| Nier: Automata | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | PlatinumGames[a] |
| Publisher(s) | Square Enix |
| Director(s) | Yoko Taro |
| Producer(s) |
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| Designer(s) |
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| Programmer(s) | Ryo Onishi |
| Artist(s) |
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| Writer(s) |
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| Composer(s) |
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| Series | Drakengard |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | PlayStation 4Windows
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| Genre(s) | Action role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Nier: Automata[b] is a 2017action role-playing game developed byPlatinumGames and published bySquare Enix. It is a sequel toNier (2010), itself a spin-off of and sequel to theDrakengard series.Nier: Automata was originally released for thePlayStation 4 andWindows viaSteam, and anXbox One port was published the following year. ANintendo Switch port was released in 2022.
Nier: Automata is set during aproxy war between alien-createdMachines and human-crafted androids, focusing on the actions of combat android2B, scanner android9S, and rogue prototype A2. The story requires multiple playthroughs, with each playthrough revealing new story elements. The gameplay combinesrole-playing elements with action-basedhack-and-slash combat. It also includes gameplay from othervideo game genres, with elements varying fromshoot 'em up totext adventure.
Production began in 2014, with series creatorYoko Taro, producer Yosuke Saito, and lead composerKeiichi Okabe reprising their roles inNier.Akihiko Yoshida, known for his work in theFinal Fantasy series, led character design. The goal was to make a sequel game that would be faithful toNier while improving the combat system. Because the project was new to PlatinumGames, its staff faced multiple challenges when developing the gameplay andopen-world environment. The story, which was written by Yoko, explores themes of finding value in life and the reasons people kill.
Nier: Automata was announced atE3 2015; it received stage plays and novels expanding its narrative, and bothdownloadable content (DLC) andcrossovers with other games. The game was localized by8-4, translators ofNier. Critics praised the game's story, themes, gameplay, and music, but gave criticism for some visual and technical problems. The PC release drew a mixed response due to technical issues that were not officially addressed until 2021. Sales surpassed expectations and as of December 2024[update], the game had sold over9 million copies worldwide.
Nier: Automata is anaction role-playing game (ARPG) in which players explore anopen world. In addition to standard navigation on foot, the game features scenarios with flyingmech battles, as well as a special item that can summon wild animals to ride.[1][2]Non-playable characters (NPCs) found throughout the world offer quest objectives, and shops in hub locations sell various items, including consumables that recoverhealth.[2]
Combat uses a real-time action-basedhack and slash system, using both light and heavy attacks and combining them into differentcombination attacks. The player can also evade incoming attacks, gaining invulnerability or counterattack bonuses based on timing. The player is assisted by a flying "Pod" robot which launches customizable ranged attacks varying from simple gunfire to heavy-hitting hammer attacks.[1][3] The first protagonist2B alternates between two weapons, the second protagonist 9S combines light attacks with hacking into enemies, and the final protagonist A2 can sacrifice health to briefly boost her attack power.[4] There are four classes of weapons available;short swords,long swords,bracers, andspears. Attacks with different weapon types can be charged and launched for increased damage.[1][3]
Players earnexperience points through combat, increasing their health, defense, and attack power.[1] Character customization is handled through attribute-changing items called chips. Chips can alter the HUD, add new abilities, and grant status buffs to the player characters. The number of chips that can be installed at any one time is limited to the number of slots a character has. Chips can either be purchased at shops or collected from defeated enemies.[2][5] If the player character dies, theyrespawn at their previous save point. The player character can then find their original body and either attempt to repair it or retrieve items and experience from it to gain a bonus. If the repair attempt is successful, the body is resurrected as a temporary ally, but if the attempt is unsuccessful, it becomes an enemy the player can fight.[1] With online features enabled, the bodies of other players can also be retrieved or revived where they died.[6][7]
