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Showing posts from August, 2025

Rules Do Not Exist to Bind Us | NieR Replicant (2021) Part 3

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- The tedium of Facade broke my brain. What is the significance of the name? What is the purpose of this unbearably slow segment? How do I feel about it? Fyra run faster oh my goooooOOOOOOD - I survived the slowest boat tour in history and made it to the Barren Temple. The game pivots from non-existent gameplay to the most gamey of gameplay. Here is your reward for sitting through all that, it says with a smirk. This temple is a place for prospective kings of Facade to earn their title, completing a sequence of rules-based trials to earn the king's mask. By that logic, shouldn't young Moog be king? We did all the work, while the prince just needed rescuing. - However, I can't really blame the prince for acting like a dumb kid when he is  one. Here is yet another child with the weight of the world unfairly placed on his shoulders. Both young Moog and the prince have watched a loved one suffer from the Black Scrawl--but while we still have hope to save Yonah, the king of Faca...

From Seafront to the Junk Heap | NieR Replicant (2021) Part 2

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A couple developments on my initial dislikes: - The d-pad allows me to access healing items quickly. Yippee! - I learned my first "word" that is not simply a percentage-based stat increase. It adds a  paralyze  status to my attacks and magic. I combined this with another word that boosts the status effect by one level. When enemies are paralyzed, they show a blue lightning effect. Other thoughts: - The game is trolling? First, the game makes fun of its own fishing mechanic; I'm not even sure if it's real. Then, there is a cheeky conversation acknowledging how I have to run all the way back to the entrance of the Junk Heap area rather than the game providing a "warp." Then, Weiss snarkily comments on the Junk Heap boss's "obvious weak spot"--its big open mouth, of course. I shall give it an obligatory chuckle. - I fought a powerful shade outside of Seafront that I was clearly under-leveled for, as it one-shot me about six times. I stubbornly che...

1,412 Years Later... | NieR Replicant (2021) Part 1

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The original NieR released in 2010, with two versions that are nearly identical, save their titles and the protagonist's relationship to Yonah. The Japanese audience played NieR Replicant , featuring a teenage boy caring for his sister. Western audiences played NieR Gestalt , featuring an older man caring for his daughter. This 2021 remaster, titled NieR Replicant ver. 122474487139 ,  features the younger character, which was the originally intended concept. I played the 2017 sequel,  NieR Automata , a few years ago, and it earned a high position on my list of favorite games. However, I've forgotten many of the story details. Given that this game actually came first, I don't mind. I plan to replay Automata after this and enjoy the full context of both games. Today I experienced the opening flashback, familiarized myself with the village, ran errands for Popola, rescued Yonah from the Lost Shrine, explored the Aerie, and met Kaine. LIKES!  - The swordplay and magical att...