after Nier, though this is a spin off, there are nods to the past game here// but other than to appreciate those moments, playing the past games is unnecessary..
    This continues the human vs robot war in a post-apocalyptic open world where robots are beginning to feel emotion…
    2B and 9S have an endearing relationship here... 2B being programmed to be more calm and composed, while 9s is more emotional…
    Leads for some great moments and dialog in the game,, its just a shame theyre so few and far between because watching their growth is the best part of the game..
    The game takes around 8 hours to complete… though there are multiple endings and perspectives the game shows you if you’re interested in checking them out...
    After playing through Automata the first time though... I was fine with that ending being my final ending…
    Because unfortunately neither the story nor the world enticed me enough to want to play again
    The world is tiny, dull, colorless, lifeless, not fun to explore…
    And the entire 8 hour journey is spent revisiting all of these locations over and over…
    There were very few moments I thought wow... this game is beautiful or this section is really cool…
    It looks and feels generic throughout…
    I did enjoy the fact that the camera is constantly pulling in and out, changing game perspective, to where at times the game feels like a 2d platformer.. I just wish more was done with it than give us the typical grey and brown rusty structures to run through…
    For the most part you get a task, go to the location on the map, turn in your progress, go to a different location... fight a boss that all but maybe 2 are just spongier hack and slash battles… rinse and repeat…
    The world feels connected… but back to the point that it feels generic…
    Nothing feels like you haven’t seen it before…
    Making your journey back and forth feel like a drag…
    the combat here is fairly fun… I wouldn’t necessarily call it satisfying though…
    Not much to it other than light and heavy attacks…
    You can find new weapons in the world and upgrade them with the parts and materials you find in the world and off of robots to make the battle grind a little quicker…
    but much like the world... the combat was just there. It was good… the world is good... but again, never felt fun to me… just existing
    plus there’s a setting in the game where all you have to do is move your character... The game does the attacking for you…
    Almost turning this into a twin stick shooter hack and slash game if you want…
    I dipped my toes in both styles
    but after fighting enemies that all felt the same over and over... I actually started to prefer the autopilot mode.
    I’m sorry, I know this dislikes are coming... I’m in the minority here…
    But I don’t see the upper 8s and 9s this game is getting by everyone else
    Nier Automata has great characters in B2 and 9S...
    But the story of these robots feeling emotion is never told in an impactful way…
    the world is no fun to explore..
    the bosses feel uninspired and the combat is just there…
    This is a good game, I had fun…
    you won’t regret playing through…
    but I don’t honestly believe you’re missing anything if you choose to skip this one…
    I give Nier Automata
    a 7/10    … Expand
  56. Voopydoopy
    Mar 18, 2017
    10
    A game that surpassed my expectations and helped me recover from my shatter expectations of Horizon Zero Dawn. Nier: Automata has a great Story, great characters, philosophical themes, game play variety, and is the best RPG to come out this year so far.
  57. theman222
    Mar 18, 2017
    10
    Nier: Automata is a work of art, and gamers everywhere need to experience it.

    It's definitely not perfect. While the combat is fun, it's a little shallow for my tastes. The graphics aren't the best, but the art style makes up for it somewhat. The narrative takes some questionable turns and the presentation isn't done very well (I'm not saying it's bad either). The difficulty spike from    Nier: Automata is a work of art, and gamers everywhere need to experience it.

    It's definitely not perfect. While the combat is fun, it's a little shallow for my tastes. The graphics aren't the best, but the art style makes up for it somewhat. The narrative takes some questionable turns and the presentation isn't done very well (I'm not saying it's bad either). The difficulty spike from Normal to Hard is completely ridiculous. There are a few good bosses, but there are just as many disappointing ones. The sidequests are hit or miss, and they all boil down to fetch quests.

    In the end, despite its flaws, it's very clear that this game has a ton of heart. My inner critic wants to give this an 8/10, but the experience as a whole had such a profound emotional impact on me (mainly thanks to the compelling narrative and the brilliant soundtrack), that I just can't do it. I know this game got sandwiched between some huge releases, but you should definitely keep it on your radar if it's still there.    … Expand
  58. rudo1990
    Mar 18, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Wie könnte ich Nier: Automata am besten beschreiben ? Für mich war bis jetzt FF7 das beste Spiel aller Zeiten und seit FF7 habe ich kein Spiel gespielt ( und ich habe viele .... viele Spiele gespielt ) welche nur im Ansatz an die Story heran kamen. Nun aus dem Nichts Nier gesehen geholt und 3 Tage nicht das Haus verlassen. Die Story die Charaktere die Grafik und vor allem die Musik haben mich zu Tränen gerührt und ich bin ein Eishockey Spieler .... wir haben keine Tränendrüsen.

    Wer denkt, das Nier zu kurz ist sollte alle 5 Enden durchspielen es wiederholt sich nichts, denn das Spiel ist darauf ausgelegt, das man es mehrfach durch spielt.

