Hopefully the new revised edition of the Grimoire Nier will get an English translation/release, especially since so many Automata books got official English releases.
I guess I've opened another rabbit hole... namely Nier.
I've been meaning to play Nier Automata for quite a while. I heard a lot about this game and saw a couple of spoiler-free video reviews, but didn't dive into the details on purpose, in order to be as new to the game as I was to good old FF's on PS1. Nier is known to be a weird game - but probably weird in the best sense of the word. It engages you immediately, changes camera angles, genres and styles on a whim, and leaves you wondering if you're doing it right.
...and, most probably, I am not But something's telling me that that's the whole point.
So I walked around industrial premises eliminating machines and collecting rubble while 9S was keeping me informed. It was going pretty well up until I saw that massive bridge dissapearing in the mist. Such locations usually reek of rust and trouble. And trouble found me. 9S died protecting me, and while I was flying around that gigantic robot, it kept attacking, so eventually I died too. What's worrying is that it's been around 90 minutes worth of gameplay, and the game hasn't let me save my progress yet. And now I died. But I haven't checked the main menu yet, which place it will suggest to continue from. It's getting late and I'm tired. But I definitely enjoy this feeling of utter weirdness and uncertainty tied with futuristic landscapes and fantastic music. I hear the man behind this game is a genius, and the game is already proving that he is.
Surprisingly, androids seem to be able to experience emotions, even if 2B comments at one point that emotions are prohibited. I hope the game will tell me more about these... people? Just don't tell me anything; I'd rather find that out by myself
Original (papa) Nier is now backwards compatible on Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles. On the Xbox Series consoles Nier will receive the FPS Boost treatment which will increase its performance to run at 60FPS.
If you're not happy with the artistic changes made in the Nier remaster now you have a way to play the original game, with all its jankyness and lack of QoL, at better performance.
So, my second attempt at Nier Automata failed again. I'm definitely not doing it right. I didn't even reach the point where I had died previously. This is getting annoying, especially because the game still doesn't let me save
Turned out that I got a valid Ending W or something
You can change the difficulty settings. Just play on Easy. The prologue can be tough for completely new players. You won't lose anything toggling the game to Easy.
So, my second attempt at Nier Automata failed again. I'm definitely not doing it right. I didn't even reach the point where I had died previously. This is getting annoying, especially because the game still doesn't let me save
Turned out that I got a valid Ending W or something
The beginning mission is hardby comparison to the rest of the beginning portion of the game. I do think you can change the difficulty back and forth at will. Personally I played that mission repeatedly on normal until I beat it because I'm a stubborn bitch.
Mako, Rydeen, thanks for the tip! It did help. I had thought initially to start playing on easy, but there's always this stereotype that the easy mode is something frowned upon and for the stupid and lazy, lol. But the easy mode here is something... else. Like, you don't even have to do much. Just sit back and envy the fluency of combos. But I also admit that I wouldn't have had the patience to play the prologue again and again, and I wouldn't have been skillful enough to take down that mecha on my own either.
Now I can finally save and go on with the game. What a relief
But the easy mode here is something... else. Like, you don't even have to do much. Just sit back and envy the fluency of combos. But I also admit that I wouldn't have had the patience to play the prologue again and again, and I wouldn't have been skillful enough to take down that mecha on my own either.
Yeah, Automata's difficulty modes aren't very well balanced, unfortunately. Easy is sort of the plays itself mode, normal is more reasonable after the prologue. As the others said, you can always switch difficulties, so there's no shame in switching if something's annoying you. I wish there was a better balance, but at least the game always lets you switch back and forth, and easy is always useful for progressing the story.
I was absolutely terrible at Automata when I first started playing it - the movement and shooting can take a bit of time to get used to. Rest assured however than when you do get used to it, you'll feel like a total pro. I went from dying constantly on Normal to 100%ing the game on Very Hard.
There is a learning curve with the gameplay but when you get it, you get it. And I don't think I've ever played an action game that felt so rewarding to master. Even the movement is just top tier.
What I really appreciated was when I realized just what a substantial impact on gameplay the different plugins (upgrades) have. No "1.3% increase to vitality" here. It's like, "oh, now you move twice as fast" or "now your attacks can hit dudes across the street." But you only have space for so much, so you choose and really tailor your setup to your playstyle.
It's OK to feel like this but if it helps any, nothing is really missable and you will repeat the story (with additional perspective) on your way to full completion.
Grimoire NieR: Revised Edition is receiving an English translation and releasing April 2023!
So happy this is finally happening. In 2010 it was unthinkable that the lore in this book would ever be widely available in the west. What a turn around NieR has had.
Yoko Taro has purposefully hidden multiple mysteries in this game. I'm actually surprised this has gone undiscovered for so long, hasn't it been released on PC? Wouldn't it's assets and levels be fully revealed at this stage? Really shocking this has gone undiscovered for so long.
I've seen people say it may be an ARG teaser for the switch version because none of the unique assets were found in the PC version's files. Apparently it can't be a mod because Nier's modding community can't do anything so advanced as adding new areas or cutscenes yet.
I 100% think this is Yoko Taro and the Nier staff fucking with us.
@Odysseus is onto something. This is probably a promotional stunt/ARG meant to promote the game again. And it's probably the most clever form of publicity S-E has ever done.