NIER

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 231 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 190 out of 231
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 231
  3. Negative: 24 out of 231
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  1. Myns
    Jan 28, 2023
    10
    Simplesmente uma obra prima da Square Enix, o melhor RPG que já joguei em toda a minha vida sem dúvida NENHUMA!!!!
  2. JimPickens
    Dec 19, 2021
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. NieR Gestalt is an interesting case of a game where judging the game based on the mechanical and sterile way critics typically do will cause you to simply miss the entire reason this game is so beloved among fans. Yes it has simple and repetitive gameplay, but if you allow that to overshadow the masterclass character writing and harrowing plot, I feel nothing but pity for you.

    NieR Gestalt is a 2010 game from everybody's favourite horny philosopher, Yoko Taro which did recently get a remake in NieR Replicant, so why am I reviewing the 2010 version instead you ask? Shut up. The game follows the titular character Nier, who depending on the version in Japan, was either a young boy in Replicant or a big burly man in Gestalt, titled Brother or Father, think Pokemon. However in the West we only got Father Nier. Supposedly this is because Taro saw the success of games like Gears of War in the west and assumed the game would suit us better if it was solely about the big buff burly Papa Nier. I can't say his logic was flawed but he was definitely missing a few pieces of that puzzle. Whatever the case we got NieR Gestalt and ONLY Gestalt, until recently.

    Nier, who is technically renamable but "Jefferey" doesn't quite have the same ring to it, is the father of a young sick girl named Yonah and the first thing we see is Nier and Yonah trying to survive in what would appear to be a post-apocalyptic world where a bunch of red goo demons have destroyed the world. While Nier is gone doing tutorial stuff Yonah finds a book, when Nier gets back the book does some non-book stuff and Yonah dies. Fast forward a few hundred years and we see Nier and Yonah happily living in a small village, confused yet? Good, buckle up. The game sets us on our way as Nier, working odd jobs for the village so he can support his still-sick daughter, you also meet Devola and Popola, and if you played Automata first, yes the tears are normal. During the first half of the game we're introduced to all the main characters. Nier and Yonah of course, Kaine a very aggressive woman who I love very much, with one of the best tragic stories in this entire godforsaken franchise, Emil a young boy with an incredibly tragic story, and Grimoire Weiss, a book... With an incredibly tragic story, yes the book gets his own tragic backstory and yes it's just as heartbreaking as the skeleton kid, the chick with a d*ck and the big burly guy. I love this series. The games plot is largely about our band of tragic tragedies tragically helping other tragic people which all end tragically. Such as the brothers who ask you to find their mother who you find tried to run off with her lover and abandon her kids but was killed so they're left to fend for themselves and the older brother dies because his younger brother knocked some pipes over and made a giant steel plate fall on his brother and kill him, but he thinks a robot did it so he spends the next few years cutting up his arm and going insane till he has you kill the robot who you find was actually a parental figure to a small Shade child, the main enemy in the game, who you ALSO find are real people because you're not a real person you're all replica people who were made after the world got destroyed in the prologue so when you kill some Shades and they drop a schoolbook, you just murdered a child... I don't like this series anymore.

    The latter half of the game has you try to find your daughter Yonah as she was taken by a big mysterious guy with a book, who spoiler alert, is the Nier from the prologue trying to use the book, Grimoire Noire to replace the Yonah who died. So you, Kaine, Emil and Weiss travel to get Yonah back where you discover, Emil was a twin who's sister died during some experiments which ends up having Emil turn into that creepy smiley face Yoko Taro wears, Kaine was an outcast who only ever had her grandmother who got killed by a Shade who nearly kills Kaine until she lets another Shade inhabit her body making her half Xehanor- I mean Shade, hence the bandages covering her Shade parts, Weiss was part of an experiment with a group of people including Noire and a girl he loved who Noire kills, don't ask why they're books, I don't know. ARE YOU DEPRESSED YET?! The final part of the game has you fight Devola and Popola who were androids the entire time, and finally Nier from the past, you have to do this three times as well as collect every weapon for the good ending, Ending C or D, one ending has Nier sacrifice his entire existence to procure Kaine's and the other lets Kaine die so Nier can be with Yonah. D is absolutely the good ending seen as it's canon that after the events, Kaine and Emil travel to a big ass tree that recorded Niers data and rebirths him into the world as he was in the first half of the game.

