It’s a wonderful time if transhuman existentialism in gaming is your bag. Stellar Blade dropped on PS5 to strong reviews last week, and many (myself included) have been keeping themselves busy dismantling Naytiba over the weekend. Well, if you’ve had your fill of Shift Up’s maiden triple-A voyage, then let me (re)introduce you to Yoko Taro’s incredible NieR Automata – and it’s currently 60% off in the May PS Store sale.
That’s right, for just $15.99, down from $39.99, you can enjoy the Game of the YoRHa (that’s not a typo) edition, one of the top RPG games the genre has to offer. Bundling in all of NieR Automata’s cosmetic DLC, Game of the YoRHa is the most comprehensive version of the game you can get on PS4 and PS5.
Having launched with a mighty Metacritic score of 88, NieR Automata is undoubtedly Taro’s finest work to date. If you were left slightly disappointed by Eve’s story, then spend some time with 2B, 9S, and A2 instead. NieR Automata is one of the most thought-provoking games I’ve played, drawing liberally on philosophical concepts that are baked (sometimes at surface level) into every game layer.
Though its combat style is more classic hack ‘n’ slash than Stellar Blade’s – itself more akin to some of the best Soulslike games despite its Devil May Cry DNA – NieR Automata’s gameplay is no less challenging (depending on your difficulty). This is best presented in its boss encounters, which are oftentimes quite the spectacle.
If you haven’t already rushed to the PS Store to get in on the action, you can do so here. It’s also worth noting that the updated version of Automata’s prequel, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… (yes, that’s its actual name) is also down 60% in the sale. Needless to say, your weekends are going to be booked out for the foreseeable future…
For more of the latest from Stellar Blade – a recent addition to our best PS5 games list – check out how Shift Up’s rewarding you for your thirst in-game. While you’re here, don’t forget to follow us on Google News so you’ll never miss a beat again.