History YMMV / NierAutomata

** The hacking minigames can be this for players who don't are not good at shoot 'em ups, especially since many of the more difficult ones are pure BulletHell. This is exacerbated by the fact that, unlike with the other shoot 'em up sections of the game, you can't use any supporting weapons or healing items in the hacking sections, nor does levelling up make them any easier. Most of the plot-critical hacking sections are thankfully on the easier side, but this isn't so with the ones found in [[spoiler:the Soul Box]]; they can be a serious pain in the ass, and you ''need'' to clear in order to progress in the game.

** Even by BonusBoss standards, the special battle in the Gambler's Colosseum is insanely difficult, with every enemy being being level 130-135 (the level cap is 99,) on top of special versions of bosses being mixed in with regular enemies, far more waves being thrown at you than the previous fights, and a time limit of 1 hour ([[MarathonBoss which should give you an idea of how long it would take to win.]])

** Reconnaissance Squad, along with the above, can be described as a completionist's worst nightmare. Even accessing this quest can be a chore, as it is only available in the third playthrough and requires a bit of obscure platforming to reach the questgiver. Once you do manage to reach it, you are given the task of gathering unit data. Sounds simple enough, but you can only complete this quest when your unit data reaches 95%, and when taking into account all the unique enemies with rare spawn rates, as well as the high-level [[BonusBoss Bonus Bosses]] the game has to offer, this becomes a ''far'' more difficult task.

* UnnecessaryMakeover: A2 actually cuts her hair short and keeps it that way for the entire time she's playable, but fan artists and almost all official merchandise overwhelmingly portrays her with her BarbarianLonghair instead, both because to visually distinguish her from 2B and because it's such an iconic part of her character.

* OneSceneWonder: Despite only appearing in an optional sidequest and being completely irrelevant to the plot, the machines' rendition of ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet'' (or rather, ''Romeo'''s''' and Juliet'''s''''') is one of the funniest and most memorable scenes in the game.

* PolishedPort: The Nintendo Switch version, also known as The End of [=YoRHa=] Edition, while having the caveat of running at 30fps as opposed to 60 and lower texture resolution, is masterfully done by Virtuos, as their impressive track record of porting games to the Switch holds true here. Not only does it maintain a stable frame rate cap throughout with very few dips in busier scenes, docked or portable, it also boasts all the DLC included in the base game at launch, as well as a few new exclusive DLC costumes based on [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV 2P]], Pod Skins based on [[VideoGame/NierReincarnation]], as well as an exclusive kimono outfit and accessories. The same can't be said for...

* PolishedPort: The Nintendo Switch version, also known as The End of [=YoRHa=] Edition, while having the caveat of running at 30fps as opposed to 60 and lower texture resolution, is masterfully done by Virtuos, as their impressive track record of porting games to the Switch holds true here. Not only does it maintain a stable frame rate cap throughout with very few dips in busier scenes, docked or portable, it also boasts all the DLC included in the base game at launch, as well as a few new exclusive DLC costumes based on [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV 2P]], as well as an exclusive kimono outfit and accessories. The same can't be said for...

* PolishedPort: The Nintendo Switch version, also known as The End of [=YoRHa=] Edition, while having the caveat of running at 30fps as opposed to 60 and lower texture resolution, is masterfully done by Virtuos, as their impressive track record of porting games to the Switch holds true here. Not only does it maintain a stable frame rate cap throughout with very few dips in busier scenes, docked or portable, it also boasts all the DLC at launch, as well as a few new costumes based on [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV 2P]], as well as an exclusive kimono outfit. This is opposed to...

* PolishedPort: The Nintendo Switch version, while having the caveat of running at 30fps as opposed to 60 and lower texture resolution, is masterfully done by Virtuos, as their impressive track record of porting games to the Switch holds true here. Not only does it maintain a stable frame rate cap throughout with very few dips in busier scenes, docked or portable, it also boasts all the DLC at launch, as well as a few new costumes based on [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV 2P]], as well as an exclusive kimono outfit. This is opposed to...

* AuthorsSavingThrow: After four years of releasing on the pc and receiving complaints of an unpolished port with poor optimization, it was finally announced Square Enix would release a patch for the PC version, fixing much of the problems plaguing it.

* PolishedPort: The Nintendo Switch version, titled the End of YoRHa Edition, while having the caveat of running at 30fps as opposed to 60 and lower texture resolution, is masterfully done by Virtuos, as their impressive track record of porting games to the Switch holds true here. Not only does it maintain a stable frame rate cap throughout with very few dips in busier scenes, docked or portable, it also boasts all the DLC at launch, as well as a few new costumes based on [[PalleteSwap 2P]], as well as an exclusive kimono outfit. This is opposed to...

