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NieR
NieR:Automata: Long Story Short
Experience the world and characters of the hit video game franchise!
When alien forces invade with an army of Machines, the remnants of humanity must depend on Androids of their own design—the placid 2B and the excitable 9S—to survive.
From: Pod 042
To: Fans of NieR: Automata
Recommendation: The action to finish reading this novel.
[ref & NieR: Automata—Long Story Short]
Response: A novel is a story that used to be told by humans.
Question: The definition of the word “interesting”?
Answer: A possible definition is that the ability to continue reading this novel makes it “interesting.”
From Pod 042 to 153: We have concluded our promotional duties.
When alien forces invade with an army of Machines, the remnants of humanity must depend on Androids of their own design—the placid 2B and the excitable 9S—to survive.
From: Pod 042
To: Fans of NieR: Automata
Recommendation: The action to finish reading this novel.
[ref & NieR: Automata—Long Story Short]
Response: A novel is a story that used to be told by humans.
Question: The definition of the word “interesting”?
Answer: A possible definition is that the ability to continue reading this novel makes it “interesting.”
From Pod 042 to 153: We have concluded our promotional duties.
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2017
157 people are currently reading
1199 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
February 19, 2020
I picked this up having seen it described as a novelization that largely retold the game but added some interesting background. Unfortunately, neither is quite true.
One, this can barely be considered a novelization. You absolutely have to have played the game to understand what's going on, considering how much it jumps around. Hell, it even starts with 2B and 9S meeting Jackass, glossing right over their meeting Anemone. It also doesn't include anything at all from the side missions - no Engels, no Jean-Paul, no 16D - or even the ancillary stuff from the main story, like 6O's asides. I get that it would be even more massive had it attempted a true novelization of the game, but it's still disappointing, because the world-building stuff is even more interesting to me than the main plot. I'd also hoped I'd be able to recommend the book to people I wanted to get into the fandom but who wouldn't be interested in playing the game, and that obviously won't work.
Two, I'd been hoping that the new tidbits would include things like a more developed background for Simone, but most of the tidbits are just that - tiny little pieces. The only significant revelation is that I'm going to try to compile a list below of new info from the book so others can spare themselves the time.
There's also the issue of proofreading, or the lack thereof. The Commander becomes a "he," and Pod 046 becomes 146; there are lots of little annoying errors like that. The prose is also clunky at times, though I loved how Eve's voice was rendered.
Ultimately, this is a book strictly for Nier: Automata superfans who are willing to drag themselves through 255 pages (admittedly, they go fast) for the sake of a few interesting but minute details. It's as disappointing as it is frustrating, because it could have been so much better. I love these characters and this world, and had understood that Yoko Taro is quite conscientious about what he puts out, but that doesn't show here. That being said, I'm still looking forward to Short Story Long, a collection of short stories and novellas that tell original stories rather than (attempting to) retell the game, but admittedly, with less excitement than before.
One, this can barely be considered a novelization. You absolutely have to have played the game to understand what's going on, considering how much it jumps around. Hell, it even starts with 2B and 9S meeting Jackass, glossing right over their meeting Anemone. It also doesn't include anything at all from the side missions - no Engels, no Jean-Paul, no 16D - or even the ancillary stuff from the main story, like 6O's asides. I get that it would be even more massive had it attempted a true novelization of the game, but it's still disappointing, because the world-building stuff is even more interesting to me than the main plot. I'd also hoped I'd be able to recommend the book to people I wanted to get into the fandom but who wouldn't be interested in playing the game, and that obviously won't work.
Two, I'd been hoping that the new tidbits would include things like a more developed background for Simone, but most of the tidbits are just that - tiny little pieces. The only significant revelation is that I'm going to try to compile a list below of new info from the book so others can spare themselves the time.
There's also the issue of proofreading, or the lack thereof. The Commander becomes a "he," and Pod 046 becomes 146; there are lots of little annoying errors like that. The prose is also clunky at times, though I loved how Eve's voice was rendered.
Ultimately, this is a book strictly for Nier: Automata superfans who are willing to drag themselves through 255 pages (admittedly, they go fast) for the sake of a few interesting but minute details. It's as disappointing as it is frustrating, because it could have been so much better. I love these characters and this world, and had understood that Yoko Taro is quite conscientious about what he puts out, but that doesn't show here. That being said, I'm still looking forward to Short Story Long, a collection of short stories and novellas that tell original stories rather than (attempting to) retell the game, but admittedly, with less excitement than before.
March 12, 2020
"Everything That Lives Is Designed To End. They Are Perpetually Trapped In A Never-Ending Spiral Of Life And Death. However, Life Is All About The Struggle Within This Cycle. That Is What 'We' Believe."
October 6, 2018
My first ever preordered paperback...
The book is closely following and expanding the story uncovered by the earlier released game, including the same ending. One could only imagine what is coming in volume two, scheduled to arrive next year.
Definitely looking forward.
The book is closely following and expanding the story uncovered by the earlier released game, including the same ending. One could only imagine what is coming in volume two, scheduled to arrive next year.
Definitely looking forward.
