NieR:Automata™

Extremelly Japan fetish game, which can be good or bad sometimes, depending on how much you want to tolerate the weirdness of yoko taro. The combat system can shine, but you need to configure your character that way (so you can easy miss all the depths of the system). The PC port is abysmal and that's the reason I cannot recommend this game, the capped FPS and bugs make a disservice to the game.

Play this game. That is my wish for all of you who may be reading this review. Play Nier: Automata.

I have never before experienced a piece of media that hit me this hard. It has been well over a decade since a game has made me tear up. It's been a long long time. Nier was born out of a love for many many things. I could count them, but we'd be here for a long time doing so.

Nier's gameplay is okay enough. It's not super expansive, but it is fun. The story is what carries Nier: Automata farther than anything else. It drove me to suffer greatly. In many ways. There's a beauty in that, I think. Suffering from love. From a place of admiration. Suffering from the weight of it all.

(If you wish to remain unspoiled, even by a joke you may not understand, don't reveal this next line).

I know you'll make the right choice in the [E]nd.

I originally pirated NieR: Automata, but it was so beautiful that i had to buy it, which coming from a person who typically pirates is the greatest compliment a game could receive.

cool game, nice ass, beautiful story, but if i wanted to play on a fucking controller id be playing on a fucking console. wtf is this camera lol literally cant play on mouse keyboard

Before playing this game you should play Nier Replicant first.

This game is really fun with a good story however the game play gets repetitive after a while. If you can buy it on sale you wont regret your purchase.

8/10

hate how when i say "i bought this game for the gameplay" people think im talking about 2b's ass like yeah thats the real reason but its not like i'd ever admit that

I found this game in a wallpaper that I received from a group, for me I have think it's a anime but no. I put this game in wishlist and wait for some months. When I play the game for the first I already knew I gonna love this experience. The graphics, the gameplay and some things is not much innovator, but is too good, make it with love. The soundtrack is absolutely beautiful state of music. If you want to go deep in the story and check the other games you will despair which one of bests and craziest story's of all time. They changed my live. I love to pass hours and hours explain this game and his story but I can't here hahahaha(and my English is not the best I know) but is this, just buy and enjoy.人類に栄光あれ

Rating: 9/10 (Outstanding)

NieR: Automata is a beautifully unconventional masterpiece that combines thought-provoking storytelling, dynamic combat, and hauntingly atmospheric music. It’s an unforgettable journey, though not without a few rough edges.

What I Loved:

A Story That Stays With You:
NieR: Automata tells a deeply philosophical and emotional story that explores themes of purpose, existence, and what it means to be human. It’s a narrative full of twists and layered with meaning, encouraging you to reflect long after the credits roll (and trust me, they’ll roll more than once). The game’s multiple endings and branching paths add even more depth, revealing new layers of the story with each playthrough.

Dynamic and Stylish Combat:
The combat, designed by PlatinumGames, is fluid, fast-paced, and incredibly satisfying. You’ll seamlessly transition between melee attacks and ranged shooting, with each encounter feeling like a carefully choreographed dance. The ability to customize your character with plug-in chips adds a strategic element, allowing you to tailor the experience to your preferred playstyle.

Unique Gameplay Variety:
NieR: Automata isn’t just an action RPG—it’s a genre-blending marvel. One moment you’re hacking and slashing, the next you’re piloting a mech in a shoot-’em-up segment, or navigating through a text-adventure sequence. This constant shift keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging throughout.

Unforgettable Music and Atmosphere:
The game’s soundtrack is nothing short of breathtaking. Each track, composed by Keiichi Okabe, perfectly complements the game’s melancholic yet hopeful tone. The combination of haunting vocals and orchestral arrangements makes every moment feel emotionally charged and significant.

Thoughtful World Design:
The post-apocalyptic world of NieR: Automata is hauntingly beautiful. While it’s not the most graphically advanced, the art direction makes every location feel meaningful, from the desolate city ruins to the eerie amusement park. The world design serves the narrative, often reflecting the emptiness and longing of its inhabitants.

What I Didn’t Love:

Occasionally Repetitive Gameplay:
While the combat is excellent, some segments—especially during repeat playthroughs—can feel repetitive. Certain side quests and areas require backtracking, which can slow the pace of an otherwise tight experience.