At certain points, the gameplay changes to reflect differentvideo game genres, such asshoot 'em up andtext adventure segments; many of these are indicated by a shift from the normalthird-person perspective to atop-down orside-scrolling view.[3][6][8] Some areas also includeplatforming elements, requiring the player to jump between platforms or over obstacles.[2]Automata has 26 different endings; five main endings lettered A to E, and 21 additional endings lettered F through Z. These additional endings, which act asgame over events, are triggered by performing certain actions, failing to progress the narrative, or losing certain battles.[9] There are four difficulties available to the player which can be changed at any time, with "Easy" giving access to chips which automate functions such as attacking, dodging and pod fire.[10][11]
Nier: Automata, which shares the post-apocalyptic setting ofNier, takes place thousands of years after the original game's events.[12][13] TheNier fictional universe exists in an alternative timeline within theDrakengard series.[12] While carrying over theDrakengard tradition of a dark atmosphere and branching storylines, there is no direct narrative connection betweenNier: Automata and the rest of the series.[12][14][15] The story is set in 11945 AD, and revolves around aproxy war between the human-madeandroids and an invading army of alien-madeMachines.[16][17] Though they are prohibited from having emotions and lack true names, each android has a distinct personality.[16][17][18] The "YoRHa" android forces are commanded from the Bunker, a reconnaissance base that orbits Earth. Fending off the Machines, the YoRHa forces fight alongside pre-YoRHa Earth androids known as theResistance.[19]
The game's initial protagonist is2B (short for "YoRHa No. 2 Type B"), a YoRHa combat android whose main traits are her calm and composure.[16][17][18] 2B is accompanied by 9S (short for YoRHa No.9 Type S), a male "scanner" reconnaissance android who displays more emotion than other YoRHa units. The game later introduces another player character named A2, an obsolete attack android who often acts alone.[18] The androids are supported by Pod 042 and Pod 153, floating, box-like robots that act as ranged weapons.[13][19] The game's primary antagonists are Adam and Eve, twin controllers of the Machine Network; and the Red Girls, a construct within the Machine Network. Other characters include the Commander, YoRHa's top officer; the resistance leader Anemone; Pascal, a machine who dislikes conflict and wishes for peace; Devola and Popola, early androids who suffer discrimination from the actions of their model series; and the originalNier character Emil, who has lost his memories in the intervening years after the original game.[5][13][19]
The story ofNier: Automata is told across multiple playthroughs and alternating character perspectives.[13] The first and second playthroughs follow the respective viewpoints of 2B and 9S during the latest android strikes against the Machines. After opening a route for future missions, they are sent to clear machine threats for Anemone's Resistance forces. During their missions, 2B and 9S discover the Machines are replicating human societies and concepts. The two work with a pacifist machine group led by Pascal, and battle Adam and Eve, physical manifestations of the Machine Network who reveal their creators were destroyed centuries ago.[q 1] 2B and 9S also encounter A2, a rogue YoRHa android. Adam is killed by 2B after he captures 9S. During his recuperation, 9S discovers a glitch in YoRHa's servers when syncing himself and 2B, and learns humanity was extinct long before the alien invasion. Humanity's last remnant is a Moon-based server holding their genetic remains. YoRHa perpetuates the myth of their survival to give the androids a reason for existing.[q 2] With Adam dead, Eve goes mad with grief and drives connected Machines into a frenzy. 2B and 9S kill Eve, but 9S becomes infected with Eve's logic virus, forcing 2B to kill him. 9S's consciousness survives within the local Machine Network.