January 13, 2021
Incompetencia absoluta, no sé si por parte del traductor o de Eishima. Sabiendo que esta segunda tiene relatos realmente competentes en Grimoire NieR y que el primero (Shota Okui) tiene la experiencia traductora de una piedra, tengo la sensación de que gran parte de la culpa reside en la versión inglesa. Me explayaría en este punto, pero baste decir que no hay una sola página en todo el libro que no tenga un mínimo de tres o cuatro anotaciones de faltas de ortografía, sintaxis, coherencia, cohesión, fluidez, referencias gramaticales... Las repeticiones de "as well"s, "so-called"s han sido de lo más gracioso, pero las uniones de adversativas y los saltos innecesarios de párrafo lo son aún más. Ha llegado un punto en el que ni siquiera los párrafos estaban bien divididos o unidos al diálogo. Puede que haya sido un problema de literariedad; las estructuras japonesas no se parecen demasiado a las inglesas, de ahí que el resultado de traducir con excesiva fidelidad pueda haber repercutido en la sensación de lectura.
Dejando a un lado lo más insoportable de la lectura, la verdad es que todo lo demás es igualmente insufrible. Muchas partes parecen un resumen de la historia del juego sin ninguna sustancia ni intención realmente narrativa, y otras parecen querer ir al siguiente punto de la trama sin dejar descansar el ritmo. El producto es inconsistente en su recreación de la mente corrupta de 9S y nunca llega a dar profundidad a A2 (en el juego también esta se queda a medias, pero por lo menos había un tiempo más que suficiente para que el jugador se acostumbre a ella jugablemente) mientras trata de resolver todo con un estilo indirecto libre bastante infantilizado. Parece que Eishima da por supuesto que los lectores de esta novela han experimentado el juego original y, de esta manera, o resulta en ocasiones incomprensible (especialmente por el ritmo) para un lector primerizo, o no aporta nada nuevo a la trama base. Como mucho, podría decir que las secciones "Another Side" tratan de meterse un poco en la mente de Adam, Eve y A2, pero el intento se queda ahí. En ese respecto, tampoco se adaptan las misiones secundarias (totalmente unidas a la historia y filosofía de la obra) más allá de unas pocas que, siendo justos, son necesarias para que algunos momentos ganen más fuerza (A2 y la gente de Pascal, por ejemplo).
Esta adaptación no solo no hacía ninguna falta, sino que directamente demerita el juego del que parte al hacer de su historia algo mucho menos profundo y más al grano. No trata de subvertir las bases de la novela (cosa que habría mejorado la experiencia y resultaría continuista con las ideas experimentales lúdicas del juego) ni permite al lector hacerse una imagen de cada personaje. Resulta curioso que incluso las decisiones del jugador se resuelvan con una respuesta predeterminada, sin arrojar luz sobre cómo la obra original lograba hacer que el jugador quedara marcado por algunas escenas. El "momento Pascal" o el Final E siguen dejándome hecho trizas cada vez que los experimento, pero aquí se tratan con poca o ninguna importancia. Si tuviera que resumir mi opinión sobre la obra, partiría de esta última frase: una obra a la que parece no interesarle lo más mínimo aquello que cuenta no podría causarme más que indiferencia. Una lástima.
Dejando a un lado lo más insoportable de la lectura, la verdad es que todo lo demás es igualmente insufrible. Muchas partes parecen un resumen de la historia del juego sin ninguna sustancia ni intención realmente narrativa, y otras parecen querer ir al siguiente punto de la trama sin dejar descansar el ritmo. El producto es inconsistente en su recreación de la mente corrupta de 9S y nunca llega a dar profundidad a A2 (en el juego también esta se queda a medias, pero por lo menos había un tiempo más que suficiente para que el jugador se acostumbre a ella jugablemente) mientras trata de resolver todo con un estilo indirecto libre bastante infantilizado. Parece que Eishima da por supuesto que los lectores de esta novela han experimentado el juego original y, de esta manera, o resulta en ocasiones incomprensible (especialmente por el ritmo) para un lector primerizo, o no aporta nada nuevo a la trama base. Como mucho, podría decir que las secciones "Another Side" tratan de meterse un poco en la mente de Adam, Eve y A2, pero el intento se queda ahí. En ese respecto, tampoco se adaptan las misiones secundarias (totalmente unidas a la historia y filosofía de la obra) más allá de unas pocas que, siendo justos, son necesarias para que algunos momentos ganen más fuerza (A2 y la gente de Pascal, por ejemplo).
Esta adaptación no solo no hacía ninguna falta, sino que directamente demerita el juego del que parte al hacer de su historia algo mucho menos profundo y más al grano. No trata de subvertir las bases de la novela (cosa que habría mejorado la experiencia y resultaría continuista con las ideas experimentales lúdicas del juego) ni permite al lector hacerse una imagen de cada personaje. Resulta curioso que incluso las decisiones del jugador se resuelvan con una respuesta predeterminada, sin arrojar luz sobre cómo la obra original lograba hacer que el jugador quedara marcado por algunas escenas. El "momento Pascal" o el Final E siguen dejándome hecho trizas cada vez que los experimento, pero aquí se tratan con poca o ninguna importancia. Si tuviera que resumir mi opinión sobre la obra, partiría de esta última frase: una obra a la que parece no interesarle lo más mínimo aquello que cuenta no podría causarme más que indiferencia. Una lástima.
