Nier: Automata Reviews
Despite some minor annoyances, NieR: Automata is brilliant. It strikes the balance between RPG and action game unlike anything else in the genre. It’s a game you kind of have to meet halfway, with a story that gets more complex and interesting the more you prod at it. If you’re willing to commit, though, you’ll be rewarded.
While Nier: Automata at times feels unpolished or under-developed, when taken as an entire experience, it's a fantastic journey of a group of androids struggling to live up to their purpose in life. Here, unconventional narrative design meets tightly-developed combat gameplay, and that turns out to be one heck of a combination.
Yet, it’s a fantastic and well balanced mix between sleek PlatinumGames action and JRPG gameplay, resulting bigger than the sum of its parts. It brings forth an absolutely fascinating setting, and charming, likable and memorable characters that will both make you smile and tug at your heart strings. 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.
At the beginning of March, the hearts of the audience stole the new Zelda, but it is worth remembering that this is not the only outstanding production that came out at that time. Before you NieR: Automata – the work of geniuses (but also madmen) from Platinum Games.
Review in Polish | Read full review
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. Another reason to own a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 4 Pro.
NieR: Automata is one of the finest gaming experiences around.
NieR: Automata is one of the finest gaming experiences around.
If you are a fan of previous games made by Yoko Taro, you will be delighted. NieR Automata enchants not only with the world and beautiful music, but also with the perfect combination of several genres. In this game, there is no place for boredom and monotony.
Review in Polish | Read full review
NieR: Automata improves on its predecessor in almost every way. It's thoughtful, inventive, subversive, and an absolute joy to play.
Platinum and Yoko Taro are an expert pair here, harmoniously bringing together dozens of eclectic sources from philosophy to anime to history to real-life war to silly, over-the-top fight sequences into one cohesive whole where not a single part feels unnecessary, and all contribute to the larger message. It is a timely story about our priorities as a society and our continued relevance in an increasingly automated world, told in a clever way that makes meaning out of about four different genres worth of mechanics and yet could still be called elegant. It's a sharp commentary that could only be done through games, and for now, it is easily the magnum opus of either of its authors.
Despite its issues, NieR: Automata is a game that we rarely have the privilege of experiencing. Auteur designer Yoko Taro successfully blends his oddball knack for storytelling, defying typical video game conventions in doing so. This leads to a truly unforgettable story, but the way in which it's told and demands repeat playthroughs is bound to be lost on some part of NieR: Automata's audience. Regardless, NieR: Automata blends strong action and RPG components into an atmosphere and game that's well worth experiencing.
Nier: Automata is the videogame twin of those tabletop games that demand players disfigure and destroy its pieces. In Automata's case, PlatinumGames' house-brand of action sustains engagement and empowers director Yoko Taro's disarming unorthodoxy, positioning Automata as cordial agreement between boundary-obliterating determination and boisterous violence. As a videogame designed to experience the paradox of poignant optimism, Automata isn't the most efficient mechanism, but it's easily the most effective.
NieR: Automata takes what was great about NieR and adds some fantastic action gameplay on top of it.
Meticulously weaving gameplay and narrative together, Nier: Automata is Yoko Taro's magnum opus - succeeding brilliantly in expressing his vision.
Nier: Automata is a big ball of a surprise that keeps on giving. I went into it with no expectations and found myself amazed with it. It is a really wild and beautiful game that shouldn't pass under anyone's radar. The fun gameplay coupled with the fantastic story and the soundtrack makes this a complete package and I'm hesitating to call it an action game cause that would be a disservice to the emotional impact it had on me. I'm sure it will have the same effect on a lot of you if you give it a chance. You most certainly should.
NieR: Automata is the rare gaming experience in which narrative, aesthetics, and gameplay all complement each other to form a perfect storm of master class game design. A truly exemplary example of what video games are capable of as an art form, and a new personal favourite.
NieR:Automata succeds in a lot of elements: a complex and deep story, with a unique style of narration, a distopic and totally story driven open world and a fantastic mix between hack'n'slash and jRPG style.
Review in Italian | Read full review
An engaging, action-packed and even relaxing exploration of existentialism. Nier: Automata merges action and RPG as seamlessly as it switches cameras angles from player-controlled to fixed scroller. Have your pick of reading a visual novel and threading the plot together, or hack and slash through waves of enemies in a gorgeous dance - I did them all, and I loved every minute. Worth full price.
Deep story and fluid combat make Nier: Automata a truly special experience.