I really like the current arc in the manga actually. It is a struggle though… So many characters to keep track of, I forget most of them. It could be so much better if someone else took over drawing it but the actual plot is good: Phantom troupe, Hisoka and Kurapika all being near each other is exciting and Tseriednich is shaping up to be a great villain.
Nier Automata is one of my top 3 favorite games of all time but I agree with you. The beginning sequence sucks.