August 27, 2020
I can sum up my feelings on this book in one word: disappointment.
The writer skims through the story, breezing through major plot points and making them lack the impact that they should have. In fact, some plot points are referenced later in the story "after" they have happened instead of leading us up to it or describing it as it happens.
Most of the main characters lack any real character descriptions as if we're expected to already be familiar with them from playing the game. I'm very familiar with the characters, but lacking characterization makes them feel distant in written form.
There's no real sense of urgency; most of the battles are over in a sentence or two as if the androids are never in any real danger. There's no tension. Certain parts of the story are completely left out - of course this is necessary when adapting into book form, but much of the story just feels too surface level because of it.
And on top of all this, the English version is weighed down by a very amateurish translation which relies too much on direct translation, repeated words, and an overuse of passive verbs. It's clunky, odd, and even confusing at times. Additionally, each chapter has a handful of typos.
The translation reads like a 1st draft. Maybe it was rushed.
What might be worst of all is that the translator obviously did little or no research into the game before working on this.
On the other hand, there's a bit more from the perspective of Adam & Eve as well as A2, a bit more than what we get in the game. This is a nice addition, and these sections are worth reading on their own (for people who've finished the game).
I wouldn't say this book is "bad", just very, very lacking in so many ways. The story would have benefited from being split into two books, having the first book be route A with the second book having routes B, C/D, and E.
The writer skims through the story, breezing through major plot points and making them lack the impact that they should have. In fact, some plot points are referenced later in the story "after" they have happened instead of leading us up to it or describing it as it happens.
Most of the main characters lack any real character descriptions as if we're expected to already be familiar with them from playing the game. I'm very familiar with the characters, but lacking characterization makes them feel distant in written form.
There's no real sense of urgency; most of the battles are over in a sentence or two as if the androids are never in any real danger. There's no tension. Certain parts of the story are completely left out - of course this is necessary when adapting into book form, but much of the story just feels too surface level because of it.
And on top of all this, the English version is weighed down by a very amateurish translation which relies too much on direct translation, repeated words, and an overuse of passive verbs. It's clunky, odd, and even confusing at times. Additionally, each chapter has a handful of typos.
The translation reads like a 1st draft. Maybe it was rushed.
What might be worst of all is that the translator obviously did little or no research into the game before working on this.
On the other hand, there's a bit more from the perspective of Adam & Eve as well as A2, a bit more than what we get in the game. This is a nice addition, and these sections are worth reading on their own (for people who've finished the game).
I wouldn't say this book is "bad", just very, very lacking in so many ways. The story would have benefited from being split into two books, having the first book be route A with the second book having routes B, C/D, and E.
November 14, 2018
You need to finish the game in order to fully understand this book, it’s technically the same story but with a little more of explanation. But in some parts (and I truly don’t know why) are really bad written, miss of grammar, syntax issues, etc. It’s weird, I mean, where are the editors!? Lol. But overall it’s a fair book, for fans only.
October 20, 2018
I really enjoyed this book overall. As a huge fan of the Nier series and the way Yoko Taro tells stories I really love anything that he had a hand in story wise. Nier: Automata is also one of my favorite video games. That being said you do need a knowledge of the Nier games (at the very least Automata) to get the most out of this book.
I really enjoyed that they didn't just do a full 1:1 with the game. I thought the memories of non game events and thoughts of the characters were very much welcome. The story wasn't completely fluid due to how certain events were glossed over but I also understand why it was done because if they included everything the book would have been hundreds of pages longer (also Short Story Long isn't out yet). I thought the "other side" portions with Eve, Adam, and A2 were great additions and expansions to the story.
I was disappointed they completely omitted Emil (he's on the spine damnit!) and the factory mission with the machine cult. Emil's omission especially bothered me due to his importance in the series overall (especially in the first Nier game) and his connection to A2.
I will say some of the criticisms I've see on Amazon, here, and other sites are a little unfair or in some cases incorrect.
One of the most common I've seen is that the book has typos. Yes it does have a few (I think all in all I counted maybe 5) but this is not only a first edition (when I'm writing this review the book is less than a month old) but this book is also not originally in English. Translations are a lot more prone to typos and likely the few I've seen will be corrected in future editions. Maybe it's because I've read a lot of indie books this year but I personally won't doc a book due to a few small typos.
Another criticism I've seen is that the book doesn't add anything new or doesn't start at the beginning. I would actually say this is inaccurate. Not only does the prologue cover the history before the game but it also quickly covers the first mission of the game. Unless you skip the prologue I'd say saying it doesn't start at the beginning is a little inaccurate (do I wish there was more detail, yes, but also it's called Long Story Short). I'd also argue the inclusion of the Adam and Eve "other side" portions makes the "nothing new" argument also incorrect. This book is not a compendium of totally new information but these other side potions and just getting to hear the character's inner thoughts was new enough information for me personally.