Sparse Open World:
The open world, while thematically appropriate, can feel barren at times. Fast travel is introduced later in the game, making early exploration feel like a bit of a slog. A few areas could have used more environmental storytelling or meaningful interactions.

Underdeveloped Side Quests:
While some side quests are poignant and add depth to the narrative, many are simple fetch quests or lack meaningful impact on the story. Considering the overall ambition of the game, the side content feels uneven in quality.

A Learning Curve for New Players:
NieR: Automata’s unconventional structure can be confusing for first-time players. It requires multiple playthroughs to see the full story, which might not appeal to everyone. The true brilliance of the game only becomes clear if you’re willing to commit to its unique format.

Overall Thoughts:

NieR: Automata is a game that defies convention, delivering an experience that’s as thought-provoking as it is fun. Its combination of stylish combat, genre-blending gameplay, and a deeply emotional narrative makes it stand out as one of the most memorable RPGs of its generation. While some repetitive elements and underdeveloped side quests hold it back from perfection, the sheer ambition and artistry of the game more than make up for its flaws.

Pros:

Deep and philosophical storytelling with multiple layers.
Fluid and satisfying combat with great customization options.
A hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that elevates every moment.
Genre-blending gameplay keeps things fresh and engaging.
Unique and memorable world design.

Cons:

Repetitive gameplay in certain sections.
Sparse open world with occasional pacing issues.
Side quests vary in quality and impact.
Unconventional structure may alienate some players.

Recommendation:
NieR: Automata is a must-play for fans of action RPGs and those who appreciate games with deep, existential themes. It’s a journey that rewards patience and curiosity, delivering an experience that’s as moving as it is fun. If you’re ready for a game that dares to be different, this is one you won’t forget.

It took me 6 years to fully appreciate NieR Automata.
In 2018 I achieved Ending A and immediately uninstalled the game, unaware that it was only the first part of the story.
Now, in 2024, after completing Endings B-C-D-E, I can say Automata has one of the best post-apocalyptic stories in video game narrative since S.O.M.A. and The Talos Principle came out. It's a great ARPG with some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard.

Because this is a personal opinion, I think this game is very exciting with a stunning soundtrack, the appearance of the characters can be said to be very impressive tho (you know what i mean right? :D).

My first mistake was playing this game in very hard mode lol, I spent more than 1 hour and I couldn't even get past the first stage lmao, I really have a skill issue though

Worth game fr

found the beginning a bit boring so i dropped it a while ago, came back and realised it was peak 10/10

Play it.

Doesn't matter if you don't enjoy the hack and slash genre.
Play it, the game will pretty much fight by itself in easy mode with auto chips.

Doesn't matter if you're not sure you'll like the story, or you (think you) got spoiled.
Play it!

Doesn't matter if it's 2024, 2025 or any other year before the end of the universe.
PLAY IT!

PLAY. IT.

Don't miss out on this masterpiece of a game, it deserves all the praise it gets both from gameplay and story perspective.
Just grab a controller and let yourself be amazed by the beautiful world of Nier Automata.
And don't stop the first time you see the credits, you're only a third of the way from the true ending...and it will be 100% worth it!

Although, 9S, you know me as 2B - that is not my true name:
My real name is... NieR Automata Game of the YoRHa Edition!

Beautiful music, combat and story.

This is just an amazing game. The story is great, the characters are iconic and the gameplay is fun...

Just get the game, you won't regret it.

Game so good i buy it after i pirated it. Dont worry Yoko Taro ill make sure you wont sell game in a creepy dark alley ever again.

10/10 would cried my heart out and having existential crisis again

---{ Graphics }---
☐ You forget what reality is
☑ Beautiful
☐ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{ Gameplay }---
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

---{ Audio }---
☐ Eargasm
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

---{ Audience }---
☐ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☐ Grandma

---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☐ Potato
☑ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Game Size }---
☐ Floppy Disk
☐ Old Fashioned
☐ Workable
☑ Big
☐ Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data

---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☐ Easy
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☑ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
☐ Nothing to grind
☑ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn't necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding

---{ Story }---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☑ Average
☐ Good
☐ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life

---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☐ Average
☑ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond

---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☑ Worth the price
☐ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{ Bugs }---
☑ Never heard of
☐ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☐ 8
☑ 9
☐ 10

Nier: Automata is a game that leaves a lasting impression, combining a decent game play with a profound and emotional story. The narrative is its strongest feature, following androids in a post-apocalyptic world and delving into themes like the meaning of life, consciousness, and what it truly means to be human. Told from multiple character perspectives, the story is rich and complex, offering a deep, thought-provoking experience that lingers long after you’ve finished playing. The soundtrack is equally remarkable, perfectly complementing the emotional depth of the game.

