Nier Automata and the changing of perspective

Brilliant, thank you, wonderful and amazing... All words I use to describe my recent playthrough of the Nier Automata demo from platinum games.

I have said on this board, countless times like those stupid radio towers in far cry, "what games could use is the change of perspectives..."

In a short 30 minute demo I went from third person to top down, to 2d side scroll, from grounded ninja type warrior with a machine gun sidekick to a mech!

People... This is good.... No no, this outstanding game design.... The seamless flow of many perspectives within the game is exactly what I've been preaching on this board for the better part of the last 5 years and while I questioned whether anyone bothers to listen, sure as shit, Platinum games is listening loud and clear...

So when you buy your copy and crawl up the back of my great ideas enjoy the finished product while calling out, "that son of bitch Erotica really did it guys... He saved us from another safe and uninspiring AAA video game of samezy ideas."

More of this in video games... More more more. Changing perspective away from just being stuck behind the character is like being tossed the keys to a ferrari only to find out you can't drive past 10mph.

Rock our world's again platinum.

I still have to try out that demo, what's the file size ?

I had a blast with the demo

Eveything is pointing towards this game being amazing. This is what I like about japanese devs. They take risks and constantly push the boundaries.

That's Taro's thing. Drakengard and Nier have this, too.

It's alright.

@R4gn4r0k: I believe it is 4.4 gigs.

"Thank you" Lol Wow. Predicting average to mediocre reviews.

Outstanding game design? Those perspective changes felt jarring and even unnecessary sometimes, especially since the game is not strong enough mechanically to handle each perspective with equal quality. I certainly appreciate the effort, but the execution needs some work.

I didn't like it....also graphics were awful and the enemies were boring.

Ewww, moar Wii-A-Moo from Snowflake Games. lol :P

Demo was great. I'll probably pick it up day 1. It does release in an awfully crowded period though sandwiched between Horizon, Kingdom Hearts 1.5/2.5, Mass Effect Andromeda and Persona 5.

@SecretPolice: nooooooooooooo! It's parity in a saturated and increasingly less interesting approach to games.

@TheEroica:

Lol, Just messin a little. I was looking for a reason to use that " Wii-A-Moo" somewhere around SW. :P

Transformers: Devastation did this too. In Mission 3 I think. A top view section followed by a side scrolling vehicle bit. It worked surprisingly well mechanically.

It even had challenge missions using these perspectives that were alot of fun bar some ranged/flying enemy designs being incompatible with the top view gameplay.

I really liked the gameplay, it was a lot of fun. I just didn't like the artstyle of the environment and enemies. Hope it gets better when there are actual plants and stuff around.

@jagoff: outstanding game design! Yep. Jarring? Wtf? How? Do you play twin stick shooters at all? 2d games? It was a very nice glimpse into what is possible when a developer doesn't shoe horn their games to one perspective. It made me feel like an actual game that didn't believe it had limitations rather than a walking tech demo where the highlight is tying a winch to a tree...

Games like this that force the player to adjust

@SecretPolice: wii-a-moo! Lol I get it! I just "grazed" over that comment at first sight.... Get it?

Although the changing of perspectives is a cool touch, it's also sort of a regressive mechanic. The 2D perspective works well for games like Contra, where there is literally a 2D plane. Here, the plane is actually 3D, but they force you into this 2D perspective, making the process of judging the exact location of enemies all the more difficult.

So it's literally a mechanic of pure aesthetic value. It works well only when you're running up a narrow staircase, but when there's a slight Z-axis in a wider corridor, it's a poor system

@TheEroica:

Got it and love it my friend. :D

I got to try it! You going to get it day 1? I still cant beleive ME has me deflated :(

Also, we podcasting this Wednesday the 18th?

@jhcho2: I found it no more difficult that any other 2d shooter in fact I really liked how it was wanting you to use your LT lock constantly. It gave the gameplay a sub mechanic whilst slicing and dicing.

The perspective changing is actually the reason I am hesitant about purchasing this game. It's breaks the flow and feels unpredictable. Gamers have to go through a mental shift for more dramatic camera changes.

I absolutely love it. I will probably day zero the game.

I don't mind changing of perspective if it is used to aid the player in completing a task, set a certain mood, or evoke an emotional response. However, using it for the sake of variety may not always be good. I wasn't a big fan of the perspective changes in the Contra games for instance.

I didn't really like that aspect of it that much, but hopefully it will grow on me.

@TheEroica: Yes, I do play twin stick shooters and 2D games, hence my criticism towards the demo. It doesn't execute those aspects well, partly because the controls aren't sharp enough and also because it's treated more like a gimmick than a needed change in variety.

The game wasnt really on my radar... until I played the demo

LOVED THE FVCK OUT OF IT

MUST BUY!!! DAY 1!

Finally a good Hack'n'Slash game this generation... it only took 3 fvckin years! (If we dont count the WiiU and Bayonetta 2 that almost no one could play)

I made a small video of me playing it

I played it, i liked it but i wasn't impressed by it. The constant change of persepective was a plus but the battle mechanics, art design and enemy AI left a lot to be desired. Def a no buy for me especially these upcomimg months with so many things coming out. But it's good to see that there are ppl who loved it and i hope they enjoy it when it comes out.