Overall this is a great book if you're a fan of the Nier series, if you still want to read this book but have not or can not play the game look up "Clemps" on Youtube and watch his Nier and Nier: Automata videos. Those are most definitely enough of a primer to read this.
I really enjoyed that they didn't just do a full 1:1 with the game. I thought the memories of non game events and thoughts of the characters were very much welcome. The story wasn't completely fluid due to how certain events were glossed over but I also understand why it was done because if they included everything the book would have been hundreds of pages longer (also Short Story Long isn't out yet). I thought the "other side" portions with Eve, Adam, and A2 were great additions and expansions to the story.
I was disappointed they completely omitted Emil (he's on the spine damnit!) and the factory mission with the machine cult. Emil's omission especially bothered me due to his importance in the series overall (especially in the first Nier game) and his connection to A2.
I will say some of the criticisms I've see on Amazon, here, and other sites are a little unfair or in some cases incorrect.
One of the most common I've seen is that the book has typos. Yes it does have a few (I think all in all I counted maybe 5) but this is not only a first edition (when I'm writing this review the book is less than a month old) but this book is also not originally in English. Translations are a lot more prone to typos and likely the few I've seen will be corrected in future editions. Maybe it's because I've read a lot of indie books this year but I personally won't doc a book due to a few small typos.
Another criticism I've seen is that the book doesn't add anything new or doesn't start at the beginning. I would actually say this is inaccurate. Not only does the prologue cover the history before the game but it also quickly covers the first mission of the game. Unless you skip the prologue I'd say saying it doesn't start at the beginning is a little inaccurate (do I wish there was more detail, yes, but also it's called Long Story Short). I'd also argue the inclusion of the Adam and Eve "other side" portions makes the "nothing new" argument also incorrect. This book is not a compendium of totally new information but these other side potions and just getting to hear the character's inner thoughts was new enough information for me personally.
Overall this is a great book if you're a fan of the Nier series, if you still want to read this book but have not or can not play the game look up "Clemps" on Youtube and watch his Nier and Nier: Automata videos. Those are most definitely enough of a primer to read this.
November 7, 2018
In many ways, this novelization was a disappointment. The writing is fine, but true to the title (Long Story Short), it skims over anything that could remotely considered a “detail” (and sometimes entire significant events like, I don’t know, the first couple hours of the game) causing it to read at times like an overgrown Wikipedia entry. There is virtually nothing new to be found about the world of Drakengard/Nier in this book, at least for casual fans (the more astute might find a couple of new tidbits to create dramatic theories about but I am not that heavily invested into the series). The whole thing feels like a pointless exercise commissioned solely so Square Enix could extract a few more $10 bills from the pockets of Yoko Taro fans. Still, I have to admit there were parts of the book that I genuinely found myself having fun reading, especially in the latter part of the book where the author seems to have more space to provide meaningful characterization for the narrators which fans of the game will probably enjoy. Ultimately it’s an OK read to revisit the gist of the story and characters some time after you play the game but keep your expectations in check.
December 18, 2021
For anyone that has played the game, this book doesn't do it justice. The mistakes are fairly simple, the writer chosen to novelize this story has very little writing skill. Sadly, he doesn't capture much emotion in the characters or the heavier scenes and fails to add any additional details to them. The story is told instead of shown. There's no attempts to add more to characters whom didn't get much light within the game which most novelizations do. The book feels more like a Wikipedia summary than a story. You may believe this review is too harsh, though this comes from a genuine fan of Automata.
October 22, 2018
Perhaps weird translation and crude publishing (zero proofreading) ruins a lot of a quick retelling of some of the main parts of the game. The book does not add much to the game. Even though, I was glad to read through its pages as the game overflows with ideas.
April 26, 2020
Books adapting video games into the literature format is nothing new. In fact, many video games originally started as scripts or drafts before they were submitted and later brought into the world of colorful pixels and fantastic visual storytelling. Then comes a game like Nier Automata which frankly does a spectacular job using all of its sources it has on the PlayStation 4 (or any other gaming system you might use) to present one if not the best story driven you've seen in the last couple of years with intriguing tweaks and meta insight to its core gameplay mechanics to improve your journey and to have a full appreciation to it.
Then what is the problem with a light novel such as this? It tries to retell the entirety of the story but lacks the depth and what makes Nier Automata truly special. It doesn't have the soul of the soundtrack that is one of the highly integral parts of what makes this game so memorable. The story which has so many routes, repeatability options and so many secrets to unfold is summarized in such a short time you can't even process anything. The book simply parades around as a novelization of the story and frankly I am appealed by how little of thought went into this. Sometimes adaptions needs to reflect more carefully on how you want your audience will seek enjoyment out of another medium to a product they already consumed and bought.
Don't get me wrong. Jun Eishima is a phenomenal writer and does a great job with what she has but on this light novel she couldn't bring out what me and so many others loved about this game. I hope that the other short stories collection book has much more to offer then this sad little bauble.