    NieR is good, NieR is great, I don't want to dwell on the combat, but everything else about NieR is captivating and unforgettable, please go play it.    … Expand
  3. Bruninho1997
    Oct 13, 2021
    9
    Apesar do brilho que esse jogo possui, é inegável que algumas mecânicas não envelheceram tão bem, mas o que mais desgostei do jogo foi a troca de protagonista de acordo com a região de lançamento, com isso há alterações pequenas mas desagraveis na minha opinião.
    Porém o jogo é belíssimo, possui uma ótima jogabilidade e um enredo fantástico, ele brilha na qualidade da trilha sonora e no    Apesar do brilho que esse jogo possui, é inegável que algumas mecânicas não envelheceram tão bem, mas o que mais desgostei do jogo foi a troca de protagonista de acordo com a região de lançamento, com isso há alterações pequenas mas desagraveis na minha opinião.
    Porém o jogo é belíssimo, possui uma ótima jogabilidade e um enredo fantástico, ele brilha na qualidade da trilha sonora e no universo apresentado.    … Expand
  4. Steyraus
    Mar 30, 2020
    10
    The game looks average , is a bit long and can be a bit dry at times, but so what . A game should not be judged on it individual parts, but the experience as a whole. And as a whole Nier is amazing. I've heard people complain about hte combat, I don't know why, there's dozens of weapons and abilities to mix and match and smash the enemy to dust Feels good, variety and satisfaction, what'sThe game looks average , is a bit long and can be a bit dry at times, but so what . A game should not be judged on it individual parts, but the experience as a whole. And as a whole Nier is amazing. I've heard people complain about hte combat, I don't know why, there's dozens of weapons and abilities to mix and match and smash the enemy to dust Feels good, variety and satisfaction, what's missing???
    The crowning achievement is of course the mature, non compromising story, or stories, because as you play through Nier you uncover many fascinating characters and get drawn into their live and their stories and every one is enjoyable and compelling. The character have unfortuatly been tainted a bit by centain fans of the games over the years , making them out to be something they are not in the game and for this reason I really hope the game is never updated or remade. This is a game that was playable and great when it was released and will still be 20 years from now. If people want to experience this masterpiece they should experience the original vision , it's a game that was bold for its time and times have changed for the worse, censorship and offended snowflakes would destroy what makes Nier great.    … Expand
  5. Broyax
    Feb 15, 2020
    0
    Une espèce de jeu de rôle à la japonaise qui cumule de surcroît les défauts qu'on peut trouver parfois dans les jeux de rôle à l'occidentale comme notamment les sales quêtes de garçon-coursier-livreur et autres conneries de remplissage de contenu inepte et lamentable...

    Il s'agit de toute façon surtout d'un "Action-RPG" qui suit toujours le même schéma, à se demander si ce "Nier" ne    Une espèce de jeu de rôle à la japonaise qui cumule de surcroît les défauts qu'on peut trouver parfois dans les jeux de rôle à l'occidentale comme notamment les sales quêtes de garçon-coursier-livreur et autres conneries de remplissage de contenu inepte et lamentable...

    Il s'agit de toute façon surtout d'un "Action-RPG" qui suit toujours le même schéma, à se demander si ce "Nier" ne serait pas en fait une sale putain de saloperie de "Hack-and-Slash" à la con (pléonasme répété) puisqu'on dézingue comme un presse-bouton des **** ennemis avant de finir sur un boss plus ou moins con et casse-bonbons. Le schéma se répète donc ainsi, entrecoupé de quelques dialogues censés faire avancer une histoire... qui n'avance pas ou si peu !

    Les allers et retours sont d'ailleurs légion et symptomatiques de cette allure très supecte qu'a le jeu, cette sale allure de saloperie de merde de "Hack-and-Slash" à la con de mes deux. La musique ne propose que de petites ritournelles certes assez jolies mais qui tournent et retournent en boucle à rendre complètement fou n'importe qui.

    C'est graphiquement pas vilain mais un mauvais goût certain soit curieusement dégueulasse soit bizarrement pervers habite le jeu de temps à autre... de toute manière, on se lasse vraiment de faire la fedex **** avec toujours cette répétition dans le gameplay décidément trop médiocre pour maintenir ne fût-ce qu'un semblant d'intérêt...

    Une daube particulièrement pénible donc qu'on ne saurait trop recommander de rouler dessus en marche avant et en marche arrière avec un gros 4x4 Toyota.    … Expand
  6. DreamEaglr
    Jul 9, 2018
    8
    Одна из лучших игр на прошлом поколении консолей. Лютая смесь жанров, боевка которая не похожа ни на что, многослойный сюжет и абсолютно лютая атмосфера безысходности. Йоко Таро гений
  7. CerN
    May 3, 2018
    10
    Nier must be the most severely underrated game ever released. Just look at the average metascore.
    Most reviewers probably only played ending A, and missed out the entire point of the game's story and themes.
    It's a game you will keep thinking about for days, weeks, months after playing, it tackles themes and plays with your understanding of video games. It is simply beautiful. One of    Nier must be the most severely underrated game ever released. Just look at the average metascore.
    Most reviewers probably only played ending A, and missed out the entire point of the game's story and themes.

