-Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
-Kingdom Hearts
-Final Fantasy XII
-Tomb Raider (2013)
-Life Is Strange
-Valkyrie Profile

These are Square Enix related games that I gave a chance and ended up not liking. Yes, I am that rare JRPG fans whose taste has been in the polar opposite of Square Enix related games. Basically everything that Square Enix touches, no matter if they develop it or only publishing it, I would be guaranteed to dislike it. That is how it has always been until I played Nier: Automata.

To put more odds against this game, Nier: Automata was released shortly after Final Fantasy XV. Naturally, seeing Nier: Automata’s gameplay and reviews, I couldn’t care less about it and shun it as “FF XV with female protagonist”. Plus, this is not the first entry of Nier franchise and I’ve been trying to play my games in order recently. So, really, looking at all the cards, I have little chance of playing this game, let alone liking it. But I did, I somehow did.

Now, the first scene that captured was the shoot ‘em up/ bullet hell section of the intro that I saw in reviews. Having never consumed any games directed by Yoko Taro before, the changes in perspective and gameplay is the most bizarre presentation that I’ve ever seen, especially in the intro of a game. The next thing that captured me was the character design, which I find attractive. Lastly, when I see the apocalyptic setting, I just can’t help but to give it a reluctant chance, even if I am 90% sure that I wouldn’t like any of Square Enix game.

In my other review I’ve stated that I dislike Undertale for its half-baked bullet hell mechanics. While I won’t say Nier: Automata’s bullet hell is perfect, it is for sure astronomically better than Undertale’s. It is not too short, some of the bullets can be destroyed, some must be dodged, but more importantly; you can skip them and go melee. Nier:A incorporates bullet hell into its battle system while also leaving spaces for other play styles, while Undertale’s battle system is solely relying on bullet hell system, forcing players to suffer on its half-baked bullet hell mechanics. Now, add the perspective changing and movement fluidity, you get the recipe for the best action game that I’ve ever played.

Simple yet attractive, uniformed yet memorable. That’s all I need to say about the character design. Pleases the eye while not going overboard is the best thing to go for in designs (yes, looking at you and your stupid armor, Xenoblade Chronicles II). This is also applicable to the world design. I am a fan of Shin Megami Tensei franchise, so I’ve seen quite a few post-apocalyptic worlds; but I’ve never seen something quite like Nier:A’s. The city ruins looks so detailed, the flooded city is just so comfy that I want to live there, and even the desert area is not just flat. This game managed to literally make rubbles attractive!

I swear this is the last time I will bring up Undertale. But Nier:A just keep acing the part in which Undertale failing in my book, namely the meta content, so I can’t help but to bring it up again. Undertale made me hate meta/4th wall breaking moments because they are so obnoxious and straight in my face. On the other hand, Nier:A made me like it because it is incorporated well in the story, and some of the moments are just missable and you might not realize it until you look back on it. Brilliantly, it elevated the meta content into some kind of reward for players instead of something blatant that you MUST see because it is the punchline of some lame jokes.

Having your game infested in Denuvo is also lame, and along with a few graphical bugs that are left untouched until years after release of this game, they will be my biggest complain for this game. Furthermore, I wish there are much more stuff to do after I finish the game, something fun other than trying to find all weapons and kill all enemies. Some sprawling extra quests and side story will be perfect.

I won’t go into the story at all to avoid spoilers, but all I can say is that it is one of the best story that I’ve ever experienced in JRPG. It is so good that Nier:A dethroned Va11-Ha11-A as the best game that I’ve ever played on steam. I like this game so much that I go back and finished Drakengard 1 & 2. Words cannot describe how glad I am for giving Nier:A a chance. It pretty much broke my Square Enix curse, and next time I see PlatinumGames beside Square Enix logo, it is the time to play Square Enix game.

Edit: I can't believe I forgot to mention the masterfully done music. So many emotions and efort put into the tracks and its variations.