First Impressions: NieR: Replicant
The original NieR: Replicant or Gestalt for the western audience, was released over 10 years ago. It really wasn’t spoken about nor did it get the best reviews at the time. Thanks to the support, praise and reception NieR: Automata received, we are now blessed to play this fully updated version aptly titled:
NieR: Replicant ver 1.22474487139
Yes a mouthful, but it’s basically the square root of 1.5. A remaster but also with some additional content, never before released stuff as well some extra lore to tie into Automata. Honestly, if there is one thing I am grateful for is having played NieR: Automata first. Even though this game is technically the prequel in a sense to Automata. The vibe from the music to the world itself feels almost welcoming having that introduction previously.
After spending a good 30+ hours of gameplay time, 20 of that was probably spent fishing TBH!! I can say this entry has been what I knew what I was going to get with a Yoko Taro game: SADNESS!! Ok hear me out. Yes in a world where us, as gamers, go to escape, we want to be away form the scary times. But there is something quite endearing of NieR’s themes of sadness, love and loss. A world that has you engage with NPC’s (non-playable characters) to a point where, they, even feel as important as the protagonist,. is huge feat on its own. This game of course offers multiple playthroughs to get even more story. As of writing this I am currently at the end of my first play through. But if its anything like Automata, each one will give me even that much more reason to play again and again. Hopefully we won’t have 26 endings like before lmao. But if anything I expect there to be at least 5. Since previously, the main endings were A-E, with E being the true ending to finish off the story.
Aside from the great story telling of NieR comes the even bigger highlight of the series itself:
THE SOUNDTRACK.
Since the release of NieR: Automata back in 2018, that soundtrack has been a constant on my playlists til this day. Minutes into Replicant I was already was captivated by its sound. Some of my favorite details, is when running around in the open world. Depending on what the weather is like in game, there is a different arrangement to the songs. Fully cloudy days has mutable back drop sans vocals. When the sun is shining vibrantly it changes to a full arrangement of said song with amazing vocals as come to be expected in a NieR game. Some areas such as the Lost Shrine, have a on going soundtrack that gets a layer of added sounds and vocals when encountering enemies. Of course every boss battle is an over the top, fully orchestrated number that needs the volume raised IMMEDIATELY on your tv. I’m impressed hearing the original renditions to some songs that were in Automata. Now I have another NieR soundtrack to add to my playlist.
Is NieR a series for everyone, no. Is it niche, I don’t want to say it is that either. I have recommended this series to some who never really play JRPG’s and they have come out huge fans of it. Others can’t get passed the first area or bring themselves to do the side quests. Trust me there is plenty of side questing to do. Some are not so fun, but the pay off in the long run is worth it. Even one of the characters, Weiss, makes fun of it in game as well, so the team is aware lol. Ultimately, it’s all about character and world building. Something that producer Yoko Taro does very well. A world unlike any other I have played, a memorable one, and an emotional one.
So take a chance and give it a try. If you play Replicant as your first entry or like myself Automata first, either way it’s going to be an unforgettable experience, rich in lore, emotions and an amazing soundtrack to top it off.
Lucid OmniJack