Nier Automata Review: 2B or not 2B
Do you like your RPGs with a mix of existential crisis? A hack-and-slash game focused on fine-tuning hit and dodge mechanisms, with a sidescrolling “Maple Story” mix-up that throws in some bullet hell shooters for fun?
Meet Nier: Automata.
It’s basically Final Fantasy meets Kierkegaardian despair.
The story
Nier drops you into a world where you play as 2B, an android designed and sent to Earth to fight machines that have driven humans off of Earth. Early on, you meet up with another android, 9S, a curious and whimsical android that seems more human than android.
As the story progresses, you start from mixing together endearing moments where your android partners show how human they truly are, with the mandate to slaughter the machines wherever they are found.
One moment you are talking about how close friends among androids have pet names for each other and the next moment your android buddy encourages you to murder friendly machines at an amusement park.
It’s the first time where I’ve actually let enemies in a video game live because, well I felt bad for killing them. A family of robots at the amusement park enjoying themselves shouldn’t be cut down mercilessly by an unwavering enemy.
Or should they?
These are the questions that Nier positions you in, from the very start of putting you in the shoes of a robot the murders other robots.
Gameplay
The gameplay breaks down into three types of gameplay.
The main type of gameplay is a beautifully rendered and paced hack-and-slash that depends on timing and positioning. I never felt like I died because of a random gaming gimmick, but it was always my own fault when I died. The game puts in consequences (losing chips and no autosaving) that makes each death feel meaningful, but not to the point where I was frustrated.
The second type of gameplay is effectively the first but in 2D. I found it a bit difficult (forest castle) to figure out what was jumpable and what was not, leading to some frustrations with the camera. Overall, I appreciate the effort to diversify the gameplay, but keeping it in 3D would have been fine. The shift in perspective is interesting in the overall game, as it adds to the musings on the changing of perspectives and the effects that has on people.
The third type of gameplay is a bullet hell shooter that I haven’t encountered in a long time. The gameplay here was fun, but to be honest I never felt really challenged here. I also would have liked a more diverse moveset and some real challenges here so the gameplay didn’t devolve into mashing the shooting button, dodging enemy shots, and occasionally spamming the missiles.
Overall, the gameplay is done well, but the autochips (how you upgrade to add special skills) feels awkward and a bit forced, the bullet hell shooter could have been more refined, and the camera-work on the 2D parts could have been better. Probably this game’s weakest part (but by no means bad. highly playable).
The length of the game was great as well. The first playthrough gives a bit of the story, but the real meat of the story comes in the third playthrough (no spoilers). After playing through the third playthrough, the first playthrough felt like almost a demo or a prologue for the game.
I put in a solid 40 hours into this game, but I mixed in some grinding for fun and completed about 60% of the sidequests. You can finish this game in 25 hours if you rush only the objectives, but when you’re enjoying artwork at the Louvre, do you put yourself on a timer?
Be prepared to put in 35–40 hours to really enjoy Nier Automata.
Music
Normally I’m not one to call out the music, but the soundtrack in Nier is phenomenal. Easily one of the best soundtracks I’ve every listened to in a game. The mix of Gaelic and other languages into the score has created a soundtrack that is uplifting in places, fast-paced in others, and emotive in the right places.
If nothing else, pick up the game to experience the soundtrack. I found myself visiting certain areas just to get the soundtrack I was craving.
Verdict
One of the best games out there right now. If you like RPGs with a gripping story, this is the game for you. I’ve personally had a ton of fun playing this game and I highly recommend this game.
Buy it here.
