NieR: Automata Reviews

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 masterclass action game with deep RPG mechanics, and a beautiful open world. While it’s held back by a weak narrative and a clunky game format that mandates replaying hours of content, it offers a wide variety of enjoyable experiences that make it well worth the asking price.

A game about sexy badass female robots hacking and slashing around? Sign me up! It seems like a generic action game at first glance, but Nier: Automata is so much more than that. Read below to find out why.

As NieR goes on, the story and world grows more quirky and interesting, creating a feeling unlike any other game I can think of ever having played. It’s a nice feeling to be playing a game that feels unique and new in world of recycled games and ideas. That being said, it’s still not the perfect game. Throughout NieR there are sequences that change the playstyle and camera angles and adopt playstyles from games of completely different genres. Sometimes the over-the-shoulder view becomes one that is top-down and distant. While the combat and controls stay the same, the camera change sometimes felt jarring and disconnected me from how fluid the standard third-person view felt. This doesn’t ruin the game, but I much preferred the standard camera view, and found myself annoyed when the style changed. There were also less annoying sequences of flying the flight suit on a rail and taking out enemies as they appear on screen, that felt arcade-like and were fun, but drug on too long sometimes. While there is nothing wrong with games of this style, it was less exciting than the standard third person gameplay and felt unnecessary. Some people may like the change of pace that the camera change and rail portions offer, but I personally preferred the behind-the-camera gameplay because of how fluid and satisfying it was, and felt that the playstyle change happened too often in some cases, and took me out of the action I wanted. Despite these interruptions, the thrilling third person combat is standard and more prevalent, so the changes in no way ruin the game, only distract from what is the most fun occasionally. NieR also houses an impressive twenty-six possible endings depending on how you play the game, which no doubt inspires players that are locked into the game to go back and keep playing after beating it. The longevity in this sense is refreshing.

Nier: Automata the best game from Platinum Games yet. It's an action packed game that also has an incredibly engaging story and tons of fantastic characters. This is the best action game I have played in years and one of the best games I have ever played in my life. It's gonna take a lot to take my personal Game of the Year award from Nier: Automata as its currently sitting in the top spot.

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

Some games receive unexpected sequels years after their initial release. As a follow-up to the highly underrated NieR, does Automata have what it takes to stand out in the crowded action RPG genre?

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, delivered in rapid succession, backed by action that is the thread that stitches everything together rather than an interruption between one story beat and the next.

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.

Being a loyal Square-Enix fan, I had eagerly been awaiting the release of NieR: Automata since it was announced in 2014. The lead-up trailers had promised fantastic hack and slash mech battles, scenic world exploration and a unique story in which androids battled for the fate of humanity. One could argue that NieR may have been overreaching in its scope trying to encompass all this, and more, to a patiently waiting gaymer such as myself – but you’d be wrong. NieR: Automata is an exception...

Going into NieR: Automata completely blind is, arguably, the best way to go about it, but it keeps itself firmly under wraps with a lot of intricate plot points, a killer script and plenty of interesting characters. It’s a shame the world itself feels relatively sparse, nonsensical and unpleasant to look at, but beneath the lack of environmental style is a well cared for Action-RPG that throws in enough twists and turns that leave you utterly compelled to play through it three or even four ...

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 games can be like if they dare to be different. Unless you have no soul, I fail to see how you couldn’t be enraptured by it.

Ultimately, however, any of the shortcomings present in NieR: Automata are obscured by the haphazard genius of its barely-stitched-together post-apocalyptic world. The presentation, innovation, and unabashed love of the strange all coalesce into something that looks like what would happen if Hideo Kojima attempted to design a Final Fantasy, and as it turns out, it is something that needed to happen. In a year that has already seen huge releases like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Horizon: Zero Dawn, NieR: Automata has established itself as a must-play title worthy of being in the discussion with the other big titles as a contender for game of the year.

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

For the occasional graphical stutter and a few moments of mechanical frustration (and, if we’re being honest, partly to be completely sure I didn’t let my biases get the better of me) I’ve docked a single point. Does that mean it borders on perfection or merely commands a respectable A-minus? Even I’m not sure.

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.

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

What happens when the eccentric Cavia auteur Taro Yoko joins forces with Platinum Games? Guess we'll find out!

NieR: Automata is a triumph of creativity, superlative combat, interesting characters and is just an all-round great game. Its short-but-sweet story is given substantial depth by a game structure that encourages and incentivises multiple playthroughs.

Meticulously weaving gameplay and narrative together, Nier: Automata is Yoko Taro's magnum opus - succeeding brilliantly in expressing his vision.

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 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.

A fantastic mix of explosive action and thoughtful storytelling, that results in one of the most unpredictable and ambitious action role-players of the modern era.

NieR: Automata is nearly as good of an RPG as it is an action game, which is a mighty tall order. It’s tough to really strike that balance as many action-RPGs tend to favor one element over the other, but Platinum Games, with the help of Square Enix, has tapped into its innate ability to captivate us with combat while keeping the rest of the journey engaging.

A common commendation for games with open worlds is how “alive” the surroundings feel. With bustling cities and sprawling crowds, many titles draw players in by immersing them in a vibrant setting. Nier: Automata takes the opposite approach; it forges an identity in the desolation of its post-apocalyptic world. From the perspectives of multiple android protagonists, you slash through an army of hostile machines and explore a war-blasted landscape that invites you to consider the preciousness of life through its absence.

Yoko Taro, still unknown to many JRPG fans, has expanded the breadth of Japanese storytelling by taking the conventions of modern gaming and unweaving them into the common threads that not just make their respective genres great but also memorable. His latest contribution to the action RPG genre, NieR: Automata, brings together the unexpected with the exceptional combat framework that Platinum Games has made their trademark.

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.

After spending well over 20 hours in this post-apocalyptic cyber world, I still can not put NieR: Automata down. While the original was clearly a niche title that failed to make a massive impact, the sequel was designed to keep the original charm but appeal to a greater audience. Easily one of the better titles from Square Enix, thanks to the Platinum Games putting their foot into the fantastic combat system.  The story is interesting, the music captivating, and the world has its own charm and personality.