NieR: Automata is finally coming out this Tuesday, March 7 on PS4. Developed by Platinum Games and published by Square Enix, the game combines genres and gameplay styles in a masterful way, all tied up by a thought-provoking story.
Top video game outlets have already said their piece about the second installment in the NieR series, and the consensus seems to be that it is one of the most pleasant surprises of the year so far. Rumors said this would be the case ever since last December’s PlayStation Experience.
Even against The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Horizon: Zero Dawn, both of which are also launching this week, the game has managed to capture a significant amount of attention in the gaming community.
Existential dilemmas abound in NieR: Automata
Set a thousand years later since the events of the first NieR title, players will find themselves on the Moon living among Android forces known as YoRHa. A female soldier known as 2B plays the leading role in this story.
2B is one of many artificial soldiers tasked with wiping out robot forces and the aliens controlling them from the surface of the Earth. They are responsible for displacing what’s left of humanity to occupy the Moon after years of war.
Produced by Yosuke Saito, NieR: Automata is an ambitious sequel that deals with challenging themes in a unique setting using director Yoko Taro’s unusual perspective on storytelling.
As players progress through the game, they will find themselves entangled on the mysteries of a planet ravaged by alien forces. Following the threads to see what happened is perhaps one of the most enticing parts of the NieR experience, as they will change your whole perspective on the story and alter the possible endings.
NieR: Automata organically mixes different elements
One of the most striking features of NieR: Automata is the seamless combination of different elements to create a single story and gameplay experience that, somehow, doesn’t feel forced or overwhelming.
Starting with its genre, the game is one part adventure, one part thriller, and one part anime-inspired tale of self-discovery. Regarding combat mechanics, NieR borrows from RPGs, hack-and-slash, shoot-em-ups, and platformers.
Platinum Games, creators of Bayonetta and Metal Gear Rising Revengeance, implement some of the core elements from these games in their latest title such as the highly stylized combat style and weapon switching system.
Developers added a little extra to the mix in the form of the Chip System, which lets players customize fighting moves and weapon actions by matching and changing different chips.
Nier: Automata launches this Tuesday, March 3 on PS4 for $59.99. For the same price, you can get a PC copy later in the month on March 17.
Source: GameSpot
