NieR: Automata

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4607 Ratings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Story:

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

    Gameplay:

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

    Technicals:

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

    Final Thoughts:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The only cons I can say are the graphics / framerate / combat system which could have been more polished but that didn't take away from the experience at all.    … Expand
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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.
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  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.
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  3. games(TM)
    Jun 14, 2017
    80
    Melancholic, wistful and creative at every turn. [Issue#186, p.80]
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