NieR Automata

Fight the invader in a proxy war

Nier:Automata shares the post-apocalyptic setting of the original Nier, taking place after the game's fourth ending. While carrying over the Drakengard series' tradition of a dark atmosphere and branching storylines, no direct narrative connection is shared between Nier:Automata and the rest of the series. Set in the year 11945 AD, the story revolves around a war between the remnants of humanity and the machine army of invaders from another world. The initial invasion forced humanity to flee to the Moon. Humanity eventually sends down combat androids dubbed "YoR Ha" to fight the invaders in a proxy war. While denied emotions and lacking true names, they have particular attitudes that distinguish them from their fellows. The YoR Ha are commanded from the Bunker, a reconnaissance base in orbit above Earth, and establish a self-sufficient Resistance on Earth to drive back the Machines.

The main protagonist is YoR Ha No. 2 Model B, or "2B" for short, a female-model YoR Ha android whose main traits are being calm and composed. She is accompanied by "9S" (YoR Ha No. 9 Model S), a reconnaissance android who displays more emotion than other YoR Ha units; and observed by "A2" (YoR Ha Model A No. 2), an obsolete prototype android of 2B's line with a taciturn personality who often chooses to act alone. Other characters include the Commander, an android in command of the Bunker; Adam and Eve, twin humanoid machines whose motives are unknown; Pascal, a machine who dislikes conflict and wishes for peace; Devola and Popola, androids who aid the Resistance and descended from similar beings that went berserk during the events of Nier; the various Operator androids who act as overseers for the YoR Ha; Anemone, a resistance leader who helps the YoR Ha; the Pods that accompany YoR Ha units and act as combat support and communicators with the Bunker; and original Nier character Emil, who has lost his memories in the intervening years. Other characters from both Nier and Drakengard 3 are mentioned.

Nier: Automata is an action role-playing game in which players take the role of combat androids from the YoR Ha units across an open world environment. In addition to standard navigation on foot, using a special item allows the player to summon a wild animal to ride, and in some scenarios pilot a flying mech to fight enemies. As with the previous game, during navigation in some environments, the camera shifts from its standard third-person perspective to an overhead or side-scrolling view. Some areas also include platforming elements, requiring the player to navigate via jumping between platforms or over obstacles. The player can complete side quests for non-playable characters found throughout the world. Shops available in hub locations allow the player to purchase items, including consumables which recover health.

Combat is action-based, with the player fighting enemies in real-time in a variety of in-game environments. During battle, the player can use light attacks—which are fast but weak—and heavy attacks—slow and more powerful. The player can evade enemy attacks, and with successfully timed button presses, can gain temporary invulnerability and launch a counterattack which deals heavy damage. The player is also assisted by a Pod, a flying robot assistant which launches customizable ranged attacks varying from simple gunfire to heavy-hitting hammer attacks. The player is able to access four different weapon types in battle: short swords, long swords, bracers, and spears. While attacking, the player can alternate between both weapon types and attacks to create combination attacks. Attacks with different weapon types can also be charged and launched for increased damage. Weapon Stories, a recurring element in both Nier and the Drakengard series, where weapons found throughout the world have unique stories attached to them, are also featured.