It wasn't long before it hit me just how insane, cool, stylish and smart NieR: Automata really is. I shan't ruin it for you, but you're barely past the beginning credits before you're so taken

Intelligent; engaging story; Fluid combat; Magnificent score; Smart customisation

Open world is a bit bare; Weak; uninformative tutorial

After trading fisticuffs with a Transformer, cartwheeling around a bullet-spewing tank controlled by evil clowns, and using a moose to buck my way through killer robots, it's safe to say that there are very few games – if any – quite like Nier: Automata .

The story of Nier: Automata takes place thousands of years after the events of Nier . Humanity has fled to the moon after aliens and their machine army invaded and took over Earth.

Amazing combat; Great story; Beautiful aesthetics

Storytelling style may be jarring for newcomers

NieR: Automata is a special game. It's special not because of its great combat, amazing animations, or its magical soundtrack. It's special because of the questions it asks. What does it mean to be alive

On paper, it's surprising that NieR Automata even exists. The original game didn't really sell that well and only became a critical darling after its release. Its bizarre concepts didn't really feel like they would lend themselves well to a sequel.

You won't get to play another game quite like Nier: Automata this year. It's a rare gift that's different from what you would expect both in its wrapping and in its substance. Nier: Automata will frustrate many, that's for sure, myself included.

Creative combat system; Diverse characters; Rich world with lots to do; Traditional save points

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When NieR released in 2010, it was an odd mashup of RPG, action, and bullet hell. While it did a lot of things right, and the story was interesting enough to capture your attention, there seemed to be something missing.

Fluid twitch action combat; Lots of playstyle customization; Beautiful soundtrack

Some frame-rate hitches; Camera and controls need adjusting

Joe hacks and slashes his way through his review for Nier Automata on PS4.

Aliens attacked earth and left robots to deal with the remains, we sent robots to deal with their robots.

A hallmark of excellence. It may have some flaws, but they are negligible to what is otherwise a supreme title.