Get it, just don't expect much from it.
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NieR: Automata |OT| "I wouldn't expect too much from this game if I were you."
- Thread starter BRSxIgnition
- Start date
If you've seen the gameplay, you'll see that the combat is dope. And yet, the story is even more dope. If you're like the majority of us, finishing it will likely leave it in your thoughts for quite awhile. It is weird and eccentric, but in a cool way. The OST is
Hype aside, honestly just dive in and see where the story takes you. And if you do, definitely refrain from coming across spoilers, and just enjoy the ride.
Now, come to us:
StormBrute
Member
One thing I do think is a big problem is that the leveling system in this game is bad.
Attack and Defense being hugely affected by character and enemy levels means a moderate level difference can completely change how fights go, since you can either be dealing almost no damage without chips or you can completely wreck enemies in one or two hits. That means if you level up a lot by doing sidequests or just fighting enemies you've basically trivialized the next chunk of the game.
For me, doing all the sidequests I could as soon as they became available (because they're important to the story and themes, and foreshadow a lot of stuff) meant the whole game quickly became a cakewalk where I could kill enemies in two hits and bosses in three or four combos.
It seems like a really bad decision in an action-focused game, especially when the weapon upgrades and chip system offer plenty of room for character progression already. If there was one thing I think could improve the game a lot, it would be massively toning down how much stats increase with each level up.
Attack and Defense being hugely affected by character and enemy levels means a moderate level difference can completely change how fights go, since you can either be dealing almost no damage without chips or you can completely wreck enemies in one or two hits. That means if you level up a lot by doing sidequests or just fighting enemies you've basically trivialized the next chunk of the game.
For me, doing all the sidequests I could as soon as they became available (because they're important to the story and themes, and foreshadow a lot of stuff) meant the whole game quickly became a cakewalk where I could kill enemies in two hits and bosses in three or four combos.
It seems like a really bad decision in an action-focused game, especially when the weapon upgrades and chip system offer plenty of room for character progression already. If there was one thing I think could improve the game a lot, it would be massively toning down how much stats increase with each level up.
2Smashed4U
Banned
If you've seen the gameplay, you'll see that the combat is dope. And yet, the story is even more dope. If you're like the majority of us, finishing it will likely leave it in your thoughts for quite awhile. It is weird and eccentric, but in a cool way. The OST isone ofthe best you'll hear this year.
Hype aside, honestly just dive in and see where the story takes you. And if you do, definitely refrain from coming across spoilers, and just enjoy the ride.
Now, come to us:
Word, consider me sold
I mean, you didn't get to save in the demo either though. But ya, if you're playing on Hard, I'd advise you to lower it and get through this section.
Thank you!
Benzychenz
Member
Man this Parade Escort quest in bonkers. I'm level 44 with rank 4 weapons and still can't do it.
The final wave of enemies just spawns right on top of the guys and immediately wrecks them.
The final wave of enemies just spawns right on top of the guys and immediately wrecks them.
Finally, er, probably going to be able to start this near the end of the week (finishing up some Gravity Rush 2 DLC and Overwatch launches a new event on Tuesday, I think).
Really loved the demo and though the original (actually bought it close to or at launch if I remember correctly) was decent, mostly in the story department and some of the insane battle situations that they would set you up in.
The music though, oh my god. Still on of the best OST's.
So, I'm exited to get into this. What am I looking at for a first playthrough on normal? Time wise? Now, I know about the whole
since that was in the first game, but I never tried to do it. If I pursued that here, what kind of additional time am I looking at?
Also, I imagine the OST is amazing.
Really loved the demo and though the original (actually bought it close to or at launch if I remember correctly) was decent, mostly in the story department and some of the insane battle situations that they would set you up in.
The music though, oh my god. Still on of the best OST's.
So, I'm exited to get into this. What am I looking at for a first playthrough on normal? Time wise? Now, I know about the whole
endings deal
Also, I imagine the OST is amazing.
KO Traveling Hobo
Member
Addendum to Hektor's post: if you're going to go through the Drakengard games, finish 1 before 3. D3 takes place prior to D1, but it expects you to be familiar with ideas established in the first game.
