NieR:Automata is a masterpiece of storytelling, music, and atmosphere that blends into an unforgettable, melancholic rapture of emotion that transcends well past the final credits. From the post-apocalyptic City Ruins onward, the adventure of three androids in a fight against machine lifeforms for an almost hopeless future sets the tone for every route to its conclusion. The fast-paced bullet-hell of aerial and ranged enemies combined with the hack-and-slash approach of close-ranged enemies creates a tense gameplay experience that is easy to adapt to but requires time to master with each weapon type, android, and pod.

Beyond the gameplay, lies deep philosophical questions about the nature of humanity, the reasoning of existence, and finding meaning in a nihilistic world. From these, NieR:Automata does not provide players with the answers to these deep-rooted questions, and instead places players in the same space as the androids trying to understand the nuances of hope and purpose. The result of this interposition is a bittersweet culmination of emotion and numbness.

Accompanying the characters on the journey is an incredible soundtrack with memorable tracks that transcend the game itself in their angelic and instrumental nature. Enveloping waves of cellos and choirs move entire tracks as a piano and winds sweep across the piece with a gentle melody. The angelic language and expression of singers help convey the loneliness of empty spaces, the action of intense combat, and the beat-to-beat moments of the expanding story.

In terms of visuals, NieR:Automata mostly delivers except in a few instances, such as texture resolution and LOD; however, these can easily be remedied with mods that enhance the overall appearance of the game. Beside the general visuals, the atmosphere of the world and its various zones are incredibly well designed with rich environments and well-placed pathways and obstacles that allow the player to overcome each challenge as it presents itself. From these designs come various gameplay elements that range from aerial, to ground, hacking, and large-scale boss fights, making each moment engaging and unique. When combined with the chapter select, these instances create an immense amount of replayability for the player. Overall, I would highly recommend NieR:Automata as it is more of an experience than a game, carving out itself a space to be declared a masterpiece of art.

NieR:Automata is a masterpiece of storytelling, music, and atmosphere that blends into an unforgettable, melancholic rapture of emotion that transcends well past the final credits. From the post-apocalyptic City Ruins onward, the adventure of three androids in a fight against machine lifeforms for an almost hopeless future sets the tone for every route to its conclusion. The fast-paced bullet-hell of aerial and ranged enemies combined with the hack-and-slash approach of close-ranged enemies creates a tense gameplay experience that is easy to adapt to but requires time to master with each weapon type, android, and pod. Beyond the gameplay, lies deep philosophical questions about the nature of humanity, the reasoning of existence, and finding meaning in a nihilistic world. From these, NieR:Automata does not provide players with the answers to these deep-rooted questions, and instead places players in the same space as the androids trying to understand the nuances of hope and purpose. The result of this interposition is a bittersweet culmination of emotion and numbness. Accompanying the characters on the journey is an incredible soundtrack with memorable tracks that transcend the game itself in their angelic and instrumental nature. Enveloping waves of cellos and choirs move entire tracks as a piano and winds sweep across the piece with a gentle melody. The angelic language and expression of singers help convey the loneliness of empty spaces, the action of intense combat, and the beat-to-beat moments of the expanding story. In terms of visuals, NieR:Automata mostly delivers except in a few instances, such as texture resolution and LOD; however, these can easily be remedied with mods that enhance the overall appearance of the game. Beside the general visuals, the atmosphere of the world and its various zones are incredibly well designed with rich environments and well-placed pathways and obstacles that allow the player to overcome each challenge as it presents itself. From these designs come various gameplay elements that range from aerial, to ground, hacking, and large-scale boss fights, making each moment engaging and unique. When combined with the chapter select, these instances create an immense amount of replayability for the player. Overall, I would highly recommend NieR:Automata as it is more of an experience than a game, carving out itself a space to be declared a masterpiece of art.