Then what is the problem with a light novel such as this? It tries to retell the entirety of the story but lacks the depth and what makes Nier Automata truly special. It doesn't have the soul of the soundtrack that is one of the highly integral parts of what makes this game so memorable. The story which has so many routes, repeatability options and so many secrets to unfold is summarized in such a short time you can't even process anything. The book simply parades around as a novelization of the story and frankly I am appealed by how little of thought went into this. Sometimes adaptions needs to reflect more carefully on how you want your audience will seek enjoyment out of another medium to a product they already consumed and bought.
Don't get me wrong. Jun Eishima is a phenomenal writer and does a great job with what she has but on this light novel she couldn't bring out what me and so many others loved about this game. I hope that the other short stories collection book has much more to offer then this sad little bauble.
July 16, 2022
When I was reading the first few chapters, I was a little disappointed. Maybe my expectations were a little too high, considering I am a huge fan of the NieR Automata game. Throughout the book I did notice, however, that I was greatly enjoying the extra insights in the characters’ thoughts and emotions.
Still, I could not shake the feeling that the writing of this book made it feel like I was reading fanfiction. Not outstandingly well-written, but a fun read nonetheless. (I also think part of this is due to the translation, feels like it was a little off here and there).
Would I recommend this book? Hmm. I would say play the game instead, as it is much better in my opinion. But if you’re longing for more NieR Automata content like I am, this book is a fun retelling of the events in the game! I had a good time reading it, all things considered.
Still, I could not shake the feeling that the writing of this book made it feel like I was reading fanfiction. Not outstandingly well-written, but a fun read nonetheless. (I also think part of this is due to the translation, feels like it was a little off here and there).
Would I recommend this book? Hmm. I would say play the game instead, as it is much better in my opinion. But if you’re longing for more NieR Automata content like I am, this book is a fun retelling of the events in the game! I had a good time reading it, all things considered.
July 24, 2024
I must say that the story as presented in the NieR: Automata video game is a 10/10, unfortunately the same cannot be said for the novelisation.
Awful prose.
Rushed pacing.
Story reveals moved around until they become ineffectual.
Emotionality removed.
Flat tone.
Flat characters.
Perhaps this book works better in the original language, and the translation is to blame, but that is not something I am able to judge.
As it stands, I only finished it as I'm already a huge fan of the game.
Awful prose.
Rushed pacing.
Story reveals moved around until they become ineffectual.
Emotionality removed.
Flat tone.
Flat characters.
Perhaps this book works better in the original language, and the translation is to blame, but that is not something I am able to judge.
As it stands, I only finished it as I'm already a huge fan of the game.
Read
May 12, 2021So I've recently finished all the 5 endings of Nier Replicant on PS4 & wanted to re-experience Nier Automata a 2nd time to refresh my memory about all the references I missed when I played it the 1st time a few years ago but I couldn't get my hands on a physical copy anywhere so I settled for this novelization.
Honestly Idk how I feel about this because Nier Automata is meant to be experienced in its game medium but it served its purpose as a reminder even if it was a chore to sit through at some parts 😂💔
Honestly Idk how I feel about this because Nier Automata is meant to be experienced in its game medium but it served its purpose as a reminder even if it was a chore to sit through at some parts 😂💔
September 17, 2024
A book from one of my favorite games is going to be hard to review. It’s far from perfect, without spoiling too much the book is no more than a very linear telling of the main story. Even in that, I enjoyed reading the scenes that I am very familiar with in game. There are a few pieces of exposition at the end of the book that make it worth it to me. If you are a fan of the game, it’s worth a quick read.
March 4, 2022
this book follows the exact plot as the game.
not a day goes by that i don't feel the influence of the nier games, like the happy but slow crawl towards reading more nietzsche, or pinning each OST piece to my own city spots.
for a story about androids, there pulses a most heartfelt creativity.
not a day goes by that i don't feel the influence of the nier games, like the happy but slow crawl towards reading more nietzsche, or pinning each OST piece to my own city spots.
for a story about androids, there pulses a most heartfelt creativity.
January 3, 2023
Love the Nier: Automata game and wanted a refresher before the anime dropped this month but I will say I feel “long story short” does it justice. Recommend the game more so.
January 23, 2025
It’s NieR 🤷♂️
August 30, 2024
3.25
While I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who isn’t familiar with NieR Automata, it makes for a nice companion that clears some more obscure plot points which remain ambiguous in the game.
While I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who isn’t familiar with NieR Automata, it makes for a nice companion that clears some more obscure plot points which remain ambiguous in the game.
October 3, 2023
It's a confusing book if you haven't played the NieR games, but if you have, then you won't mind that the story jumps around quite a bit. I found it very enjoyable.
Stars taken off for really obvious typos and spelling mistakes.
Stars taken off for really obvious typos and spelling mistakes.
August 2, 2025
Even looking past the mediocre translation (calling the commander "he" at times, referring to a "9B", lack of research into game specific terms, and very direct translation from Japanese, which leads to clunky sentences), the book is hard to recommend.
