NieR: Automata Review

Yoko Taro’s work sets to surmise dark strangeness in a world where anything can go wrong will go wrong, where you’d best abandon all of hope of even a conventional storytelling, and your best chance of a sound conclusion is to brave through its demanding requisites. And to say the least, going in with that expectation on NieR: Automata has prepared us for what’s to come.

 

Yoko Taro’s work sets to surmise dark strangeness in a world where anything can go wrong will go wrong, where you’d best abandon all of hope of even a conventional storytelling, and your best chance of a sound conclusion is to brave through its demanding requisites.  And to say the least, going in with that expectation on NieR: Automata has prepared us for what’s to come.

In a Picture Book

Tell me, God, are you punishing me?

is this the price I’m paying for my past mistakes?

NieR: Automata is an open-world title set in a post-apocalyptic Earth, where you play as combat android unit YoRHa No.2 Model B, or 2B, to battle out a longstanding war with the Machines. You are given the freedom to choose sidequests scattered across different parts of the world map, or head out and complete main quests.

Also, there are a whole lot of material to read to further expand its lore and storytelling. Most of them are presented in intel form where you can access from the menu, while some are "Picture Books" that tell some sort of story relevant to the plot.

The Vastness of NieR: Automata’s Post-Apocalyptic Setting

And on that note, its sidequest content is simply expansive and enjoyable to do that you would want to play most of it just to get more on its story. Some quests have an impact on morality through your choice, and some even have additions to the lore. It’s rewarding to complete each one, and they aren’t as mundane as other previous open-world games would offer. But what really want to emphasize here is its pacing – sidequests feel essential to the overall experience, especially in its storytelling.

From archaic city ruins outgrown by nature to the scorching deserts to castles and amusement parks, NieR: Automata’s post-apocalyptic setting is simply a sight to see and a world to explore. Even battles with optional bosses have certain charms in them - there's work to be done to meet them, and it's greatly satisfying to conquer them.

Fast-Paced Action, Brought to You By PlatinumGames
A Mishmash of Sorts

Originally developed by Cavia, the Drakengard/NieR franchise had a clunky charm to it that only added to its difficulty and tediousness. Now, Square Enix leverages the expertise of PlatinumGames in Hack n Slash to make NieR: Automata shine, and the company outright delivers on this. Executing combos and switching in between weapons feel natural, and perfectly dodging attacks are rewarding as you counterattack with different moves.

Also, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to combat. NieR: Automata is a mishmash of sorts – there are a whole lot of game mechanics in battles. You’ll get the chance to hack your enemies, and doing so will result in a mini game of bullet hell.

Aerial battles in flight units also give the same feeling, and it plays greatly given the number of enemies that swarm you as you eradicate them throughout the battle.

 Combat is Outstanding, But Visuals are Equally Impressive

The character designs in NieR: Automata is too human and beautiful in our opinion. 2B’s, especially, with her blindfold adding up greatly to her allure, but/and there’s a lot of fanservice here, which is inevitable in Yoko Taro’s work. On the other hand, the setting is also wonderfully done. Its post-apocalyptic world features gorgeous landscapes, especially in the ruins and the final battleground, which is a favorite of ours.

However, there are some faults when it comes to framerates. There are certain points in the game that come with great detail, and our PS4 Slim is working extra hard to churn out those pixels. It’s nothing gamebreaking, but it’s a noticeable issue from time to time. The same can be said with draw distance. But again, they won’t really dissuade you from continuing from the game.

Don’t Forget to Upgrade

Not only does the attack power of your weapon increases when you upgrade, you’ll also unlock certain story elements for each of them. There’s a lot of them to upgrade, and each type can easily change your playstyle if you’re a heavy hitter or a swift striker. On another note, you’ll also want to check out different skillsets of your pods. They can turn the tide of the battle when you’re in a pinch. If you also want more customization, the game makes full use of system chips that will increase certain parameters and add more skills to your arsenal.

Too Flashy to Take it All in

Alas, NieR: Automata isn’t without faults. Sometimes, the camera is just bad in certain scenarios. Also, we don’t think we’re alone in disliking the camera shifting from a free roam to sidescroller. It somehow detracts from the experience since you can’t really see what’s going on with your character. The same can be said during flashy combat where you can’t even discern enemy from ally. We’re hoping that this would get fixed in a future update.

Verdict

Quite frankly, it’s quite difficult to write a review of something we so thoroughly loved without giving away too much detail. We could go on for hours on end to simply discuss the game with you readers. Writing a review of it in so short a time and in so little detail simply won’t give it the justive it deserves. NieR: Automata flows through the similar vein that the Drakengard franchise started. It’s not something that you should just read, it’s something that you would want to experience yourself.