    2B OR NOT 2[B]E    … Expand
  59. LuizFernandoe
    Mar 18, 2017
    10
    > Fantastic Butt Direction
    > Amazing soundtrack
    > Very good ass and tight
    > Well applied butt elements
    > Variety of combos, weapons, asses, missions and enemies
    > Rich in detail
    > Excellent ass gameplay
  60. Masterhummel
    Mar 18, 2017
    9
    During the first ~10 hours of the game, i might've given Nier: Automata a solid 7 / 10. Good gameplay that suffers from its out ambitions in a rather underperforming enviroment. Fun, but lacking in some aspects. Especially after the first few hours the game starts to get somewhat mundane and it needs a few hours to catch up with itself.

    It's difflicult to rate Nier: Automata without    During the first ~10 hours of the game, i might've given Nier: Automata a solid 7 / 10. Good gameplay that suffers from its out ambitions in a rather underperforming enviroment. Fun, but lacking in some aspects. Especially after the first few hours the game starts to get somewhat mundane and it needs a few hours to catch up with itself.

    It's difflicult to rate Nier: Automata without spoiling it, so let me put it that way: It doesn't feel like a focustestet product that's developed to match a certain target audience. This game was made by people who don't give a **** about the player and who just wanted to make the thing they wanted. Depending on how you vibe with those people, you either enjoy Automata tremendously or not at all.

    My 9/10 comes from a feeling i didn't had in a long time. It's most similiar to the feeling i had playing jrpgs as a child. Moving trough a foreign world in which everything could happen at any time. And that's worth quite a bit to me. For others, it might not worth be anything at all.    … Expand
  61. Steward_Titor
    Mar 18, 2017
    10
    This game is a masterpiece. One of the best experiences in gaming I've ever had in gaming. Great characters that do nothing but grow on you as they develop individually as well as with each other, a strong relationship between the protags, an award worthy soundtrack, and great writing all round. Even if the story isn't for you, pick it up for the smooth and satisfying nameplate alone. 10/10
  62. Zurce
    Mar 18, 2017
    10
    Best Yoko Taro work, an ode to the videogames that rescues forgotten mechanics to give live to a master piece. Artistically incomparable with a script that will brand you
  63. Sharpshooter188
    Mar 18, 2017
    8
    I was always a fan of the Bayonetta, Ninja Gaiden, and DMC games. If those are your thing you need to at the very least rent this game with some kind of service. Very fluid and flashy combat, a lot of different weapons to find and expand your arsenal, and teensy bit of fan service. The story is interesting, though I admit a bit nonsensical at times. It becomes a bit difficult to followI was always a fan of the Bayonetta, Ninja Gaiden, and DMC games. If those are your thing you need to at the very least rent this game with some kind of service. Very fluid and flashy combat, a lot of different weapons to find and expand your arsenal, and teensy bit of fan service. The story is interesting, though I admit a bit nonsensical at times. It becomes a bit difficult to follow with so many twists in the story. Environments could've been more interactive as well. Soundtrack isn't bad though I'm more a fan of the DMC and Metal Gear Revengeance tracks myself. Sidequests are a bit repetitive.

    But at it's core this game is about combat. And it performs that exceedingly well. Lots to do as well as multiple endings. However, some endings are just gimmicky things. Like a short clip of something happening and then the game ending because of some vague reason. I've sunk about 50 hours of gameplay into this thing and Ive still got a few hefty things to do. There are a couple of hidden bosses as well to extend gameplay time and a newgame+ of sorts as well. No shortage of content here.

    Give it a shot. I think you'll find it worth your time.    … Expand
  64. Diwari1215
    Mar 17, 2017
    9
    I have never grown to love a game more than this. When I began I was frustrated with the game's design and story, but please, take ti from me, this game is top notch. The game really dazzles as you begin to play through it more and more. The soundtrack, characters, story, and combat is amazing. If you have a PS4 or PC, and you haven't played this game, you must absolutely do so. PlatinumI have never grown to love a game more than this. When I began I was frustrated with the game's design and story, but please, take ti from me, this game is top notch. The game really dazzles as you begin to play through it more and more. The soundtrack, characters, story, and combat is amazing. If you have a PS4 or PC, and you haven't played this game, you must absolutely do so. Platinum games once again proves to be one of the best developers out there, and combined with Squenix's top notch story writing, there isn't a game out there quite like this. Nier Automata made me a believer, and you will be made one too.… Expand
  65. Switchbutton
    Mar 17, 2017
    0
    A mediocre game that attempts to cash in on the success of Bayonetta or Metal Gear Rising. Terrible characters, bland levels, and a focus on awful gimmicky gameplay.
  66. 1van5
    Mar 17, 2017
    10
    Aside from Taro's extremely well crafted and atypical NARRATIVE , which everyone already expected from this title, this game just never gets dull. It brings elements from many games we have learned to love througout the gaming industry's history and blends them all together to deliver an unique and never predictable experience. It's admirable that so many gameplay MECHANICS fit it in suchAside from Taro's extremely well crafted and atypical NARRATIVE , which everyone already expected from this title, this game just never gets dull. It brings elements from many games we have learned to love througout the gaming industry's history and blends them all together to deliver an unique and never predictable experience. It's admirable that so many gameplay MECHANICS fit it in such a balanced way.