Cheers

The demo was awesome for sure. I love the changing of perspective.

It was disgusting, awful game design at it's finest.

It operates like you're playing Resident Evil 2.

Let's not forget about the color palette which makes Gears of War look like freaking pastel art.

Extremely ugly looking game (all the processing power went into modeling her ass) but played great. This may be the first PG game i'm getting.

I was impressed in the same mannner. I wasn't expecting any changes in the camera. It got me hooked.

@Zero_epyon: right? It was like offering a fresh dose of gameplay every few minutes.

I see people not liking the art aesthetic but it felt no different than the latest metal gear game during the demo. That's what I kept thinking anyway. Also, it was the demo... Glad they didn't focus the on anything other than the gameplay. Enemy variety will undoubtedly be there.

people put off by the perspective changes must have trouble metal gear games before 3, or resident evil games before 4.

i thought it was brilliant. it's like bayonetta meets metal gear rising.

Yeah At first I didn't like the art style but when I started fighting through some levels I can tell the scenery is going to change some. And if I understand the world, it's not a surprise that the world looks bleak and industrial.

I've got to be honest my worst fears have been realised from when I first heard Platinum were getting involved with Nier. I worried they would take an RPG and turn it into a completely mindless hack and slash because that's all they know and that's exactly what they have done. The horrible, dull graphics are just a backdrop for a dev team who literally count on you steaming through every level whacking crap mindlessly so you don't know or care what is or isn't in the background. I strongly suspect this is one of the reasons MS ditched Scalebound they wanted an RPG and that's just not what PG do. No sympathy at all for MS do your f***ing research i.e. hire SOMEONE who actually knows something about games instead of that dickhead Spencer.

I know Nier isn't exactly considered a masterpiece and it certainly had its own problems but I really did want Nier 2 not f***ing Bayonetta 3 with Nier in the title because the contract demanded it.

I'm honestly happy for people who get to have another PG game I know they're popular. It's just not at all what I wanted from the next Nier game.

It wouldn't matter. Yoko Taro dosent like to make same game twice. this why he didn't worked on Drakengard 2, instead he worked on Nier which is very different games than first Drakengard. Then later on Drakengard 3 was also very different than both D1 and Nier.

I personally expected out of Nier Automata is Yoko Taro game and after playing Demo, thats exactly what i got, so I'm very happy with it.

Nah. Everything people loved about Nier is in Nier 2. This was only a demo to show how the combat evolved. Platinum titles are far from mindless hack n slash games. You should actually PLAY the games and not talk out of your azz. No one besides a noob will agree with that statement.

I strongly suggest you research the game instead making blind assumptions.

I loved the demo as well. The release date puts it at a crap time for me, but I would really like to support it.

Problems. ?

Loved the first one, can't wait for Automata.

I found the demo awesome. The way the camera views changed reminded so much of einhander. I wish our fellow lems could experience such greatness, but hey, at least they have Scale Bound.

Day 1 release for me

@TheEroica: Not on the same page on this one, brethren. "the Music!!!" is nothing special, the enemies are grey R2D2's, the combat is cool and flashy but the overall aesthetic is weak sauce crap. I couldn't get into it. I hate, hate, hate, I am using the word hate now, the swords floating 3 feet of the protagonists back. It looks stupid. Enjoy it my friend, its not on Xbox and from Japan so here at GS its a shoe in for a 9/10.

ANOTHER AAAE for gen leading PS4?

@Heil68 said:

@cainetao11 said:

@TheEroica: Not on the same page on this one, brethren. "the Music!!!" is nothing special, the enemies are grey R2D2's, the combat is cool and flashy but the overall aesthetic is weak sauce crap. I couldn't get into it. I hate, hate, hate, I am using the word hate now, the swords floating 3 feet of the protagonists back. It looks stupid. Enjoy it my friend, its not on Xbox and from Japan so here at GS its a shoe in for a 9/10.

ANOTHER AAAE for gen leading PS4?

How is it E if it is confirmed for PC and 1

2

and 3 speculation, at this point, but a PC released was already confirmed so, like you and other cows that love far east, ahem say, it isn't Exclusive. LOL (all in fun)

@cainetao11 said:

@Heil68 said:

@cainetao11 said:

@TheEroica: Not on the same page on this one, brethren. "the Music!!!" is nothing special, the enemies are grey R2D2's, the combat is cool and flashy but the overall aesthetic is weak sauce crap. I couldn't get into it. I hate, hate, hate, I am using the word hate now, the swords floating 3 feet of the protagonists back. It looks stupid. Enjoy it my friend, its not on Xbox and from Japan so here at GS its a shoe in for a 9/10.

ANOTHER AAAE for gen leading PS4?

How is it E if it is confirmed for PC and 1

2

and 3 speculation, at this point, but a PC released was already confirmed so, like you and other cows that love far east, ahem say, it isn't Exclusive. LOL (all in fun)

Well its NOT on X1 so advanatge SONY??

@Heil68: So why is it in X1/W10 threads, you post, "Too bad it isn't exclusive"? You know you pull this Geisha girls shit, so why do you? since you try to call yourself hahahaha, sorry 'bout that, manticore?