The third playthrough begins as YoRHa launches a full-scale invasion. A logic virus attack, which is enabled by the glitch 9S previously discovered, corrupts every YoRHa unit except 2B and the restored 9S.[q 3] 2B and 9S are separated in the aftermath, and 2B is infected with the logic virus. A2 discovers 2B, who asks her to take her place. An ignorant 9S sees A2mercy-killing 2B and swears revenge on her. Simultaneously, a tower created by the Machines rises from the land, separating the two before they can fight. A fortnight later, the perspective splits between A2 and 9S. A2, the survivor of a test run for YoRHa, begins empathising with the Machines; she witnesses the destruction of Pascal's village, then the village's "children" committing suicide out of fear when they are attacked again. Pascal begs A2 to either wipe his memory or kill him; A2 can perform either task or leave him. An increasingly unbalanced 9S investigates the tower's resource-gathering platforms, fighting Machine remnants and learning the tower is designed to launch a missile at the Moon server. Devola and Popola sacrifice themselves to open the tower, with 9S and A2 both entering. During these events and their final confrontation, the two learn that YoRHa was designed to lose and perpetuate the myth of humanity, and that the Machine Network are using the war to further their evolution; each side has trapped the other in an eternal cycle of war.[q 4] A2 further learns that 2B's real designation was "2E", an "executioner" unit assigned to repeatedly kill 9S whenever he discovers the truth about humanity, and that 9S was aware of this.[q 5]
9S—now insane and infected with the logic virus—challenges A2 to a fight, prompting the player to choose a character.[q 6] Choosing A2 leads to A2 saving 9S and sacrificing herself to destroy the tower. Choosing 9S leads to both androids killing each other; in his final moments, he is offered the option of joining with the now-peaceful Machine Network, as the tower has changed its function to launch an ark containing their memories.[q 7] Once both endings are unlocked, Pods 042 and 153 defy their orders to delete YoRHa's data, prompting the player to destroy the credits in a shoot 'em up section. Despite the possibility that 2B, 9S and A2 will repeat events, the Pods have faith they will forge a new future for themselves.[q 8] The player is then given the option to sacrifice their save data to help other players.[20]
Returning characters Emil, Devola and Popola have separate optional story arcs. Devola and Popola were ostracized and programmed to feel endless guilt after their model series caused humanity's extinction inNier. They stay at the Resistance camp doing the riskier jobs, and aid the YoRHa androids until helping 9S at the tower. Emil lost his memories due to copying himself to fight the aliens. A group of those copies, gone mad from losing their sense of self, act as a secretboss battle. After the current character wins the fight, Emil dies after remembering his now-dead friends.[q 9]
After the release ofNier, directorYoko Taro andSquare Enix producer Yosuke Saito wanted to create a sequel. Saito spoke to assistant producer Yuki Yokoyama, who was unwilling due to low sales ofNier.[21] After the positive fan reception ofNier, however, both Square Enix and the lead staff who worked on the original game were willing to continue theNierintellectual property (IP) but wanted to create a better, more-action-oriented gameplay experience. They contactedPlatinumGames, which had developed a reputation for high-quality action games such asBayonetta (2009) andMetal Gear Rising: Revengeance (2013).[14][22] The two companies agreed to collaborate on the sequel, provided Yoko would be its director and that he would be present to help with production. The latter condition required Yoko to move from Tokyo to Osaka, where PlatinumGames was located.[21] Although Yoko was initially uneasy about the collaboration, he became confident in PlatinumGames due to their excitement to work on aNier game, and their promise to remain faithful to the original game.[15] Designer Takahisa Taura also joined the team due to his long-time desire to create aNier sequel.[23] PlatinumGames handled primary development of the game while Square Enix supported the project with additional staff and sound design.[24]
Initially, Yoko said they planned to build aFarmVille (2009)-inspired game formobile platforms or thePlayStation Vita. The team instead shifted development to thePlayStation 4.[12][25] Saito and Eijiro Nishimura co-produced the project.[26] Development began in 2014, and included six months of pre-production.[12][22][27] At first, the relationship between Yoko and PlatinumGames staff was fraught, mainly because Yoko's freelance status led to different daily schedules. To reduce the scheduling conflicts, the team organized a system of "free time" where Yoko would be available to work.[28] The team studied feedback from both fans and critical reviews ofNier, and concluded they would need to improve the gameplay, graphics, and character designs. They also carried over aspects ofNier that were well-received, such as the game's music and complex story.[29] PlatinumGames did most of the development at its offices in Osaka and Tokyo, and was supported by outside staff such as Yoko.[23]
