VA Proxy is the perfect Steam Next Fest demo for those who really wish we already had NieR: Automata and Sekiro sequels

Have you ever seen a game that looked so ridiculous and insatiably cool that it filled you with such an intense desire to live that you could even feel a fraction of what was shown in the trailer? VA Proxy is one such game, and now that I’ve played its Steam Next Fest demo, I’m even more eager to play the full game before I die, because I need to feel as cool and deeper as the demo made me feel.

VA Proxy is a mysterious game, and its Steam page is no exception: “As time passed and the once enduring megastructures began to rot from the inside out, the world’s inhabitants began to follow suit, while a few managed to remain With their S-units out of the way, weapons of mass destruction thought to be harbingers of war began to awaken, breaking the hard-won stalemate that many machines had fought for, and as they awakened, things began to stir again…”

You are one of those S units, a humanoid robot with sword skills that are unmatched by all but the bosses you fight in the game. Enemies pop up frequently in the game world, and they can catch you off guard if you’re not careful, but it’s the bosses that really shine. The name of the game here is parrying, and you can parry almost anything – yes, even nukes – and it feels really fast.

As you get to know the bosses, you’ll be able to learn their attack patterns so you can deflect at the right times to earn energy that you can then use to fight. Timing your parries right can also res tore some health – combat feels like it borrows the best from Sekiro and Bloodborne, encouraging you to take risks to win all or nothing.

You’ll also find some strong Nier Automata vibes here, not just because you’re a robot wandering a destroyed planet, but because of the atmosphere. NieR: Automata is at its best when it really gives you a sense of monumental scale, but its open world sometimes only achieves that. VA Proxy, on the other hand, feels massive and lets you climb any mountain and jump on every dilapidated skyscraper you can see. The fast movement also makes this a dream, so I’m especially excited to explore the full map.

I’ve been keeping an eye on VA Proxy for a long time, and just from the demo alone, I feel like it could be one of the greatest action games ever made. The vibe is right, the gameplay is as fun as I hoped it would be, and there’s an interesting story that I’m looking forward to learning more about. What is not to love?