    It's a game you will keep thinking about for days, weeks, months after playing, it tackles themes and plays with your understanding of video games. It is simply beautiful. One of the most important games to ever be released, along with Metal Gear Solid 2 and Nier Automata.    … Expand
  8. ransonshan
    Jan 10, 2018
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Nier is a mixed bag. The story is both engaging and nonsensical at the same time. The setup in the beginning and build-up at the half-way mark are great, that kept me on my toes for most of the game. Unfortunately the narrative starts falling apart the farther you go in the plot, by that I mean the lack of any exposition on what’s going on. I typically hate it when RPGs keep hammering exposition in my face during their stories in order to cover all bases, but this game has the opposite issue. The story builds up so much with such little payoff, and by the time I realized this I was already near the end of the game. The main cast is admittedly really fun, helped notably by their talented voice cast. The fun wasn’t really in the writing, but it was in the out-of-place personalities each character has. Due to a non-explanatory story, the main cast and side-characters go all over the place with their motivations and emotional swings. The only instance I enjoyed the side characters is when you meet some of them after the 5-year time gap, those were the best character moments outside of the Father-Daughter moments with Yohna. The game also has 4 endings (advertised on the back of the game case) however the game doesn’t tell you that each ending outside of the 1st is locked unless you beat the game multiple times. This wraps up the story, but the gameplay has a huge positive aspect and a large negative aspect. The best part of the gameplay is the options in combat. The swordplay is simple to use and most fights can’t be won by mashing the X button. Enemies are more aggressive in Nier compared to other hack-n-slash titles and the dungeon bosses are surprisingly varied. Magic-use is also great to experiment with, but I hate how no items in the game can’t refill your magic meter. The last good thing is some of the dungeon design, particularly on the Desert World. That brings me to the rest of the gameplay, it is the epitome of bare-bones and pointless. I fished in the game only once, in a village I went to exactly TWICE in the entire 16-hour adventure. The game talks about planting, I never came across this mechanic in the entire game. It is said to be a useful tool by townsfolk however it is likely a side-quest I never picked up. The side-quests, most of all, are discustingly tedious and unnecessary to the game. The only reward for all side-quests and all items in the game is currency, which is what is needed to buy the enticingly powerful weapons. But you can earn money by farming any dungeons monsters and selling their item drops at any store, so the entire purpose of side-quests of rendered useless. Since you have no armor in the game to buy, you need to rely on health items to stay alive in tough fights. The gameplay, in a nutshell, boils down to buying the strongest weapon and always having healing items on hand. Nothing else matters in the entire game, not even the moments with Yohna since the story’s 1st ending is a guarantee no matter how you interact with her. The last thing to bring up is the dreaded second half of the game. Story-wise, once I beat the game, I questioned why there had to be a 5-year time-skip. Only theee characters have any noticeable growth physically after 5 years which are Gideon, the King of Facade, and Yohna. They don’t explain why Emil didn’t grow in the slightest, nor does it make sense in the 1,300 time-gap from documents on him. Gameplay-wise, it is a complete revisit to every location in the game for a Wind-Waker Triforce Hunt to get keys to the final boss’ lair. I cannot explain the utter rage I felt going through the Lost Shrine a THIRD TIME with no layout change or original enemies. The final battle with the twins gives such little explanation about the fall of humanity I honestly thought the game was joking with me, this couldn’t be the big twist I played 16 hours to get to. Unfortunately, Nier doesn’t elaborate on its premise and the end boss (from a gameplay perspective is honestly a cool fight) brings no satisfaction to the work I put in to save my character’s daughter. Backstories are also only told in Microsoft-Word text boxes after the game is beaten the first time, and a huge part of Kaine’s character (her sentiant Shade who lives inside her) isn’t even mentioned or hinted at in the first Playthrough. The best bits of the game are the character interactions, the combat, the surreal tone of the game’s world, the funny jabs at other RPG tropes, and above all that phenomenal soundtrack. But I can’t in good faith give it a higher rating due to its glaring flaws. The score in my mind would be one rating higher leading up to the ending, but after that unsatisfactory ending I place this game at 5 out of 10. If you’re a fan of the positive aspects I listed, please give this game a try. Otherwise please play Nier Automata instead, I hear that game is much better.… Expand
  9. sin_9999
    May 20, 2017
    8
    dando un repaso a esos juegos que nunca toque por la niebla que siegan los AAA. nier me resulto en un juego muy disfrutable, es basicamente una rara mescla de devil may cry, con un action rpg. con un sistema de combate simple pero vistoso gracias a los poderes que otorga weiss, la trama sencilla y muy cliche pero muy bien ejecutada. ya que preveia cada situacion al ser una historia muydando un repaso a esos juegos que nunca toque por la niebla que siegan los AAA. nier me resulto en un juego muy disfrutable, es basicamente una rara mescla de devil may cry, con un action rpg. con un sistema de combate simple pero vistoso gracias a los poderes que otorga weiss, la trama sencilla y muy cliche pero muy bien ejecutada. ya que preveia cada situacion al ser una historia muy tipica pero nunca me dejo indiferente. los graficos son muy sencillos y esto se deve aser una produccion japonesa. y en ese lado del charco las graficas en sus juegos la mayoria de las veces son muy simples y acartonadas vease cualquier DINASTY WARRIOR de cualquier año. donde el juego se luce magistralmente, son en sus personajes el trio del heroe bonachon, la marimacha (en mas de un sentido) vulgar y sin tacto, y weiss que la verdad no se en que cliche ponerlo lo mas cercano seria el **** light, el trio me divierte mucho cuando de pelean entre si. sobre todo kaine y weiss o weiss y la anciana del la casa del faro. simplificando es como jugar un zelda en modo acertijo ligero, con mas combate y con protas 120 % anime. como dije ante una mezcla muy rara pero buena si le das la oportunidad.

    algo negativo es el fameo es muy pesado subir niveles ya que los enemigos dan muy poca experiencia. pero pasando el nivel 23 puedes irte de corrido sin nesecidad de perder tiempo farmeando otra vez en dificil.

    lo recomiendo con un dedo de frente.    … Expand
  10. likevin96
    May 10, 2017
    8
    ****Review contains MINOR SPOILERS about the structure of the game****

    Completion: Mainlined Endings A & B (Watched C & D online), Normal Difficulty Pros: - Memorable cast of characters that grow on you as the story unfolds. - Expansive lore and subversive plot that turns traditional anime/video game tropes on their head. I would love to say more about this topic, but the story is    ****Review contains MINOR SPOILERS about the structure of the game****

