NieR:Automata full game

I couldn't find an existing thread for Automata, so I thought I'd start one.

UPDATED: I posted my impressions (after completing Endings A through E on Normal) here.

Excerpt:

Overview

If you like J-Action games like Devil May Cry and JRPGs, you’ll like this game. The action sequences are no-holds-barred, and appropriately over-the-top for boss battles. Player skills matter and the game does its best to train you (also, Easy mode is configurable, see PROS). It’s a little Souls-like, in that if you die, you can recover some gear by finding your previous body where you died. It’s clear the game wants you to have fun and do well, not punish you unfairly.

The story and plot are reasonable and mostly understandable (not always a given in J-Action or JRPGs). The characters seem static through Ending B, but beyond that they evolve and have a developmental arc — don’t give up on them too soon! There are some twists and surprises and LOL moments. Through Ending B I thought the story was a bit unsatisfying, but that turned around completely in just the first 30 minutes of my Ending C run. Many secrets are revealed and relationships deepened, amping the story up ten-fold. Despite some confusing existential story beats and what seemed like an endless villain-behind-the-villain-behind-the-villain conga line, the complete A-E story was amazing and incredibly sad, despite the goofiness of some of the supporting cast.

Graphics are a mixed bag: character and gear design is highly detailed, by the overall color scheme is a bit washed-out and under-saturated for Western tastes.

My total play time: about 80 hours. Roughly 30 hours for each of Endings A and B, another 20 for C, and D & E take less than an hour once chapter select is unlocked.

Ratings

Combat: 10/10
Story: 8/10
Graphics: 8/10
Fun factor: 9/10
Replay value: 10/10

OVERALL: 9/10