Nier: Automata Impressions
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Why should it? Because most games do?Ezekiel said:
I don't think I've ever played a game where the hacking represented real world hacking. Not to mention, this game is more than ten millennia in the future, and technology is obviously a lot different then than it is now.
Well, first of all, 3 hours isn't really that far in, so a bit early to judge but hey.
First a few things.
On PC it is locked to 60fps, and the cutscenes to 30. Why? Fuck knows, but that's how they did it and not much you can do about that. Personally, while the 30 part sucks and I wish it all was 60, it is not enough to break the otherwise lovely experience I am having with the game.
While I understand your desire to play the game "the way it was meant", complaining about the control setup when it is one of the few games that allows you to reconfigure it to whatever you'd like seems a bit silly. Take advantage of that option and change it if it bothers you too much.
I for one love the standard setup, as it feels natural to me. It may be because I haven't played with a controller in ages and have no idea what "standard" setup should be, but it works for me.
As for the general style and graphics, it's weird as hell but I like it. Some areas are sorta boring yes, but others are quite stunning. The amusement park was really something special but wish it was longer.
Now let me give you my impressions, you didn't ask for it but I'll do it anyway.
I went into the game with no expectations at all, just wanted to try a new game I knew nothing about, and so far I god damn love it. Decided to go straight into hard, and even though I sorta regretted that decision after re-doing the whole intro part about 4-5 times, I stuck to it. It forced me to get good, much like in Dark Souls, and it gave me the same feeling of just being a beast once you start tearing stuff up. In fact, it has A LOT in common with the Souls games in terms of mechanics.
However, when playing on hard, the road from feeling invincible to getting absolutely recked is not long. Things hurt, and bosses straight up one-shots you.
I also love the whole skill system and the way they designed it to work, as there is tons of customization to be made there depending on how you play and what you are doing. It allows you to do silly stuff as well, like the idea I am playing with which is basically just going full on glass cannon. Thing's more or less one shots you anyway on hard, so why not just go on very hard, stack "perfect" damage up % in all slots, including slots meant for core systems, and then just go nuts.
If I have to fault it at something it has to be that it can get a bit too spammy at times. Like the sections where you have the flying suit, and as long as you just spam melee attack nothing can touch you. And not to mention the damn shooting thing you can do, where you are basically meant to just hold the button down constantly whenever you are in combat as there is no reason not to. After trying different things like taping it down or macroing it, I just said "fuck it!" and stopped using it, the damage it does isn't worth the hassle at the later stages anyways. Melee combat is a lot more fun, and without the constant shooting sound and the added visuals it's far easier to tell what the hell is going on as well.
The last thing I also wanna point out is the music, as it needs a mention too. It has been a long time since I've even noticed the music in a game, it's good. The track during the Opera boss fight is just epic, and the theme in Pascal's village is just so damn cute and lovely. In many ways it reminds me of the good old days playing Final Fantasy.
As for the story.. Well it's no masterpiece but it's good enough. It is different at least. As long as it keeps leading me from one awesome place with spectacular fights to the next, I don't really care though.
First a few things.
On PC it is locked to 60fps, and the cutscenes to 30. Why? Fuck knows, but that's how they did it and not much you can do about that. Personally, while the 30 part sucks and I wish it all was 60, it is not enough to break the otherwise lovely experience I am having with the game.
While I understand your desire to play the game "the way it was meant", complaining about the control setup when it is one of the few games that allows you to reconfigure it to whatever you'd like seems a bit silly. Take advantage of that option and change it if it bothers you too much.
I for one love the standard setup, as it feels natural to me. It may be because I haven't played with a controller in ages and have no idea what "standard" setup should be, but it works for me.
As for the general style and graphics, it's weird as hell but I like it. Some areas are sorta boring yes, but others are quite stunning. The amusement park was really something special but wish it was longer.
Now let me give you my impressions, you didn't ask for it but I'll do it anyway.
I went into the game with no expectations at all, just wanted to try a new game I knew nothing about, and so far I god damn love it. Decided to go straight into hard, and even though I sorta regretted that decision after re-doing the whole intro part about 4-5 times, I stuck to it. It forced me to get good, much like in Dark Souls, and it gave me the same feeling of just being a beast once you start tearing stuff up. In fact, it has A LOT in common with the Souls games in terms of mechanics.
However, when playing on hard, the road from feeling invincible to getting absolutely recked is not long. Things hurt, and bosses straight up one-shots you.