Since it only includes the main story of the game, any side quest or dialogue that serves to build character or the world around them is lost, and the book makes no attempt at remedying this on its own. Pacing is very off, with the text skipping between major plot points as if it's on a tight schedule, and at times it almost reads like a bullet point list of plot points that the characters just have to go through. It also lacks any sort of description for any area visited or characters introduced, which makes it really hard to form any sort of mental image if you haven't already seen it all from the game.
The redeeming factor is the new/original information added in by the book. Unfortunately, these bits are few and usually not that major, so all in all, it's hard to recommend this to a fan of the game, let alone as an alternative to those who can't get into the game.
Since it only includes the main story of the game, any side quest or dialogue that serves to build character or the world around them is lost, and the book makes no attempt at remedying this on its own. Pacing is very off, with the text skipping between major plot points as if it's on a tight schedule, and at times it almost reads like a bullet point list of plot points that the characters just have to go through. It also lacks any sort of description for any area visited or characters introduced, which makes it really hard to form any sort of mental image if you haven't already seen it all from the game.
The redeeming factor is the new/original information added in by the book. Unfortunately, these bits are few and usually not that major, so all in all, it's hard to recommend this to a fan of the game, let alone as an alternative to those who can't get into the game.
December 3, 2018
Nier:Automata: Long Story Short is pretty much just that - the story of Nier Automata, a game which can run you up to 40 hours or more, condensed to a much more generous fraction than that. But in condensing the story, it removes everything that made Automata stand out or interesting. On top of that, it's dully written and bereft of any actual compelling reason to read this; other than the notion of "what happens if you tried to novelize Nier: Automata?"
Points for trying, but go play the game and experience what Automata is really supposed to be.
Points for trying, but go play the game and experience what Automata is really supposed to be.
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April 5, 2024Más material para alimentar mi obsesión por Nier:Automata. Me entretuvo aunque entiendo que para algunos pueda resultar repetitivo ya que sigue el guión de los juegos, aportando solo algunos detalles adicionales.
January 8, 2019
An okay adaptation of an amazing game's story, which unfortunately lacks plenty of the charm and emotion on display in the actual game.
December 6, 2025
It's Nier so it good. Translation is a little wack and it's an exact retelling, so just play the game instead, better experience and message delivery overall
December 13, 2021
It could be said that one should not expect too much out of a video game novelization, but I simply refuse to believe that you can't take interesting stories from games, cut out all the gameplay fat, and create a cohesive narrative that works well in the written word. Like terrible live-action adaptations of animation or bad movie adaptations of books, there are many examples of such things failing, but I simply refuse to believe that it can't be done.
Nier:Automata was a very unique gaming experience for me. I bought the game just because I'd seen a short video displaying the combat system, bought it craving something new, and dove into it not expecting to care about the story at all. I have since replayed the game many times and have truly fallen in love with it. I absolutely loathe stories that try to humanize robots, because I think they rarely do a good job at trying to convince me to care about machines when we can't even get people to care about other people, but Nier:Automata was one of the first to actually make me pay attention. This novelization, which as it's name suggests, is supposed to be a retelling of this beloved game in novel form.
And it failed spectacularly.
I could go into detail, but basically it all boils down to nuance. The game did an excellent job of setting up the story and paying it off. Some of it's messages at first felt childish but ended up being beautifully emotional. There were even a lot of aspects of the game that I thought were happy mistakes, such as the barren world and simplistic/empty building structures, and the fact that the androids wore blindfolds. At first I dismissed these either as development limitations or pure aesthetics, but the longer I played and the more I thought about them, the more symbolic they felt. The whole game is kind of like that, and when I later learned about the bosses and their philosophical counterparts, I started to believe that those happy accidents maybe weren't so accidental.
The novelization glosses over a lot of things that it shouldn't have, tries to explain away game mechanics that it shouldn't have even touched, blatantly points out foreshadowing in inner monologue that should have remained mysterious, and the whole thing just felt choppy and unnecessary. I read this novelization because I was a fan and wanted some deeper exploration of the story, but all I really got was an uglier and messier version that sometimes couldn't even get the characters names right (translation errors?)
I was baffled why they chose to directly follow the game character progression too, instead of splitting the first half between 2B and 9S perspectives, and I have no idea why the "Become as Gods" part was cut.
Some people like to the pull the "Real fans of Nier:Automata will love this," but as a fan I didn't see the point. Just play the game again . . . and again, and again.
Nier:Automata was a very unique gaming experience for me. I bought the game just because I'd seen a short video displaying the combat system, bought it craving something new, and dove into it not expecting to care about the story at all. I have since replayed the game many times and have truly fallen in love with it. I absolutely loathe stories that try to humanize robots, because I think they rarely do a good job at trying to convince me to care about machines when we can't even get people to care about other people, but Nier:Automata was one of the first to actually make me pay attention. This novelization, which as it's name suggests, is supposed to be a retelling of this beloved game in novel form.
And it failed spectacularly.
I could go into detail, but basically it all boils down to nuance. The game did an excellent job of setting up the story and paying it off. Some of it's messages at first felt childish but ended up being beautifully emotional. There were even a lot of aspects of the game that I thought were happy mistakes, such as the barren world and simplistic/empty building structures, and the fact that the androids wore blindfolds. At first I dismissed these either as development limitations or pure aesthetics, but the longer I played and the more I thought about them, the more symbolic they felt. The whole game is kind of like that, and when I later learned about the bosses and their philosophical counterparts, I started to believe that those happy accidents maybe weren't so accidental.
