10 Most Overlooked PS4 Gems Of 2017 (So Far)

3. NieR: Automata

Remember the first time you actually looked at the back of the case for that codec frequency in Metal Gear Solid? Or the time Arkham Asylum simulated a hard crash to show Scarecrow was infecting Bruce's mind?

It opens up an entirely new way of approaching video games as medium, and that's where NieR comes in. Being you're playing as an appointed android ridding the Earth of 'evil machines', in-game your character 2B is being controlled by a human command centre - which is then literally you, the player. This means you can 'unplug' various parts of her OS such as life bars, maps, other HUD elements or combat buffs, seeing the game use this as a way to explore the notion of manufactured personality and self.

From here, NieR goes full-on "What does it mean to be human?", with Platinum Games' signature third-person hack n' slashing propelling you to the next cutscene or dialogue sequence - the whole thing is wrapped in a larger "Slay the crazy other machines" setup.

Post-credits there are two additional playthroughs that put you in the shoes of other key characters, providing essential additional viewpoints to what NieR is truly about, and trying to say. Some parts of its message are far more conceptual than character-based, but when it hits, it hits hard.