    The SOUNDTRACK is just as astonishing, it succeeds in setting a great atmosphere while fitting perfectly on the story theme. There's one great specific soundtrack feature that I will not spoil, but you'll come accross it on your 2nd playthrough and it's jaw-dropping.

    The VISUALS are beautiful, even though the game never pushes too hard on graphics department with super real textures, which is actually good once loading screens also tend to be quick. Elements placed along ambients are well distributed and the lighting does create beautiful moments to just stare and rotate the camera (the CAMERA, by the way, delivers amazing angles that you don't see in every game). The main character models and animations are beautiful, side characters do not have as much detail but can also look great. To make a long story short: amazing art direction without being pushy on graphics.

    PERFORMANCE does fall off at certain areas/points in the game, but it never really gets in the way.

    CONTROLS are highly responsive and 100% customizable. Just moving feels great in this game. Combat is, well, Platinum at it's best.

    Reviewers who gave this game a low score either did not continue after 1st playthrough (roughly 20% of the game) or are just confusing personal opinion with a reviewer's duty.

    This game definitely deserves a 10/10.    … Expand
  67. downcastt
    Mar 17, 2017
    9
    Im bad with words but in summary this game made me feel like a kid who got surprised with a very delicious candy box and I enjoyed every single piece of candy from that box with a smile on my face and a heart rate of over a 100 because each sweet was sweeter than the previous one.
  68. AsrielDreemur
    Mar 17, 2017
    10
    Nier Automata is a masterpiece on it's own way. From the characters design, unique stages, the in game combat mechanics and not to mention the amazing sound track the game has to offer. For a hack and slash game i would never have thought that the strongest point in the game is the story plot it self. This is by far one the best game platinum games had ever made.

    Graphic: 8/10    Nier Automata is a masterpiece on it's own way. From the characters design, unique stages, the in game combat mechanics and not to mention the amazing sound track the game has to offer. For a hack and slash game i would never have thought that the strongest point in the game is the story plot it self. This is by far one the best game platinum games had ever made.

    Graphic: 8/10
    Character Design: 9/10
    Sound : 10/10
    Gameplay : 10/10
    Story: 10/10
    Replay Value: 10/10

    Overall: 10/10 - A must buy game    … Expand
  69. marcelus
    Mar 17, 2017
    8
    A Yoko Taro with great gameplay. Maybe not the deepest Platinum Games combat system but the sum of all things makes a great product. The soundtrack by Keiichi Okabe with vocals by Emi Evans. The story which can be deep for fans but also can be enjoyed by newcomers on the first Route (Route A Ending). Maybe the fans wanted more screen time for old characters and the cameo of a special oneA Yoko Taro with great gameplay. Maybe not the deepest Platinum Games combat system but the sum of all things makes a great product. The soundtrack by Keiichi Okabe with vocals by Emi Evans. The story which can be deep for fans but also can be enjoyed by newcomers on the first Route (Route A Ending). Maybe the fans wanted more screen time for old characters and the cameo of a special one from a previous game but they game worth it every single penny. I would write tons of lines about NieR with spoilers and all...You'll know if you become Drag-On Dragoon | NieR fan as I am now. BTW those shooters parts...Yoko Taro...you did it! :)… Expand
  70. AColdOnion
    Mar 16, 2017
    2
    This game was just another single player jog with no multiplayer... if you like games where you button mash and kill everything with ease like a god then this is for you.... bought the game because of the good reviews but ultimately felt very underwhelmed..
  71. cythrawll
    Mar 16, 2017
    9
    This open game world isn't especially large and indepth as a lot of modern open world games are. However, the game play mechanics, story, and the seamless switching between 3d action, 2.5d platformer and 2d space shooter make this game fun. The great soundtrack and visuals really give this game a coherent aesthetic, that really plays well with immersing you into the world.
  72. Makaveli
    Mar 16, 2017
    10
    A flawed masterpiece. Awesome Storytelling, Awesome game-play , Awesome music.. Awesome replayability.... So far this is my Game of the Year

    Rate 9.5
  73. peropify
    Mar 15, 2017
    9
    Nier Automata is great, and attempts something different in JRPGs that we haven't seen in a long time. With stylish graphics, some intricate skill mechanisms, and a dark and compelling story - Nier is a front runner for best game in early 2017.
  74. TheParrradox
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    Every once in a while a video game comes out which strikes a chord inside of me. The story, characters, gameplay and music are so amazing and beautiful that the fantastic experience stays with me for years to come. It reminds me why I love to play video games in the first place. Nier:Automata is one such game.
  75. ehcab
    Mar 15, 2017
    8
    After playing 8 hours at a normal level of difficulty, I can decently declare that this game is fresh and fun. However, I can't find yet all the hype that I read on both User's and press articles.