Yoko was the primary scenario writer.[29] This script took the most work of all his games to date, and while the story only experienced minor changes through development, it was delivered nearly five months late.[31] Yoko was supported by sub-writers Yoshiho Akabane from the company Highestar,[26] and Hana Kikuchi, who worked onNier andDrakengard 3 (2013).[26][32] When creatingNier: Automata's story, Yoko was hesitant about adding Devola and Popola due to their role in the original game but he later decided to include them.[33] According to Yoko, while the scenario ofNier is "wet" in its emotional content, he wantedNier: Automata to have a "dry" narrative about confronting prejudice and unfairness in the world.[34] He also wanted to leave more room for the player to interpret the story, feeling he had gone too far when humanizing the antagonists ofNier, and decided to strike a different balance in the sequel.[28][35] According to Saito, a lot of time and effort went into creating the story and character interactions so they would match those ofNier.[20][36]
As with the originalNier, multiple endings were created, but the conditions for reaching them were not as stringent as the first game.[36] Yoko's desire was to make the game's conclusion happy, which prompted scepticism from other staff members.[14] The happy ending from Yoko's perspective was the fifth and final ending, which he only created after the character motivations logically led him to the concept. The final ending featured a shooting sequence where the player fought their way through the closing credits, which symbolized the characters breaking out of a known system to find the hope of a new future. The team also included the option for player to sacrifice their save data to aid other random players in the closing credit sequence, a mechanic similar to that of the originalNier.[20] This ability for players to help each other was inspired by aCoca-Cola campaign, where drink machines inIndia were connected via livestream to machines inPakistan, encouraging the two peoples to overcome their political rivalry. The campaign made a strong impression on Yoko, who adapted the idea into in-game messages of encouragement from players across the world.[37]
The team defined the game's central theme as "agaku", a Japanese word meaning "to struggle out of a bad situation".[38] Saito also said the story is about love, which he felt was unusual for a story about robots, which are typically written as non-emotional.[36] Yoko used the androids' and Machines' reverence for the long-extinct humanity to show how people's sense of self and worth is necessarily founded on belief in something else. The negative influence of human history on the factions reflect Yoko's views on people continuing to fight and create boundaries between themselves despite their advancement.[39] A recurring element in Yoko's earlier work is his examination of reasons people kill and the impact of killing on others—this stems from his observation of people coming to enjoy killing enemies in games, which suggested to him something is wrong or missing inside them.[40] Yoko said the narrative's darkness reflects the inherent darkness of reality.[24] The narrative references numerous influential philosophers and thinkers, with Machine characters taking notable names such as supporting character Pascal (Blaise Pascal), boss character Simone (Simone de Beauvoir), and NPC Jean-Paul (Jean-Paul Sartre).[30][41] Yoko used books byWill Buckingham andNigel Benson, which explain philosophy and psychology in understandable language, as a reference for the narrative.[30]
Nier: Automata was Taura's firstrole-playing game (RPG), with his prior experience focused on action game development.[15][23] Taura managed the action-combat system and designer Isao Negishi created the RPG elements.[42] According to Negishi and lead programmer Ryo Onishi, creating a game that was faithful toNier was difficult and required a change from the style of their earlier titles.[42] For the combat system, the team took the systems used inNier and blended in elements from other titles by PlatinumGames. Taura's main design goal was to improve the combat system over that of the original and weave it into the story.[15][23] The basic battle system was completed in two months, then expanded and adjusted during development.[43] While designing the game's RPG elements, the staff at PlatinumGames were partially inspired byThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015), including the high standard of itssidequests.[25] The sections ofNier: Automata in which the perspective shifts to a side-scrolling perspective were inspired by theCastlevania series, of which Taura was a fan. For the final boss battle in which the player chooses between 9S and A2, the developers considered removing character abilities based on their choice but decided against it.[28]