I also love the whole skill system and the way they designed it to work, as there is tons of customization to be made there depending on how you play and what you are doing. It allows you to do silly stuff as well, like the idea I am playing with which is basically just going full on glass cannon. Thing's more or less one shots you anyway on hard, so why not just go on very hard, stack "perfect" damage up % in all slots, including slots meant for core systems, and then just go nuts.
If I have to fault it at something it has to be that it can get a bit too spammy at times. Like the sections where you have the flying suit, and as long as you just spam melee attack nothing can touch you. And not to mention the damn shooting thing you can do, where you are basically meant to just hold the button down constantly whenever you are in combat as there is no reason not to. After trying different things like taping it down or macroing it, I just said "fuck it!" and stopped using it, the damage it does isn't worth the hassle at the later stages anyways. Melee combat is a lot more fun, and without the constant shooting sound and the added visuals it's far easier to tell what the hell is going on as well.
The last thing I also wanna point out is the music, as it needs a mention too. It has been a long time since I've even noticed the music in a game, it's good. The track during the Opera boss fight is just epic, and the theme in Pascal's village is just so damn cute and lovely. In many ways it reminds me of the good old days playing Final Fantasy.
As for the story.. Well it's no masterpiece but it's good enough. It is different at least. As long as it keeps leading me from one awesome place with spectacular fights to the next, I don't really care though.
I only got to play up to the first save point because my girlfriend was getting annoyed by 2B's "tseh" noise but I had a lot of fun. I have no issues with the control scheme besides the fact that the dodge button is on the opposite side of the controllers from Bayonetta which confused the utter shit out of me for most of the prologue.
Personally, I had alot of fun with the demo, but when I got the full game, I wasn't exactly in awe.
I don't hate the game, and will try to get myself to finish it when I do go back, but it's unfortunatly not a 10/10 game.
Outside that, my bigest problem is the standard control scheme, but changing it up makes it even more awkward. Possibly thanks to muscle memory, and i'm not sure if I can chalk it up to the game completely.
I don't hate the game, and will try to get myself to finish it when I do go back, but it's unfortunatly not a 10/10 game.
Outside that, my bigest problem is the standard control scheme, but changing it up makes it even more awkward. Possibly thanks to muscle memory, and i'm not sure if I can chalk it up to the game completely.
Just got the last major ending last night. Don't be a purist about controls, just switch them.
As to gameplay, I've been a fan of the Drakengard games since the first one when they had shit gameplay, this game is a huge step up. You do feel good when you get a bosses pattern down.
Finally I'll say, game of the year. Pack it up 2017, we already have a winner.
As to gameplay, I've been a fan of the Drakengard games since the first one when they had shit gameplay, this game is a huge step up. You do feel good when you get a bosses pattern down.
Finally I'll say, game of the year. Pack it up 2017, we already have a winner.
I'm at the point now where, even though I am leveling up, I don't feel stronger. There is this mission where I have to kill like 8 enemies with shields in 30 seconds and I simply don't do enough damage. No amount of comboing melee with the little robot companion thing helps. I fail by 5 seconds everytime. I even came back and tried it 3 levels "stronger" and nothing changes. I've tried installing increased attack damage chips, but that doesn't help because I don't have anything powerful enough to make a difference. Not to mention I have no room to install shit. I can put in 2 chips, just 2, and it doesn't matter.
The more I play the more shit just gets in my fucking way. It's like playing Zelda again but with a shitty color pallet.
The more I play the more shit just gets in my fucking way. It's like playing Zelda again but with a shitty color pallet.
Not all quests are meant to be completed as soon as they are available. That said, with the right amount of chip combinations and enhancement items those quests can be completed. If you're still having trouble after that just leave the quest until later.CritialGaming said:
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Upgrading your weapons is a bigger damage buff than chips and leveling. You can literally double your damage output with a single upgrade to your sword.CritialGaming said:
Are you on about jackasses last trial? If so you should be able to do it with a reasonable loadout although I dont think I had much going in so perhaps its not essential. It took me a few tries but in the end I found the best method was to dodge just as they are about to hit you then counter with the R1 button for massive damage (as you wont burn them down fast enough otherwise) also when you have space charge up the laser on the pod and let rip then when their shields are down and their numbers are thinned go in. I managed to do it at level 13 with a few seconds spare although at the start it seemed impossible.CritialGaming said:
The mission that is annoying the hell out of me is the last speed star mission damn that is annoying especially as I hate checkpoint race missions in pretty much any game.