    Completion: Mainlined Endings A & B (Watched C & D online), Normal Difficulty

    Pros:
    - Memorable cast of characters that grow on you as the story unfolds.
    - Expansive lore and subversive plot that turns traditional anime/video game tropes on their head. I would love to say more about this topic, but the story is the true core of this game and I believe it should be the impetus in someone picking this title up.
    - Mesmerizing and tonally perfect soundtrack that sticks in your head.
    - Voice acting for the main cast is superb. A few of the side characters, however, have poor dubs.
    - Bosses are challenging (at least on the first playthrough) and unique. The combination of bullet hell with ARPG worked extremely well in these situations.
    - The gameplay itself is often just as subversive as the story with the various mechanics and scenarios that it throws at you. While some of these weren't exactly the most fun to play through, they were undoubtedly interesting from a design experience and mixed well with the story to create a more thematically unified experience.

    Cons:
    - Side quests range from boring to absolutely frustrating. Fetch quests are abundant and the payoff is rarely substantial.
    - Too much backtracking. This is especially true for the other endings, which essentially require you to play through the second half of the game over and over again.
    - While many other aspects of the gameplay are interesting, the bulk of it, combat, is one dimensional and generally sloppy. The battle system typically boils down to mashing attack over and over again. - Although you obtain a myriad of spells throughout the game, 2 or 3 of them clearly outshine everything else in the game. Furthermore, these superior skills are obtained the earliest, which make experimentation a worthless task.
    - Menus are clumsy and could have flowed much better.
    - The game looks dated for a X360/PS3 title and even worse, experiences massive frame rate drops in many combat encounters.
    - Worst fishing I've ever experienced video games, especially since it is required in a main quest mission.
    - Upgrade system is extremely grind-heavy and specific loot is largely obscure.

    While the game has numerous flaws that can't be ignored, the story, specifically in its characters, leaves a definitely impression. The gameplay itself is also surprisingly and intriguing, though not always what I would describe as fun. Overall, Nier was a singular experience that pushes the bounds of video games as a medium for storytelling and interaction that just can't quite overcome the shackles of its sloppy mechanics and production .

    True Score: 8.3    … Expand
  11. mrlee97
    Apr 3, 2017
    10
    Honestly the best video game I have ever played. This game has an amazing plot, amazing soundtrack, great varied gameplay, and such ambitious, fresh ways of story telling it is a crime not to play it.
  12. THeGocch
    Mar 25, 2017
    10
    One of my all time favorite games, Call of Duty bros that downvote this game are really disappointing. There is so much depth and story to this game. I am not embarrassed to say that a few times during this game, I shed a tear or many. Do yourself a favor and get this game and play it to it's completion.
  13. mbrigham1223
    Feb 2, 2017
    7
    An unique adventure game that wears it's heart on it's sleeve and is willingly to take a shot at everything gaming has to offer

    Pros: - Possibly the best music I've ever heard in a video game; the location-specific tracks can be amazing - from the thumping drums and strings of the desert to the haunting choral pieces of the Airie and Lost Shrine, the music was contantly in the    An unique adventure game that wears it's heart on it's sleeve and is willingly to take a shot at everything gaming has to offer

    Pros:
    - Possibly the best music I've ever heard in a video game; the location-specific tracks can be amazing - from the thumping drums and strings of the desert to the haunting choral pieces of the Airie and Lost Shrine, the music was contantly in the foreground, and made the repeated returns to locations completely enjoyable
    - Movement speed is great; the main character moves so quickly that exploring the sprawling areas never feels like a slog
    - Riding supersonic boars. I'll leave it at that.
    - Your floating book companion, Grimoire Weiss, is interesting, and his interactions with others is often quite funny
    - Excellent art design; the locations vary widely and are almost universally pleasant to look at
    - The earlier bosses are jarring in the best possible way
    - The switching from open third person to 2D sidescroller to top down beat 'm up is something I never thought could work so well.
    - The most stressful fishing minigame ever

    Cons:
    - ALL THE FETCH QUESTS; seriously, expect your quest log to a long list of collect 10 of A, 7 of B, 5 of C, and so on. The side quests were entirely forgettable, with a plethora of grinding required to complete them
    - On top of that, getting the quests themselves in a frustrating affair. You have to talk to a woman at a bar to get the location of a side quest, but you can only get one at a time. So you have to go, get the side quest, then return to retrieve the next.
    - The main character has an awfully ugly mug and disturbing lack of nipples
    - Some of the most god awful NPC dialogue I have ever heard. The stuff people shout out when you are walking down the street varies from laughably bad to unbearable
    - Speaking of NPCs, the world feels dead, and in a bad way. The NPCs stand in the same location for endless hours, never speaking more than the one line they were programmed with - even with NPCs that you completed a quest line for. No nods back to helping them out, just a return to their original one line.
    - One are has a fixed camera that changes when you exit it's view, reminiscent of Resident Evil. It changes movement mapping far too quickly after changing cameras, leading to numerous moments where you are stuck moving back and forth between two camera angles
    - Climbing ladders is so ridiculously slow, it's actually noticeable.