If you appreciate powerful storytelling, Nier: Automata is an absolute must-play.

One of my most favorite stories of all time, just be aware that ending A is only the first of five parts the story has to offer.
Gameplay and visuals are serviceable. The gameplay is a dumbed down version of Bayonetta with a Skill system tacked onto it. The Skillsystem is fine and fun to mess around with, but it is very easy to just break the game with a few of them. Whats actually good about it, is the way the implemented it into the story and lore. All of the Skills you'll get are Computerchips which take up a specific amount of storage, depending on how refined the chip and how good the skill is. The UI also fits the game very well and gives you the feeling of actually changing settings on the Character you are playing. Some UI elements are even skills you can unequip for that extra point of storage if needed.

The Visuals are fine. Character and enemy models as well as effects are visibly at a better quality than everything else. The terrain and World don't look awful, but the texture resolution seems really really low, almost as if the game was made for hardware two decades old. For some weird reason the Grass is really well made and looks actually good. It also tanks performance on any PC with an older GPU and is therefore replaced with lower fidelity grass on switch. You can also use a mod to get the lower fidelity grass on PC.

I don't really want to talk about the story, as you should experience it yourself. It's not relevant to know NieR or Drakengard, but some things might make a lot of more sense if you do.

Sunk 30 or so hours into this game and I still do not understand what the story was about. However I enjoyed playing through it and achieved every ending regardless.

actually amazing game, super fun combat, booty, great charackters a catching story ,booty, a lot of content thru quests, many many weapons and 3 diff chars to play whit 26 endings overall a great experience 10/10 booty

Very touching story, hoping for more game like this. 3A equals to good story, good fighting system, good graphic.

I enjoyed playing A2 more than 2B and 9S as it was a unique character that I didn't know much about. Sounds tracks are fire. If you are playing route B just breeze through it.

I actually can't play the game as I finished the anime not long ago and I can't play without tearing up just by listening to the music... 😭

The game used to not work this well without fan patches - but this has been patched out - it worked with no problems and no stutter.

With this out of the way...

It is great.

You expect truckload of fanservice, instead you get philosophy and existential dread.
You get drama, you get feelings, you get characters you get attached to.
You get to cry.

This is the type of game that makes you feel.
I love that.

Just remember - the first ending is not the true ending. Give it a go again and then some. It is more than just a repeat of the same thing. So much more.

This game is freaking amazing. The art style is gorgeous and fits the game's aesthetic perfectly. It really becomes beautiful when combined with the music. The story is phenomenal and well written. This game is a masterpiece.

One downside is that the mouse and keyboard controls are clunky, but you can easily get past that when the story is this good.

One of a kind. Continues to amaze me and I'm only 3 hours deep.

This is the definition of an artsy game, though not without its flaws.

Artistically, this was an amazing experience. Great world-building, art direction, writing, characters, music, and whatnot. A lot of spectacle in its set pieces. Lots of philosophy and well-written tragedy. And cool weird things that you kind of just have to play it to understand.

God I love 2B. And 9S. And A2.

Gameplay-wise, it can be...rough at times. The camera is probably one of the worst I've had to control in a character action game. Lack of proper lock-on makes it even worse (you can't use it on anything above normal), so you sometimes get enemies that move too fast for your camera to keep up with. Platforming felt clunky (invisible walls and weird fixed camera angles during sequences will do that), hacking...sucks (I love 9S but man his segments are the WORST to play). Combat is okay--a bit simple but serviceable.

There's also like some questionable time-wasters that can be VERY lousy if you're not ready for it. Biggest example is at the start of the game; since there is no auto-save, if you die at the first mini-boss you have to start the ENTIRE tutorial over, which has a bunch of unskippable dialogue. Typically wouldn't be a problem, unless you're like me and were recommended the hardest difficulty (where the mini-boss pretty much will 2-shot you). Would recommend turning the difficulty setting down at the start if you're brand new for that reason. Also there is the fact that you don't get access to fast travel right away, so there's a lot of running back and forth for quests early on. I think as you get deeper into the game this does become less of an issue, but it was definitely pretty annoying at the start.