The novelization glosses over a lot of things that it shouldn't have, tries to explain away game mechanics that it shouldn't have even touched, blatantly points out foreshadowing in inner monologue that should have remained mysterious, and the whole thing just felt choppy and unnecessary. I read this novelization because I was a fan and wanted some deeper exploration of the story, but all I really got was an uglier and messier version that sometimes couldn't even get the characters names right (translation errors?)
I was baffled why they chose to directly follow the game character progression too, instead of splitting the first half between 2B and 9S perspectives, and I have no idea why the "Become as Gods" part was cut.
Some people like to the pull the "Real fans of Nier:Automata will love this," but as a fan I didn't see the point. Just play the game again . . . and again, and again.
February 22, 2022
This was a painful read, but Automata's really traumatic for me, even if it's still my favorite game. It was the last of the books I had left to read and I was lucky to read it after pretty much every other material had been released, including all the crossovers with other games and the special content in the Replicant remake and Re[in]carnation, thus it was the perfect closure when I already had all the additional info about what really happened. Maybe because of that, I really enjoyed it. I didn't feel, like other reviewers, that it was too short or that too much was left out, because I didn't expect a detailed novelization of the game, I already got the platinum there, meaning I played over 200 hours and did everything that could be done in the Automata universe, what I wanted, and the book provided, was a deeper view into some characters or events in the game. Obviously, the side quests were left out and even important characters, like Emil (Ouch!), but I understand it was necessary. Instead we got to see a bit into the reasoning of Adam, Eve and, of course, 9S, 2B and A2, besides the Pods. And even with all the info I already had, it was heart wrenching.
Things to consider: I assume if you're interested in reading this you obviously played the game, otherwise it's pointless and you won't even understand what's going on. It doesn't replace the game, it adds to it. In fact, in this novel there are some parts that refer to the other Automata books, things that weren't in the game, so you should have read the other books too before grabbing this one. I was lucky and just did it in that order without knowing it was supposed to be that way.
I loved it and it made me cry (once more!) and the few typos (yes, there were some), didn't even bother me much. I think Eishima did a great work with this one, she included just what was necessary to add even more depth to the story of the game without being too repetitive. A must for any fan of Automata, the Nier games or YT.
Now I think I'll need to play the game again because I bet it must be a really different experience playing it from scratch knowing all there's to know upfront. Every line must have such a different meaning... But well, after Elden Ring.
Things to consider: I assume if you're interested in reading this you obviously played the game, otherwise it's pointless and you won't even understand what's going on. It doesn't replace the game, it adds to it. In fact, in this novel there are some parts that refer to the other Automata books, things that weren't in the game, so you should have read the other books too before grabbing this one. I was lucky and just did it in that order without knowing it was supposed to be that way.
I loved it and it made me cry (once more!) and the few typos (yes, there were some), didn't even bother me much. I think Eishima did a great work with this one, she included just what was necessary to add even more depth to the story of the game without being too repetitive. A must for any fan of Automata, the Nier games or YT.
Now I think I'll need to play the game again because I bet it must be a really different experience playing it from scratch knowing all there's to know upfront. Every line must have such a different meaning... But well, after Elden Ring.
January 11, 2019
Nier Automata: Long Story Short is a Japanese light novel adaption to the video game Nier Automata. It retells the story of video game in novel form. From 2B's perspective in the first half amd 9S's in the second half. Throughout the novel you will also get snippets of Adam & Eve and A2 throughout the novel faithfully adapting the video game, one of my favorites I played in 2018. Despite loving the game and enjoying this novel it has problems that can only make me recommend it to hardcore fans of the game. First of the English translation is poorly done. Syntax, grammar, typos are very common in the novel especially in the beginning. I had to reread certain sections to make sure I didn't misread it by mistake and nope it was just poorly translated. Which is a shame as I played Nier Automata (game) in English and it was a great dub and seeing how poorly the light novel was translated in comparison was disappointing to say the least. Being an adaption of the video game also means if you played the game you already know what's going to happen. It pretty much follows the plot from endings A-E while skipping most of the side quest stories for obvious reasons. It becomes hard to recommend as the game is clearly superior over the light novel and the novel doesn't differentiate that much over the game. Nier Automata becomes a hard sell almost immediately but it's not all bad as the light novel has a few saving graces. What the novel does well is it showcases the internal emotions of both 2B and 9S during key events of the game. It shows why 2B is so cold and distant, why 9S was curious and inquisitive. Add to that more A2 story and her origins that was not mention in the game you get extra stuff that fans would absolutely love. A number of fan theories will be confirmed after reading the novel. In conclusion, Nier Automata: Long Story Short isn't a bad adaption of Nier Automata it's suffers from some poor translation but if you are a fan of the game and loved the story and characters, then Nier Automata is absolutely worth a read as at the end of the day it is still Nier Automata.