So far my impressions went from hmmm not sure about this to loving the heck out of it. Like Nier I am doing the side missions not so much for rewards but because I want to get more info im about 11 hours in and only on my 1st playthrough but I am really enjoying it now. Combat I was initially worried about and its no Bayonetta or Vanquish although I personally prefer it to Revengeance but I find it enjoyable enough that encounters do not exactly bother me and in some cases actually get me to look forward to them especially the bosses.
Like the tone as well initially I found it very muted and bleak and while I still do I really like the use of light and as for the story I am already hooked. My thoughts may change but initially I was not very interested in the game I did not even bother to download the demo but I am glad I took the chance so far as the more I play the more I am enjoying it.
Also liking the mashup nature of the gameplay but then I like Shmups, platformers and 3d action games in general.
One thing that struck me initially is how well presented the game is and how it handles it handles a lot of the games systems within its theme and world which really helps to draw me in more. As for the characters I did not think I would like them but damn I was wrong however I am not sure it will excel quite as far as Nier did in the department.
It's basically a Metal Gear Revengeance clone, with worse bossfights and health-sponge enemies. That's all I got out of it after playing for about 20 hours. That's not to say the game is bad, it's good. But unworthy of the mindless praise that people are heaping on Platinum and Yoko Taro. Dodge-spamming everything, downing recoveries, and waiting to attack with little rhythm or enemy tells whilst fighting the camera and floaty controls, is not very engaging. There's too much shit swirling on screen to get any kind of proper flow, until you hit the one on one segments. I'm also not a fan of having the controls jerked away for intermittent cutscenes. And sidequests are a boring chore with the limited and uninteresting world map. You're better off fishing for cash to purchase and upgrade gear.
I'm probably being overly harsh, some of the sidequests are fairly entertaining. The Speed Star race quest reminded me of Mario 64 when you race that Koopa to the top of Bom-omb hill.Ezekiel said:
"...You're that Ninja!"
Yeah, Cyborg Raiden is a mixed bag. I think it was mostly unnecessary, but the plot of MGS4 wouldn't be the same without him. Though I suppose they could just have not made him a cyborg. Make a new character for that role, and leave his MGS2 story arc intact.
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I finally have time for this thread, yay!
So I'm currently on scenario B of the game, so I feel I've taken enough time to give my thoughts.
1. The difficulty of this game sucks.
On normal difficulty everything is too easy, you don't take enough damage, and after getting a few specific plug-in chips (the ones that give you health back for dealing damage, and another for getting health back from killing enemies) you become almost invincible. On the other hand the hard difficulty is too hard, especially at the outset of the game. Even the most basic enemy takes off 80% of your health in one hit when you start the game. I hard to turn the difficulty down to normal to get through the tutorial area, but normal feels pretty boring for a while.
2. The default controls suck, but the controls are FULLY customizable which is awesome.
I'm playing on the PS4, so I changed dodge to L1, pod program to L2, lock-on to R1, and fire to R2 and I think it works really well, much better than the default controls.
3. There's a lot of technical issues with the game. In the sections where the camera is locked in place, sometimes it's locked in an awkward spot (like Jackass's combat challenges, where the camera is really far away from the action, and at kind of a weird angle). There's framerate issues, especially in the forest. It's not enough to really affect combat, but the frame rate dips can get pretty annoying. Finally there's a lot of bad textures in the game. Like for example in the Resistance Camp, right next to the transporter there's a really poorly textured rusty box, and you have to look at it fore several seconds every time you fast travel to that location, and it really stands out next to the extremely detailed and high quality models of 2B and 9S.
4. The presentation is fantastic. I love the HUD, I love the design of the menus, everything about it looks and feels so precise and it just hits all of my aesthetic preferences perfectly.
5. The combat is fairly simplistic, but I still really enjoy it. The game does a good job of forcing you to use your full range of abilities in all the major combat sections, and especially in the boss fights where you're often jumping, shooting, slashing, dodging missiles and adds, managing your pod program cool-downs, switching weapons, and healing all at the same time. It gives it all a nice hectic feel while still feeling tight. I really like the skill system in the game, with the plug-in chips. It really allows you to tailor your character to play exactly how you want them to. I like to focus on dodging and countering, and I use overclock, counter, shockwave, speed, and dodge distance chips almost exclusively. If you set your character up correctly it makes you feel pretty much untouchable. Really wish there were more boss fights like Adam in the game. No bullshit, just a guy who is fast, strong, and hits hard.