    Mixed:
    - There are two other companions besides your book, and while both are overall likeable, they each have numerous cringe worthy moments as either bad voice acting or writing leads to very forced moments that destroy the immersion
    - The first half of the story has several jaw dropping moments, with plenty of twists and turns, while the second half feels like a predictable romp over traveled terrain.
    - Combat is fun for awhile, but by the end of the game it's simplicity does it in, and battles become a slog to get through
    - The boss designs seem to follow the same path are the story; interesting and jaw dropping in the first half of the game, completely generic and forgettable in the second half
    - While the ending is interesting in content, the delivery feels slow and jilted.

    Nier is such a mixed bag, it's hard to condemn or recommend. For every positive it has, there seems to be a corresponding negative, but overall the game seems to be better than the sum of it's parts. It includes elements from so many different genres, and while each piece is implemented competently, none stand out. This leaves Nier feeling fresh and unique for quite awhile, but once the shine wears off, you'll find yourself just playing to get it done.    … Expand
  14. SuperkenGaming
    Jan 23, 2017
    7
    Nier
    Great Story, Dull Gameplay
    Neir tells the tale of a father willing to do anything for his daughter Here you play as a character that you get to name and you spend the rest of the game trying to cure your daughter of this illness known as the black scrawl… This is an open world miniature witcher 3 styled game… This combat here is very hack and slashy… and you’re accompanied by a    Nier
    Great Story, Dull Gameplay
    Neir tells the tale of a father willing to do anything for his daughter
    Here you play as a character that you get to name and you spend the rest of the game trying to cure your daughter of this illness known as the black scrawl…
    This is an open world miniature witcher 3 styled game…
    This combat here is very hack and slashy… and you’re accompanied by a talking book that allows you to do crazy magic attacks…
    the combat is fast paced but dumbing…
    Never really immersing me into the moment...
    You go to the far stretches of the land…
    Visiting every location with every lead you have in hopes of finally finding a cure for your daughter…
    You’ll meet memorable characters such as the lighthouse lady near the sea,
    and a village of triangle head people in the desert…
    siblings living in a junk yard with a lost mother…
    a loner who insists on wearing lingerie
    a boy that lives in a haunted mansion…
    The story and how it all connects is so intriguing that it isn’t hard to be glued to this game during its 17 to 20 hour length dependent on whether or not you care to see other endings of other characters…
    as you do get joined by a handful during your journey and they do fight by your side…
    the highlight of this games gameplay is its bosses…
    they don’t look cool or offer anything new… but they’re the most fun to deal with as the rest of the game is pretty empty and fairly boring to go through…
    Every enemy looks and feels the same...
    The only thrill you get is the possibility of a new weapon drop or a new word drop that you can assign to your weapon or magic to buff a stat…
    And the design of the levels you go too all feel very generic and uninspired…
    you’re over them within the first few moments you visit them…
    and unfortunately for you, the 2nd half of the game is revisiting all of these places all over again for a piece of a key to get to the final spot in the game…
    Thankfully the pacing of this game is still pretty perfect.. It doesn’t waste your time and its checkpoints are great…
    It focuses on challenging you rather than frustrating you…
    Is Nier this hidden masterpiece that everyone makes it out to be?
    No, in fact I feel it’s highly over praised and over rated by the gaming community…
    But it still have a beautiful story and a great cast of characters who I feel really make this game all that it is…
    I give Nier a 6.5/10    … Expand
  15. Voretechz
    Dec 6, 2016
    9
    I just recently beat bought and beat Nier at the request of a friend and boy did I miss out. When this game released I scoffed at it and passed it up because I thought it wasn't going to be good because of the relatively lower review scores but that was a mistake. This is actually an extremely good game. The story is very well written by Yoko Taro, the characters are all very original andI just recently beat bought and beat Nier at the request of a friend and boy did I miss out. When this game released I scoffed at it and passed it up because I thought it wasn't going to be good because of the relatively lower review scores but that was a mistake. This is actually an extremely good game. The story is very well written by Yoko Taro, the characters are all very original and interesting. Especially Kainé. She is awesome.
    But be warned. This game is not for the weak of heart, it will take your heart and crush it. So many sad and emotional moments in this game and the voice acting is done very well and compliments that.
    For a 2010 game the graphics still hold up fairly well. So did the controls. I never felt frustrated. Though it is a little dated by todays standards. The combat is very simple and one note, but it didn't really bother be because you can switch through a variety of different weapons, weapon types and spells to change things up. The game is also a decent challenge but not too hard as to turn away more casual players.
    This game also sports one of the best original soundtracks I have ever heard made by Keiichi Okabe. I find myself listening to it all the time on YouTube! If you haven't played this game, I highly suggest it if you can find a copy. I can't wait for Nier: Automata in March 2017! :D    … Expand
  16. SpunkyMonkey
    Oct 10, 2016
    9
    A vastly underated game, Nier has it's flaws and doesn't deliver on all it's promise and grand ambitions, but it's still one hell of a fun and enjoyable game, definitely worth purchasing at a bargain price. The combat is simple but fun, the story is wonderfully bizare (as a lot of JRPGs are), and the voice acting and character banter really work great. Let's also mention the bosses - wow.A vastly underated game, Nier has it's flaws and doesn't deliver on all it's promise and grand ambitions, but it's still one hell of a fun and enjoyable game, definitely worth purchasing at a bargain price. The combat is simple but fun, the story is wonderfully bizare (as a lot of JRPGs are), and the voice acting and character banter really work great. Let's also mention the bosses - wow. Some of the boss fights are just brilliant, and it's been a long time since I enjoyed fighting a "final" boss so much. To get the most out of the game you're gonna have to play it through more than once, and this is the game's biggest weakness - the repetitive locations. The familiarity is welcome, but so many side quests have you running over old ground that you really get sick of seeing the same places after the 25 hour mark. My advice would be to play the side quests sparingly so you only do the ones which interest you, and only do what you require to earn you enough money - don't be a completionist with them or it will soon get boring. Also the one side-quest line to make sure you do complete is those relating to the lighthouse. Some are worth it, but the game would be so much better if it trimmed out around 1/3 of them and kept only the quality ones. Overall though it's a great experience, one which may not fulfill you entirely, but one which has that special magic that draws you in.… Expand
  17. Nataraja
    Sep 12, 2016
    9
    Perhaps one of the most overlooked games ever released. Nier has a lot going for it with only a few flaws holding it back - occasional wonky controls, audio issues in places when playing for long sessions and horrible drop rates for useful/needed items forcing long grinding sessions for side quests, lack of consistent quest indicators when complete, etc. -

    Great story Good combat    Perhaps one of the most overlooked games ever released. Nier has a lot going for it with only a few flaws holding it back - occasional wonky controls, audio issues in places when playing for long sessions and horrible drop rates for useful/needed items forcing long grinding sessions for side quests, lack of consistent quest indicators when complete, etc. -

    Great story
    Good combat
    Good voice acting
    Phenomenal sound and soundtrack
    Decent graphics
    Acceptable puzzles
    Nice farming mechanism
    Great introduction to the game play and its mechanics
    Multiple endings with depth in a NG+

    If you haven't played this game yet and enjoy RPGs I strongly encourage you to try this game and its worth owning - if not essential to own.    … Expand
  18. Letiste-Gaming
    May 29, 2016
    9
    Qué más puedo decir de Nier, una obra de arte con una historia emotiva, unos personajes que derrochan carisma, una jugabilidad adictiva, una banda sonora sublime y guiños a montones conforman uno de los mejores juegos que he podido probar.
  19. kaim_07
    Oct 29, 2015
    7
    Una de esas maravillosa rarezas que caen en la desgracia de tener que adquirir mecánicas poco pulidas que en ningún momento tuvieron un auténtico peso en la idea original. Lástima, porque en ocasiones es auténtico arte interactivo y narrativo, pero se vio obligado a embozarse en una serie de cánones que no necesitaba. Una pena, porque esa hastío que sintieron los desarrolladores seUna de esas maravillosa rarezas que caen en la desgracia de tener que adquirir mecánicas poco pulidas que en ningún momento tuvieron un auténtico peso en la idea original. Lástima, porque en ocasiones es auténtico arte interactivo y narrativo, pero se vio obligado a embozarse en una serie de cánones que no necesitaba. Una pena, porque esa hastío que sintieron los desarrolladores se transmite, y cierto es que tiene partes aburridas. No es una rareza porque el juego sea raro en sí, sino porque hay tanta paja en la industria que título así solo pueden destaparse y brillar gracias a usuarios inteligentes. Ojo a sus personajes y a esa banda sonora. Valen oro.… Expand
  20. Elizabeth0807
    Nov 12, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Video Game Nier was first brought upon my hands in 2011. When I have first played the game my imagination was set ablaze colors, emotion, and thrill! The characters of the game you will fall for and the unmistakable “Heart to stomach” twists and turns the game send you through are absolutely astonishing. The game starts out with a man named Nier (they will give you a choice to change the name to whatever you choose) then the character number grows as you travel throughout the land searching for a cure for his daughter Yonah (who is as sweet as can be). Nier has amazing game play and gives you many options of quests and weapons to choose from. Also the blood that comes with this game is even more enticing and fun (for those of us like me, who loves the occasional gore).… Expand
  21. Lagi
    Sep 15, 2013
    10
    Amazing Game.
    Cryptic story, with a really dark and interesting background (Drakengard?)...character design is brilliant and the style of the game is really functional for the context and the story. The battle system is quite approximate, but it works.
    Dialogues sometimes are trivial or even superficial, but other are fantastic. Atmosphere is awesome and OST is a master piece, so perfect    Amazing Game.
    Cryptic story, with a really dark and interesting background (Drakengard?)...character design is brilliant and the style of the game is really functional for the context and the story. The battle system is quite approximate, but it works.
    Dialogues sometimes are trivial or even superficial, but other are fantastic. Atmosphere is awesome and OST is a master piece, so perfect for the game, with such a deep personality and unique style.
    Truly an underrated gem.    … Expand
  22. M9ki
    Jul 8, 2013
    7
    Omg was this game a drop dead Emotional game.Its sad that the company that made this game was shutdown sadly I could see amazing games from them in Next gen if they where still around.This is a good game for Teen's and up.
  23. ShouldbeStudyin
    Apr 26, 2013
    8
    The best way to describe Nier without saying much of anything is; a rare gem, hidden amongst lesser games. There is a deep narrative, accompanied by unforgettable characters, a fantastic soundtrack, and decently fun game-play. The best way to describe Nier would be to call it an "artistic" game. Later levels make use of unique color pallets and perspective swaps that intrigued me greatlyThe best way to describe Nier without saying much of anything is; a rare gem, hidden amongst lesser games. There is a deep narrative, accompanied by unforgettable characters, a fantastic soundtrack, and decently fun game-play. The best way to describe Nier would be to call it an "artistic" game. Later levels make use of unique color pallets and perspective swaps that intrigued me greatly (considering the type of game this is), in addition to the story, which is deep, and unique. The game has 4 different endings, each of which requires a separate play-through to witness. All through the world there are secrets giving insight into the mysterious world of Nier, all to entice you to keep going to the end. The combat is decently good. You can use three different styles of melee attacks (though two are not unlocked until later) and a wide array of magic spells, each of which tend to have unique effects. The graphics are poor considering the year the game came out. Some environments look like a PS2 game (however this could an artistic choice, based on the games back-story), and character models, while decent, are far from top notch. The music is amazing, some of the best in videogame history. Probably the game's biggest flaw is the fishing mini game. You only need to catch one fish in the whole game, but the way the game tells you how to do it is flat out wrong, which can result in spending two hours (like myself) trying to figure out what the hell you're doing (just look up the method online). Despite it's flaws, Nier does what it does very well. The story will draw you in, give you characters to care about, and leave you with a tear in your eye at more than one point. Final Score: 8.3/10… Expand
  24. osprey
    Jan 30, 2013
    9
    This game is enchanting. At first I thought what have I got into here but the game gets its hooks into you and you can't walk away. It has that charm that only Japanese games can master. The fishing is tedious and the weapons upgrades take forever as items are rare and not always where they should be but if you just play through the story and side quests there is fun to be had and likeThis game is enchanting. At first I thought what have I got into here but the game gets its hooks into you and you can't walk away. It has that charm that only Japanese games can master. The fishing is tedious and the weapons upgrades take forever as items are rare and not always where they should be but if you just play through the story and side quests there is fun to be had and like I said a strange compelling captivation prevails.… Expand
  25. bwettfett
    Jan 15, 2013
    10
    Nier is one of those games that will require some time and effort to fully enjoy it. I admit, the gameplay is pretty generic at times, and the graphics, while fine to me, look dated. Nier looks like what a maxed out PS2 game would look like, and I don't think that's a bad thing. The story, music, characters and locations are all absolutely fantastic. Easily the most detailed linear storyNier is one of those games that will require some time and effort to fully enjoy it. I admit, the gameplay is pretty generic at times, and the graphics, while fine to me, look dated. Nier looks like what a maxed out PS2 game would look like, and I don't think that's a bad thing. The story, music, characters and locations are all absolutely fantastic. Easily the most detailed linear story based game I've ever played. While not spoiling anything, replaying the game's 2nd portion atleast once makes the overall experience much better, which adds a bit of replayability to Nier, as there are 4 endings. The storyline itself may seem dull or confusing at first, but when you reach the many twists and turns, and finally uncover the truth, you'll find that the game's very few low points were worth trudging through.