To makeNier: Automata beginner-friendly, the perspective was designed to automatically assume "comfortable" angles during combat.[43] Also to this end, the developers included mechanics that would allow both casual and experienced action gamers to enjoy the game.[44] It was the studio's first attempt at an open world; while its previous titles had used a story-driven linear structure,Nier: Automata has large environments that are linked with seamless transitions. Negishi noted the lower concentration of enemies in the world compared to those of earlier PlatinumGame titles, a necessity due to the game's open nature. By including fewer enemies, the team gave players the opportunity to "enjoy the still beauty of the game's desolate world". The developers based the shooting elements on bullet hell games, and decided combat should include multiple camera perspectives.[42][44] The plug-in chips are an updated version of the Words used inNier, and are themed around the premise of androids. The developers also suggested including multiplayer modes but this suggestion was not developed beyond the concept phase.[28]
Using feedback about the game's original character designs,Akihiko Yoshida was engaged as main character designer.[12] Saito originally wanted to bring back D.K, the character designer ofNier, but D.K had broken his elbow and was unable to draw, so he recommended Yoshida for the post.[24] The developers thought Yoshida would be too busy to contribute, but he was willing to join the project due to fans ofNier working at his company, CyDesignation. Yoshida joined the company later in the character design process, so Taro gave him a general guideline of sleek designs with black as the dominant color.[12][14] PlatinumGames staff had difficulty making the character models seem "alive" due to their mechanical nature.[44][45] UnlikeNier, which has two different protagonist designs for different markets, the team committed to a high-quality JRPG character design that would be consistent across regions.[15][29] According to staff, Yoshida's art design ensured a consistent aesthetic for the characters.[42] The Commander, Adam, and Eve were designed by Yuya Nagai.[46] Square Enix artist Toshiyuki Itahana redesigned Devola and Popola.[47] Concept art for the game's enemies was handled by Hisayoshi Kijima, while Kazuma Koda, Yasuyuki Kaji, and Shohei Kameoka made the environmental artwork in collaboration with Yoko. The developers worked to build settings that would resemble real-world places players would visit.[44][45]
ComposerKeiichi Okabe, who worked on bothNier andDrakengard 3, worked onNier: Automata as lead composer with other members of his studio band Monaca; Keigo Hoashi, Kuniyuki Takahashi, and Kakeru Ishihama.[29][48][49] The score, which was influenced by classical music, recalls elements ofNier such as that game's sense of melancholy. WhereasNier is built around grasslands and villages,Nier: Automata includes a more mechanical and brutal environment, which is reflected in the musical score. Okabe created a score with a more-open world in mind, composing songs that segue into each other depending on situation and environment. The music was balanced using thedigital audio workstation (DAW)Pro Tools.[48]
Emi Evans provided vocals for the soundtrack, as she had done forNier's soundtrack. Shotaro Seo provided additional male vocals.[48][50] Nami Nakagawa, Evans, and J'Nique Nicole formed a three-part chorus for some of the music, including the game's boss theme.[48] Several songs from theNier soundtrack were adapted forNier: Automata.[51] Different versions of the theme song "Weight of the World" were performed by Nicole, Evans andMarina Kawano.[48][52] The final ending's version had the development team performing the chorus.[35]
Masato Shindo was the game's sound designer. Creating an echo effect was difficult due to the scale of the open world; Shindo designed a system that would manage echoes in real time, depending on the player's surroundings.[45] Sound was implemented by Masami Ueda; it was a greater amount of work than he had experienced on previous projects. Ueda's previous encounters and good working relationship with Okabe helped the smooth implementation of the game's sound.[44]
The soundtrack album ofNier: Automata was released on March 29, 2017.[49] The first-print copies of the soundtrack include an additional sixteen-track album subtitledHacking Tracks that contains musical variations for hacking segments.[53]
The company8-4, which had localizedNier, also localized the English-language version ofNier: Automata.[54] According to Yoko, 8-4 changed elements of the script for each region because some of the concepts in the Japanese script are difficult to understand if directly translated. The aim was to create a script that would appeal to players around the world.[55] Because 8-4 had worked with Yoko onNier andDrakengard 3, they were familiar with his writing style and found it easy to ask for clarification during translation.[56] 8-4's biggest challenge was translating the android dialogue, as it was difficult to balance their purported emotionlessness with their highly emotional relationships and distinct personalities. While 9S was already written to be more emotive in Japanese, 2B had to be rewritten so she appears "droll" rather than emotionless in English.[54]
