Developer: PlatinumGames
Publisher: Square Enix
Platforms: PS4, PC
Release Dates: March 7, 2017(PS4), March 17, 2017(PC)
MSRP: $59.99

I never imagined in million years that this series would get this much attention. Nier: Automata, which is a sequel to Nier and a spin-off of the Drakengard series, did not really capture the mainstream audience since its first announcement.

However, as soon as gameplay videos were revealed, featuring graceful character design by the Square Enix artist Akihiko Yoshida, people came to view the game in a different light. Combining the unique story and narrative of the Drakengard series with solid action elements, Automata was enough to captivate even those uninitiated to the series. As a personal side note, the Japanese TV commercial prior to the release left a deep impression in my mind.

Like I said previously, Nier: Automata is a sequel to Nier Replicant (Nier Gestalt for Xbox 360) To this date, I’m still consistently shocked by Kainé’s design and the real ending of the previous installment. This time, Automata takes place in the distant future, where humanity is driven off to the moon by the machine invaders from another world. The main story arc recounts humanity’s proxy war using androids to retake the earth. Although the lore is directly taken from the previous games, newcomers don’t have to know all the details to be brought up to speed.

A full disclosure: I’m a massive fan of the series, as I’ve waited for and played the demo the day it was released. Even when the official launch was announced where I live, I went through other means to get my hands on it. From my several days of playtime, I can safely say that Nier: Automata did not let me down.

*The videos may contain minor spoilers, so proceed at your own risk. The screenshots and videos in this review were recorded using PS4 Pro.

▣ Staying true to roots while delivering quality a Platinum-esque action shooting experience

Combat in Nier Replicant, which received mixed reception, was polished in the hands of PlatinumGames to deliver a clean and complete experience. PlatinumGame’s signature speedy, blissful movements and scripted but fluid action formula were integral parts of recreating the fantastic android combat in Automata.

One outstanding aspect is how the game deals with bullet hell in a uniquely Nier fashion. In the early to mid stages, combat is mostly centered around action but shifts its focus to shooting in the later stages. The shoot ‘em up tropes from previous titles are all there, from dodging enemy bullets and finding your bearings to counterattacking in a follow-up. Only this time, PlatinumGames took it to another level, polishing the combat pace to near perfection.

Chips, which are used to customize the character, add another layer to gameplay. If you want to focus more on shooting, then chips with ranged attack damage, chips with dodge duration and distance, and chips with Shockwave will take you far. If you’re the type that likes to get up close and personal, then going with chips that augment your defense is a wiser choice. Whether you prefer melee action or ranged shooting, Automata provides a very reasonable combat system depending on your playstyle. Additionally, various support robots called Pods and a diverse combo system for each of your weapons wonderfully complement one another to create a perfect harmony between action and shoot ‘em up.

One other laudable aspect is that the game is friendly to players who aren’t used to action or shoot ‘em ups. On easy difficulty with an auto chip, androids automatically dodge enemy attacks, switch weapons, and use consumables to recover lost health. Another added bonus is that you’re free to set which part of combat you want to happen automatically.

You can also turn on and off the auto chip at any time, so you get to choose how you want to play. That said, there are still enemy attacks that will get through auto chip defenses, which means that coming up with a setting that best suits your playstyle, including weapons, pods, and chips, is vital to success.

I don’t know why more games don’t do things like this for people who are inherently aversive to action or shoot ‘em ups, but still want to experience the story for themselves. Personally, I’m a big fan of action and shoot ‘em ups, so I didn’t skip any battles. From time to time, though, I ran into some trouble, as the game immediately transitioned from combat to shooting without giving me time to adjust my chip settings. Fortunately, the shooting aspect wasn’t horribly difficult, so I managed to beat the level.

Since the story doesn’t change depending on the difficulty, I strongly recommend sticking to auto chips if you want a stress-free experience when it comes to combat. If you decide to go the hard route, always stay on your toes, as Automata’s combat can be unforgiving at times.

Some minor gripes I have with the game have to do with the hacking mini game and awkward perspective switching. Even though the mini games are made up of mostly straightforward stages, you may be caught off guard if you don’t set your controls in advance. For what they are, the mini games offer enough challenges to keep you interested. The issue is that the gimmick gets repetitive because most enemies except bosses all share a couple hacking patterns for each type. Regarding perspective switching, the character sometimes becomes so small in some shooting sequences that it becomes a chore to play. Thankfully, those instances are few and far between, so it’s not really a deal breaker.

▣ Nier’s unique multiple endings driving the main story

One of the most distinguishing features of the Nier series is its multiple ending structure that spans over many playthroughs. Such a mechanism, which takes multiple playthroughs to get the “true ending,” may be considered too outdated by some. However, Automata minimized the hassle that comes from multiple playthroughs by introducing new story progress and higher polish to each run.

Cinematic storytelling, which is told through both combat and dialogue, draws players into the very unique lore and world of Nier. Through the trials and tribulations of the androids, who are ironically more rational than any humans, the game reflects on human fallacies and the meaning of truth.