6. I'm really enjoying the writing and even most of the side quests are well written and feel fun and unique. It's too bad the first playthrough ends so abruptly. There's all these hints of conspiracy and things you need to uncover about both the machines and the androids, and then it kind of just ends after a couple of back to back boss fights. It's unsatisfying, and while I'm having fun with scenario B I really want to get through it as fast as I can to get to C so I can start seeing the rest of the story.
So all in all, while the game does have some problems I'm really liking it. It's not a 10/10, the technical issues really prevent that, but it's definitely a solid 8 for me. It's fun and unique, and I'm constantly looking forward to finding out what happens next.
So I'm currently on scenario B of the game, so I feel I've taken enough time to give my thoughts.
1. The difficulty of this game sucks.
On normal difficulty everything is too easy, you don't take enough damage, and after getting a few specific plug-in chips (the ones that give you health back for dealing damage, and another for getting health back from killing enemies) you become almost invincible. On the other hand the hard difficulty is too hard, especially at the outset of the game. Even the most basic enemy takes off 80% of your health in one hit when you start the game. I hard to turn the difficulty down to normal to get through the tutorial area, but normal feels pretty boring for a while.
2. The default controls suck, but the controls are FULLY customizable which is awesome.
I'm playing on the PS4, so I changed dodge to L1, pod program to L2, lock-on to R1, and fire to R2 and I think it works really well, much better than the default controls.
3. There's a lot of technical issues with the game. In the sections where the camera is locked in place, sometimes it's locked in an awkward spot (like Jackass's combat challenges, where the camera is really far away from the action, and at kind of a weird angle). There's framerate issues, especially in the forest. It's not enough to really affect combat, but the frame rate dips can get pretty annoying. Finally there's a lot of bad textures in the game. Like for example in the Resistance Camp, right next to the transporter there's a really poorly textured rusty box, and you have to look at it fore several seconds every time you fast travel to that location, and it really stands out next to the extremely detailed and high quality models of 2B and 9S.
4. The presentation is fantastic. I love the HUD, I love the design of the menus, everything about it looks and feels so precise and it just hits all of my aesthetic preferences perfectly.
5. The combat is fairly simplistic, but I still really enjoy it. The game does a good job of forcing you to use your full range of abilities in all the major combat sections, and especially in the boss fights where you're often jumping, shooting, slashing, dodging missiles and adds, managing your pod program cool-downs, switching weapons, and healing all at the same time. It gives it all a nice hectic feel while still feeling tight. I really like the skill system in the game, with the plug-in chips. It really allows you to tailor your character to play exactly how you want them to. I like to focus on dodging and countering, and I use overclock, counter, shockwave, speed, and dodge distance chips almost exclusively. If you set your character up correctly it makes you feel pretty much untouchable. Really wish there were more boss fights like Adam in the game. No bullshit, just a guy who is fast, strong, and hits hard.
6. I'm really enjoying the writing and even most of the side quests are well written and feel fun and unique. It's too bad the first playthrough ends so abruptly. There's all these hints of conspiracy and things you need to uncover about both the machines and the androids, and then it kind of just ends after a couple of back to back boss fights. It's unsatisfying, and while I'm having fun with scenario B I really want to get through it as fast as I can to get to C so I can start seeing the rest of the story.
So all in all, while the game does have some problems I'm really liking it. It's not a 10/10, the technical issues really prevent that, but it's definitely a solid 8 for me. It's fun and unique, and I'm constantly looking forward to finding out what happens next.
For people saying the game is too easy on normal, it kinda is apart from some side quests that are just out of your weight class for a while. Until route C. Then the game checks if you're on point with your skill.
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I just really wish that there was a difficulty between normal and hard.crimson5pheonix said:
At the start of the game on normal difficulty you can take like 8-10 hits before you die, on hard you die after 2. THAT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE. Such a huge difference in fact that the only time I've died in the game on normal was when I got insta-killed by a crusher in the factory.
On hard I died 3 times in the first combat room with the first group of enemies and the buzzsaw arm mini-boss before giving up on hard because I got sick of replaying the opening flight tutorial.
I feel like that's really poor balancing. If on normal I can easily beat enemies double my level (level 17 vs enemies at level 36) then there's something seriously wrong with the challenge curve.
But isn't that somewhat standard with Platinum games? You can breeze through the early game and then the game decides to see if you've been lazy?Dirty Hipsters said:
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Yes, except Platinum games are 8 hours long and check to see if you've been lazy 4 hours in. It takes like 30 hours to get to scenario C. That's not exactly the same thing.crimson5pheonix said: