NieR is an action RPG with a third person view. After the prologue, the main character wields only melee weapons — swords and spears, but soon receives as a partner the chatty book Grimoire Weiss, which allows him to shoot magic balls and use special weapons. techniques that are revealed as the story progresses. For most of the game, the player fights with Shades — humanoid monsters, but in certain episodes and locations other enemies appear. The camera is primarily fixed behind the hero's back, but quite often moves to a side or top view. The player is free to move around the world. The RPG component is the ability to complete side quests, sometimes making choices, upgrading weapons for junk and money, and abilities by knocking out upgrades from mobs. Saving was only allowed manually at mailboxes.