No One Thought this Game Would Ever Happen
NieR: Automata’s announcement was one of the biggest surprises back at Square Enix’s press conference during E3 2015, especially for longtime fans of the original NieR and Yoko Taro’s Drakengard games. Taro’s games never really did well commercially, though they did eventually gain a bit of a cult following. NieR, in particular, was released on the PS3 and Xbox 360, and it was beloved by those who did play it. However, the game flew under the radar for many people because of a lack of marketing, and its bland graphics and combat.
Fast forward to 2015, and all of a sudden, NieR is getting a sequel with Square Enix handling the publishing and action powerhouse Platinum Games sharpening up the combat. A literal dream come true for the fans.
The Combat is Polished and Actually Feels Nice
As mentioned earlier, NieR’s combat was incredibly bland and monotonous. The gameplay got repetitive rather quickly, leading to a poor experience overall when it came to the gameplay. However, NieR: Automata changes all of that with Platinum Games stepping in to help.
From what we’ve played of the game, the combat feels extremely responsive and smooth. The game hits 60 frames per second pretty consistently, allowing for a really fluid fighting experience. Though the game only offers four weapon types, you can equip two weapons at the same time and use them in a variety of combos with light and heavy attacks. NieR: Automata also lets you fire bullets from your mobile Pod robot while stylishly dodging attacks.
NieR: Automata also removes the insanely overpowered block that was present in the first game, so you won’t feel quite as invincible anymore.
Innovative Gameplay Decisions and Presentation
Most action RPGs are content with delivering a pure hack ‘n slash experience where you’ll primarily spend your time swinging a sword around. Not so with NieR: Automata. Aside from the hacking and slashing gameplay, which is a lot of fun, Automata mixes in a ton of other fun gameplay styles and mini games to mix things up. There are bullet hell segments, hacking mini games, and even instances where the game becomes a 2.5D side-scroller. Automata likes playing around with fixed camera angles, giving you a different perspective on the action that’s going on. There are even a couple of text adventure segments that really help to enhance the narrative experience.
Without spoiling too much, even the game’s presentation and the way it shows off certain cutscenes are unique. When you adjust the game’s brightness and volume output settings for the first time, you do so as an android, because that’s what the game wants you to be.
A Story Unlike Any Other
NieR: Automata’s story kicks off with us learning that aliens have invaded Earth, and the humans have taken refuge on the moon. As a result, the humans launched the YoRHa project, creating an elite unit of androids tasked with taking back the planet from the aliens’ machine lifeforms. Things seem simple enough from the start, but nothing is what it appears to be in Automata. Just when you think you’ve got everything figured out, Automata turns the story upside-down and heads into a completely unexpected direction you’ll never see coming.
The game also features 26 different endings. Five of these endings are crucial to understanding the full plot, while the other 21 are mostly joke endings that can trigger if you eat a fish or something. Automata’s a pretty weird, but charming, game.
That Soundtrack
If music is a big thing for you in RPGs, NieR: Automata will be right up your alley. Composer Keiichi Okabe returns with vocalist Emi Evans, and the musical result is spectacular. The soundtrack is incredibly varied, and every track packs a memorable punch. The overworld and town tracks are quieter and more peaceful, but the music also amps up the intensity during the more exciting story moments too.
Just to give you a sample of what you can expect from this awesome and phenomenal soundtrack, here are a couple of standout themes (no spoilers, don’t worry).
NieR: Automata is set to be released for the PS4 on March 7, with a PC release coming some time this year too.
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