Should I buy NieR Automata?

[Cold Shiny]

absolutely yes, unless you find the sexualization off putting.

Its one of the best games of last year, but maybe I'm biased, since I like weird stuff, and I'm also weeb trash.


EDIT: and yes, avoid the PC port like the plague, its atrocious.

 

[Ravenbom]

I'm going to be flamed for saying this, like all PlatinumGames, you should set the difficulty to easy your first time through and enjoy the weird, convoluted story. (In general, I think PlatinumGames easy playthrough should be your tutorial for a normal or difficult run because their games are about replayability and getting better each time.)


I mean, Nier: Automata is kind of too long (to achieve most of the meaningful endings) and I can appreciate the gameplay, but it's like as long as both Bayonetta games, Vanquish and Metal Gear Rising put together if you're going after all the main story endings. So, you'll probably like it better if you check your ego and lower the difficulty.

 

[jademunky]

absolutely yes, unless you find the sexualization off putting.

Its one of the best games of last year, but maybe I'm biased, since I like weird stuff, and I'm also weeb trash.


EDIT: and yes, avoid the PC port like the plague, its atrocious.

I do find it a bit off putting but am willing to overlook.

As for the PC port, too late. I don't own a console newer than an Xbox 360. Looks like patching and modding time for me tonight.

 

[jademunky]

I'm going to be flamed for saying this, like all PlatinumGames, you should set the difficulty to easy your first time through and enjoy the weird, convoluted story. (In general, I think PlatinumGames easy playthrough should be your tutorial for a normal or difficult run because their games are about replayability and getting better each time.)


I mean, Nier: Automata is kind of too long (to achieve most of the meaningful endings) and I can appreciate the gameplay, but it's like as long as both Bayonetta games, Vanquish and Metal Gear Rising put together if you're going after all the main story endings. So, you'll probably like it better if you check your ego and lower the difficulty.

If there's anything out there more important than my ego I want it caught and shot right now. No easy mode!

 

[Kotaro]

absolutely yes, unless you find the sexualization off putting.

Its one of the best games of last year, but maybe I'm biased, since I like weird stuff, and I'm also weeb trash.


EDIT: and yes, avoid the PC port like the plague, its atrocious.

I do find it a bit off putting but am willing to overlook.

As for the PC port, too late. I don't own a console newer than an Xbox 360. Looks like patching and modding time for me tonight.

FAR fixes a lot. The cutscenes are still janky at times, but I didn't have any real problems with the game, personally.

I'm going to be flamed for saying this, like all PlatinumGames, you should set the difficulty to easy your first time through and enjoy the weird, convoluted story. (In general, I think PlatinumGames easy playthrough should be your tutorial for a normal or difficult run because their games are about replayability and getting better each time.)


I mean, Nier: Automata is kind of too long (to achieve most of the meaningful endings) and I can appreciate the gameplay, but it's like as long as both Bayonetta games, Vanquish and Metal Gear Rising put together if you're going after all the main story endings. So, you'll probably like it better if you check your ego and lower the difficulty.

If there's anything out there more important than my ego I want it caught and shot right now. No easy mode!

To be fair, Nier Automata is actually pretty easy in general with the right setup of ability chips. I didn't die once the entire game.

 

[jademunky]

FAR fixes a lot. The cutscenes are still janky at times, but I didn't have any real problems with the game, personally.

I'll have to remember that.

So far, no problems. Weirdly defaulted to windowed mode on first launch but nothing besides that.

 

[jademunky]

The game itself seems great so far. Just beat the first boss. Noticed that the devs seem to have a fondness for slow-moving-death-orbs.

One thing that worries me is that the chipset skill system is just baffling. Gonna ignore it for now and hope that it gets explained properly later.

 

[The Eupho Guy_v1legacy]

One thing that worries me is that the chipset skill system is just baffling. Gonna ignore it for now and hope that it gets explained properly later.

