Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
Release date (Nintendo Switch): October 6th, 2022
Developer: PlatinumGames
Publisher: Square Enix
Port by: Virtuos
Genre: Action-RPG
File Size: 10.9 GB
Price: $40
Rating: Rated M
Key staff:
Yosuke Saito (Producer)
Yoko Taro (Director)
Takahisa Taura (Senior Game Designer)
Keiichi Okabe (Composer)
Akihiko Yoshida (Character Designer)
Yasuyuki Kaiji (Lead Environment Artist)
Ryo Onishi (Lead Programmer)
Kota Isomura (Motion Designer)
Starring:
Kira Buckland
Kyle McCarley
Cherami Leigh
Alexis Tipton
Colleen Villard
Julie Ann Taylor
Greg Chun
D.C Douglas
Glory to Mankind
NieR:Automata, the Platinum classic steeped in hack-and-slash combat and off-kilter storytelling, has spent the last 5 years on PlayStation, Xbox and PC platforms, and now, the time has come for Switch owners to finally dig into this epic, unique and somewhat weird adventure.
Taking place in a distant future, Automata sets up an all-encompassing battle against hordes of machines. Aliens from distant space has come to take over Earth by invading it with weapons of plate and iron, and the entirety of mankind has been forced to take refuge on the moon.
But not all hope is lost - as a last resort, humanity has established YoRHa, a special-forces unit of highly trained combat androids, who take up the battle against the machines on the surface of Earth.
But it has been long since the battle has made progress, and Automata begins at a point where the battle is in a complete stalemate, a cycle of constant conflict.
More than just action
NieR:Automata has had a reputation for being a game of variations, and rightfully so. The game seamlessly blends various elements of different genres, making for a game experience that constantly steps out of boundaries.
For the vast majority of the time, though, Automata is through-and-through a Platinum-branded action game. Light attacks and heavy attacks are the basis of combat, and a key component of combat is the dodge - you have a button for dodge, and a perfect dodge will make you avoid the attack with a flash.
The game also has an additional combat feature that is lifted from the original NieR - namely a Pod, a sort of sidekick that will fire continuous blasts of energy against an enemy. The pod is also good for advice and analysis regarding your mission. Probably.
But Automata goes deeper than just its flashy combat. It has some light RPG elements to it as well, from gathering and upgrading weapons with materials, to side quests in an open-ended world, and character customization.
The latter comes in the form of plug-in chips, where you have a dedicated space that you can fill in with chips that grants attack boosts and boons. You also have chips for the HUD elements of the game, and even a chip for your OS, but be careful with that - removal means death!
Occasionally, when flying your ship, the game rakes the form of a classic space shooter, from both 2D and 3D perspectives, depending on the situation. The ships plays a lot like the pods, shooting endless streams of laser beams, while also having a missile ability with a cooldown.
The game also have sequences later on where you can “hack” machines in a sort of shooting mini-game. You get transported to an abstract area, where the music transforms into a chiptune version of the original music, and the task is to hack the central core before a timer runs out.
Additionally, Automata also has some sections reminiscent of a pure text adventure. These sections serve the purpose of carrying the narrative forward in an abstract fashion, furthering the plot and deepening the characters.
The cast
In NieR:Automata, you’re thrown right into the heat of the action as you immediately gain control of combat model 2B. She’s stoic, rigid and somewhat stiff, and follows the android’s code of conduct strictly, as she has only her missions in mind. 2B starts the game with a sharp katana and a pod robot that can shoot from a distance.
2B quickly gets accompanied by scanner model 9S, who couldn’t be more different from her. With an optimistic attitude and a boyish charm, he’s nevertheless devoted to the missions and always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needs him.
Looking down at them both from the bunker in space is Command, leader of the YoRHa. She is wholly devoted to serve her purpose as an android commander, making sure that the fight will be won.
Many more characters will cross paths with 2B and 9S as the game goes on, enemies and allies alike.
Port information
NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition is the surprising, but nevertheless appreciated and anticipated, Switch port of the 2017 classic.
The End of YoRHa Edition comes with the previously released DLC, 3C3C1D119440927, which includes challenging arena battles, with some bosses to boot. The game also has a small story, detailing events about a machine known as Platon 1728. The rewards for completion of the DLC are costumes inspired by Automata’s predecessor, NieR:Replicant.
The End of YoRHa Edition also has content that exclusive to this version, in the form of costumes for the characters, and cosmetic items for the pods, making them look like Mama and Carrier from NieR:Reincarnation.
Endings
(See above)
Ended up just blowing through the latter parts. So similar to Xenoblade, just.. do sidequests, become powerful. 