The development team had notes about how to write each character; for example 9S would speak about things at length while 2B would be crisper. The team also made decisions around using regional accents to altering voice types. A cited instance of the latter was changing a character's high-pitched child voice to a more mature one to avoid annoyance to players. The team researched the game's philosophical themes to avoid mistakes in their writing.[54] When the estate of philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre objected to the use of his name in the game, the character Sartre was renamed Jean-Paul in releases outside Japan.[30] Cup of Tea Productions, which had worked on bothNier andDrakengard 3, handled English dubbing.[57]
In January 2014, after the release ofDrakengard 3, Yoko expressed an interest in making a second spin-off from theDrakengard series but did not specify whether it would be related toNier.[58] In December of that year, he confirmed he was working on a new game but did not reveal more details.[59]Nier: Automata was first announced at Square Enix's press conference atE3 2015 under the provisional titleNier New Project, with staff later confirming it was 10% complete.[60][22] At the 2015Paris Games Week trade show, Square Enix announced the game's official title and a provisional release date, and showed a gameplay trailer.[16] Square Enix worked with Japanese rock bandAmazarashi, lead singer Hiromu Akita was a fan ofNier, to produce a promotional song called "Inochi ni Fusawashii", which was inspired by the game's world. Yoko supervised the music video for "Inochi ni Fusawashii".[61]
Yoko originally wanted to call the game "Nier: Android" but Square Enix rejected that title due to a possible trademark conflict withGoogle'sAndroid operating system.[62] In trailers, the events surrounding 2B's fate and A2 replacing her in the story were obscured by using A2's early-game model for some footage when she is short-haired in-game.[35] To mitigate competition, the team decided to delayNier: Automata until late-2016 or early 2017, which also allowed the team more time to refine the game.[63] Yoko appreciated having more time for the team to finish the game.[35]
Nier: Automata was released in Japan on February 23, 2017, coming in both standard editions and a Black Box Collector's Edition.[64][65] The PS4 version was released in North America on March 7; and in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand on March 10.[66][67] It also had a limited Day One edition, and a version of the Black Box Collector's Edition.[68] The game was notablyreview-bombed in April 2017 by Chinese players demanding a translation of the game toChinese.[69]
Nier: Automata was released forWindows personal computers (PCs) throughSteam on March 17, 2017.[70][71] Both Square Enix and PlatinumGames were concerned about potential piracy of the PC version, which was expected to delay its release.[72] In response to unaddressed graphical and performance issues with the port, anunofficial patch was created by fans.[73][74] An official patch correcting these issues was released in July 2021.[75] Saito stated that the release of a version for Xbox One was being considered,[76] but later said it would not be developed due to low Xbox hardware sales in Japan and the wish to focus on a single console.[77] An Xbox One version was later released worldwide on June 26, 2018; this version was subtitledBecome as Gods Edition,[78][79] with QLOC porting this version to Windows for theMicrosoft Store andXbox Game Pass on March 18, 2021.[80]
ANintendo Switch port was released on October 6, 2022.[81] Saito requested a Switch port to celebrate of the game's fifth anniversary after being impressed byAstral Chain (2019), which Taura directed.[43][82] The port's developerVirtuos wanted to preserve as much of the game as possible but capped theframe rate at 30 fps and made a racing-based side quest less difficult.[83] Saito was comfortable with the reduced frame rate due toAstral Chain's combat working at that frame rate.[43] Sound compression was a challenge; the team optimized the sound and graphics engine to allow the highest-quality transfer onto the Switch's less-powerful hardware. The game's developers made scene-by-scene comparisons to ensure the final product was as close as possible to the other console versions.[83] At Yoko's request, more costumes and items were included, some themed after the mobile gameNier Reincarnation. The port's subtitle references the game's final ending.[43]
