If someone had told me in 2010 that the modest and niche Nier from Square Enix would not only get a sequel, but also get a generous budget, and that Platinum Games would take on its development, I would have just laughed.

The first Nier was a real experiment – an atmospheric, strange and surprisingly deep story born in the head of the mad genius Yoko Taro. But here’s the problem: it was hard to play. A crooked combat system, angular gameplay – not everyone was ready to put up with this for the sake of a heartfelt story. In the end, the game remains a game, not an art installation. And now, years later, Nier: Automata takes all the strengths of the original and corrects its weaknesses. This is the same magic of Yoko Taro, but now in a wrapper of dynamic and stylish action. Fans of Taro and composer Keiichi Okabe can only enjoy the release trailer with the symbolic title Death is Your Beginning.

NieR:Automata Free Steam Account

Nier: Automata takes us tens of thousands of years after the events of the original Nier. Humanity has lost the war against the alien machines, retreated to the Moon, and is now forced to fight through intermediaries – the androids they created. The latter are sent to Earth in an endless attempt to return it to its true owners, although these “owners” themselves have long been hiding somewhere in space. Players will take control of a fighting duo: the strict, impeccably disciplined 2B (whose mask and high boots firmly cemented her status as a gamer’s “waifu”) and her partner – the overly emotional 9S, who seems too alive to be a soulless machine. Both are part of an android special forces unit carrying out missions in a ruined world full of hostile mechanisms and hidden meanings.

“You are humanity’s last hope. Your actions will bring the day of return closer. Glory to humanity!” — faceless broadcasts from the Moon repeat over and over again. But who are these “people” who so zealously send their creations to their deaths? Why did they create androids with feelings if they use them as cannon fodder? These questions are the essence of the story, full of tragedy, philosophy, and collapsing illusions.

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Death is not the end here, but only a stage: when 2B’s shell dies, her consciousness is uploaded into a new body, leaving a chance to take the accumulated experience and improvements. This cycle is reminiscent of Dark Souls, but woven into the plot much deeper, turning each death into a plot element, and not just a mechanical detail. And the further you go, the stronger the feeling that there are no winners in this war – there are only those who try to find meaning in an endless cycle of violence.

Breaking Down NieR:Automata’s Combat System: Superficial Action or Hidden Depth?

After 2B’s spectacular appearance on the screen, you inevitably want to figure out how good the gameplay of NieR:Automata is. You can often hear the opinion that this time Platinum Games failed to create an ideal combat system. Moreover, some players and critics even doubt whether it can be considered a full-fledged slasher at all – supposedly it is more of a complicated Beat ’em up without combos and strategic elements.

But I categorically disagree with this. Before making such conclusions, it is worth at least upgrading your weapons to the maximum level and experimenting a little with attack combinations. NieR:Automata really does not copy Devil May Cry, but this does not mean that it has no depth. Here you can even not use the sight – everything is tied to competent control and adaptation to the situation. And if you start to analyze the combos in DMC and compare them with the blows in NieR, then many of them have analogues, just implemented differently.

Of course, the game does not have the usual system of evaluating combat skills, jumping on the heads of enemies or sliding on defeated opponents. But this does not mean that the action turned out to be primitive – Platinum Games simply focused on intuitiveness and smoothness of movements. If NieR:Automata is called Beat ’em up because of this, then the first parts of Devil May Cry were not slashers either. If we compare, it is more logical to put it next to Bayonetta – another cult game from Platinum. And here NieR, like DMC, will look simpler: in Bayonetta, the combo system is much deeper, and its mechanics are still almost unmatched. However, 2B has its trump cards – grace, stylish animation and excellent choreography of fights.

The main difference between NieR:Automata and typical representatives of the genre is that not everything here is tied to the combat system. Unlike DMC and Bayonetta, the gameplay is not limited to spectacular fights – the game combines elements of bullet hell, RPG and open world. And RPG here is clearly in first place.

NieR allows you to:

• Pump up and customize almost everything – from combat abilities to the interface.
• Explore an open world filled with secret places, hidden items and interesting characters.
• Complete unusual side quests that may change with a second playthrough.
• Discover new story and gameplay elements even in the second, third and subsequent playthroughs.
• Experience the difference in gameplay for different characters – for example, quests for 9S are different from those available for 2B.

These elements make NieR:Automata closer to classic RPGs of the 90s, such as Shining Force 2 or Adventures of Mana. And it is especially pleasant to realize this – after all, there are not so many such games released today.

The plot and unconventional presentation in NieR:Automata

I don’t want to go into details of the plot – let the game surprise you itself. But there are some things worth mentioning. The story starts like a typical Japanese action movie, and the entire first playthrough feels exactly like that. The main character, 2B, doesn’t really reflect on what’s happening and doesn’t ask unnecessary questions. We just move forward, cutting enemies left and right, mastering the game mechanics and completing tasks that can both shock and pleasantly surprise.

But then the second playthrough begins… And then the game makes a sharp turn. Now we control not 2B, but her partner – 9S. The plot opens up from a different side, and the gameplay is transformed: from a dynamic slasher to a strategic and intellectual bullet hell. Can such a genre transition be called intellectual? Well, there is no other word.

Here’s what changes in the second playthrough:

• The hero who takes up the bulk of the gameplay is now our 9S, not 2B, under our control..
• A new perspective – events are presented differently, with improved and updated scenes and directorial decisions.
• Changed gameplay – hacking, arcade mini-games and strategy elements.
• Different narrative – the game ceases to be a slasher and turns into a deep philosophical story.
• Unexpected experiments – sudden text inserts, change of style, even theatrical scenes with puppet scenery.

After the second playthrough, you might think you’ve seen everything in this game. But here’s the surprising fact: all of this is just a prologue. The most interesting thing in the story begins in the third company.

NieR:Automata is a work of art

NieR:Automata is a game that not everyone will understand and accept. But if it touches you even a little, if you allow it to open up, you will see facets that are rarely found in the gaming industry. This is not just a game – it is art. It is a kind of “Evangelion” of the video game world. And not a simplified Rebuild, but the very original Neon Genesis of 1995. Yes, NieR is not perfect, it has rough edges, but it turns its shortcomings into advantages, creating a unique experience that blows your mind.

As a result, we have before us one of the most original games in history. It shines in its gameplay, script, soundtrack and direction. It surprises, amazes and provokes. But, like any work of art, it is subjective. Someone will fall in love with it once and for all, and someone will not see anything special in it.

And yes, if this game runs on your PC without critical bugs, without freezes and system crashes, and the only problems are the crooked fullscreen and stretched cutscenes… Forget about technical shortcomings. Give NieR:Automata a chance, because there are simply no games like it anymore. This is one of those rare stories that are worth living.

NieR:Automata System Requirements

How to play NieR:Automata for free on Steam via VpeSports

Have you ever wondered what it means to be human? Or a machine? NieR:Automata doesn’t just offer answers, it makes you question every single one of them. Now imagine that you can enter this strange, fascinating world without spending any money. Yes, it’s possible! We have a way to dive into the story of androids 2B and 9S for free – and we’re here to tell you how.

It’s simple: go to the VpeSports website, create an account and go to the section with  free steam account. There are ready-made accounts with NieR:Automata installed waiting for you – all you have to do is choose, follow the instructions and… here you are, hovering over the desert, fighting with combat machines. And if you like it – and this is inevitable – leave a comment about your impressions. We appreciate every word, but be prepared for moderation to take a little time. As soon as your review is approved, you will receive login information to the specified email.