I do think the amazing sequences that occur in boss fights and other major gameplay events did help me move past those flaws (and the story largely helped me push through the problems that I had), but the flaws are still there.

Was this the most fun game I've ever played? Probably not; the aforementioned gameplay issues actually almost made me drop the game completely at one point. Am I glad that I saw it through to the end, though? Yeah, I'd say so. It was certainly worth it for the story, presentations, and all the philosophical messages it provides.

Ultimately I -can- recommend this game, though not without acknowledging issues in how it plays (issues that may end up being deal breakers for some as they almost were for me). It is certainly one of the most interesting video game experiences out there.

Man...where do I even begin with this game. Okay, NieR: Automata is a sequel to freshly remastered NieR: Replicant. Personally I didn't really have any expectations due to me not really paying that much attention to the title, but I figured that it's high time I dive into it and see what the praise is about. I will not talk about the story a lot because I want to avoid spoiling people. However I can say this much, the story starts with a war between androids and machines who were created by aliens. Remnants of humanity had to escape to the moon in order to survive and sent androids to rid the machines and aliens so life on earth can resume once again. As you progress through the game you will start to notice how at first glance insignificant things start to play a much bigger role and dive ever so deeper into the entirety of the lore. Yoko Taro really outdid himself with a story that questions "what it really means to be human". The soundtrack itself was nothing short of phenomenal. I really like that multiple songs have various versions which are dependent on what is going on in the game at the moment, whether it's a scripted event or just completing main story/side quests. As for the gameplay itself, it was fun and rather enjoyable. I really enjoyed how the game switched up the genres, going from a hack and slash to a shoot em up, also playing with the camera angles of standard third person perspective to a side scroller. The exploration itself will be tied with side quests. During the start of the game, I was kind of annoyed with how much travel you had to do for essentially fetch quests, but that kind of got overshadowed with the story, the soundtrack and later on with unlocking the fast travel option. Yoko Taro, Thank you.

If you have not yet played this game, you are only doing yourself a disservice.
Please, don't look anything up. Play through the game, then play again, and one more time. Trust me.

Game is good but opening sequence should have save feature to let players decide if they want to keep the game or not.

I had to refund as I was nearing 2 hours just by completing intro sequence.

I never thought a game where 90% of characters wear miniskirts and skintight bodysuits would be this deep storywise. It actually makes you think about the purpose of your own existence.

The game officially has 26 endings (one for each letter of the alphabet) but the only actually important ones are A,B,C,D and E. This might sound intimidating but these 5 endings don't necessarily translate to 5 playthroughs, it's more like 3 and you get to control a different character each time. It takes around 40 hours to complete the entire story.

The combat system and controls are great IF you play with a gamepad. If you plan on playing this game with keyboard and mouse, be ready to download some mods to fix the awful KB+M controls. I would also recommend downloading a few texture mods because some of them look really badly compressed.

The OST absolutely slaps.

Some minor flaws include:

Sidequests mostly being limited to shallow fetch quests
Hegel bossfight
Most of the side characters lack voice acting

I'm never going to write a review that I'm happy with, so I won't try.

The game is poorly optimized and runs poorly.
The controls are inconvenient and kill game and movement flow.
The controls are also unresponsive half the time due to
Movement does not flow anyway, as character cannot change elevation or direction without requiring a 5 second animation that takes you out of animation.\
Taking damage below ~33% health also freezes your game for 10 seconds.
Enemy AI is somewhat monotonous, which would not be a problem if not for this game not having much action flow.
Best I can say about boss fights are to say they exist.
->And the vehicle game play exists worse.
I vary rarely care about graphics, but due to poor optimization and potential it's noteworthy.

This is also the best story game I've played, has stellar characters and narrative, and is unforgettable for me. Despite griping above, the game play is still enjoyable in the majority.

I'm putting all my complaints here to be done with them. There is no possible way for me to write a review that can praise this game enough, or one that will make me feel so. My complaints are outnumbered and outshone by the plethora of reasons that make this game art. Please play it.

