If you have a habit of getting attached to characters, this game will probably depress the hell out of you. Even if you don't think it will. I didn't think it would do that to me, yet it still did.

NieR: Automata is less of a video game and more of a commentary on the nature of life, humanity and a 'higher meaning'. I mean, I guess it's also got swords and cool impossible stuff, too- but don't let that distract you from the fact that just like any good text, this game has messages, and interpretations of those messages, hidden in the world it creates.
The environments it throws you into are largely unpopulated and sparse (of both enemies and unique landscape), but are somehow still enjoyable (likely thanks to the incredible score composed by Keiichi Okabe et al).
The combat is some of the best I have encountered in any hack & slash game, though at times it can become enragingly difficult. The character and weapon design is... characteristically Japanese. That is, impractical, but it's lovely to look at for the hours you'll probably spend playing this game.
The use of a 'route' system for the story that produces different endings (and not just different perspectives- though it does do this a fair bit) and greater explanations of topics barely touched upon in the other playthroughs is wonderful, and certainly gives the game replayability.
9/10

[h1]PLEASE NOTE[/h1] [b]If you have a habit of getting attached to characters, this game will probably depress the hell out of you. Even if you don't think it will. I didn't think it would do that to me, yet it still did.[/b] NieR: Automata is less of a video game and more of a commentary on the nature of life, humanity and a 'higher meaning'. I mean, I guess it's also got swords and cool impossible stuff, too- but don't let that distract you from the fact that just like any good text, this game has messages, and interpretations of those messages, hidden in the world it creates. The environments it throws you into are largely unpopulated and sparse (of both enemies and unique landscape), but are somehow still enjoyable (likely thanks to the incredible score composed by Keiichi Okabe [i]et al[/i]). The combat is some of the best I have encountered in any hack & slash game, though at times it can become enragingly difficult. The character and weapon design is... characteristically Japanese. That is, impractical, but it's lovely to look at for the hours you'll probably spend playing this game. The use of a 'route' system for the story that produces different endings (and not just different perspectives- though it does do this a fair bit) and greater explanations of topics barely touched upon in the other playthroughs is wonderful, and certainly gives the game replayability. [b]9/10[/b]