Review
Played on: Xbox One XReleased: 2018
Introduction
NieR: Automata made solid reviews and healthy sales when it was released on PS4 and PC back 2017. It's the sequel to the Drakengard series spin-off, NieR, which became somewhat of a cult classic over time, despite it's mixed reviews. NieR: Automata, much like Nier, blends gameplay ideas from various action genres, but is a RPG at it's core. To be clear, I have no experience with the first game prior to playing Automata, and as such, I jump into the lore with a blank slate.
Being a console player and seeing that the base PS4 version was badly optimised, hovering in the inconsistent 40fps area, I waited in hope for a Xbox One X conversion. Luckily, SquareEnix have delivered, and it's a nice visual step up from the fairly muddy PS4 Pro version too. A year later and this "Become As Gods Edition" has arrived in digital form only, so far.
Let's take a look at what NieR: Automata is all about.
Being a console player and seeing that the base PS4 version was badly optimised, hovering in the inconsistent 40fps area, I waited in hope for a Xbox One X conversion. Luckily, SquareEnix have delivered, and it's a nice visual step up from the fairly muddy PS4 Pro version too. A year later and this "Become As Gods Edition" has arrived in digital form only, so far.
Let's take a look at what NieR: Automata is all about.
Plot and setting
Automata is a strange title, it's setting and introduction level opens up for so many questions, as does the story consistently as you progress. Briefly explained, it's about a female android, named 2B, sent from the moon, where humanity have escaped from an alien robot race, back on earth. 2B and her companion android, 9S, have been sent on a mission by the humans to take back earth from the robots. What you slowly discover, about the main overarching story, is clever and what drove me further into it's repeated playthroughs, to learn more.
It features a very typical Japanese anime type storytelling, that needs some acceptance from the player to fully appreciate and enjoy. If it sounds a little too distant from the more grounded Western games, then this is probably not for you. I'm kind of in the middle, I do still enjoy Japanese games, but I am mostly an old school player when it comes to games from Japan. A lot of modern Japanese games are leaning very heavily into this modern anime style culture.
Although the story is absurd at times, especially with the over dramatic and weird characters along the way, stereotypical for anime shows and all, the dialogue actually flows better than most games and animes from this territory, in English. I ended up quite enjoying the casual banter between the two main characters: 2B and 9S. You need to accept that not everything that comes across as absurd, is ever explained either.
However, this gameplay flow isn't for all the consoles, it falls under 60fps on most of them, much less so on Xbox One X. However, by using a VRR compatible TV on the X is a game changer. It keeps the framerate feeling steady and precise throughout! The added HDR in this version though, looks cheaply implemented and basically non-existent.
Nothing stands out in the sound department, but like I mentioned, the voice acting on the two main characters is done unexpectedly well. Their banter helps keep traversing large and repetitive areas more diverse, as you listen in on their amusing conversations.
It might sound like the old "you either hate it or love it" quote, but in a way it describes Automata well. Fans of the game go wild for it, while if you're sold on it's presentation, story and whole design, like me, it's less easy to love. That said, you can still find a lot of entertainment here. It just needs some adjustment towards the more weird and niché side of Japanese gaming.
There's another strange kicker to the whole experience too, which is important to know prior to playing. Automata isn't completed by your first 10-12 hour playthrough. No, once you have completed it, it encourages you to play it again. Only this time, you see and play a lot of the campaign through another characters eyes. Then, the third playthrough is even more different and a sort of continuation of where the two first playthroughs. Yes, it's weird, and yes, it will require time to replay them.
This replaying leaves a dilemma. From a first playthrough perspective, it resides in a fairly forgettable affair with it's ending. Leaving a lot of questions unanswered. While, if you spend the time to actually play it again and again, you're rewarded with new experiences all the time, not just minor changes. Like you're reading the next chapter of a book.
It features a very typical Japanese anime type storytelling, that needs some acceptance from the player to fully appreciate and enjoy. If it sounds a little too distant from the more grounded Western games, then this is probably not for you. I'm kind of in the middle, I do still enjoy Japanese games, but I am mostly an old school player when it comes to games from Japan. A lot of modern Japanese games are leaning very heavily into this modern anime style culture.
Although the story is absurd at times, especially with the over dramatic and weird characters along the way, stereotypical for anime shows and all, the dialogue actually flows better than most games and animes from this territory, in English. I ended up quite enjoying the casual banter between the two main characters: 2B and 9S. You need to accept that not everything that comes across as absurd, is ever explained either.