Players will realize in their repeated playthroughs the kinds of truths and destinies that result from differences in perspective. It’s entirely up to players to draw their own conclusions while the game consistently reminds us to face the consequences. Automata excels in creating a fascinating system and cutscenes for players to feel invested in the Nier’s world. This is compounded by the excellent voice-over work that prevails throughout the game. Automata wonderfully weaves all these elements to create a deeply engaging narrative.

One minor complaint is the rather repetitive and tiresome sub quests, which make players travel out of their normal routines, a task often seen in other open world games; one case in point is Sartre, a quest which almost had me ripping out my hair. In any case, some quests can’t be completed once the game passes a certain point in the story. So, players will have to consciously remember to go back to complete them.

That said, sub quests are their own little stories with interesting cutscenes and interactions, providing something to do outside the main missions. Some sub quests actually reward the players with weapons, which should be plenty reason to work on them when you’ve got time to kill.

My feelings on the game as I’m nearing the true ending were that everything just feels like a true Nier game. I couldn’t be happier experiencing the excellent narrative, story flow, and other little tidbits. Beyond those sentiments though, I’m left with a pent-up rage, mixed feelings, and powerlessness, all typical of the Drakengard and Nier series. The game’s director Yoko Taro understands exactly what his fans want.

It would be a mistake to not mention Automata’s outstanding sound, which adds an emotional layer to every object in the game. Like the previous installments, this game’s sound is superb, bar none. I can’t say enough good things about the sound design, which changes depending on the character’s status and quest progress.

At times, the game sound may feel like it’s in conflict with the overall tone, but it all comes full circle to create a fabulous harmony with the game. At some points driving suspense and at other points immersing players in a pleasant mood, the sound team perfectly integrated audio as a pivotal part of the game.

Nier: Automata blends sound to every object and creates a deeper immersion. To get the full experience, I highly recommend paying close attention to the sound.

▣ A masterpiece in every sense of the word

Automata is an exceptional title that combines everything from deep narrative and charming characters to quality shooting action and rich sound. Even the feelings of powerlessness, self-loathing, and disgust are a perfect representation of Nier series. Despite the apparent lack of collectibles and meaningful sub quests, the game redeems itself with the detail it provides.

If I had to nitpick, then I’d point to small bugs that pop up now and then. Most bugs have been addressed with the day one patch up until the 1.03 patch, but I still wasted a couple hours dealing with bugs that still plague the game. If these bugs affected sub quests, then I wouldn’t have been as bothered by them. However, the game suffers significantly with bugs in the main story. To make the matters worse, it’s not easy to tell if the main quest is bugged. Only after wasting a few hours did I realize that the quest was bugged from the start. Time will hopefully fix most of the game-breaking bugs, thus making my point moot.

Both the Nier and Drakengard series have been niche titles away from the mainstream audience. Although critics praised the series for their bizarre, twisted story narrative and quality sound direction, the gameplay wasn’t quite there to entice most gamers. Luckily, PlatinumGames was there to fill in the gaps and made Automota a masterpiece of a game.

There is one caveat before you jump into the bandwagon. If you only look at the developer’s name and go into the game expecting to see Devil May Cry or Bayonetta levels of action, I’d like to ask you to reconsider, as Automata’s main focus is not action. Historically, the Nier series has been about story-oriented shoot ‘em ups. Action and shooting elements are only means to an end i.e. the story. That’s why I’m tempted to recommend waiting until the English version is released.

I personally couldn’t wait for the official release and got the international version. Since neither English nor Japanese is my native language, I had to look up words from time to time to fully understand the story. The importance of story in this game cannot be overemphasized, and that’s why it would be in your best interest to get it when the version of your native tongue releases. No matter how proficient you are in your secondary language, the first-learned language will always be better suited to grasping the story more quickly.

Some good news is that it takes considerably less grind to get to the true ending compared to previous games. I still think that this aspect of the game will either be a hit or miss for most people. One saving grace is that players who are new to Nier won’t have much trouble following the story of Automata. If you’re the select few who are familiar with the story, then… Nope, never mind. The story is much better shown than told by someone else.

At any rate, suffice it to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Nier: Automata. Even factoring in that I’m a big fan of the series, I was able to easily get into everything Automata had to offer, because the game never stops reinventing itself. Thanks to the high-polished action, Automata is poised to charm the mainstream audience this time around. Naturally, it’s one of the titles that I’ll have an easy time recommending.

Some people may be underwhelmed by the graphical fidelity. Although a normal PS4 won’t have access to a few 900p graphical effects, you’re not missing out on much. This is another way of saying that the visual design is nothing short of beautiful, regardless of the system. Also keep in mind that if you’re not playing the game on 4K or a big screen TV, the difference in the graphical department is negligible. It’s all the same in the… Again, I may have said too much.

As the game is nearing release, there will be story spoilers popping up all over the net. If you count yourself among those who yearn for adventure, I strongly encourage you to avoid spoilers like the plague. “Glory to mankind.”