    The world is immersive, the story is deep enough, the 3C's are awesome but : the graphics are not so nice, the frame rate is not constant (you do have some slight drop of frame rate) and the    After playing 8 hours at a normal level of difficulty, I can decently declare that this game is fresh and fun. However, I can't find yet all the hype that I read on both User's and press articles.

    The world is immersive, the story is deep enough, the 3C's are awesome but : the graphics are not so nice, the frame rate is not constant (you do have some slight drop of frame rate) and the rpg mechanics has so far not been useful (been equiping maybe 10% of the items i found / could buy)

    So it's a YES, but I am still eager to live the hype that I read.    … Expand
  76. AsboXFlemzo
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    Flawless sequal, to a very unique style of Dark rpg. Graphics-10 gameplay- 10 music-10 voice acting-10, Zero bugs seen, story-10. Best game of this generation.
  77. Xanxus00
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    GOTY so far! Best OST of the year no question about it.The only thing that I think would come kinda close for OST is Persona but even then I'm pretty sure Nier will still take it
  78. matrixasiseefit
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    I call Nier: Automata "unique" not because it's just a fun gorgeous action RPG , but because Nier at it's multi-layered core is a chameleon of game mechanics. If Ghost in a Shell, Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy and Robotech had a baby it would be Nier Automata. I will say this game isn't for everyone. If you are not a fan of games like Bayonetta, Devil May Cry or Metal Gear: Rising youI call Nier: Automata "unique" not because it's just a fun gorgeous action RPG , but because Nier at it's multi-layered core is a chameleon of game mechanics. If Ghost in a Shell, Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy and Robotech had a baby it would be Nier Automata. I will say this game isn't for everyone. If you are not a fan of games like Bayonetta, Devil May Cry or Metal Gear: Rising you probably wont enjoy Nier as much as I do. However, if you did enjoy the games I previously mentioned and you also like anime style hack and slash games with an intriguing (yet slightly weird) narrative, you should pick-up Nier as soon as you can. B-2 will not disappoint.… Expand
  79. huudis
    Mar 15, 2017
    9
    I have beaten the game once and that opens New game+, witch seems pretty neat. No major spoilers but it's nothing like it's in dark souls, etc... World is semi open world, not very explore friendly, mostly world in ruins. But story and characters are interesting.

    I noticed some performance issues with regular PS4, nothing game breaking, because fighting seems smooth. I can recommend    I have beaten the game once and that opens New game+, witch seems pretty neat. No major spoilers but it's nothing like it's in dark souls, etc... World is semi open world, not very explore friendly, mostly world in ruins. But story and characters are interesting.

    I noticed some performance issues with regular PS4, nothing game breaking, because fighting seems smooth.

    I can recommend this game to anyone who likes devil may cry series and game has nice amount of customization with skills. Soundtrack is also very good! LOVE IT!    … Expand
  80. nonameforme
    Mar 14, 2017
    10
    *This is spoiler free
    *Time until getting all Endings A B C D E (main ending): 47 Hours.
    *Enemy LVL don't scale with your level. *NOTE: you can unlock debug mode and chapter selection to collect side quest and all ending. But I won't tell you how, no spoiler. (but don't worry, it's possible to get it before you get the true ending) Story: Yoko Taro/10 This is one of the game    *This is spoiler free
    *Time until getting all Endings A B C D E (main ending): 47 Hours.
    *Enemy LVL don't scale with your level.

    *NOTE: you can unlock debug mode and chapter selection to collect side quest and all ending. But I won't tell you how, no spoiler. (but don't worry, it's possible to get it before you get the true ending)

    Story: Yoko Taro/10

    This is one of the game that move gaming forward in both industry and art sense. If TV is "show, don't tell", then this game is the example of "Do, don't show" and differentiate itself from a lot of games which had stories feel like a separated entity from gameplay. An example is "Last Of Us", it has awesome story, but if the gameplay can be switched off/changed without effecting how the story can be told (If Last Of Us is pure TV show, adventure game), then it's just implementing traditional TV knowledge into game, and didn't use the fact that it's 'game' to the full potential. This is not to say Last Of Us is a bad 'game'. You can think of this in this sense..."Radio's horror VS TV's horror", In TV the producer can make a 'silent screen' very terrifying by using image and light, but radio's horror cannot and must reply on sound and music. By 'evolving' from Radio era to TV era, creators will have new way to express their works, but it may take time until those 'way' turn into common knowledge, not just 'personal style/talent'.

    This is like one of those title such as "Undertale",etc. Where you should go in blind and you should avoid spoiler like plague. And that make explaining how the story and gameplay support each other quite difficult.

