lucablight
Member
I'm a huge fan of Platinum games and I was really looking forward to playing Nier Automata. However, I have this thing where I don't like playing story based sequels unless I've played the previous entry in the series. So despite being told Nier Automata works as a standalone title I ordered the original Nier online and after waiting a month for it to arrive I finally started the slog so I could play Automata without missing any of the references to the original.
I noticed this game didn't review very well so I went on with very few expectations. Alot of the criticisms aimed at Nier are valid. The graphics aren't great, the side quests are fetch questy/tedious and the combat is very simplistic. However in saying that, I finished this game yesterday and after having time to process everything I have to say Nier has ended up being one of my favourite games of all time.
One of the main reasons I am gushing over Nier so much is that the story is AMAZING. There are some games that stay with you forever because they're able to evoke such a powerful response and for me Nier would have to be one of them. It has probably one of the best uses of new game plus I have ever seen as well. The way the game reveals new information to you on subsequent playthroughs is genius. If you play this game you really owe it to yourself to play it again through the new game plus mode as it will change the way you view the story in ways you mightn't expect! This games story is depressing, profound and full of brilliant twists and turns. I remember when the MGS series would throw things at you which you would never expect like the "change the controller port" boss fight and my mind would be blown. Those who have finished the game with the true ending will know that Yoko Taro does something of that calibre and it's fantastic seeing a director take so many creative risks and liberties to wow his audience. I know I said the combat is simplistic but the gameplay isn't offensively bad by any means. It can actually be quite good. (especially the mainline quest). Some of the boss fights are really cool and the way the game constantly throws different genres at you is quite interesting. One second you could be playing an action rpg and the next second you're playing a text adventure, top down computer style rpg or shmup etc One dungeon in particular has a really fun and challenging set of puzzles. I have to applaud Taro for the creativity he shows here.
Another thing I really loved about this game was the OST. Be aware that a lot of this game involves visiting the same 6 or 7 areas multiple times over and over which can get really tedious. Strangely enough traversing through the eastern road or walking through Seafront was made much much easier through the amazing OST. It would have to be one of my favourite soundtracks in a long long time. I have to equate some of the tracks to being audio porn.
I have to say if you are on the fence on playing this or enjoy playing games that blow your mind you should play this game! Make sure you play it through on new game plus to get a full appreciation of it. I can't wait to play Nier Automata now.
On a side note it's quite easy to see this game wasn't given much of a budget. I find it offensive that Square Enix has brilliant writers who can create stuff like this but their mainline big budget FF entries are such a mess in terms of writing. Is Taro always this good or did he get lucky this time around? I'm really looking forward to seeing what else he can do.
I noticed this game didn't review very well so I went on with very few expectations. Alot of the criticisms aimed at Nier are valid. The graphics aren't great, the side quests are fetch questy/tedious and the combat is very simplistic. However in saying that, I finished this game yesterday and after having time to process everything I have to say Nier has ended up being one of my favourite games of all time.
One of the main reasons I am gushing over Nier so much is that the story is AMAZING. There are some games that stay with you forever because they're able to evoke such a powerful response and for me Nier would have to be one of them. It has probably one of the best uses of new game plus I have ever seen as well. The way the game reveals new information to you on subsequent playthroughs is genius. If you play this game you really owe it to yourself to play it again through the new game plus mode as it will change the way you view the story in ways you mightn't expect! This games story is depressing, profound and full of brilliant twists and turns. I remember when the MGS series would throw things at you which you would never expect like the "change the controller port" boss fight and my mind would be blown. Those who have finished the game with the true ending will know that Yoko Taro does something of that calibre and it's fantastic seeing a director take so many creative risks and liberties to wow his audience. I know I said the combat is simplistic but the gameplay isn't offensively bad by any means. It can actually be quite good. (especially the mainline quest). Some of the boss fights are really cool and the way the game constantly throws different genres at you is quite interesting. One second you could be playing an action rpg and the next second you're playing a text adventure, top down computer style rpg or shmup etc One dungeon in particular has a really fun and challenging set of puzzles. I have to applaud Taro for the creativity he shows here.
Another thing I really loved about this game was the OST. Be aware that a lot of this game involves visiting the same 6 or 7 areas multiple times over and over which can get really tedious. Strangely enough traversing through the eastern road or walking through Seafront was made much much easier through the amazing OST. It would have to be one of my favourite soundtracks in a long long time. I have to equate some of the tracks to being audio porn.
I have to say if you are on the fence on playing this or enjoy playing games that blow your mind you should play this game! Make sure you play it through on new game plus to get a full appreciation of it. I can't wait to play Nier Automata now.
On a side note it's quite easy to see this game wasn't given much of a budget. I find it offensive that Square Enix has brilliant writers who can create stuff like this but their mainline big budget FF entries are such a mess in terms of writing. Is Taro always this good or did he get lucky this time around? I'm really looking forward to seeing what else he can do.