%%** WHAT'S IN THE CHURCH?![[note]]On July 25, 2022, a Reddit user going by the handle of Sadfutago posted [[https://www.reddit.com/r/nier/comments/w7iq02/hello_here_is_the_video_for_the_clip_i_recorded/ this clip]] to the Nier subreddit, showing them opening a hidden door in the Copied City and descending a ladder into a new area. The sheer shock of this reveal, which nobody else even suspected to be in the game, has led the community to try to figure out how to access it.[[/note]]

*** There also exists a picture of [[WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants Squidward Tentacles with his face squashed from "Squidward the Unfriendly Ghost"]] is often paired with pictures of 2B, with the caption "2B canonically weighs 328 lbs." on it, implying that this is the fate of those who wish for her to sit on their face.

*** "[[WesternAnimation/TreasurePlanet You give up a few things, chasing a dream...]][[note]] [[https://pics.me.me/you-give-up-a-few-things-chasing-a-dream-fydisneymisfits-46115678.png This image]] of John Silver from WesternAnimation/TreasurePlanet hinting at what caused him to lose his limbs (specifically, his arm) has become a popular reaction to the aforementioned "Do not fist android girls" image, usually by either artists who draw NSFW art of 2B or those who like NSFW art of 2B.[[/note]]

** While 9S's feelings for her are [[LoveHurts not ambiguous in the slightest]] and she clearly also cares about him quite a bit, the game carefully avoids clarifying whether 2B's feelings for him are [[PlatonicLifePartners platonic]] or [[OfficialCouple romantic]] in nature (something which Yoko Taro [[ShrugOfGod declined to comment on]]). The fanbase, by a rather overwhelming margin, [[FanPreferredCouple tends to assume the latter]], with searches for 2B/9S on Website/ArchiveOfOurOwn having approximately ''eight times'' as many results as the next most popular, 2B/6O.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Despite only appearing in Route C for ''one'' sidequest, 4S has a disproportionately large presence in fanart and fanworks, thanks to his friendly attitude, [[TheAntiNihilist encouraging advice to 9S]] and being one of the only other YoRHa androids [[spoiler:still alive after the fall of the Bunker]]. A good deal of the popularity is perhaps due to [[FanPreferredCouple 2B/9S]] fans pairing him up [[PairTheSpares with A2]] [[BetaCouple as a foil]] to the two leads.

** Since he's one of the only YoRHa androids [[spoiler:still alive after the destruction of the bunker]], fanworks frequently bump 4S up to equal importance with the three leads, especially in those taking place after Ending E, either as a best friend for 9S or a love interest for A2 (or both.)

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Despite only appearing in Route C for ''one'' sidequest, 4S has a disproportionately large presence in fanart and fanworks. It's perhaps thanks to being one of the only other Scanners you get to meet besides 9S and certainly one of the last ones left [[spoiler:after the fall of the Bunker]], and his presence enough that plenty of stories could ([[FanficFuel and have]]) been told about him. A good deal of the popularity is perhaps due to [[FanPreferredCouple 2B/9S]] fans pairing him up [[PairTheSpares with A2]] [[BetaCouple as a foil]] to the two leads.

** Many fans like to assume A2 used to be in a relationship with A4, a member of her squadron that [[HeroicSacrifice sacrificed herself to destroy the machine server on Mount Ka'ala]]. Though neither character exhibits any romantic attraction to one another, nor do they have any closer bond than the rest of the squadmates.

** The sheer amount of trauma that [[TraumaCongaLine 9S goes through in Route C]] with ''zero'' breaks in between can, for some players, cross the line between tragic and [[BlackComedy borderline farcial]]. It's hard to say exactly where the line is drawn, but a good example is probably when the boss fight against a BrainwashedAndCrazy [[spoiler:Operator 21O]] is immediately followed up by ''another'' boss fight - this time against the [[spoiler:injured "Big Brother" machine from [[BrickJoke the beginning of Route A]] and a small horde of "little brother" machines who were trying desperately to repair him, each of them attacking you while, adorably, carrying a little bucket on their heads.]]

** [[spoiler:Devola and Popola]] have spent [[TimeAbyss almost 10,000 years]] shunned and abused due to nothing they themselves did, but due to [[spoiler:the role ''Videogame/{{Nier}}''[='s=] Devola and Popola models played in humanity's extinction]]. To make things worse, [[spoiler:at some point during those millennia all Devola and Popola models were ''reprogrammed'' to constantly feel guilt. No matter how hard they play TheAtoner, it'll never be good enough for them to be at peace with themselves]]...at least until [[spoiler:the pair die protecting 9S]].

* BestKnownForTheFanservice: To at least some unfamiliar with ''Nier'', ''Automata'' is recognized as "the Platinum game with the sexy robot girl".

* WinBackTheCrowd: 2016 was not a good year for Platinum, with ''VideoGame/StarFoxZero'' and ''[[Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles Mutants in Manhattan]]'' getting middling reviews at best and being trashed by more than a few critics. 2017 did not start much better either, with ''VideoGame/{{Scalebound}}'', a title that had been in various stages of development for over a decade, ultimately being cancelled. Nevertheless, ''Automata's'' been met with tremendous acclaim, having sold more copies in Japan in the span of one week than the original sold in its entire ''first year'', as well as being regarded as Yoko Taro's best work. Hideki Kamiya even stated that this game not only saved Platinum Games' reputation, but actually saved the company itself as they were in financial dire straights at that point.