Update of our test published on 06/03/2017 at 21:15
In the year 11, humanity is on the brink of extinction following the attack of extraterrestrials accompanied by an army of machines. Faced with the threat, the last Humans have entrenched themselves on the Moon while the androids of the YohRa organization remain on Earth to fend off the machines and regain control of the planet. It is in this context that our heroine 945B is sent to an abandoned factory in order to eliminate a suspicious threat. Barely arrived on site, our android with the air of a sexy maid, finds himself in a bad position facing the Goliath, a gigantic machine armed with two circular saws. After an explosive first encounter, 2B loses her flight module and finds herself forced to walk around the factory. Helped by the scout 2S, our protagonist will set off again in an epic confrontation against the Goliath. After a difficult victory, our two accomplices are dispatched within a city in ruins in order to help a camp of resistant, remained on Earth during the invasion of the machines.
A WELL-OILED MECHANICAL WORLD
After a quick return to the YohRa base, which revolves around the Earth, 2B and 9S resume their flight module to go to a city in ruins, where the resistants have more and more difficulty repelling the machines. Barely landed in the city, we discover a city where nature has regained its rights over human constructions. An impression of grandeur is felt there and it is only when you begin to explore the city that you realize the enormous potential of the playground where you will be called upon to evolve. Between the city in disuse, the forest, the amusement park or the desert, the player will have a lot to do before exploring the smallest places on the map. Especially since the world of NieR Automata is full of secrets and hidden passages that will gradually reveal unexplored corners. Other surprises will punctuate your adventure and that's the beauty of NieR Automata. Every time you think you have seen everything, you discover a new area that is sure to cause a change of scenery. To top it off, exploration is done in a very pleasant way since there is no loading time between areas. The only times you'll have to wait are when using the transfer modules, which allow you to quickly move from one point to another on the map. But if it is a real pleasure to evolve through the world of NieR Automata, it is only when we derust machines that we become aware of the full force of the title.
But if it is a real pleasure to evolve through the world of NieR Automata, it is only when we derust machines that we become aware of the full force of the title.
Barely the first blows, we immediately feel the know-how of PlatinumGames in the matter. In addition to the classic Square = light blow and Triangle = heavy blow, the player can also rely on ultra-fast movements thanks to the double jump by pressing Cross or dodging attacks using the L key. All actions are coordinated perfectly and make it possible to obtain dynamic and nervous confrontations which will require players to be on permanent alert. The dodging system allows you to chain combos like a madman without making the fights too easy. Indeed, each false step will be fatally punished and you must not relax your attention for more than a second, at the risk of being hit by an enemy. To support you, you will also have at your disposal the Pod, a small robot capable of shooting enemies while you strike them. Very effective, it will very quickly become your best friend to quickly overcome your opponents.
2B OR NOT 2B ?
Overall, the fights deliver gorgeous visual sequences that place NieR Automata as one of the best action games we've seen recently. So certainly, from time to time, it is difficult to see what is happening on the screen but that does not affect the pleasure that we take as the grace of 2B in combat captivates us. Each movement seems flexible and despite the violence of the fights, 2B constantly gives us the impression of dancing with his adversaries, revealing his panties in passing to anyone who wants to see them. Permanently, PlatinumGames demonstrates inventiveness and it is not the shoot'em up phases that will make us say the opposite. In vertical or horizontal scrolling, the clashes take on a whole new dimension where dexterity will be the key word to get out of it. An excellent idea that allows you to vary the pleasures and create a very special dynamic during the boss fights, which alternate between classic combat phases and shoot'em up. So of course, NieR Automata doesn't transcend the different genres it explores, but everything is so well done that the gaming experience only gets better.
Permanently, PlatinumGames demonstrates inventiveness and it is not the shoot'em up phases that will make us say the opposite.