It doesn't. What did you want to know about it? I (or someone else here) might be able to help.

 

[jademunky]

One thing that worries me is that the chipset skill system is just baffling. Gonna ignore it for now and hope that it gets explained properly later.

It doesn't. What did you want to know about it? I (or someone else here) might be able to help.

Just what works and what doesn't. I'm only an hour and change in, how do I best build my character and what mistakes should I avoid? I noticed that I was burning through health items pretty rapidly against the giant sawblade things.

 

[Zeraki]

One thing that worries me is that the chipset skill system is just baffling. Gonna ignore it for now and hope that it gets explained properly later.

It doesn't. What did you want to know about it? I (or someone else here) might be able to help.

Just what works and what doesn't. I'm only an hour and change in, how do I best build my character and what mistakes should I avoid? I noticed that I was burning through health items pretty rapidly against the giant sawblade things.

You really don't have to stress about it too much. You can literally just get a few chips that heal you when you kill enemies and give you health when you hit enemies you'll be fine. As long as you're playing on Normal the game is a breeze.

 

[The Eupho Guy_v1legacy]

The good thing is there's no real mistakes you can make. You can swap around your chipset at anytime so there is some room for experimentation.

Early game, if you can find them, look for shock wave chips and some kind of healing chip (Auto heal or deadly heal are the first ones available, I think) and anti chain damage if you're constantly getting surrounded by enemies. Apart from that, its really up to you. Exp and item drop boosts are ok if you're grinding for levels or items, move speed up and auto collect item chips are nice, but not strictly needed.

 

[Kotaro]

Just don't forget to buy a chip for automatic item pickup from Devola and Popola as soon as they move into the camp later on. It's incredibly convenient, and if you advance the plot beyond a certain point, you won't have another chance to get it from them until near the very end of the game.

But yeah, there's no real punishment for experimenting with your ability chips as long as you don't get overly-enthusiastic about fusing them and end up with ones way too big to equip. Remember that the size of the resulting chip does depend on the size of the ones you fuse, and most chips come in various sizes even for the same level of bonus. But you can get some huge boosts from fusing them together, so it's a balancing act. And you can remove any elements of the HUD that you don't need in order to get slightly more room, but removing the OS chip means instant death, so don't touch that one (or do, I'm not your dad). Do buy the capacity upgrades as soon as you can, though, because they help significantly.

Eupho Guy is totally right, though: Auto Heal and Shockwave are available pretty early on, but can be some of the most practical chips in the game if fused enough times to get them to a high level. Combine Auto Heal with Deadly Heal and you're pretty much immortal if you play smart.

Oh yeah, and it's possible to go the entire game without even knowing about him, but (MINOR SPOILERS) there's a second weapon merchant in a secret room in the castle in the forest area who can upgrade your weapons to the maximum level of 4, as opposed to the regular one who can only go up to level 3. Level 4 weapons get extra abilities (like increased attack power when at maximum health, or automatically charging up power when not attacking), so they're worth gunning for.

Last thing (and more MINOR SPOILERS): If you have any sidequests you want to complete in the first chunk of the game, do them BEFORE going to the mission at the coast. Once you finish that bit, it's a point of no return for most of the sidequests.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

If there's anything out there more important than my ego I want it caught and shot right now.

I c wut u did thar.

 

[jademunky]

okay so healing chips & auto-collect should be what I first install? ok, that's cool.

Will reply more later this afternoon.

 

[Kotaro]

okay so healing chips & auto-collect should be what I first install? ok, that's cool.

Will reply more later this afternoon.

Well you do need to play a fair bit before Devola and Popola set up shop and make auto collect available, but yeah, don't miss your chance to buy it. And as both Eupho Guy and I have said, Shockwave is really useful as well, drastically increasing your attack range.

 

[jademunky]

If there's anything out there more important than my ego I want it caught and shot right now.

I c wut u did thar.

