*Game gifted by friend (not affiliated with Nier and/or friends) for disclosure*

WOW! Where did this game come from!? In a time where we are diluted with sub par games, I am so glad that I got a chance to dive into this world that I somehow missed out on with the PS3 era (Yes I am one of the new players to this series that I thought some of you could use an impression from going in blind). Moving on with opening statements;

NieR: Automata
Add 1 part Taro Yoko (developer of Nier & Drakengard), mix well with PlatinumGames (publisher of Bayonetta & Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance), then sprinkle some Square Enix (Final Fantasy and friends), and you have this glorious game. What does this game intel? Plain and simple;

-Fast combo melee action combat
-Bullet hell style range attacks via Pod companion
-Cyberpunk body modifications known as "Plug-Ins"
-Etc.

These are some good points, but check on the description to learn more.
Onto the Pros, Cons, and Mixed;

Pros:
1. Fast combat via light and heavy melee attack combos
2. No stamina management (so dodge and counter to your hearts content!)
3. Switches from multiple generas from RPG, Action, Bullet hell, Platform, and more
4. The music is just awe inspiring. Cinematic and very fitting to the tone of the world
5. The dark tones and greyscales are beautiful in this world
6. "Plug-Ins" are fun to mess around with and configure to get the build your looking for
7. As easy or as hard as you want it. There just for the experience? Use "auto" plug ins. Hardcore? Play 1 hit Kos
8. NG+ is actually NG+. New mechanics and more without spoiling much
9. The experience from the story you get with the NPCs of the game is crazy at times
10. Multipule endings
11. NPCs and the overall premise of the game really bring it together to get you hooked
12. Booty, booty, booty, booty, walking everywhere

Cons:
1. Buggy port on release. As time goes on, it seems to get better. Regardless, download the patch mod if you have any issues (Screen tearing, FPS cap, random crashes, Choppy cut-scenes, resolution not scaling correctly when set, and etc.) Nothing game breaking, but annoying

2. Gamepad is HIGHLY recommended due to it being a port. Con for some

Mixed:
1. Difficulty scaling (balance) through the game. Some parts for the difficulty felt off. Not hard, but at times, enemies will get really easy, then return to normal game difficulty. Granted, this is subjective (grinding, player skill, time, etc.), and as you can change the difficulty whenever, but feeling that it does change on occasion, I felt that it needed a mention

2. Story. Edit* Previously I had mentioned some notes about the story in the mixed section. After completing all endings, I am now redacting my previous statement and adding that this game's story is overall beautiful and the (E)nding was brilliant.

Overall this review comes from;
-No prior experience to the franchise (Nier and Drakengard)
-105 hours with 100% achievement
-Normal difficulty at a “normal” pacing
-All Endings done
-Higher end rig (I5, 1080 and such)

Recommend, Wait, or Don't?
Overall, I loved every minute of this game, and I would recommend you do the same. There are very few games of recent memory that gave me a reason to really replay a game (Dark souls 3 and Fallout 4 being the more recent titles of this era for comparison), and this is one of them. If you are going by playtime however (cost per hour), then keep in mind this is one of the higher priced games ($60 release) for a possibly shorter first game, but the new NG+ mechanics and such that start after your first playthough are there and a must play if you plan on really enjoying everything that this game has to give.

Edits: Typos, lists, and updated notes.

*Game gifted by friend (not affiliated with Nier and/or friends) for disclosure* WOW! Where did this game come from!? In a time where we are diluted with sub par games, I am so glad that I got a chance to dive into this world that I somehow missed out on with the PS3 era (Yes I am one of the new players to this series that I thought some of you could use an impression from going in blind). Moving on with opening statements; NieR: Automata Add 1 part Taro Yoko (developer of Nier & Drakengard), mix well with PlatinumGames (publisher of Bayonetta & Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance), then sprinkle some Square Enix (Final Fantasy and friends), and you have this glorious game. What does this game intel? Plain and simple; -Fast combo melee action combat -Bullet hell style range attacks via Pod companion -Cyberpunk body modifications known as "Plug-Ins" -Etc. These are some good points, but check on the description to learn more. Onto the Pros, Cons, and Mixed; Pros: 1. Fast combat via light and heavy melee attack combos 2. No stamina management (so dodge and counter to your hearts content!) 3. Switches from multiple generas from RPG, Action, Bullet hell, Platform, and more 4. The music is just awe inspiring. Cinematic and very fitting to the tone of the world 5. The dark tones and greyscales are beautiful in this world 6. "Plug-Ins" are fun to mess around with and configure to get the build your looking for 7. As easy or as hard as you want it. There just for the experience? Use "auto" plug ins. Hardcore? Play 1 hit Kos 8. NG+ is actually NG+. New mechanics and more without spoiling much 9. The experience from the story you get with the NPCs of the game is crazy at times 10. Multipule endings 11. NPCs and the overall premise of the game really bring it together to get you hooked 12. Booty, booty, booty, booty, walking everywhere Cons: 1. Buggy port on release. As time goes on, it seems to get better. Regardless, download the patch mod if you have any issues (Screen tearing, FPS cap, random crashes, Choppy cut-scenes, resolution not scaling correctly when set, and etc.) Nothing game breaking, but annoying 2. Gamepad is HIGHLY recommended due to it being a port. Con for some Mixed: 1. Difficulty scaling (balance) through the game. Some parts for the difficulty felt off. Not hard, but at times, enemies will get really easy, then return to normal game difficulty. Granted, this is subjective (grinding, player skill, time, etc.), and as you can change the difficulty whenever, but feeling that it does change on occasion, I felt that it needed a mention 2. Story. Edit* Previously I had mentioned some notes about the story in the mixed section. After completing all endings, I am now redacting my previous statement and adding that this game's story is overall beautiful and the (E)nding was brilliant. Overall this review comes from; -No prior experience to the franchise (Nier and Drakengard) -105 hours with 100% achievement -Normal difficulty at a “normal” pacing -All Endings done -Higher end rig (I5, 1080 and such) Recommend, Wait, or Don't? Overall, I loved every minute of this game, and I would recommend you do the same. There are very few games of recent memory that gave me a reason to really replay a game (Dark souls 3 and Fallout 4 being the more recent titles of this era for comparison), and this is one of them. If you are going by playtime however (cost per hour), then keep in mind this is one of the higher priced games ($60 release) for a possibly shorter first game, but the new NG+ mechanics and such that start after your first playthough are there and a must play if you plan on really enjoying everything that this game has to give. Edits: Typos, lists, and updated notes.