October 31, 2020
I can sum up my feelings on this book in one word: disappointing.
The writer skims through the story, breezing through major plot points and making them lack the impact that they should have. In fact, some plot points are referenced later in the story "after" they have happened instead of leading us up to it or describing it as it happens.
Most of the main characters lack any real character descriptions as if we're expected to already be familiar with them from playing the game. I'm very familiar with the characters, but lacking characterization makes them feel distant in written form.
There's no real sense of urgency; most of the battles are over in a sentence or two as if the androids are never in any real danger. There's no tension. Certain parts of the story are completely left out - of course this is necessary when adapting into book form, but much of the story just feels too surface level because of it.
And on top of all this, the English version is weighed down by a very amateurish translation which relies too much on direct translation, repeated words, and an overuse of passive verbs. It's clunky, odd, and even confusing at times. Additionally, each chapter has a handful of typos.
The translation reads like a 1st draft. Maybe it was rushed.
What might be worst of all is that the translator obviously did little or no research into the game before working on this.
On the other hand, there's a bit more from the perspective of Adam & Eve as well as A2, a bit more than what we get in the game. This is a nice addition, and these sections are worth reading on their own (for people who've finished the game).
Overall, I wouldn't say this book is "bad", just very, very lacking in so many ways. The story would have benefited from being split into two books, having the first book be route A with the second book having routes B, C/D, and E.
The writer skims through the story, breezing through major plot points and making them lack the impact that they should have. In fact, some plot points are referenced later in the story "after" they have happened instead of leading us up to it or describing it as it happens.
Most of the main characters lack any real character descriptions as if we're expected to already be familiar with them from playing the game. I'm very familiar with the characters, but lacking characterization makes them feel distant in written form.
There's no real sense of urgency; most of the battles are over in a sentence or two as if the androids are never in any real danger. There's no tension. Certain parts of the story are completely left out - of course this is necessary when adapting into book form, but much of the story just feels too surface level because of it.
And on top of all this, the English version is weighed down by a very amateurish translation which relies too much on direct translation, repeated words, and an overuse of passive verbs. It's clunky, odd, and even confusing at times. Additionally, each chapter has a handful of typos.
The translation reads like a 1st draft. Maybe it was rushed.
What might be worst of all is that the translator obviously did little or no research into the game before working on this.
On the other hand, there's a bit more from the perspective of Adam & Eve as well as A2, a bit more than what we get in the game. This is a nice addition, and these sections are worth reading on their own (for people who've finished the game).
Overall, I wouldn't say this book is "bad", just very, very lacking in so many ways. The story would have benefited from being split into two books, having the first book be route A with the second book having routes B, C/D, and E.
August 20, 2024
I'm a huge fan of the Nier series as a whole. I've spent so many hours listening to different analyses and takes. But this is my first time dipping into the novels themselves, and I'm not disappointed. In fact, I'm surprised, pleasantly so.
NieR: Automata has always been a story about personal philosophy and finding what it means to be human. With the added content seen in the side stories, we see this not only with the protagonists but also the antagonists. Adam decides that to be human is to die, and he does. Eve decides that his own philosophy is to play and love his brother - despite knowing deep down that Adam does not care for him as much as he cares for finding out about what it means to be human.
We are met with different calibres of character here. Androids prohibited from emotion and Machine lifeforms exploring topics such as monarchy, religion, kinship. They are parallel in this regard; exploration.
Just like how I was when I first played the game, I was heartbroken seeing the descent of 9S, and the tragic hatred Eve felt for the world during his grief. The story, regardless of a few typos due to translation, is extremely compelling. It is one of my favourite stories in fiction to date, and seeing the recap of one of my favourite tales with additional content and perspective is something very much appreciated.
Every piece of Nier media following Drakengard and its secret ending is canon. From the stage plays, the concerts, novels, collaborations and additional games, there is a plethora of content to pick apart. I will never regret taking part in it and enjoying it.
Nier has changed me fundamentally. I cannot recommend it enough for gamers and readers alike.
NieR: Automata has always been a story about personal philosophy and finding what it means to be human. With the added content seen in the side stories, we see this not only with the protagonists but also the antagonists. Adam decides that to be human is to die, and he does. Eve decides that his own philosophy is to play and love his brother - despite knowing deep down that Adam does not care for him as much as he cares for finding out about what it means to be human.
We are met with different calibres of character here. Androids prohibited from emotion and Machine lifeforms exploring topics such as monarchy, religion, kinship. They are parallel in this regard; exploration.
Just like how I was when I first played the game, I was heartbroken seeing the descent of 9S, and the tragic hatred Eve felt for the world during his grief. The story, regardless of a few typos due to translation, is extremely compelling. It is one of my favourite stories in fiction to date, and seeing the recap of one of my favourite tales with additional content and perspective is something very much appreciated.
Every piece of Nier media following Drakengard and its secret ending is canon. From the stage plays, the concerts, novels, collaborations and additional games, there is a plethora of content to pick apart. I will never regret taking part in it and enjoying it.
Nier has changed me fundamentally. I cannot recommend it enough for gamers and readers alike.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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