Gameplay and features
This game shifts gameplay form a lot, especially in it's introduction level! It begins as an R-Type shoot 'em up, then transforms to a twin stick 2D shooter, like how Geometry Wars plays, then a 3D spaceship tunnel shooter, but ends up as a hack and slash styled game in the vein of Devil May Cry. Confused? Well, the latter gameplay form is where most of the playthrough resides and the part you'll get most familiar with.
Not only do you have short and long sword attacks at your disposal, but also a tiny drone turret that fires where you aim. It's a little tricky to multitask for beginners, requiring you to do melee fighting with combos, while at the same time aiming, but once you get the hang of it becomes second nature and cool looking.
I had to set the game to easy and I'd recommend the same for newcomers to this genre. Easy mode even allows you to set the turret in auto mode, if that's preferable. Enemies will take less damage and boss fights become way easier and manageable. I began on normal, but had to knock the difficulty down after a while, either my skills weren't cutting it, or the boss fights had way too high difficulty spikes. Levelling your character up, upgrading and buying new weapons is highly recommended to stay on top of your opponents.
I had to set the game to easy and I'd recommend the same for newcomers to this genre. Easy mode even allows you to set the turret in auto mode, if that's preferable. Enemies will take less damage and boss fights become way easier and manageable. I began on normal, but had to knock the difficulty down after a while, either my skills weren't cutting it, or the boss fights had way too high difficulty spikes. Levelling your character up, upgrading and buying new weapons is highly recommended to stay on top of your opponents.
Video
This isn't really a title that pushes much visually. I'm guessing the lack of native 4K is more due to optimisation here. It's graphically fine, with a fairly unique aesthetic to it. Sometimes it shines visually, but mostly resides in looking like something from the last generation of consoles. Detail everywhere looks very sparse, with a large, but empty, world with bland colour variation.
That being said, I appreciate the amount enemies and focus on 60fps gameplay to compensate for the lack of visual flair. The gameplay flows nicely and combat feels fast and responsive as it should in a fast hack n' slash like this.
However, this gameplay flow isn't for all the consoles, it falls under 60fps on most of them, much less so on Xbox One X. However, by using a VRR compatible TV on the X is a game changer. It keeps the framerate feeling steady and precise throughout! The added HDR in this version though, looks cheaply implemented and basically non-existent.
Audio
The music score ended up being something I took more notice of than expected, it sounds like a cross between the original Ghost in the Shell movie score and music from a typical PS1/PS2 era Final Fantasy game. It sounds dramatic and melancholic, and coincides nicely with the Japanese art style and JRPG feel.Nothing stands out in the sound department, but like I mentioned, the voice acting on the two main characters is done unexpectedly well. Their banter helps keep traversing large and repetitive areas more diverse, as you listen in on their amusing conversations.
Summary
Automata in a nutshell, is a game you need to accept some elements that may not be what you want unless you are very into Japanese games. The storytelling, with it's strange turns and over the top characters, for one. The other, are the underwhelming visuals compared to modern titles. Then there's also the whole anime aesthetic of the characters.It might sound like the old "you either hate it or love it" quote, but in a way it describes Automata well. Fans of the game go wild for it, while if you're sold on it's presentation, story and whole design, like me, it's less easy to love. That said, you can still find a lot of entertainment here. It just needs some adjustment towards the more weird and niché side of Japanese gaming.
There's another strange kicker to the whole experience too, which is important to know prior to playing. Automata isn't completed by your first 10-12 hour playthrough. No, once you have completed it, it encourages you to play it again. Only this time, you see and play a lot of the campaign through another characters eyes. Then, the third playthrough is even more different and a sort of continuation of where the two first playthroughs. Yes, it's weird, and yes, it will require time to replay them.
This replaying leaves a dilemma. From a first playthrough perspective, it resides in a fairly forgettable affair with it's ending. Leaving a lot of questions unanswered. While, if you spend the time to actually play it again and again, you're rewarded with new experiences all the time, not just minor changes. Like you're reading the next chapter of a book.
It makes it difficult to recommend for those only willing to put down the effort of one playthrough, they'll simply only see a small part of a bigger picture. It's a risky design choice and I've been back and forwards as to whether this title really was my taste, but I end up recommending it. However, take time to play it at least twice, preferably three times to expand the story and appreciate it more.
It's sounds cheesy to say it, but it just isn't for everyone. However, it deserves your attention for it's originality, blending of genres and entertaining gameplay. A left field experience, for those seeking something a little different from the mainstream. Yet. a game that resides in the more popular releases of recent times.
It's sounds cheesy to say it, but it just isn't for everyone. However, it deserves your attention for it's originality, blending of genres and entertaining gameplay. A left field experience, for those seeking something a little different from the mainstream. Yet. a game that resides in the more popular releases of recent times.