I figured it had been enough time that people have forgotten the movie and I can throw out book references again.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

I figured it had been enough time that people have forgotten the movie and I can throw out book references again.

My reference game is off the charts, boi.

 

[jademunky]

Just don't forget to buy a chip for automatic item pickup from Devola and Popola as soon as they move into the camp later on. It's incredibly convenient, and if you advance the plot beyond a certain point, you won't have another chance to get it from them until near the very end of the game.

But yeah, there's no real punishment for experimenting with your ability chips as long as you don't get overly-enthusiastic about fusing them and end up with ones way too big to equip.

Got the Deadly heal, auto-heal and evasion boost now. Gonna keep an eye out for that other stuff you mentioned.

Last thing (and more MINOR SPOILERS): If you have any sidequests you want to complete in the first chunk of the game, do them BEFORE going to the mission at the coast. Once you finish that bit, it's a point of no return for most of the sidequests.

Probable undiagnosed OCD FTW!

*Edit* Also, and I don't know why I even ask: Should I bother with the fishing mechanic? I mean, please dear god no, but if it really does yield results.........

 

[Kotaro]

Just don't forget to buy a chip for automatic item pickup from Devola and Popola as soon as they move into the camp later on. It's incredibly convenient, and if you advance the plot beyond a certain point, you won't have another chance to get it from them until near the very end of the game.

But yeah, there's no real punishment for experimenting with your ability chips as long as you don't get overly-enthusiastic about fusing them and end up with ones way too big to equip.

Got the Deadly heal, auto-heal and evasion boost now. Gonna keep an eye out for that other stuff you mentioned.

Last thing (and more MINOR SPOILERS): If you have any sidequests you want to complete in the first chunk of the game, do them BEFORE going to the mission at the coast. Once you finish that bit, it's a point of no return for most of the sidequests.

Probable undiagnosed OCD FTW!

*Edit* Also, and I don't know why I even ask: Should I bother with the fishing mechanic? I mean, please dear god no, but if it really does yield results.........

Fish can be sold to shops for some extra cash, but that's really about it as far as I could tell. There was a lot more depth to the fishing in the first Nier, and it seems like just the bare minimum of it was kept in Automata for the sake of having it. So if you ever need a little bit more money, it's worth spending a few minutes fishing, but otherwise you can completely ignore it.

Unrelated, and you're probably already aware of this since it's one of the things about this game that everyone was talking about when it first came out, but FURTHER SPOILERS BELOW (though kept as minimal as possible to explain this):
You need to do New Game+ at least twice to unlock the true final chapter of the game (the second playthrough is the same game with some changed scenes and some new ones for a reason you'll find out when you get to it, and the third playthrough is a continuation of the plot from there). And then get both possible endings in the third playthrough--determined by which character you choose for the true final battle, though 9S also needs to say no when offered a deal in his final cutscene in order for it to count--to get one last minigame and the absolute final scene of the game after the credits.

 

[reignsupreme]

Deadly heal is extremely useful especially the highest level that gives you 30% of your health back per kill. Standard attack and defense chips were also pretty helpful I found. In my opinion stacking those was more helpful then shockwave on the first play through because you wanna get upclose and personal. Later on you can get chips that increase your dodge range and can even slow down time if you execute a perfect dodge (this is hella useful on hard mode). Doing the side quests is very useful as they can give you special abilities for your pods. Some of which are super good. Someone mentioned above about a place (flooded city that cancels all uncompleted sidequests ( I wish I knew that going in) if you fish at that location you can get a surprise!
I thought the game was very fun to play and the story really engaging. you definitely need to play it the three times to get the real ending. Even though the first replay is the same as the first in terms of events the game switches up some gameplay mechanics among other things to keep it fresh.

side note: one side quest is a series of races and it's infuriating. It was the only quest I didn't finish in the game despite trying 30+ times. Hopefully you have better luck!

Edit* if you fish in the sewers you can get a pretty poor weapon but if you want the full armory I think that's the only way to get it