NieR: Automata

Nier: Automata makes me feel so small, in the best of ways.

2B, 9S and the rest of the cast already cut themselves a well deserved corner in my heart, and I'm positive they will do the same for many of you as well.

Nier: Automata takes fantastic action and RPG elements and blends them into a game world unlike any other, creating a truly memorable experience. The game continuously pleases and surprises with terrific gameplay that is constantly transforming, and a narrative that keeps you thinking and guessing. It has a lot to offer, and is an experience that shouldn't be missed.

NieR: Automata is undoubtedly a better game than its predecessor then, but still somewhat of a rough diamond; it doesn’t shine to its full potential, but it’s precious nonetheless. An overflow of quirkiness and an air of mystery empower it with a great deal of charm. It’s just so unusual and varied that it’s easy to overlook the occasional frustrations that it puts in your path. Ultimately, it’s a game that will stay with you long after you’ve seen the credits roll for the second, third or even fourth time; the memories of its characters and music lingering in your head, reminding you of what ...

When the original Nier came out in 2010, it was met with pretty mixed reviews. Some criticized the Drakengard spin-off for its poor visuals and repetitive side quests, while others praised the quality of its plot and soundtrack as well as its attempt at mixed gameplay. In spite of it not selling well, Nier became a cult classic and the dedicated support of its fans inspired the game’s producer Yosuke Saito to reunite with Nier creator Yoko Taro, as well as many of the others who worked on Nier, to create a sequel with Bayonetta developer Platinum Games.

NieR: Automata has more creativity and self-awareness in its little finger than most games have for their entire run time. Don’t miss this because it’s sandwiched between other, bigger games.

Toylogic has done a stellar job in modernizing 2010's release of nier with nier: replicant ver. 1.22474487139 Giving fans of both the original and automata something new to enjoy in the ever-expanding world of nier.

Nier: Automata is a crazy, beautiful, and highly entertaining journey full of nutty ideas and awesome gameplay. It may not include the most sensical story or compelling characters, but its frenzied combat -- coupled with beautiful visuals and a stunning soundtrack – make it too much fun to pass up.

Super smooth and innovative combat merges with incredibly unorthodox game design for a must-play PS4 entry.

An action RPG that takes you to a ruined Earth ruled by robots, then asks you to fight them all.

Equally fantastic and frustrating, NieR: Automata can be compelling and frantic one minute and then drag you down with annoying filler segments and a terrible open world the next. The good ultimately outweighs the bad, but I did wish a bit more was put into some elements.

It's rare to see such ambitious storytelling and open world roleplaying tied to such a stylish combat system, not to mention the (optional) Souls-like multiplayer elements, shooter tangents, mini-games that punctuate rather than interrupting, and that big ol' world to explore. You don't need to have played any of Yoko Taro's previous games to appreciate Automata, even though it has links to both Drakengard and (of course) the original Nier, but it'll probably make you keen to seek them out. Me? I'm hoping Platinum get a chance to work with these worlds and words again. A thousand ideas, delive...