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When I first picked up this game, I knew nothing about it besides the fact that it was made by Platinum Games, and that was enough for me to pick it up during the winter sale. I had high hopes for the people behind Bayonetta and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. I can honestly tell you that this game blew my expectations out of the water. It is a kind of game that will only be made once.

GAMEPLAY: This game plays fluidly and near flawlessly. Chip and weapon interchangeability and customizability allow the player to fight however they want. You prefer slow, hard strikes and relying on positioning and counters to win? You can do that. You want to overwhelm your foes with a barrage of lighter attacks and devastate them with crits and special effects? You can do that too. Do you want to attack your enemies with an energy hammer or do you use a ranged weapon shield instead? These choices change how the combat operates. Regardless, the combat mechanics are easy to learn. Furthermore, the characters move fluidly and every gameplay mechanic serves to enhance either the physical enjoyment of the game or the quality of the story. This game also has stellar replayability. I've already finished the whole game and I'm itching to start all over again. The player is rewarded handsomely for their dedication. I have read some concerns about the PC port of NieR: Automata, which obviously is what I played. I cannot deny that this game probably works better on something like a PS4 controller. It should be noted that I had some difficulties with my mouse controls when aiming ranged attacks and especially when hacking (hint: you should usually rely on your arrow keys when in hackspace). Port quirks aside, the blast I had while playing on a keyboard and mouse can't be denied.

VIDEO: Gorgeous game, even on low graphics settings (which is usually the standard for my junker of a laptop). I have never once seen a texture and took note of its poor quality. The cutscenes look magnificent. It's possible for some computers (like mine) to chug when a large numbers of enemies, explosions, projectiles, etc. are on screen, leading to rare framerate drops. These did not inhibit my enjoyment of the game in the slightest, however, and are rare enough not to create a negative experience.

AUDIO: Top tier. The sound effects are well-selected and really make the world of NieR: Automata immersive and lifelike. Everything from the crunching of enemies as you smash them to the rhythmic sound of android heels clacking on pavement helps wipe the real world from your mind when you play. I was able to play the entirety of this game without any other audio playing in the background. The music is beyond reproach, obviously. It's both haunting and mesmerizing at the same time and the developers knew exactly when to use each track. I could wax poetic about the game's stellar choice and implementation of music for ages, but it's really better for you to see for yourself. Just know that you should be prepared to FEEL this game's soundtrack.

STORY: The best I have seen in a long time, maybe ever. It's better than Bioshock Infinite. I couldn't decide between this game's story and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, but that is likely a result of the difference in game length. Regardless, this game's storytelling is without question its best feature and is filled with constant revelations. This game will blow your mind, I promise. It also will make you feel just about every emotion in the human lexicon. Keep playing through, far past the end.

TECHNICAL: Besides from what I noted above, really no glitches or bugs that I have seen. Just a pro tip: NPCs won't talk to you if you are pulling aggro from any enemies, so make sure to clear them all out before starting a conversation. The game DOES have cheats and joke endings, however, so make sure you watch out for those. THIS GAME DOES NOT JOKE. IF THE SYSTEM WARNS YOU OF CONSEQUENCES, IT IS BEING DEAD SERIOUS. Just keep that in mind.

AESTHETIC: One of a kind. The bizarre image of a muted, yet vibrant machine world is one that is unforgettable. The fascinating contrasts (and similarities) between machine and android design styles serve to enhance the ideological conflicts that riddle the game's deeply introspective story. Pay attention to even little details. If you haven't forgotten about it, the developers probably haven't either.

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-GAMEPLAY: 94/100 (A)
-VIDEO: 94/100 (A)
-AUDIO: 99/100 (A+)
-STORY: 100/100 (A+)
-TECH: 82/100 (B-)
-AESTHETIC: 96/100 (A)
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- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. The port's technical issues hold it back from achieving an A+ in my humble opinion. But it really is a unique experience.