REVIEW: ‘NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition’ Brings Glory To The Nintendo Switch

NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition is a 3D action game developed by Platinum Games and published by Square Enix. In the distant future, aliens have invaded Earth. Overwhelming the planet with machine lifeforms, the aliens force humanity to take refuge on the Moon. Now, fighting an endless proxy war using Androids as their soldiers, humanity hopes to reclaim what has been lost. As part of this effort, YoRha android 2B heads to a machine weapons factory in the hopes of taking the first step on a new path to victory.

As But why tho’s resident NieR fan, having previously reviewed NieR: Replicant, NieR Re[in]carnation, and NieR: Automata YoRHa Boys, when a port of NieR: Automata was announced for the Nintendo Switch I was thrilled. I never thought I’d have the opportunity to review my third favorite game of all time. And happily, with only a minor reservation, the Switch proves to be a fantastic platform to experience this game on. Whether it’s your first time or your twentieth time playing.

For those unfamiliar with this game, NieR: Automata‘s moment-to-moment gameplay consists mostly of running around a gorgeous 3D landscape as you fight your way through enemies using, stylish combos. Anyone who has played a 3D action game will instantly be familiar with the style of controls at play here. The X and Y buttons deliver light and heavy attacks, while RZ and R control dodging and the player’s ranged attack. There are also a number of special abilities the player can be utilized during the game. From the default energy beam attack to shields and more, plus four styles of weapons to choose from, there is a solid variety of combat options available to players in the game. But there is another way that NieR: Automata manages to deliver variety to its action. That is in how it utilizes the player’s perspective to alter the game’s controls.

Throughout the game, players will find the game’s playstyle shift thanks to creative camera use. There are moments when the camera will swing overhead and lock in place. With this fixed view, the game changes from a 3D action game to a twin-stick shooter. Other times the camera will swing to the side, creating sequences of a 2D side-scrolling game. These moments always blend perfectly with both the environment as well as the energy of the narrative at any given moment. Being this fluid with how the game presents its gameplay allows the action to feel far more cohesive with the story than many games are able to achieve. This unique approach to its gameplay allows NieR: Automata to keep its action feeling fresh far longer than its relatively simple controls would allow for many players.

The other element that works to get a bit of extra distance out of the gameplay is the leveling system. The player will find plug-in chips that they can use to enhance their android avatar in a number of ways. From improving damage, and gaining health from downing foes to adding an energy wave to melee strikes, NieR: Automata‘s leveling system helps to keep the player further engaged with the combat. The player can even combine similar chips together to create enhanced versions to increase their effects.

The game also uses its chip upgrade system to give players a hand if they are struggling. On easy mode, chips are provided to the player at the game’s start which allows many of the game’s functions to be automated. From using healing items to dodging and attacking, the player can make the game almost completely self-playing. So if you are intrigued by the game’s story, but are struggling with the game’s mechanics, you have an ideal path to continue to enjoy the experience how you want.

While the gameplay delivers the flash and sizzle that Platinum Games is known for, the true star of this game, and what places it so high on my all-time favorites list, is the narrative and how the game explores the many characters you come to know throughout your playthrough.

As the player guides 2B and her support unit 9S through their journies, they will come to learn a great many secrets about the duo, as well as the world around them. Most of what the player thinks they know turns out to be false by the time the final credits roll, and some elements are only fully appreciated upon a second playthrough, once the player has full context for what’s truly going on.

Even as the story itself comes to provide an intriguing narrative on the surface, NieR: Automata‘s intricacies only expand the more time you spend with it. Themes like truth, loss, and where we find our self-worth are all explored within the game’s story. I’ve watched more than a few YouTube videos discussing the meaning behind the game’s incredible narrative and virtually all of them come to different conclusions in some aspects. The fact that so many can take so much away from a game that, at first glance, appears to be nothing more than an anime-inspired hack-and-slash action game speaks volumes of the depth its tale delivers.

The visual design of virtually every element of NieR: Automata‘s interface works wonderfully to further enhance and immerse the player’s experience. The menu screen does a great job of making it look like you are navigating an internal menu for your android and the onscreen presentation leans into this as well. Most noticeably during plot-specific moments where the UI goes a little nuts when critical damage is taken, extending the health bar so it wraps around the screen as if the player character’s systems are on the fritz.

The only place where this dedication to making the game’s interface feel cohesive with the rest of its presentation fails is with the mini-map. Quite frankly, the minimap sucks. The game even acknowledges this and tries to play it off as a joke. But it is nonetheless an annoyance to deal with. It’s never game-ruining, but it does a poor job at numerous points in the game to clearly indicate where you need to go, and how you are expected to get there. The sole duties of a map.

The final element that must be mentioned here where NieR: Automata‘s core experience is concerned is its soundtrack. Composer Okabe delivers a huge range of gorgeously crafted pieces that come together to make my favorite video game soundtrack of all time. Every piece perfectly enhances the time and place that it appears within the game.

So, now that I’ve talked about the game at its core, let’s talk about what NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition brings to the game.

The only new additions the game gets are new cosmetics for its core cast. Outfits inspired by the mobile game Nier: Re[in]carnation bring that game’s style to the experience. I quickly put 2B in her new outfit and never took her out of it. That and having her companion Pod draped with a sheet, making him resemble the previously mentioned game’s character Mama, was also fun.

The only drawback I can speak to playing this game on Switch is distinctly for handheld mode. The joycons are far too small for how the player needs to have their hand positioned. With the right analog stick so close, my thumb was frequently cramping up. Playing the game either on a tv or even with the joycons detached and connected to the packed-in controller helps alleviate this greatly.

NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition is an amazing port of one of the best narrative journies video games have ever produced. With only a 40-dollar price tag, it is a great opportunity to jump in on a modern classic, whether you have never played it before or simply wish to experience the journey one more time.

NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition is available now on Nintendo Switch.