    And if this look edgy, it means Yoko Taro had successfully trolled you. On the surface it look like a edgy story at 1st/2nd new game+, but at the core of the game, it's talking about sci-fi philosophy thing such as (in generic example to avoid spoiler) "do robot have soul?", "If a ship/person is repair so much that none of the original part is left, is he still the same thing?", "Is real emotion possible without soul?, does that make it artificial?".
    However, the game won't spoon feed or force feed you about how the game "THINK" about those topic, it will show you those 'stories', but won't judge you if you have difference idea. It's up to you to think deeper (AKA, after stories of those stories). This is another reason why I like Yoko Taro works', he treat his audience like a intellectual being who have their own minds and the ability to 'understand "THING" without needing the game to spoon fed them what's going on'.

    And no, those Drakengard 3 edgy character and pee joke is gone (thank god).

    Gameplay: 8.5/10
    It's Platinum Game, what did you expected?? If you had played other Platinum Game, it's quite similar. It's very satisfy, smooth, and pure joy.
    However, this time a lot of mechanic such as "time slow when perfect dodge" , "push the movement analog at the enemy attack direction to make counter attack", etc. are now in the form of "CHIP UPGRADE" which you can slot in/out if you like/hate those system. (and maybe use generic RPG buff like +20 ATK chip instead".

    *NOTE: some side quest give you special item which enable special mechanic? (I prefer to call them Quality of Life add-on, not important but make the game more entertaining)

    But it's not without flaw (especially when NIER 1 did it better in some area).

    IMO, the 'downgrade' system is the 'pod skill/magic'. In previous NIER, when you cast spell, time will slow down and you get a 'wheel ui' which contain all magic for you to select. After you select, the game will continue to slow down for you to choose target and cast the spell.
    However, in AUTOMATA, player have to manually install 'pod system/magic' 1 at a time. (when you cast the skill, it will just trigger the install spell). This remove the flexibility to select the skill/magic that suit the situation best. Yes, players can change spell at any time, but doing so mean you have to pause the game and go so deep into UI that it's too troublesome to do.
    Not to mention that now in AUTOMATA, spell/skill will auto cast in-front of player character, removing the manual aim, which may make combat faster, but it actually render spell almost useless cause it's very easy to miss (most skills' AOE are small, and just a bit of turning make can ruin your aim)

    Another minor problem I have is that weapon upgrade didn't change their appearance like in Drakengard series or 1st NIER. (I suspect it's Square Enix work to sell those cosmetics as DLC).

    Overall: Get it now. You won't regret it (if you make it to the ending E).    … Expand
  81. MetaReviews
    Mar 14, 2017
    2
    Game is underwhelming to say the least.
    Pretty standard button mashing combat system and generic story.
    Graphics aren't really up to 2017 standards although they're not bad. Sound design and music is good but not great. Frame rate dips sometimes along with other graphical instabilities. All in all not worth 60$. Get it on sale if you really want to play it. Nier Automata doesn't    Game is underwhelming to say the least.
    Pretty standard button mashing combat system and generic story.
    Graphics aren't really up to 2017 standards although they're not bad.
    Sound design and music is good but not great.
    Frame rate dips sometimes along with other graphical instabilities.
    All in all not worth 60$. Get it on sale if you really want to play it.
    Nier Automata doesn't bring anything particularly new or remarkable to the table and struggles to differentiate itself from all of the other anime styled RPGs out there.    … Expand
  82. naughtss
    Mar 14, 2017
    10
    Absolutely everything is amazing about this game and it is well worth the price. The sound track is unbelievably good and every single track has multiple versions that the game flows between to fit the area or timing of events happening. The combat is fluid and fun as well. The story is some of the best writing I've seen in years, and after getting the platinum trophy for the game I amAbsolutely everything is amazing about this game and it is well worth the price. The sound track is unbelievably good and every single track has multiple versions that the game flows between to fit the area or timing of events happening. The combat is fluid and fun as well. The story is some of the best writing I've seen in years, and after getting the platinum trophy for the game I am still wanting more. It is a real shame that the two non positive critic reviews are from people who did not come anywhere near actually finishing the game. After reading them, it is clear that nearly all their complaints and questions would have been answered had they actually done their job and finished the game before tarnishing it with bad reviews.… Expand
  83. Mikamistryke
    Mar 14, 2017
    10
    NieR:Automata is one of those games thats really difficult to describe how amazing it is without spoiling anything. If your not familiar with Yoko Taro's type of storytelling, it's of those games that's way much more complex than it looks,
    But unlike Taro´s past games, this one is made by platinum games, master of the action hack n' slash genre, ands it's truly a match made in heaven,    NieR:Automata is one of those games thats really difficult to describe how amazing it is without spoiling anything. If your not familiar with Yoko Taro's type of storytelling, it's of those games that's way much more complex than it looks,
    But unlike Taro´s past games, this one is made by platinum games, master of the action hack n' slash genre, ands it's truly a match made in heaven, combining a weird and amazing with fast action gameplay, running at 50-60 fps on a regular ps4.
    Its has imense replayability, with second playtrough revealing new story twists and sidequests.
    And last but no least, the godly soundtrack thats a trademark of Taro's games that complements the beauty of this game.
    10 android asscheeks/10    … Expand
  84. user24601
    Mar 14, 2017
    10
    First of all, this is not a game for everyone. This game is more like a graphic novel whereas the plot is carefully layered and told in an indirect way. You won't get to enjoy it unless you beat the game multiple times and get the true ending. If you are looking for just another action rpg where you just slash and mash your way to the end then this game is not for you.

