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

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 attacks feel pretty good. I can feel my improvement since playing Automata, when I mostly button mashed my way through and couldn't perceive enemy movesets very well. But the dodge spam is a habit I have yet to break.

- I enjoyed the fights against the twin shades in the Lost Shrine and the giant shade outside of the Aerie. The realest villain, however, was the wild boar. He took me out twice and his health bar contained multitudes.

- As in Automata, I enjoy the changing camera perspectives. It mixes up the combat and enhances set pieces that may be more suited to a top-down or side scroller view. I can't think of other games I've played that do this, but I'd be interested to know.

- I like the idea of a sibling relationship at the story's emotional center. Starting out with the mystery of how these two appear to have lived a parallel existence 1,412 years ago drew my interest. If they had merely opened with the legend of the grimoires and the quest of collecting sealed verses, it would feel distant and generic by comparison.

- I adore NieR's music and art style. But I can tell they're saving the coolest shit for later on.

 NEUTRALITY!

- This isn't quite a dislike, but it's worth pointing out--after the opening, the game has a rather slow-paced start. It's a lot of running back and forth on errands, even while ignoring optional fetch quests, as I'm choosing to do. I interpret the purpose of this as a way to establish the protagonist's relatively mundane day-to-day life in the village, in contrast to whatever life changing event or grand adventure is sure to come. But it's a bit dry. But I honestly don't mind.

-Ass crack. 

 DISLIKES!

- The game did not offer me a way to access healing items quickly during combat. They are buried deep in the menu, which breaks the flow. I hope to discover another method.

- The "words" that randomly drop and can be equipped to weapons or abilities are underwhelming. A 2% stat increase is silliness. I am sure the words will increase in power, but hopefully they will get more interesting as well.

- The lock-on feels like an opp. To be fair, when have I played a game where it doesn't? Someone let me know if lock-on technology has improved in the last fifteen years.

- When an enemy lands a hit, I don't really feel it? In other games, taking damage feels more impactful and weighty. Maybe it's because my character doesn't visibly react unless he is knocked down or stunned.

 - Yonah acting like a dumbass feels contrived. Visiting the library when you're tired of being housebound is understandable. Running off to a shade-infested shrine when you are terminally ill and like, eight years old? I don't think she'd be physically capable of making it halfway there. But what can you do, she's clearly the chosen one. 

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