The OST is better than the first game imo, and is easily the best I've heard this year. At the very least, I think those who've beaten the game would find it difficult to argue how utterly dynamic and well used the OST is within this game.
As for the endings, it's not about pursuing it or something you think about maybe doing. You literally need to in order to complete the entire game. Five routes, A-E. The other letters of the alphabet are joke endings, although Ending Y isn't a complete throwaway. Regarding the main routes/endings, it's much more straightforward as opposed to what the first game made you do. The entire game is around 40-50 hours.
Exentryk
Member
If they start on Ni3R now, it could squeeze in to the last year of PS4. And I wonder if Platinum will update their engine so the game could look more beautiful.
Nope. Just because you want tediousness, doesn't mean other people want it. Losing only one chip doesn't make sense narratively, and even then, losing a +8 chip would still be the same thing.
The current design caters to more people and is the better design choice because you can have your cake, while others can have theirs. You are being really selfish such that you want your cake, and to take away others' cake.
Nope. Just because you want tediousness, doesn't mean other people want it. Losing only one chip doesn't make sense narratively, and even then, losing a +8 chip would still be the same thing.
The current design caters to more people and is the better design choice because you can have your cake, while others can have theirs. You are being really selfish such that you want your cake, and to take away others' cake.
Berserking Guts
Member
Wait. You lose all your chips? But... this game is so good though!
I err, I gotta go NieR. I think I left the kettle on!
I err, I gotta go NieR. I think I left the kettle on!
KO Traveling Hobo
Member
It's like Souls. If you die, you have one chance to go back and pick your stuff back up.
Unlike Souls, there is no autosave, so you can just reload if die before retrieving your chips.
Berserking Guts
Member
I love Souls and any game that penalizes you for dying. But those chips took me over 20 some hours! Lol.
Good to know I can cheese the save though.
I'll also add that since you have 3 save slots, you can actually save into another slot after you've died to keep trying to recover your lost shit. This can be a very useful option when you have found some good loot after you've last saved and don't want to just revert to the old save.
They're not really selling
's characterisation through the part of Route C I've played so far. I get what they're going for -
, but the execution is a little off.
In a way, that'd be going back to doing the cutscenes ingame - aside from one-off outliers like the dance sequence after the credits, the Bayonetta games and W101 didn't use pre-rendered cutscenes. Automata is like MGR in deviating from that - I guess it could have been done to streamline the process and work around deadlines, whereas Kamiya's games had more flexible schedules? Or just due to his particular style as a director - excluding RE2 for obvious reasons, his other games used prerendered cutscenes in a more limited capacity.
A2
contrasting her development against 9S' progressing violent obsession, and showing the influence of 2B in allowing her to reconnect with the society she abandoned
Part of it is that her past actions are swept under the rug really quickly - she's described as killing multiple androids sent to apprehend or disable her previously, but none of the Resistance bats an eyelid towards her showing up, and Anemone's dialogue with her is still quite rushed, though the files recapping the original play were welcome to provide context. The effects of her prolonged isolation are also way less apparent than they should be in how she interacts with others - going from a feral murderbot who hasn't spoken to a friendly soul in hundreds of years and shanks babies without a second thought to Shadow the Hedgehog building a playground for impoverished children in the space of a fortnight is a bit much. The writing doesn't seem to be bridging the gap between the two that well - the result at this point seems to be a cute, harmless kind of edgy that is difficult to reconcile both with her aggressive reputation (for example, her taunts are quite weak even when compared to Jeanne, let alone Kaine) and gentler actions.
In a way, that'd be going back to doing the cutscenes ingame - aside from one-off outliers like the dance sequence after the credits, the Bayonetta games and W101 didn't use pre-rendered cutscenes. Automata is like MGR in deviating from that - I guess it could have been done to streamline the process and work around deadlines, whereas Kamiya's games had more flexible schedules? Or just due to his particular style as a director - excluding RE2 for obvious reasons, his other games used prerendered cutscenes in a more limited capacity.
Remembrance
Member
My dual playthroughs of Nier and Automata have finally taken me to the point where I can actually talk about Automata in this thread.
The best thing about both these games? They do so much without being too elaborate or overdesigned. The games are simple to pick up and play. The world is basically barren so you can focus on the highlights.
