5 REASONS TO PLAY NIER AUTOMATA IN 2024: LET’S REDISCOVER YOKO TARO’S MASTERPIECE
Remaining very niche until the first chapter, the NieR series has achieved much wider success since the release of Automata. Platinum Games ‘ expertise in crafting action games of great depth has helped to do justice to the intriguing narrative universe born from the mind of the eccentric Yoko Taro .
Despite having been published over 7 years ago, NieR Automata still constitutes an experience of absolute value , capable of involving both from an exquisitely playful and narrative point of view. We suggest five good reasons to recover Yoko Taro’s masterpiece in 2024.
Deep and courageous story
Like the first game in the series, NieR Replicant (which received a ‘Remaster Plus’ in 2021 and which we recommend you pick up), NieR Automata also offers a deep and very intricate narrative plot . The game explores the theme of compassion when it seems impossible to find it, the persistent traumas of war and the search for freedom within a militarily guarded system.
As the elite android soldier 2B (a quote from Hamlet’s famous line “To be or not to be”) you must protect an Earth controlled by an army of alien robots determined to fulfill their age-old goal: to eliminate all humans and establish total sovereignty. Automata subverts players’ expectations by showing the same events of the story through the eyes of three different characters , and only after seeing each narrative arc can our vision of things be said to be complete. The story of NieR Automata breaks the fourth wall and forces players to confront themselves on the most delicate human issues .
The gameplay is a hybrid capable of constantly surprising
What also helps make the game truly unique is its bizarre mix of genres . Automata is part RPG, part side-scroller, part hack ‘n’ slash, part bullet hell, and the list goes on. Automata is a masterful homage to a long list of video game cult classics, from arcade titles like Galaga to shooters like Ikaruga.
Development by Platinum Games often employs a dynamic camera to accommodate changes in gameplay mechanics . From the default third-person camera, we’ll often switch to a bird’s eye view, or side-view. The changes in gameplay style always come unexpectedly and are refreshing to the overall experience as a result.
The side missions are finally engaging
If you’ve played NieR Replicant, you’ll know that the side quests aren’t exactly the strong point of the production, especially due to the often banal and repetitive gameplay structure (in some cases, however, they were able to leave their mark from a narrative point of view). Fortunately , things improve in NieR Automata : the side quests are definitely more engaging to play and very often contribute to adding precious information on the narrative universe created by Yoko Taro and the characters that are part of it (especially with regards to 9S).
They will also prove very useful for finding rare materials, weapons and other rewards. Of course, the qualitative gap between the main and side quests remains quite marked, but Platinum Games has done an excellent job in packaging additional content of good quality and in making the series take a decisive leap forward from this point of view.
Memorable and crucial soundtrack
The splendid Automata soundtrack curated by Keiichi Okabe (already the author of the NieR Replicant OST) does not simply accompany the experience, but is an integral part of it. Music becomes part of the game design when the songs transform depending on the progression of the plot: a song that is previously presented in an upbeat version can, during the most solemn and moving moments of the story, be proposed again with a more delicate and contemplative arrangement .
Furthermore, Okabe relies on the ” Chaos Language “, which is the simultaneous use of two or more languages (in the case of Automata, mainly German and Japanese) that create indecipherable, but strangely familiar “conlangs”. This approach reflects the state of the world of NieR and the time period of Automata: the futuristic, post-apocalyptic Earth of 2B and 9S is, at once, foreign and familiar.
Art style that mixes Sci-Fi, post-apocalyptic and fantasy
While not shining from a purely technical point of view, NieR: Automata is loved for its distinctive mix of post-apocalyptic science fiction with fantasy overtones . Through an inspired artistic style, the game paints vast desolate landscapes populated by androids and intricately designed futuristic machines, creating a world that seems sometimes alien, sometimes familiar. This ambiguity fosters a sense of curiosity and introspection, encouraging players to explore and reflect on the themes addressed throughout the story
character design , curated by Akihiko Yoshida (Final Fantasy, NieR Replicant, Vagrant Story etc.), constitutes a peak for the entire production, characterized by an elegant and gothic-inspired aesthetic. NieR Replicant presented a world closer to fantasy, imbued with a sense of ruinous beauty and melancholy. NieR: Automata evolves this aesthetic, adopting a more refined and visually cohesive sci-fi direction.