NieR: Automata
Developer: PlatinumGames
Publisher: Square Enix
Price: ₹2999 (PlayStation 4), ₹1,999 (PC)
In a growing trend of featuring strong female protagonists in video games, we’ve got the killer calm android, only known as 2B, as the star of the new NieR: Automata, which released recently. The action game is courtesy the Japanese masters of fight: PlatinumGames. They’re the same studio behind Bayonetta, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Vanquish. And for NieR: Automata, they have pulled out all the stops for the genre-bending game.
What’s it about?
After an alien robot invasion, mankind has fled to the Moon. As part of reoccupation plans to cleanse earth of its metal masters, the humans send down androids called YoRHa to do their dirty work. The protagonist is the sole survivor of her platoon, No 2 Model B or 2B, a fashionista android decked out in Renaissance frills and dominatrix leathers. Tagging along is the very “emo” reconnaissance android 9S and a mysterious android A2.
The core of NieR’s weird story and dominatrix robots is the front line of a war that’s being fought over a long period. As the story progresses, you uncover more and more about 2B and her ragtag band of fighters, who are alone against a vast army of robots that tower several stories up. It’s a weird, otherworldly rollercoaster ride that’s held together by one of the best battle systems, and the fact that it’s not afraid to surprise you by completely changing the gameplay mid-level.
How does it play?
The gameplay is best described as Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get next. NieR: Automata is a third-person action hack and slash game in the vein of the Devil May Cry series. It’s also a top-down shooter – like Asteroids or Alien Breed – that sometimes turns into a side-scrolling shooter, like the classic Contra or R-Type in the flying sections. All of this is in a single level, which is so much fun as the action never gets stale. There is no sudden transition between play styles. The camera simply pans out or in, as your character controls the same.
2B controls beautifully as you give heavy and light slashes with your giant swords that seem to magically float behind. There’s also a pod that follows you around, that shoots lasers and acts as a platform to hold when jumping. There are more abilities to gain and unleash on your robotic foes as the levels progress. Those who have played a PlatinumGames title before will know the adrenaline rush of using their signature battle system. If you’re new here, then prepare to be dazzled as 2B dodges, slices, jumps and launches combo after combo into evil bots.
It’s great that the action is top-notch, because the game is very tough. It took the better part of six tries just to get to the first save point.
Plus, there’s no real ending, as it encourages multiple playthroughs. And each new game unlocks a lot more hidden moves and powers, as well as different paths and decisions. There are over 20 endings available for the taking.
The environments are devoid of colour to some extent with washed-out hues of brown and green. The world is sparse and desolate, and it seems as though all the detail has gone into the characters and bad guys.
The up side is that the game is smooth where it matters – the action – leaving the developers free to go crazy with creating humongous robots without any loss in performance. And of note is the soundtrack, which has shades of the score of the classic anime Ghost in the Shell in it.
Should you get it?
If you want a tough action game to sink your teeth into, that will keep you occupied for a long time, NieR: Automata is your weapon of choice. Remember though, the game is intended for mature audiences, as the story touches on a few violent themes.
Andre Rodrigues is a product designer frequently found playing video games with his daughter
