Nier

At first glance, one may think that this is a second rate game. It doesn't have the best graphics on the market and there are a number of somewhat boring fetch quests. The fishing is impossible until you realize that the instructions were translated incorrectly. However, despite all that, it is one of the most enjoyable games that I had played in a long time.
The story is far above average. What starts as a simple story of a father trying to save his sick daughter becomes more complex as it proceeds. And on the second playthrough you can hear what the "monsters" are thinking. Believe me, there were times when I almost started to cry.
The boss fights are very challenging and the music is probably the best I have ever heard in a video game.
If you like uber-realistic graphics, this probably isn't the game for you. If you want an excellent story and solid gameplay, then I highly recommend this title.

Prepare for a biased review since I enjoy the game.

I borrowed this game from a friend after reading a "Let's Play" guide for it and the game is fun. In fact it was so much fun, I bought the DLC and bought my own copy of Nier. The game is great but it is not without its faults. However, the missteps in the game don't make the game unplayable.

The story is a bit odd when you first start it, especially if you look at the source material. Nier is the sequel to Drakengard's last ending. However, you don't need to know anything about Drakengard to enjoy this one. The trailers and official reviews can be a bit misleading about the game. Don't look at it's metacritic score either. You really should try this game out yourself and form your own opinion. To be cliche, "One man's trash is another's treasure", and it certainly is my treasure. I think the story is incredibly unique and compelling. It practically forces you to replay it, because you just want to know the truth.

The gameplay mechanic isn't completely balanced, but it won't detract from the experience of the game or be so hideously noticeable that it renders the game unplayable. Also please note the fishing minigame in Nier is mistranslated. So I would suggest watching a youtube video or reading an online guide on how to do it, since the in-game instructions are wrong. Like it's predecessor, Nier also has multiple endings that reveal shocking plot twists and information. So if you do buy the game. Please play it at least twice.

The characters are really well developed throughout the story and the characters aren't one dimensional. I fell in love with the main cast. Not in an obsessive fanatical way, but you really grow with the characters and feel for them.

The most beautiful thing about the game, aside from the plot, is the music. It is haunting, exciting, adventurous, and down right amazing.

It's been awhile since I've finished the second ending of the game and I plan to return and get the remaining two. This game is great and it makes you want to keep playing it. On a bit of a spoiler, if you really explore the game, this game makes you think about some heavy ethical issues about the nature of revenge, forgiveness, happiness, personal choice, etc. I wrote a goddamned paper on ethical issues and used this game as example. However, the ethical part of the game is a small part of the game mostly. It's not about karma metres or doing the "right" or "wrong" thing. It's about one person's journey and the results of that journey. It's beautiful and well done. Too bad Cavia no longer exists. Now that I'm done gushing and waxing poetic about the game. The game is relatively inexpensive now, so do yourself and your soul a favour AND TRY THE GAME. My review is biased, but if you give this game a chance, I think you'll enjoy it.

Nier is an odd bit of gaming. There is a compelling and interesting storyline, with some interesting characters, even the worst winey character of the bunch, Emil, is likeable and something of the pathetic character that you feel for as he sacrifices his very humanity to help his companions. Nier proves that a game can have a great story, but still it fails on a certain level.

Nier is set in a post-apocalyptic future, where you play as one of the ugliest characters I've ever seen. He's a dad, his name is Nier, unless you change it something else, and he's got white hair and inviso brows. Sure he gets a great eye patch at around the half-way point, but essentially Nier looks like the missing link. Although I applaud the attempt to switch from the usual cry-baby main character with an undetermined sex. The game diverges from that usual JRPG story-line at some points and returns to old convention often.

As the father, Nier, the mission is protect and find a cure for the black scrawl that has infected his daughter. And as Nier travels the 'world' he finds new allies, like Grimoire Weiss, Kaine, and Emil. Weiss is a magical book, Kaine is an a bit of dude but mostly gal, and Emil is a weird kid that initially change enemies to stone, but later makes a big sacrifice to save the day. While the game has a good set of main characters it's everything else that would make this game really good that Nier fails.

Graphically the game looks very old, last generation old. I realize that the world has lost a great deal with this story-line, but it's still for a lack of things to see. Villages, all three of them, while different don't add that personality that cities can do with the right games. Although the sea-side city of Seafort looks nice. But the designers got lazy with characters that are nailed to one position the entire game. Some NPCs will age, some will remain the exact same way as they did previously. To explain without spoiling this game. Nier flashes forward five years, but seemingly just for the main characters, but not Emil when he's human nor Kaine because she's froozen in stone. All this is an indication of a rushed game. The Shades also prove this, although the backstory to the Shades are plain, plain, they are not substainal enemies, just black with hints of orange like they're there but not really, it's good for rationalizing the whole random battles premise.

Another issue with this game is the lack of locations to visit. Nier and the gang will re-visit locales and dungeons again and again and again, there's a definate lack of exploration and seeing new locations. The last dungeon is actually part of the first dungeon, only difference is, is that a new area gets unlocked. Also the level construction is re-used often. But not everything about this game is bad.

The music, although on repeat adds a good amount of tension and is really good, very airey and haunting I didn't mind the repeating. The magic is really the standout for this game as far as the combat goes. Nier is an action based game, with lots of hack and slash, but the controls are really bad. I initially hated this game for the way it did combat, with the action oriented battles and the clunky controls for the hack and slash toss in a few dozen little Shades that are faster than Nier. I was getting juggled until I learned that the magic is what's the most potent weapon in this game. With the aide of Grimoire Weiss, Nier has access to some pretty cool attacks. Also with boss fights at certain times with the magic charged at little a devasting attack can be unleashed. But sometimes the aiming will be off a little and the direction you're pointed at rather than the direction your aiming the attack will waste a move.

Nier is a decent game, with some potential that just doesn't happen. It's long and feels long and very repetitive, from the combat, to the re-visiting of the same locations multiple times, to the enemies. Nier adds nothing to the genre and it's kinda that take or leave title. I enjoyed it, but just couldn't get passed the many issue I've listed above. It's fun and worth a try, but overall it's nothing great and disappointing considering that Square Enix released this game, also why release this game at about the same time as Final Fantasy, that's another odd decision. Nier was set up for failure right from the start.