Adownloadable content (DLC) pack titled3C3C1D119440927 was released on May 2, 2017; it includes additional costumes and accessories based onNier, aesthetic hair-customization options, new battle colosseums, and boss fights with Square Enix and PlatinumGames presidents Yosuke Matsuda and Kenichi Sato.[84] The content was unlocked in-game from the chapter-selection screen, and requires data saved from a completed playthrough.[85] The DLC was included in the Xbox One and Nintendo Switch releases,[78][81] and in theGame of the YoRHa Edition, which was released for the PlayStation 4 and Windows on February 26, 2019.[74][86]
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | PS4: 88/100[87] PC: 84/100[88] XONE: 90/100[89] NS: 89/100[90] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Destructoid | 9/10[6] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 8.5/10[4] |
| Eurogamer | Recommended[91] |
| Famitsu | 39/40[92] |
| Game Informer | 7.75/10[93] |
| GameSpot | 9/10[94] |
| GamesRadar+ |   [95] |
| IGN | 8.9/10[8] |
| Nintendo Life | 9/10[96] |
| Nintendo World Report | 10/10[97] |
| PC Gamer (US) | 79/100[98] |
| Polygon | 8/10[99] |
The original PS4 release ofNier: Automata received "generally favorable reviews" onreview aggregatorMetacritic based on 107 critic reviews.[87] The PC version also received favorable reviews based on 14 reviews.[88] The Xbox One version received "universal acclaim", earning a score of 90 from 30 reviews.[89] The Switch port also garnered favorable reviews, earning a score of 89 based on 35 reviews.[90]
Japanese gaming magazineFamitsu gaveNier: Automata a near-perfect score, lauding most aspects of it including the themes and gameplay.[100] Janine Hawkins ofPolygon lauded the game's sense of scale and willingness to make players feel small.[99]Nintendo World Report's Melanie Zawodniak, giving the game a perfect score, described it as one of the best games ever made due to its narrative and gameplay design.[97] Mollie Patterson, writing forElectronic Gaming Monthly, praised it as a highly enjoyable experience, both as a player and reviewer.[4]Destructoid's Chris Carter lauded the title as a competent blend of action game and RPG.[6]GamesRadar+'s Sam Prell was enthusiastic about the game's narrative, blend of gameplay genres, and overall quality.[95] Sullivan calledNier: Automata "a crazy, beautiful, and highly entertaining journey full of nutty ideas and awesome gameplay".[8]
Miguel Concepcion ofGameSpot praised most of the game's elements, referring to its gameplay as "the closest thing there is to a spiritual successor toMetal Gear Rising: Revengeance".[94] Matulef calledNier: Automata "the most captivating game I've played in ages" despite rough edges.[91] Thomas Whitehead, writing forNintendo Life, was positive about its presentation and design but noted some gameplay elements did not work as expected and lack depth.[96]Game Informer reviewer Joe Juba wrote a lot of enjoyable elements in the game's narrative and gameplay are obscured by confusing or obtuse mechanics.[93]PC Gamer's Andy Kelly was positive about the game but criticized the PC port for its graphical and technical issues at release.[98]
The story and narrative themes were met with praise,[91][93][94][98][100] though some reviewers found its pacing and presentation lacking.[4][8][95] Both Meghan Sullivan ofIGN andEurogamer's Jeffrey Matulef found it difficult to relate to the android protagonists.[8][91] Reviewers generally enjoyed the gameplay, but several critics felt that the combat lacked depth compared to previous PlatinumGames titles.[6][8][94][95][98][99] The game's visuals were generally praised[8][91][94][100] despite comments regarding occasional poor environment quality or visual spectacle.[93][98] Recurring complaints arose from technical issues such as graphical pop-in, frame-rate drops, and long loading times.[8][91][100] The game's music received unanimous acclaim.[6][8][93][94][95][99][100] The Switch version was named as one of the best third-party ports to the system, despite reviewers noting some expected performance issues and downgraded graphics.[94][96][97]
Nier: Automata sold over 198,500 copies during its first week of release in Japan, peaking at number one in the charts and significantly exceeding sales ofNier in 2010.[101][102] In April 2017,Nier: Automata was reported to have sold over 500,000 copies in Japan and Asia, including both physical shipments and downloads.[103] According to theNPD Group report for March 2017, the game reached ninth place in overall sales and sixth place in the PS4 chart.[104] In the United Kingdom, the game debuted at number six in the general software chart.[105] By May 2017, sales of the game's physical and download versions on PS4 and PC had reached 1.5 million copies. The majority of sales during that period came from overseas, and its success came as a surprise compared to the low sales ofNier.[106] By May 2019,Nier: Automata had reached worldwide shipments of four million copies,[107] with an additional 500,000 units selling by March 2020; the latter was attributed to steady sales of the "Game of the YoRHa" edition.[108]Nier: Automata greatly exceeded Square Enix's sales expectations, and made them considerNier as a franchise.[109] PlatinumGames cited the strong sales, in addition to the positive critical reception, as saving the company and renewing interest in their products after several disappointing game releases.[110][111] As of November 2022,[update] all versions ofNier: Automata have shipped over seven million copies worldwide.[112] In December 2024, PlatinumGames announced that the game had sold over 9 million copies.[113][114]
