Nier Automata: Everything You Need to Know

Nier Automata: Everything You Demand to Know

If you're looking for a fast-paced action game with deep function-playing elements, tons of side quests and a plot that goes to some seriously strange places, then Nier: Automata is for you.

Developed by Platinum Games and director Yoko Taro and loosely affiliated with the Drakengard series and the original Nier title, Automata is getting lots of well-deserved buzz. But with a disruptive full-blooded and an even more disruptive storyline, you lot'll want to get up to speed on the game earlier taking the plunge.

What is Nier: Automata?

Nier: Automata is a mail-apocalyptic action RPG available now on PS4 and PC. It's developed by Platinum Games, makers of other fast paced action titles similar Bayonetta and Vanquish. Nier: Automata is a continuation of the story of the original Nier released in 2010 and is a spin off of the Drakengard games that beginning released in 2003.

It adopts a strong anime-inspired style, with a rich plot, snappy combat organization, large open world, deep character equipment customization, and no shortage of strange and quirky moments embedded in an otherwise bleak and serious game world.

What is the story of Nier: Automata?

This may very well exist a question you walk away from the game still asking. At its core, Automata deals with a mail-apocalyptic Earth taken over by alien machines in the distant future. The remnants of humanity alive on the moon and have sent downwardly androids, including female chief protagonist 2B and her male companion 9S, as role of a resistance to reclaim Earth.

Nier: Automata, much like the original Nier, delves into questions about the difference between human consciousness and artificial intelligence. With alien-controlled machines and human being-controlled androids fighting over Earth, a lot of tough questions are raised about futility, humanity, and individuality. It gets even more buckwild than that at some point, so be prepared for a game that really goes places.

How does Nier: Automata play?

Automata is a swift action-RPG that utilizes a low-cal and heavy attack organisation, too every bit a dodge mechanic that allows yous to cancel combos or switch into one of 4 weapon classes to chain upward fifty-fifty bigger combos. Also at your disposal is a little drone you lot can command to pepper enemies with weak bullets from afar as well equally execute more powerful laser blasts or melee strikes.

You're accompanied by an AI-controlled partner who will help you in combat but tin can likewise be set to be completely passive. The activity isn't overly enervating of players, but you can't just button mash your way to victory, either.

Platforming elements are nowadays, particularly in areas where the camera changes from a standard third person perspective to a locked side-scrolling view, and have reward of your character's very high mobility. At that place are too lite "bullet hell" elements that have you dodging and slicing through large enemy projectiles, especially during boss fights.

On summit of all of this are various minigames congenital into the world, like angling, and a very complex character skill customization arrangement for the chief grapheme, your AI partner, and each of their niggling drones.

Which platform should I play Nier: Automata on?

Automata is on both the PlayStation iv and PC, and right now the PC port isn't looking like the platonic version that information technology probably should be.

While it's admittedly playable and in a stable condition, the PC version lacks some key graphics options like a true borderless window mode. And while information technology does back up some advanced anti-aliasing options that put the PC version ahead of the panel version, the procedure isn't very well optimized and may crusade hitching on loftier settings.

The game's cutscenes are locked to a 900p resolution at 30 frames per second on PC, but the rest of the game runs at total 1080p or 1440p and and an nigh solid 60 fps. The minimum GPU spec is listed at a GTX 770 or a Radeon R9 270X, co-ordinate to Steam.

The PS4 version doesn't endure some of the hitching problems and, like any console game, is just easier to go up and running while also managing to friction match the PC'south framerate. When running on a PS4 Pro, the resolution jumps from 900p to 1080p while also adding a few post-processing effects and a more stable frame charge per unit.

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How much time tin can I get out of Nier: Automata?

On top of being an open up world game littered with side quests, Nier: Automata features no fewer than twenty six dissimilar endings, one for each letter in the alphabet. Some endings are well-nigh instantly achievable past means nosotros won't spoil here and all endings are obtainable on one save file through an unlockable Chapter Select later on.

There are too significantly different versions of the game to be played upon finishing the main questline. The game is far from over when the credits curl. Expect one full pass of the chief story to last you almost xxx hours.

Do I take to play the get-go Nier or Drakengard games before playing Nier: Automata?

Definitely not. Automata is a fine jumping-on bespeak for this series and might stand for the best entry in the series thus far. The quondam Drakengard games and the original Nier didn't review peculiarly well, with Metacritic scores hovering around the 60s.

The story connections to Automata are all referential at most, without any need for yous to take finished or even played the previous four games. Automata takes place an indeterminate amount of fourth dimension after Nier in the same world the Drakengard games take place, only information technology is very much a self independent experience.

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Andrew Melcon is a freelance writer who specializes in covering games and gaming hardware. He's tackled everything from PC game controllers to Pokémon and PUBG and his work has appeared on sites including Tom's Guide, Tom'due south Hardware, Laptop Magazine, and more than.