Amazing story, beautiful soundtrack. Definitely recommend controller when playing, also 2B bad asf

NieR:Automata is amazing. Game play does get a little repetitive, but the story is fantastic.

my only complaint is how confusing i find the story, but i assume the answers are in the 23 endings i haven't reached yet

combat system is very good for hack and slash

highly reccomended , this game increase the level of my depression , existential dread and GLORY TO MAN KIND

20/10 would play again.
I let the game delete and all of my 176 hours of save files. 100% would do again. :)

By the way, why are you even down here looking at reviews. Just play it already, seriously. You can thank me later.

came for 2B thighs.
stayed for fluid combat, great soundtrack, a profound intertwining narrative, cool side characters, beautiful world, and 2B's thicc thighs.

This game was life-changing for me. I played through it on PS4 and got the Platinum trophy. It was important enough that I wrote the date on a sticky note that I took a picture of and put the note in the game case. For me, it marked the moment that I started fighting against my depression and anxiety that had wreaked havoc on my life for several years at that point. I'm grateful that this game exists and I get to play it again on PC.

Best story ever played
One of the best combat mechanics
the Music- The Voice actors (jp)- and the art is absolutely stunningly amazing
made me feel every feeling humankind is able to feel playing NieR:
if you haven't played- HuH?! What are you DOING? depriving yourself from the best experience anyone can have?!
It truly is Glory to mankind.

I first bought NieR: Automata back in 2017 on the PS4, where I put over 80 hours into the game and earned all the achievements. Fast forward to 2024, and here I am again, playing through it on Steam. Gameplay-wise, it has always been fun for me—especially if you enjoy hack-and-slash games. Music and visuals are merely the most overt methods of Automata's passive storytelling. This game is simply too beautiful to miss, and will undoubtedly be remembered as a pioneer in the medium of video games.

I love the soundtrack, I love the combat, I love the voice acting, I love the areas, I love the bosses, I love the side quests, I love the weapons, I love the UI, I love everything about this game. A true masterpiece.

THIS GAME IS A Masterpiece AND DESERVES A 100 ON METACRITIC. i remember when the game first came out and i didn't think much of it then. (prob cuz i was like 9) but now that im older i see that yoko taro is a genius. this game got me out of some really bad times. and the lore is SOOOOOO COOOL. the only issue i have is that not every one will get to experience the older games like drakengard/drakengard 3. im now a die hard fan. thanks yoko taro.

I didn't expect 90's shmups with narration (never happened in the 90's), Smash TV, Strider PC, and Bayonetta the space opera (if there were a space opera version of Bayonetta) rolled up into one coherent, integrated thing. I wasn't sure what to expect, and kind of pre-imagined a disappointingly slow, bookish RPG with some action. I was prepared for disappointment. I bought it on the pretense that at the very least the online videos didn't have chunky bad 90's Playstation 1 textures or 720P clunker graphics that deserve a car backfiring sound effect in the laugh track. Retro 480P with scanlines is still beautiful pixel art, like Greek mosaics or something. Remembering my experience from the deceptive marketing of Vermillion, I assumed that they showed the best parts, which comprised 1% of the entire jalopy. On the contrary, this is top fuel. The graphics are a quantum leap above the disaster it might have been. It's an excellent choice for those on the fence. For the one who compared it to an MMORPG, ...that is a strange comparison, like calling an orange a hamburger. This is superb stuff so far, just like it was printed in reviews of ancient yore.

Worth it in 2024? Yes Yes Yes.

Here's the thing: there are some boring moments and they are more so towards the start. But the awesome moments are so insanely good.

The trailers don't show what makes this game incredible. The trailers show you what the combat and game look like and those things are both decent.

But what shines in this game are : music, sound design and story moments. And the moments where all of those combine are SO good.

She can't be bargained with. She can't be reasoned with. She doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until they are dead.

This game is reduntant to replay without a year's break, but with some time it has a replay value that can't be matched.

The story isn't the brightest but it's a delightful classic if you're into the JRPG type of storytelling. The cast is as lovable each time, and the gameplay is still engaging enough despite the age of the game. It's not a personal favorite (I would pick the original Nier for storytelling) but I would never tell someone to avoid playing or buying this game.

The most beautiful, profound, emotional, philosophical and hard hitting experience the whole gaming medium has ever been able to deliver.

It is difficult finding the words to describe the implications this game has left on my mind. "Game" is maybe no the right word. "Experience" is probably better since I'll remind myself of this on my deathbed.

PS: When you think it's over, it's not over. You need to keep playing until you reach ending E, the real ending.