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 35th Annual Golden Joystick Awards | Best Storytelling | Nominated | [115] |
| PlayStation Game of the Year | Nominated | |||
| The Game Awards 2017 | Best Score/Music | Won | [116] | |
| Best Narrative | Nominated | |||
| Best Role Playing Game | Nominated | |||
| NAVGTR | Camera Direction in a Game Engine | Won | [117] | |
| Original Dramatic Score, Franchise | Won | |||
| Game of the Year | Nominated | |||
| Game Design, Franchise | Nominated | |||
| Character Design | Nominated | |||
| Writing in a Drama | Nominated | |||
| Japan Game Awards | Award for Excellence | Won | [118] | |
| 2018 | ||||
| British Academy Games Awards | Game Design | Nominated | [119] | |
| Game Innovation | Nominated | |||
| 21st Annual D.I.C.E. Awards | Role-Playing Game of the Year | Won | [120] | |
| SXSW Gaming Awards | Excellence in Technical Achievement | Won | [121] | |
| Excellence in Musical Score | Won | |||
| Game Developers Choice Awards | Game of the Year | Nominated | [122] | |
| Audience Award | Won | |||
| Best Audio | Nominated | |||
| Best Design | Nominated | |||
| 36th Annual Golden Joystick Awards | Xbox Game of the Year | Nominated | [123] |
DuringNier: Automata's six-month pre-production period, Yoko created a musical stage play calledYoRHa, which was performed in 2014.[124] Set in the same universe asNier: Automata, it acts as a backstory for the characters A2 and Anemone.[125][126] While the stage play predates the revelation ofNier: Automata, the play's writer Asakusa Kaoru stated it would not exist without Yoko's vision for the world ofNier: Automata. Yoko created the basic scenario while Kaoru wrote the script. For later productions, Yoko revised Asakusa's script to simplify the plot.[127] He described the play as a spin-off of the overall universe.[35] The team worked on additional stage productions including an all-male spin-off, a musical version, and a revised version of the original.[128]
Multiple novels based on the in-game universe were written by Yoko and Jun Eishima, a regular collaborator for supplementary material related to theDrakengard series.[129][130] The Black Box Collector's Edition included a novella retelling the events ofNier from the perspectives of characters Devola and Popola.[130]Long Story Short is a novelization of the game's main events with additional commentary from the characters through monologues.[129][131]Short Story Long is a compilation of earlier short stories in theNier continuity, along with new stories related to the characters ofNier: Automata.[129][132] These two novels were published in North America byViz Media.[133]YoRHa Boys, which is based on the male spin-off stage play, was written by Eishima and supervised by Yoko; it follows a group of male YoRHa units that are put into an experiment to collect behavioral data.[134][135]
The stage play was adapted into amanga calledYoRHa Pearl Harbor Descent Record, which began serialization on Square Enix'sManga UP! online manga service. Megumu Soramichi illustrated the manga and Yoko supervised the story.[136] Square Enix published the first volume of the manga in North America on December 13, 2022.[137] During the fifth anniversary livestream ofNier: Automata, ananime television series based on the game was announced. It is produced by Square Enix andAniplex, and animated byA-1 Pictures.[138] The series, entitledVer1.1a, premiered on January 7, 2023.[139]
In October 2018, 2B was announced as a playable guest character DLC forBandai Namco'sfighting gameSoulcalibur VI. Released on December 19, the DLC includes unique weapons and abilities, and an alternative white variation called "2P".[140][141] Due to the inverted color scheme of 2B when playing as a second player, the name "2P" was adopted as a wordplay on "player two". Yoko Taro suggested the "P" stands forPanasonic.[142] Characters fromNier: Automata were incorporated into a content patch forShadowbringers.[143] The scenario, which is titledYoRHa: Dark Apocalypse, was outlined by Yoko and given to other writers.[144] The three episodes ofYoRHa: Dark Apocalypse are "The Copied Factory", "The Puppets' Bunker", and "The Tower at Paradigm’s Breach".[145][146][147] DLC costumes and promotional appearances based on the characters ofNier: Automata have also appeared in third-party gamesGravity Rush 2 (2017),[148]Star Ocean: Anamnesis (2018),[149]Phantasy Star Online 2 (2020),[150]Fall Guys (2020),[151]PUBG: Battlegrounds (2022),[152]Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege (2022),[153]Naraka: Bladepoint (2023),Goddess of Victory: Nikke (2023),[154]Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising (2023) andStellar Blade (2024).
PlatinumGames (March 7, 2017).Nier: Automata (PlayStation 4).Square Enix.
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