Most improtantly, the storytelling doesn't waste time or words. The writing feels like it's hiding nothing from you even though the whole story is based on hiding everything from you.
And there have been so many moments where I was glad I have the soundtrack right here to replay the music I just heard. The first game really didn't have much music in terms of unique compositional content, so every track sort of had to hit you over the head with strong memorable motifs. Here I'm glad there was room to have more subtle pieces.
The best thing about both these games? They do so much without being too elaborate or overdesigned. The games are simple to pick up and play. The world is basically barren so you can focus on the highlights.
Most improtantly, the storytelling doesn't waste time or words. The writing feels like it's hiding nothing from you even though the whole story is based on hiding everything from you.
And there have been so many moments where I was glad I have the soundtrack right here to replay the music I just heard. The first game really didn't have much music in terms of unique compositional content, so every track sort of had to hit you over the head with strong memorable motifs. Here I'm glad there was room to have more subtle pieces.
Leona Lewis
Banned
Yep, this game's soundtrack is astonishing.
I hope Emi sings this hidden gem in next month's concert. Such a heartrendingly beautiful piece.
What's everyone else's favorite track?
KO Traveling Hobo
Member
I agree for the most part, but one possible correction:
I don't think A2 is hundreds of years old, since the Pearl Harbor Descent was only four years prior to the events of the game.
I don't even have one, they're all so fucking good
But I listen to Wretched Weaponry (Dynamic Vocals) a lot, so let's go with that for now.
Yeah I know which is why I said future games, would have loved to have accessories showing in cutscenes.
My mistake - I misread it as taking place 200 years ago.
I'd never have taken the Machine Mask off.
Like what LotusHD said, I can't even think of a favorite from this album because they're just so great. I mean, I think Emil, Kaine, Song of the Ancients, and Ashes of Dreams from the first OST were legendary, and I think none of the songs from Nier:A's OST match those, but I like more songs from Nier: Automata.
Actually, Cold Rain, Voice of No Return, Bipolar Disease, and even Wretched Weaponry could match those. I might even include City Ruins and Ray of Hope.
I'm pretty sure that
her "killing multiple androids" and being a danger to everyone was just a lie the higher-up's behind YoRHa instituted, since A2 knew the secret behind humanity no longer existing and didn't want that knowledge to spread. It's similar to the other androids in the side-quest "YoRHa Betrayers", where command told 2B/9S to track down and eliminate (not capture) rogue YoRHa agents who were stealing food from the Resistance (which, as Anemone confirmed, simply wasn't true). As far as we know, A2 just lived her life in solitude, killing any machines that crossed her path. Anemone wasn't even aware of her existence until 2B/9S came along, after they met her in the Forest Kingdom. Pascal heard about her, but they weren't exactly fearful of her. If she was as bloodthirsty as Command said she was, I'm sure they would be a lot less nervous of having her around.
A2 is just misunderstood, damn it. Don't believe the lies!
A2 is just misunderstood, damn it. Don't believe the lies!
Another thing that makes it easier to say Automata's OST is ultimately better is that it takes a few songs from the first game's OST, so it's a win-win situation of sorts.
My favorite song from the first game is Song of the Ancients - Devola.
KO Traveling Hobo
Member
I assumed that
she killed the androids in self-defense. It'd be odd if YoRHa issued a kill order for the "betrayers", but not for a much more volatile target like A2.
Oh, I have no doubt that
she killed any and all androids that attempted re-capture of her, but judging how she acted in the Forest Kingdom and how she let 2B/9S live, I'm guessing it was one of those things that she avoided if at all possible. Even Commander White herself was surprised, and told 2B/9S to consider themselves lucky, given the circumstances. I just don't think A2 went out and actively pursued YoRHa/other androids, and only killed them if there wasn't any other recourse.
I didn't think that was the case either -
but even killing in self-defense as a last resort should have affected her relationship with other androids more than was apparent. The reunion with Anemone and reintegration into the resistance camp should have been way more awkward than it was, even with the knowledge she was being hunted for unjust reasons.
killatopak
Gold Member
I advise skipping side quest until fast travel is available.
Why?
