NieR: Automata is a game I’d heard about for a very long time, but since I only game on the Nintendo Switch, I didn’t have access to it while it was still fresh. Eventually, they released a Switch version, and I bought the digital copy for around $20 during a sale. I wasn’t quite sure if I would even like the game, but I was curious to see what all the fuss about 2B was about.

2B is probably the most recent video game character that all the fanboys obsess over. She’s beautiful, she’s mysterious, and she wears a black dress that Square Enix designed to be… very easy on the eyes, if you know what I mean. She’s also an android, meaning she isn’t truly human—just a robot pretending to be one.

Her partner is 9S, another android working for the benefit of humanity. Their main foes throughout most of the game are these rusty robots, even though they themselves are machines. However, while 2B and 9S appear human, their enemies are obviously robotic. Things start getting weird and creepy when the enemy robots begin acting human on the inside.

NieR: Automata can be described as an action-adventure RPG. You level up like in a typical RPG, but the combat is real-time, and you have access to all kinds of gadgets and gizmos. Strangely enough, you fight all these mechanical metal robots using swords.

I actually really liked the parts where you get to fly these little mini mechs. They reminded me of a mix between Galaga and Star Fox. You don’t get to use them very often, but I enjoyed the sections where you did.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the overall map—it’s strangely confusing. But as long as you follow the markers that tell you where to go, you can usually figure things out pretty easily. Overall, it offers a solid adventure with lots of action and boss fights. I do have some qualms about it being a bit over-the-top, with seemingly everything trying to kill you at once. I honestly wonder if a no-damage run of this game is even possible.

Then I found out that my experience was just one of four possible playthroughs. Apparently, you can play as 9S and later as another android, A2, for different perspectives and a “true” ending or something like that. But honestly, I didn’t love my playthrough enough to replay the game three more times. I enjoyed it, and I’m glad I spent time with it, but I get the feeling that the “fan service” aspect of the game is technically stronger than its gameplay.