    I highly recommend this game.    … Expand
  26. seekthetruth
    Nov 3, 2012
    9
    It's when I look at critic reviews for a game such as Nier that I appreciate just what a crock of s**t they all are... A game like Halo 4 can get a superior Metacritic score before it is even released, not because it's a good game (which it arguably isn't) but simply because it is popular and to expose it as rubbish would make the shallow masses question whether the site is mad...

    Read    It's when I look at critic reviews for a game such as Nier that I appreciate just what a crock of s**t they all are... A game like Halo 4 can get a superior Metacritic score before it is even released, not because it's a good game (which it arguably isn't) but simply because it is popular and to expose it as rubbish would make the shallow masses question whether the site is mad...

    Read the critic reviews of Nier. Then ignore everything they say. This game is one of the truest and purest JRPGs I have played in a long time. If Square-Enix could produce Final Fantasy games like this, then we would have far more FF7s and a lot less FF13s... CHARACTERS:
    The characters are not whiny, annoying little pink-haired brats (sorry Vanille)... Nier is typically brooding, Weiss is hilarious (it's like having Stewie Griffin as a constant companion!) and Kainé has language as colourful as the Land of Oz... And then there is Yonah, who is sweet and tragic, and brings the pathos where it counts. They each have personality, which makes them instantly affecting - you care about them, which is more than can be said for most characters these days (Master Chief? Sorry Halo, but you're in my line of sight right now...)

    GAMEPLAY
    This is a mix of traditional and eclectic. Exploration is reminiscent of FF/Lost Odyssey, while the way you explore environments for quests and interact with NPCs reminds me a bit of Skies of Arcadia (what a game!). Combat is the most surprising element, abandoning turn-based ATB for real-time .... well, it's hard to really explain it. You are best checking out a video on YouTube of the game's combat. Basically, you unlock skills as you progress through the game, and can equip these to any of the trigger/bumper buttons. You then unleash these powers in battle to lower the enemy's health. Nothing particularly revolutionary, and at times, one of the game's weaker elements, but still quite fun...especially with all the blood that goes flying! Chocobo Racing this ain't! And bosses actually require unique strategies to be beaten - something which too many games replace with boring hack and slash! Well done Nier for going back to basics!

    One of the main issues with Nier is its over-reliance on fetch quests. However, 99% of these make up the many side quests in the game, so they aren't a concern unless you make them one. If you hate fetch quests, just stick with the awesome main story and be selective about the side quests you take. Simple!