The resistance is not under or part of the command structure of YoRHa and Anemone considers A2 a comrade in arms. A2 was not under the same kind of stigma as Devola and Popola.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Yeah,
even the relationship between 2b/9s and the resistance is painted as one of mutual beneficiaries than being the same organisation.
There are all sorts of indications that Yorha and the resistance are separate entities.
There are all sorts of indications that Yorha and the resistance are separate entities.
Saint of Killers
Member
There's someone over on YouTube who's making NierA soundtrack vids with lyrics. Check 'em out: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpriHzwYvQg81NbMRuLSJRQ They use ingame footage from the level the track belongs to, so beware spoilers.
Only has 7 tracks up as of now, but I love watching 'em and so thought it was worth sharing.
Only has 7 tracks up as of now, but I love watching 'em and so thought it was worth sharing.
Nothing useful to add except I got this game Sunday morning and played for 8 hours on and off throughout the day/night.
I bloody love it. Annoyed I waited this long! Can't wait to see where it goes.
Edit - Music is incredible too.
Edit edit - my partner happened to be watching during the amusement park part of the game and thinks I have lost my mind.
I bloody love it. Annoyed I waited this long! Can't wait to see where it goes.
Edit - Music is incredible too.
Edit edit - my partner happened to be watching during the amusement park part of the game and thinks I have lost my mind.
Yeah, the energetic pieces were my favourites at first, but then that song and Vague Hope - Cold Rain crept up and struck me. Goddamn is this OST magnificent or what.
Yeah, I guess I'll go with that. I think I'm about level 69, so I'll wait until at least 80.
The balance is pretty poor, I agree. I wish there was a mode with no levels, and fixed difficulty. That would be the best way to play the game.
What I'm doing to sort of fix that is to change to a higher difficulty setting for boss fights, and then back to Normal for exploration. Bosses still take a ton of damage, but they deal a lot of damage too, and it gets interesting this way.
hahaha got the same feeling. it will became less frustrating the more you advance into the game to a point that i find hard mode a little way too easy right now... Shoot 'Em Up are always challenging because enemies scale to your level.
EDIT: Random route C question:
Holy shit, get ready.
Does anything happen at the table from the Adam and Eve cutscenes? I thought it was really nice that you could actually get there, but I didn't find anything there. Is it just an easter egg?
Holy shit, get ready.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
I dunno, I find it hard to get invested into hard modes that don't lock me out of choosing the difficulty.
You need to pump up your HP and defenses. I played exclusively on hard and it was quite manageable when I focused a certain amount of OS chip space to toughening up. There are no guaranteed OHKOs in the game.
Yeaah, that was the hardest quest for me too. Tried several times on ~25, then later on ~40 or so and still couldn't do it. Went back when I was over 50 and did it, but it was close.
Benzychenz
Member
Alright, finished route B. Took 32 hours and I did 68% sidequests. Afaik I only missed a couple of the route A specific ones.
So, I'm let to believe I'm in for a ride over the next couple of hours.
So, I'm let to believe I'm in for a ride over the next couple of hours.
I have a couple of days off later this week/early next week so I'm holding off to start C till that. Is C the last playthrough (I suppose with different choices fo endings D and E) or there's more?
Also, I guess I'm gonna have to find all weapons, right?
Man I so want to listen to some tracks again but I'm fearing to search them on youtube and eat spoilers lol
One track I liked a lot is the one in the first area, but not the intro one or
I found the remixed Nier 1 tracks pretty poor. Also Nier:A boss themes are (so far) lacking compared to Nier 1 tracks. Only the Opera one felt memorable. Field tracks is where Automata shines and is better than Nier IMO.
Also, I guess I'm gonna have to find all weapons, right?
Man I so want to listen to some tracks again but I'm fearing to search them on youtube and eat spoilers lol
One track I liked a lot is the one in the first area, but not the intro one or
the annoying gods one, the other it sounds when you come back on A or in B's quest with Emi vocals.
I found the remixed Nier 1 tracks pretty poor. Also Nier:A boss themes are (so far) lacking compared to Nier 1 tracks. Only the Opera one felt memorable. Field tracks is where Automata shines and is better than Nier IMO.
sechsterangriff
Member
It's really easy if you're good at hacking with 9S.