Nier: Automata is a bit of an oddball. For starters, and aside from just generally being a bit bat-shit (we'll get onto that much later), it's a spiritual sequel to a game that was merely a cult hit and that I don't think many expected to actually be made.

Brilliant; fast paced and creative combat; Quirky narrative and world; Depth to story that demands multiple playthroughs; Interesting gameplay and level design dynamics; Stunning soundtrack

Perspective changes can be jarring; Skill system is convoluted and messy; Some quality of life issues that cause frustration

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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The night that I first finished NieR: Automata I slept soundly. The night that I actually finished NieR: Automata I hardly slept at all.

NieR: Automata takes place in a world dominated by machines, some made by aliens to wipe out human life, and others created by humans to combat the aliens and their machines. At the center of this conflict are 2B and 9S, two androids from YoRHa, the organization of androids opposing the alien-made...

Addictive; badass combat system; Interesting RPG mechanics; Top-tier presentation

Weak narrative; The second playthrough is a slog; and the game drags on

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

This game is about androids fulfilling the orders of humans, though there are no humans anymore and they start to experience feelings while they are fighting the "enemy" robots that wiped humanity.

Nier: Automata is the symbol of Yoko Taro's excellent writing and PlatinumGames' young and amazing talent. The gameplay is absolutely solid and consistently stays fresh with the addition of new weapons and features.

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 .

While an improbably slight ingenue dressed in fetish gear and wielding a massive sword isn't exactly pioneering territory for a Japanese video game, there is still something compelling about 2B, the warrior android you play as in .