    The gameplay is    First of all, this is not a game for everyone. This game is more like a graphic novel whereas the plot is carefully layered and told in an indirect way. You won't get to enjoy it unless you beat the game multiple times and get the true ending. If you are looking for just another action rpg where you just slash and mash your way to the end then this game is not for you.

    The gameplay is refreshing and comes in different forms - normal hack and slash, 2d scroller, top view shooter, Macross type shooter, etc. My first playthrough was in Normal mode, which is relatively easy for non action type players to get through, If you want more challenges, you should definitely play in hard mode.

    Similar to the original Nier, this game has one of the best soundtracks in gaming. I even dare say it beats the original Nier. I would even go AFK and stay in a zone just to enjoy the beautiful music when I want to take a break.

    Overall this game delivers, both as a Yoko Taro game, as well as a JRPG.    … Expand
  85. Tselel
    Mar 14, 2017
    8
    Story - The fact that it is a Yoko Taro game shows that if you want to see and know the whole story, you MUST finish it all and unlock all endings. The story can be generalized as follow; Earth is now dominated by "aliens" and the human race fled and is now living in the moon. The group of androids named "Yhorha" has the main task of retaking Earth and defeating the aliens in it. The mainStory - The fact that it is a Yoko Taro game shows that if you want to see and know the whole story, you MUST finish it all and unlock all endings. The story can be generalized as follow; Earth is now dominated by "aliens" and the human race fled and is now living in the moon. The group of androids named "Yhorha" has the main task of retaking Earth and defeating the aliens in it. The main protagonists of the game are 2B, and android whose unique trait is being calm, 9S, an android whose unique trait is showing more emotions compared to other androids and the third protagonist in the game is A2, a prototype android for 2B's class and whose unique trait is being solitary and prefers to work alone. These 3 are the main core of the game and Yoko Taro's Nier story. All i can say is I love the unique way of storytelling made by the developers in game in which more and more of the story is revealed the more you actually tried to unlock the other endings and at the end. All i can say is it is tragic, but satisfactory and good. A score of 9/10.

    Gameplay - Now this is where the second developer Platinum games forte. I can say it is one of their bests gameplay developed in their careers, it is better if not equal to Bayonetta's hack and slash gameplay and obviously better than the Revengeance gameplay. It's smooth and fast paced its awesome. In addition, other style of mini games was also included in game like the classic overhead shooter view, the 2-D side scroller gameplay, etc. Even though sometimes it becomes confusing because of how fast the game moves it is till great. Awesome job by Platinum Games. A score of 10/10 in this aspect.

    Graphics - The animation, character movement and character design are all awesome. The fan favorite of Cosplayers is 2B's Goth outfit and we wont ever forget her gorgeous and game changing sexy android butt. As well as other character's design like the Yorha's commander and A2. However, my issue is the color of the environment, its bland and lifeless, although i could see why they did that since its apocalyptic, it is still becoming boring if all you see in the environment are dominated by the colors black, white and yellow. Another issue i had is the enemy designs, it is pretty generic and lazily done. Though some are cute looking, nothing really out of all made me impressed. Therefore, a score of 7/10 deserves this spot.

    Sound - No need to say anything. GOTY when its comes to soundtrack and character voice. 10/10

    Average = 8.75

    Platinum games has now redeemed themselve and is back in the game with the release of this awesome game and Yoko Taro's unique storytelling added that cherry on top. This game is a recomended buy to anyone who misses the fast paced hack and slash game genre. Its totally worth it,    … Expand
  86. wazula5
    Mar 14, 2017
    10
    wow. easily one of the top 5 games i have ever played. some critics say the world is desolate, but it's post apocalyptic and peaceful at the same time...you know when you're not in amazing and chaotic combat. the musical score is a treasure in it's own right. my wife likes that i'm playing just for the sake of the background music lol.
  87. Tazcat2011
    Mar 14, 2017
    9
    This is a game where I didn't know much about it prior to playing it. The world is interesting and the main character is really good. This is A-Team Platinum for sure with lots of polish and well tuned controls. The saving system took getting used to and I do wish it had auto saves. The interactions between 2B and 9S are sometimes funny and touching. This game is definitely "very Japanese"This is a game where I didn't know much about it prior to playing it. The world is interesting and the main character is really good. This is A-Team Platinum for sure with lots of polish and well tuned controls. The saving system took getting used to and I do wish it had auto saves. The interactions between 2B and 9S are sometimes funny and touching. This game is definitely "very Japanese" and I am enjoying it immensely. I like the philosophical nature of the story the game world. It's a nice balance between a fun game and something that gives you something to think about. This a GOTY candidate for sure.… Expand
  88. ReeferMad
    Mar 14, 2017
    10
    I'm not too big into anime or JRPGs nor do I understand the Nier universe and the story from which it spins off, BUT I took a chance, listened to the public and critics and I am deeply entertained by this game. It's all familiar, the hack and slash combat, sandbox, questing, NPCs, story-lines YET it all feels so innovative. Nier: Automata has a satisfying combat system combined with aI'm not too big into anime or JRPGs nor do I understand the Nier universe and the story from which it spins off, BUT I took a chance, listened to the public and critics and I am deeply entertained by this game. It's all familiar, the hack and slash combat, sandbox, questing, NPCs, story-lines YET it all feels so innovative. Nier: Automata has a satisfying combat system combined with a weird, yet refreshing open world. While some may not admire the graphics, they actually fit well in the universe it builds. Because you play as an android I attribute the look at to how the world would look to a humanoid computer. It's all very fitting. I suggest, if you're on the fence to give this game a chance and spend that dollar, so your purchase encourages the industry and developers to keep making wholly unique and enjoyable games.

