Thanks for the perspective. It kind of sounds (and the Polygon review I just read sort of reinforces this) that Automata rises above the sum of its parts? Like the open world bits sound a bit janky, but the story is so good that you don't care?
There's some jank, but not as much as you originally think. And even just on a gameplay level, the great combat really helps elevate things, even before you get to any other elements.
Having played
tons of "janky" Japanese games over my lifetime, this is one where the combat actually will be good, and the story not throw-away nonsense, and the characters not intolerable dolts. If you've played those kinds of games and thought, "Man, this could actually be a decent game if it were just more competently made"—Nier is (mostly) what you wish it had been. And, it's a game where you're almost glad it didn't have a bigger budget, because had it, it might have spiraled out of control into something not nearly as enjoyable.
One thing I didn't like about the demo was the sort of oppressively grim color palette and industrial look. Do the world and enemies get more vibrant and colorful in the game, or is Rusty Apocalypse the general vibe?
There's at least one area in the game that is about as opposite of that area as you could possibly get. Trust me, there's a lot more waiting out there.
Too bad it's too late for that anyways.
