Reviewed on August 3, 2021
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Quick Info
| Date of Release | February 23, 2017 (Japan) May 7, 2019 (United States) |
| Publisher | Square Enix (Japan) Dark Horse (United States) |
| Number of Pages | 192 pages |
| Dimensions | 8 1/2″ X 12″ |
| Availability | On Sale (physical) |
| Retail Price | $39.99 |
| Price Bought | $27.00 (new) |
Quality of Paper/Print:
Each page is fairly thick with a reflective plastic-like cover, indicating durability. However, since most of the pages are colored black, smudges can be seen easily. While concept art is pristine and clear, in-game screenshots are often jagged and muddied by an ugly filter trying to emulate the pixelation of the logo. Although text is appropriate large, the book can feel quite empty and more spaced out than necessary.
Quality of Cover/Book:
The book also has the soft, sturdy hardcover that is prevalent across the Dark Horse artbooks. The pixelation effect on the front, however, can look a bit ugly.
Book Breakdown
Investigative Report (152/192 pages)
Maps / Guide (~30 pages):
A guide that is often confusing and too empty to rely on. Since the game already does a fair job with explaining where to go, this section is often useless. However, the book’s guide does point out a few places of interest that even I haven’t known about.
In-game Screenshots / Models (~40 pages):
While the book is somewhat fun to look at, emulating a firsthand experience of the game, these portions are also pointless since its text mostly paraphrases from the game. For the player who finished the game, you have already seen these pictures; for the player who just started, you will see them eventually.
Concept Art (~63 pages):
These are scattered across the book, and often take up two pages each. Each piece has a snippet of text that unfortunately doesn’t expand the lore at all—everything feels contained. The concept art primarily focuses on the world’s ruined landscapes, which can be boring to look at due to the game’s mostly unimaginative environments.
Character Bios (~17 pages):
Key arts on the characters that are beautiful to look at, but lacking in information. The blurbs often reiterate too much from the game and are too short to leave an impact.
Other Sections
Machine Records: Extract (12 pages):
The most dense and interesting section of the book, showcasing the incredibly intricate designs of the common enemy machines. This section certainly reminded me with how technical machinery can be, and would be of great interest for anyone pursuing that field of art. That said, 12 pages is incredibly lacking; where are the character designs, boss machine concept art, and so on?
Short Stories (15 pages):
Two short stories that take place within the game, further coloring the game’s setting for the new player, but providing no further understanding of its characters or world for the experienced player. The first story is a primer for what to expect of the game but written quite poorly. The second story reads much better but tells nothing we don’t already know.
Other Observations
This volume covers nearly the entirety of the game, and while it doesn’t spoil
major story and character revelations, it certainly ruins the surprise of the game’s progression. It’s odd that the book touches on all of the endings yet refuses to spoil the contents of the endgame.
Overall, Volume 1 feels more of an obligation from the company to produce something rather than the company having something to show. Those looking for a guide may be more satisfied than those looking for an artbook.
Verdict
Truth of Advertising
“Featuring maps, character biographies, short stories, concept art, and more!”
While true, the tagline is misleading; this book is by no means an “extensive” look into the game. This volume mostly contains maps, in-game screenshots, and concept art (without commentary).
“192 pages of art, lore, and exploration collected into a fantastic full-color hardcover volume!”
“Art” is prevalent but perhaps focuses too much on the landscapes; “lore” is quite lacking, given that most of the information can be easily discovered within the game; “exploration” is true since the guide overrides most of the book, though I can’t say it’s extensive.
Price to Content
The book’s content is not worth that $40 price tag. Both the guide aspect and artbook aspect are lacking, resulting in a book that is forgettable and useless. Those using the book as a guide will be immediately spoiled by text blurb and pictures; those using the book as an artbook have nothing “new” to look at.
$20 is the most I would be willing to spend on this book, but even then, there are better options. Nier: Automata has a few media tie-ins available that tell stories outside of the game’s events, while Nier: Automata World Guide Volume 2 essentially gives more bang for your buck by comparison.
Extent of Appeal
General Consumer:
For use as a game guide, this book would be often lacking in detail or useful reference. While the extra art, stories, and tidbits could be seen as a nice addition, anyone will be better off using an internet guide instead.
Developer (for gaming artbooks):
Despite the small, technical section regarding the anatomy of the enemy machines, there is no creator commentary or points of interest for a game developer.
Artist:
Filled with art, though most concept art revolves around environmental work. Artists would appreciate the “Machine Records: Extract”, though that short section is still not worth spending for.
Fan (& Everyone Else):
Even as a fan, the book is rather uninteresting. The guide does nothing for the experienced player and new players are better off simply discovering the game for themselves.
I’d advise anyone who wants to support Nier: Automata to purchase World Guide Volume 2 instead, which has more purpose than this volume. With its more technical and in-depth look into the story and gameplay, it succeeds as a game guide; with its well-rounded selection of concept art, character & mechanical design, and promotional art, it succeeds as an artbook; with much lore, short stories & readable sections, and creator commentary, it succeeds as an all-in-one book for fans.
Rating
EYE DISLIKE
CRITICAL RATING: 5/10
OVERALL...
Lacking both as a game guide and artbook, this volume contains mostly redundant and uninteresting information. Anyone—gamers, artists, fans—will find more worth in Volume 2 instead –
CRITICAL EYE 