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. Flunkorg
    Dec 5, 2010
    10
    2010 greatest gaming hidden gem. This game is one of the best, if not the best game to come out this year and deserves to be in ANY gamers collection.
  2. lagutopia
    May 14, 2011
    10
    Truly the best RPG of 2010, with characters, story and music among the best of the genre and solid zelda-like gameplay with a Bullet Hell twist. It's deep, meaningful, artful, and ballsy. It's Nier.
  3. 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.
  4. Ezzaron
    Dec 28, 2011
    10
    wastelander u r just a bad player thats it u know.. dont flame games u cant play because you are to bad for them.. nier is one of the best games Ive played on x360.
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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
  14. 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!!!!
  15. Forza182
    Mar 20, 2011
    9
    Nier is exactly what 3rd generation consoles needed. A relatively open world game with an awesome story and some awesome gameplay. It's just a shame the graphics (and at times the music) aren't up to scratch. Some will say this is a stylised look but it definitely could have done with a thorough polish. Otherwise, the game is so brilliant that I could only penalise 1 point. DefinitelyNier is exactly what 3rd generation consoles needed. A relatively open world game with an awesome story and some awesome gameplay. It's just a shame the graphics (and at times the music) aren't up to scratch. Some will say this is a stylised look but it definitely could have done with a thorough polish. Otherwise, the game is so brilliant that I could only penalise 1 point. Definitely worth checking out. 9/10… 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. GestalReplicant
    Nov 19, 2011
    9
    The underdog of the decade, Nier does things and goes places that would be considered beyond risky for most developers, and if handed to any publisher in its base form they'd be insane not to shoot it down. And yet, here it is, un-intruded-upon by outside interference and stunningly brilliant in every understanding of the word. Nier is the wonderfully-told tale of a tragedy on a massiveThe underdog of the decade, Nier does things and goes places that would be considered beyond risky for most developers, and if handed to any publisher in its base form they'd be insane not to shoot it down. And yet, here it is, un-intruded-upon by outside interference and stunningly brilliant in every understanding of the word. Nier is the wonderfully-told tale of a tragedy on a massive scale, and yet it is the individual characters and their humorous interactions which carry the day - and connected to those characters you will doubtlessly become. A must-play for those seeking something breathtakingly original and painfully ignored.… Expand
  18. 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
  19. 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.
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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.
  24. 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
  25. thatsbrutal
    Aug 13, 2010
    8
    Nier is one of those games that really catch you off guard. when I first started playing this game I was thoroughly let down. the opening sequence is, down right horrible. However, the game simply picks itself up and dusts itself off from this point on. overall the combat is simple but effective, the graphics are terrible, but it seems the game wouldn't look as nice with any otherNier is one of those games that really catch you off guard. when I first started playing this game I was thoroughly let down. the opening sequence is, down right horrible. However, the game simply picks itself up and dusts itself off from this point on. overall the combat is simple but effective, the graphics are terrible, but it seems the game wouldn't look as nice with any other look. I know this doesn't really make sense, but it is the best way I can describe it. overall the story is pretty bland, but is certainly made up for with the amazingly unique characters. overall I would definitely recommend this game to anyone who is looking for something a little different from square enix's common formula.… Expand
  26. appley
    Aug 24, 2010
    8
    Been playing Nier for 20hrs now and i am throughly enjoying the story and the relationships between characters,there are afew new ideas thrown in to the rpg pot,some work some dont,also the apperence of the old tiersome back and forth side quest that Square keeps hanging on to which is just lazy and anoying at times mar the experience but the plus points of Nier keep you playing longBeen playing Nier for 20hrs now and i am throughly enjoying the story and the relationships between characters,there are afew new ideas thrown in to the rpg pot,some work some dont,also the apperence of the old tiersome back and forth side quest that Square keeps hanging on to which is just lazy and anoying at times mar the experience but the plus points of Nier keep you playing long enough for you to become hooked to the story and see whats going to will happen next.Overall Nier is a good game and with its £9.99 price tag is a good enough distraction till some big hiters come out later this year.… Expand
  27. pommegenozide
    Dec 10, 2010
    8
    Nier isn't a best looking game alright. But if you can forgive the look of this game and get through the somewhat slow story-telling (and tedious quests) through a third of the story... you'll find yourself one great game of 2010. The story is interesting and never given anything out before the right time, you'll be adventuring in the shoes of the hero and his companions trying to save hisNier isn't a best looking game alright. But if you can forgive the look of this game and get through the somewhat slow story-telling (and tedious quests) through a third of the story... you'll find yourself one great game of 2010. The story is interesting and never given anything out before the right time, you'll be adventuring in the shoes of the hero and his companions trying to save his daughter and his village without the clear knowledge of what's is happening in this cursed world, the truth will unfold itself slowly but interestingly and that's the beauty of this game.

    The gameplay mechanic is fine (standard control scheme for action/adventure game. the buttons layout is right and working fine) There are some jumpy and stiff animations and stuffs but the overall experience of the combat system is quite fluid and somewhat challenging when you face bosses or the more complicated enemies later in the story. There are some dumb platforming sections which are not really challenging but kind of annoying because you have to perform the jump and run in right spots and yes, you will fail. (but good thing is that the game doesn't have enough of them to make you quit)

    Art direction is the gem here. In some parts of the game when you entered building or structures, instead of a normal behind-the-character view... the camera will switch to fixed position (or fixed distance) while showing the interior from a cross-sectional view. This might look weird for gamers who grew up with FPS or TPS style of camera. But I found that it is a very nice decision and attempt to give players something fresh and different (but old-school RPG gamers will recognize this camera use is similar to old school Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest games)

    Nice voice casts and it has one of the most interesting set of characters too.

    The musics in Nier define one of the best scores in 2010 video games. The mixture between traditional JRPG style musics with somewhat New Age-esque tunes with touches of tribal vocals will draw you deeper into the world of this game (of course if you are the kind of gamers who think music is an important part of story-telling). Although this is not gonna happen but I strongly think that musics of Nier should put the game up as one of the candidates for 'Best Original Sound Track of 2010', that's how good the musics in this game are.

    If you're always on the look for hidden gems, Nier is one of them.    … Expand
  28. PJnerd
    Dec 20, 2010
    8
    This game gets awful and great reviews at the same time, I was rather curious as to why it did and picked it up myself to see what the story is with it.
    The game is an action based JRPG that is somewhat reminiscent to Drakengard and also looks a bit like God of War - but in a nutshell it's actually quite a great game if you can look past its flaws; Playing through it I got addicted to it    This game gets awful and great reviews at the same time, I was rather curious as to why it did and picked it up myself to see what the story is with it.
    The game is an action based JRPG that is somewhat reminiscent to Drakengard and also looks a bit like God of War - but in a nutshell it's actually quite a great game if you can look past its flaws; Playing through it I got addicted to it after the first real boss fight and can safely say the story, music, and voice acting is quite superb if you don't mind the outdated looking graphics and getting thrown all over the place in combat.
    The game has dropped in price recently and if you're looking to get a new game for unusually cheap, i'd say Nier is worth a try.    … Expand
  29. SinisterVortex
    Sep 23, 2011
    8
    Nier is a solid action game with a decent combat system, a compelling story, and only a few significant flaws.

    The gameplay itself is nothing special: use melee weapons and magic attacks to hack, slash, and/or shoot your way through hundreds of enemies to victory. The melee part of combat is the sort you would expect from games like Elder Scrolls 4, where you repeatedly attack enemies as    Nier is a solid action game with a decent combat system, a compelling story, and only a few significant flaws.

    The gameplay itself is nothing special: use melee weapons and magic attacks to hack, slash, and/or shoot your way through hundreds of enemies to victory. The melee part of combat is the sort you would expect from games like Elder Scrolls 4, where you repeatedly attack enemies as quickly as possible in hopes of dealing out the most damage the soonest. It's really the magic attack part of the combat that truly shines. Using a rebounding energy bar, the damage range of magic attacks is quite large, spanning from machinegun like projectiles to giant black spears to a ginormous band of fists, all of which can be summoned at your beck and call, provided you've discovered the ability and have enough reserve energy. Many of these attacks seem brilliantly overpowered, though this will only add to your enjoyment as you blast and/or pummel your way through hordes of enemies in quick succession. Most of the magic abilities you have must first be found by going throughout the game's several environments and unlocking spells called Sacred Verses during certain missions in the first half of the game's main story.

    Which leads me to my next subject: the environments. While Nier is heavy on backtracking (the second half of the game has you returning to locations introduced in the first half) the locations themselves are lifelike and diverse. Most mission levels are well thought out enough that such backtracking is not a problem, but one location in particular (a robot factory) will always take you about five times too long to get through, and you end up going there not one but four times. But aside from this, the game is wonderful to explore, with other levels such as a desert, a dream forest, a village on the side of a massive cliff, and a few others.

    The storyline of the game is nothing truly stellar, but definitely engaging enough to provide the incentive you need to get through the game. Taking place 1312 years after the fall of human civilization, a horde of monsters called Shades are wrecking havoc on the last remnants of those who managed to survive. You take the roll of a middle aged father named Nier, who's daughter has fallen victim to a strange illness called the Black Scrawl, and unless he can find a cure his daughter will be lost forever. His quest leads Nier upon the aforementioned environments and sets the premise for the first half of the game. The story is far from predictable however, and at both the halfway mark and the ending you will stumble upon twists that will be truly unexpected. The ending sequence, unfortunately, is a bit much to get your head around, and in order to understand all of what's going on you will have to use the New Game + feature to complete the game not twice but four times to unlock the three bonus endings. The storyline is compelling, but unfortunately not so much as to warrant that much replayability. Regardless, it does work well enough for one playthrough, and at between 15 and 20 hours in length that is enough to satisfy myself, as well as most other players.

    To sum up, I do recommend this game to anyone who loves JRPGs. It is a decent game with only a couple of noteworthy flaws (primarily its reliance on backtracking) that are balanced by engaging gameplay, a lush and believable world, and a compelling story. You will find it a worthy addition to your gaming collection.    … Expand
  30. Daniel_Campbell
    Jul 22, 2011
    8
    NIER is a game that should not be missed by gamers looking for a unique storyline with engaging characters and well written plot. The delicious gooey center of great storytelling is housed within a hard shell of mediocre gameplay, but those willing to brave the lackluster controls, quest system and combat will reap some impressive, and emotionally heavy, moments.
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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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