5 years later, I have returned to replay this complete Masterwork and Treasure of a title on PC coming from PS4. With NieR Replicant now also under my belt, there are just no words to describe the sheer impact these NieR games have had on my life and my outlook on it. On one hand, it has shown me the best that gaming has to offer and on the other hand it has destroyed my ability to play and truly enjoy other games (Last of Us: Part 1 and Portal 2 excluded). It sets such an impossibly high bar to reach.

Simply put, NieR Automata is probably, if not the most, sophisticated, and captivating work of art for the entire gaming medium. It is a roller coaster ride of emotions that will consistently subvert your expectations again and again. It shames/mocks the industry’s lazy and un-inspirational definition of what it takes to design a proper “New Game + ”. NieR Automata takes your hand and drags you through some of the most gripping and existential storytelling mixed with its tightly fluid gameplay. As others have put it, this game will emotionally traumatize you beyond repair.

Nowadays, I feel so drained and utterly tired of crappy, unpolished, $40- 120 early access state releases that promise so much and deliver <10% of what this game has to offer in terms of gameplay/storytelling depth. This game will ruin all other gaming expectations for you and I blame Yoko Taro (main director/writer) for why I am now so picky with new titles that get recommended to me. Nothing will ever come close.

Putting things into perspective, NieR Automata isn’t the most graphically beautiful game. It doesn’t have the most intricate combat mechanics. Many side quests are “fetchy” in nature. There are many areas of the game where the “budget” just clearly wasn’t there. But, the crazy thing is, in the wise words of Todd Howard himself, this game just… “works”. It has unbelievable attention to detail and most importantly, polish. It’s a complete and finished experience. Qualities that for some damn reason, are unattainable in modern gaming.

If you are approaching this series for the first time, do yourself a favor and stop reading/watching reviews. Buy the game and walk into this world as blind as you can. I agree with all those that say the worst thing about this journey is that you will never be able to come back and play it for the first time again. I highly recommend approaching the series the way I experienced it, outlined below…

1. NieR Automata (Story Casual Playthrough – Endings A, B, C, D, and E on Normal Difficulty) Respond to the last prompt in the game in the affirmative choice.

2. Cry yourself to bed.

3. NieR Replicant V1.22… (Full Completionism Playthrough - Endings A, B, C, D, and E on Normal or Hard Difficulty) After everything, take a break and then play the game again. Trust me on this and again respond to the last prompt in the game in the affirmative choice.

4. Cry some more.

5. Nier Automata (Full Completionism Playthrough - Endings A, B, C, D, E and Y) on Hard Difficulty

6. Cry even harder.

7. Drakengard Series (Figure out how to play or just watch the complete “Movie” Compilations on Youtube)

8. Wait patiently for whatever game comes next.

"The masterpiece you (probably) won't play." + “If history forgets this game, then $%#@ history.” - Skill Up