    MUSIC
    As a soundtrack composer, one of my great loves in a JRPG is the music. In recent years, FF games have veered into cheesy Japanese pop/rock and an over-reliance on vocals at the expense of any real melody. From the very start of Nier, I was gobsmacked at how amazing the score is! Sometimes it has strains of Nobuo Uematsu, while at others, it's like I'm being transported back to Chrono Cross... Basically, the music in this game is ridiculously good. My only niggle is that, with all the travelling back and forth to the same settlements, some of the music is a tad repetitive, which can mean that, by the time you've heard it 100 times, it starts to grate a bit. But that doesn't change the fact that this game has one of the best soundtracks out there.

    STORY
    I won't go into the story or throw any spoilers in, but to paraphrase the back of the box, you play as a man whose child is infected with a deadly plague. Basically, you are trying to find a way to cure her - yeah, a lot more akin to the earlier FFs than FF13, l'Cie and all! Don't get me wrong, I love the FF games (and actually found the latter stages of FF13 - and also FF13-2 - to be decent games) but they just don't feel like they have any traditional elements left... the pursuit for amazing graphics has cost them dearly...

    GRAPHICS
    Which brings me neatly to the graphics... They are perfectly functional, but not outstanding. This is why shallow reviewers have given the game such low scores. To them, a game can get a top score if it looks pretty, to hell with the gameplay. If you are a sane gamer, and are not as shallow as a small pond, you will see the gemstone that this game is. Graphically, it looks like FF13's deformed inbred cousin... In terms of gameplay and authentic JRPG-ness (...) it is very much its radiant, sexy sister! CONCLUSION
    Nier is not the prettiest of games, and it has a few gameplay and combat choices which leave it exposed and weak in places. But it is fun, authentic and ambitious, without trading graphics for substance. The characters are endearing and refreshing, the soundtrack is on-par with the greater FF games and the story is well-told and keeps you wanting more. If you consider yourself even the most elementary of JRPG fans, or simply enjoy a game that has substance rather than just good looks, you would be a fool to miss out on Nier. Don't believe the anti-hype. Nier is well worth a whole lot of your time.    … Expand
  27. crazydangerous
    Jul 7, 2012
    10
    This game has such a overwhelmingly immersive story I can over look any flaws, It's seriously shocking how different things can be playing through a second time. This game can be picked up dirt cheap go buy it if story is a main draw of video games for you.
  28. Thorgal
    Jun 10, 2012
    10
    This game is a true gem. It is made by people who love games, not by people who wanna maximize profit. You feel that each moment you play this game. The characters are true, you really care for them, environments are beautifull,, soundtrack...well it's the best I have ever heard in a game (and I have been playing games for 30 years now). Story is original and encourages you to play on. ItThis game is a true gem. It is made by people who love games, not by people who wanna maximize profit. You feel that each moment you play this game. The characters are true, you really care for them, environments are beautifull,, soundtrack...well it's the best I have ever heard in a game (and I have been playing games for 30 years now). Story is original and encourages you to play on. It has four! different endings. Buy this game. you will not regret it.… Expand
  29. namDa65
    May 20, 2012
    9
    I finished my first playthrough this weekend. Wow. That soundtrack. The smart save progression. The last dungeon was not a pain in the ass like most other jrpgs. And the story. Very impressed, this is the secret greatest game this generation. -1 point for some weird dialogue sometimes, and limited areas, but the game makes up for everything else.
  30. Traeyu
    Mar 27, 2012
    10
    One of my favorite stories in video game history, I have never been impacted so strongly by a story before, this game has characters that you can really bond to and care about unlike many games where you don't really care whether they die or not. The second time you play through the game it gives you such a different look on everything, I have never wanted to just let a boss kill me in aOne of my favorite stories in video game history, I have never been impacted so strongly by a story before, this game has characters that you can really bond to and care about unlike many games where you don't really care whether they die or not. The second time you play through the game it gives you such a different look on everything, I have never wanted to just let a boss kill me in a game before because I felt so bad about what I was doing. The sound is amazing in this game, if you take the time to listen to the soundtrack it is one of the best I have ever experienced in a game. In-game the songs can get a little repetitive but when actually listened to in full they are beautifully written. This game may not have the best graphics but I do think they fit the setting well. The gameplay is pretty good, I never really found myself mad about the controls or anything and the boss fights are generally pretty fun. Yes, the fishing part was stupid as hell but if you get past that one part you are good to go the rest of the game. The replayabilty is pretty high I would say, if you want to get the full story at least play it quick a second time, it will change you feeling about the entire game and you only have to play the second half again. Overall this is a great game and deserves a much better score than it has. Don't listen to the bad ratings when a lot of them gave up after an hour at the fishing part, if you give this gem a chance you will be thoroughly glad you did!… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

38
#38 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2010
31
#31 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 60 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 60
  2. Mixed: 39 out of 60
  3. Negative: 3 out of 60
  1. GamerNode
    Feb 9, 2011
    80
    Nier won't wow players with its basic mechanics, but in the story it tells, the characters it develops, and the themes present throughout play, it will easily win over anyone seeking something emotionally exploratory and well off the beaten path.
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  2. Gamers' Temple
    75
    The game's good points are just way too good to let the numerous and glaring errors drag things down to the failing grades. Nier is both a gem and a turd, and those who feel the nagging urge to try it out are urged to do so.
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  3. Cynamite
    70
    Square Enix' attempt to create a great action-roleplaying experience is a little disappointing. The game's world is big and the characters interesting, despite the lengthy story and lame graphics. Nier wants to be a great game, but it doesn't even get Nier to that.
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