    GET NIER:AUTOMATA! If you still aren't convinced the PSN store has a great demo which actually showcases very well what to expect from the game. The demo comes from about the first 20-30 min of the game.

    2017 is a great year for gaming and its again supported by a quality release like Nier:Automata.    … Expand
  89. ItsACookie
    Mar 13, 2017
    9
    Although NieR: Automata is not a perfect game in every aspect, it is an outstanding piece of work and deserves credit. Smooth animations, a breathtaking soundtrack and a curious plot make for a truly unique video game experience. To be frank, NieR avoids a lot of pitfalls found in mainstream games these days and really highlights what an immersive and beautiful experience playing a videoAlthough NieR: Automata is not a perfect game in every aspect, it is an outstanding piece of work and deserves credit. Smooth animations, a breathtaking soundtrack and a curious plot make for a truly unique video game experience. To be frank, NieR avoids a lot of pitfalls found in mainstream games these days and really highlights what an immersive and beautiful experience playing a video game can truly be in 2017.
    Worth every penny I paid, every second played, and every drop of sweat. I will never forget NieR: Automata.    … Expand
  90. KirsiKitty
    Mar 13, 2017
    10
    Please keep in mind, this game has multiple playthroughs, but each one is very different from the last you will have new experiences and learn more and new stories, you will even have new gameplay aspects.

    Nier games exist to make you question your morality, and morality in general. What you know to be the right thing, may actually be the wrong thing. The combat in Automata is    Please keep in mind, this game has multiple playthroughs, but each one is very different from the last you will have new experiences and learn more and new stories, you will even have new gameplay aspects.

    Nier games exist to make you question your morality, and morality in general. What you know to be the right thing, may actually be the wrong thing.

    The combat in Automata is outstanding, the animations really help it be that way, this is probably one of the most perfectly animated games Ive seen. Im about 30 hours in on my second playthrough and Im still discovering new places, new things and it genuinely feels like a new experience itself. The story may look thin on the first, but I promise if you keep playing and learning, it gets very deep very quickly.

    The soundtrack though...The soundtrack is ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING. Absolutely beautiful and so many different songs for different areas, fights, situations, and every single one of them is outstanding, havent found a song yet that I dont love.    … Expand
  91. CharlePL
    Mar 13, 2017
    6
    Game with huge potential. Unfortunately this potential is not met. Game is full of different bugs, drop frames a lot. Side quests are stupid to say the least. Nice, indie game, but massively underdeveloped.
  92. daxsheppard
    Mar 13, 2017
    1
    This game is a frustrating mess. The combat is button mashing nonsense, the story is typical boring philosophical bullsh*t. The world is bland and extremely boring, you'll get tired of seeing the same busted buildings over and over again. The game also requires you to play it over and over again to get the 'real' ending. Which wouldn't be an issue but 90% of the missions in the game areThis game is a frustrating mess. The combat is button mashing nonsense, the story is typical boring philosophical bullsh*t. The world is bland and extremely boring, you'll get tired of seeing the same busted buildings over and over again. The game also requires you to play it over and over again to get the 'real' ending. Which wouldn't be an issue but 90% of the missions in the game are fetch quests, so have fun running back and forth for hours on end.

    TLDR: pass on this one, and don't fall for the hype.    … Expand
  93. sandlefoxiv
    Mar 13, 2017
    6
    Excellent characters and music but a very stuttering frame rate and subpar combat really make this game drag on. Platinum is definitely on the rise again after their last few outings but they just don't have the formula for success. What a shame.
  94. KingDevil999
    Mar 13, 2017
    10
    The hack'n'slash we needed in a long time, jesus everyone at this point is sick of fps and third-person shooter, this game came in the perfect moment to break these saturated genres, and what an epic game, immersive from start to finish(different from that **** called quantum break), everything of good that makes part of an video game is in this game, in already strong year for gaming weThe hack'n'slash we needed in a long time, jesus everyone at this point is sick of fps and third-person shooter, this game came in the perfect moment to break these saturated genres, and what an epic game, immersive from start to finish(different from that **** called quantum break), everything of good that makes part of an video game is in this game, in already strong year for gaming we get an even stronger game to compete, don't waste your time go pick it up and play… Expand
  95. SoloKazama
    Mar 13, 2017
    10
    This game is pure awesomeness. Remove all rough/edgy stuff from Nier, add more - and here you have Nier: Automata. And good thing is newcomers can play it also without knowing Nier. Music again is SO GOOD, combat is great and super fluid (dmc+bayonetta+jRPG in one). Story is engaging with twists. Exploration is rewarded. No stupid million markers on map. One of my best game this generation so far.
  96. majiayouxiang
    Mar 13, 2017
    10
    Look at how that 50/100 reviewer from Post Arcade said on his Twitter:

    Chad Sapieha‏ @chadsapieha Mar 9 Lego Worlds gobbled up time I was supposed to spend on Nier. It's rough in spots, but (close to) the game true Lego fans have long wanted. Chad Sapieha‏ @chadsapieha Mar 6 Okay, Nier, let's see whether/how much I begrudge you for taking me away from Zelda. Chad Sapieha‏    Look at how that 50/100 reviewer from Post Arcade said on his Twitter:

    Chad Sapieha‏ @chadsapieha Mar 9
    Lego Worlds gobbled up time I was supposed to spend on Nier. It's rough in spots, but (close to) the game true Lego fans have long wanted.

    Chad Sapieha‏ @chadsapieha Mar 6
    Okay, Nier, let's see whether/how much I begrudge you for taking me away from Zelda.

    Chad Sapieha‏ @chadsapieha Mar 6
    Nier: Automata arrives today. If I end up liking it that'll mean it must be really good, 'cause it's pulling me away from Zelda and Horizon.

    As a strongly biased reviewer who only finished 1/3 of the game, I was wondering how metacritic allows such an unprofessional reviewer to submit his comments and scores.

    Nier is a revolutionary game as a great combination between action and stories. Hope that it sells well and more games of this type come out.    … Expand
  97. edzep82
    Mar 13, 2017
    10
    NieR: Automata is my favourite game of the year so far. Featuring a superbly presented story and incredibly fast paced, satisfying combat mechanics from Platinum Games. The combination of the two provide much desire to keep coming back for more and intrigues until the very end(s).
  98. Agent_Zigzag
    Mar 12, 2017
    10
    Good Points:
    -Fantastic story, although the story itself is very sad
    -Excellent music -Has a strong link with previous stories -Characters are pretty Bad Points: -Some of the boss fight are kind of too hard (unless you are playing the easy mode) -Some people may feel disgusting for the story -- I really like this sad story between 3 androids, I feel sad for everyone, but this    Good Points:
    -Fantastic story, although the story itself is very sad
    -Excellent music
    -Has a strong link with previous stories
    -Characters are pretty
    Bad Points:
    -Some of the boss fight are kind of too hard (unless you are playing the easy mode)
    -Some people may feel disgusting for the story -- I really like this sad story between 3 androids, I feel sad for everyone, but this doesn't means that everyone will like this story.
    -Weird control system and camera view, people may need time to get used to it.    … Expand
  99. MrAptronym
    Mar 12, 2017
    10
    The original NieR is one of my favorite games of all time. I don't think Automata surpasses it for me, but it is certainly worthy of the title. Automata has a lot more to say, sometimes it isn't very subtle about it, at other times it is incredibly cryptic. Luckily, in the very end, everything certainly comes together. Automata takes advantage of the nature of the media to have an impactThe original NieR is one of my favorite games of all time. I don't think Automata surpasses it for me, but it is certainly worthy of the title. Automata has a lot more to say, sometimes it isn't very subtle about it, at other times it is incredibly cryptic. Luckily, in the very end, everything certainly comes together. Automata takes advantage of the nature of the media to have an impact where other mediums could not.

    The gameplay is a huge improvement and genuinely very good. The marriage of styles is done smoothly. However, some of the bosses aren't up to Platinum's standards. In one or two areas, the camera switching messed me up as well, though they were generally done seamlessly. The RPG side is definitely there, more so than the original, as chips allow a surprising amount of versatility.

    The soundtrack is distinct from the original NieR but every bit as good, possibly better overall. I'll be grabbing a copy of the OST the second it becomes available.

    I have seen the title get a bit of flack for the level design and graphics. I think that the overall design looks and works well. The world has a washed out, ephemeral feeling that matches the tone of the game. I think it is absolutely lovely, and the world is generally fun to explore. (The desert a bit less so, but at least they have made traversal better there this time.)

    After beating almost everything, I can safely say that I still want to go back for more. There will be larger, more polished games this year for sure, and Automata is not without its flaws, but I see it being my personal game of the year already, and a title I will think about for years to come.    … Expand
  100. sankyuu999
    Mar 12, 2017
    10
    Do yourself a favor and play through the 5 main endings before giving this game a score. .........................................................................................
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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

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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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