One of the best games I ever played!

I played Automata and this in the wrong order. I'd recommend starting here unless you really can't get over the repetitive parts as Automata spoils some of the story. The storytelling and characters pay off at the end, I loved all of them. Certain later parts of the game are some of the most magical moments in a video game.

I never played the original NieR but the fluid combat here seems like an upgrade. It is very similar to Automata while maintaining some of its own identity. Some of the graphical choices and the music remaster is a bit more mixed but I don't think it really takes away from the experience, overall I think the upgrades here are good.

Runs very well on the Steam Deck and is a great game to play on it.

There’s minimal variation in enemy encounters, and even boss fights lack the complexity needed to stay engaging.

Adding to the frustration is the game’s lazy approach to dungeon design. Instead of offering fresh, exciting areas to explore, NieR Replicant reuses the same environments with barely any new content. This repetition quickly drains the sense of discovery, making progression feel like a chore rather than an adventure.