In any good self-respecting RPG, NieR Automata places an important place in your character's loot and equipment. Thus, the player will have available four types of weapons to explode machines. In addition to light swords and spears, the player can also count on greatswords and gauntlets. To fully exploit the potential of your arsenal, you will have to go through the improvement box. These can be done at arms dealers and will require a certain number of components to be validated. It will therefore be necessary to think of collecting all the objects which are on your way, but also to carry out the side quests which will come to strew your adventure. On the other hand, unlike many games of the genre, you will not have a skill tree to improve your character. Indeed, NieR Automata relies on a system of chips to equip, which will improve health but also the techniques of 2B. Quite confusing at first, the chip system allows you to shape your character as you wish. If you're the type to get by without any on-screen displays, you'll be able to remove any system chips, such as the minimap or your lifebar, which will free up space to use system chips. 'improvement. Sacrifices that will be greatly rewarded and that will allow you to significantly increase the power of your character. If you're not one to spend hours on upgrades, you can always make use of the auto-chip configuration that keeps your character focused on three things: attack, defense, and balance. But like a Dark Souls, each death will mean the loss of chips installed on your automaton. You will then have to return to your body to recover your hard-earned coins. As you will have understood, chips will quickly play an important role in your adventure and the many side quests that await you will not be too much to develop 2B's potential to its maximum.
IRON AND TEARS
Despite the ultra enjoyable fights, NieR Automata can also count on a poetic and emotionally charged scenario. The conflict between humans and machines, but also between Androids and machines, raises many philosophical questions about our behavior and our approach to the world around us. It's done with accuracy and the humanization of the androids makes it possible to quickly become attached to the duo formed by 2B and 9S. Despite ever more violent fights, the narration gives way to a feeling of calm that grows to become attached to each secondary character that we meet. The main storyline offers moments of rare emotions and manages to surprise us until the end. With its various branches and alternative endings, the scenario is constantly evolving and certain details that we notice at the start of the game take on an important place later. Similarly, the side quests benefit from special care and if some prove to be redundant and not necessarily useful, others are on the contrary exciting. The existential questions raised by Yoko Taro make it easy to get attached to the characters we meet and it is with pleasure that we come to the aid of the local populations. Some quests can last over several objectives and often you will have to pause your journey to refocus on your main mission. Besides, if you're not the type to bother with side quests, nothing prevents you from performing the main scenario in a straight line.
Despite the ultra enjoyable fights, NieR Automata can also count on a poetic and emotionally charged scenario.
As promised by the developers, NieR Automata does not try to extend its life by pushing players to do quests independent of the main story. Of course, side quests won't be too much to increase your power, but overall, you can overcome all obstacles with your talent alone. We are not going to dwell too much on the ins and outs of the scenario, the title's marketing campaign having deliberately concealed this aspect to preserve the surprises until the end. All we can say is that staying in the dark will only have been good. The scenario is gripping and the various metaphysical questions posed by the author take us directly by the throat. A bias undoubtedly helped by the masterful compositions of Keiiche Okabe, who signs here an incredible soundtrack where classical music and small electronic touches mingle. Sometimes soft, sometimes brutal, the compositions of the game transport us from the first notes and make us appreciate the adventure even more.
ARIGATO MRS ROBOTO
After having spent more than 30 hours on the various alternative endings, NieR Automata leaves us with a feeling of permanent exaltation and the accuracy of the words treated by Yoko Taro makes it easy to get carried away by the narration of the title, to the point of obscuring the repetitiveness of tasks induced by the RPG aspect. Unfortunately, perfection does not exist and NieR Automata had to show one or two weaknesses. If the absence of loading time is more than pleasant, we can only regret the emptiness of certain decorations. Starting with the city which displays some fairly bland and not always attractive textures. Nevertheless, the game makes up for it thanks to its exemplary fluidity. It's simple, the game never slows down despite the amount of enemies and visual effects of all kinds. The regrets fade away and give way to respect for the PlatinumGames teams. The other big downside of the game makes for its part the tedious progression. On many occasions, we happened to start a side quest only to discover after several waves of enemies that our level was not high enough to complete the quest. It's not dramatic, but a better organization of the quest journal could have avoided such disappointments.
