NieR Replicant updateee

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Writing a blog post for every single video was an ambitious goal. Still figuring out how I wanna do this!

So I'm about halfway through the replay to Endings C-D, and I'm definitely feeling exhausted. As I mention in today's recording, full completion of NieR Replicant is a labor of love. Even before the replays, repetition and tedium are woven into the fabric of this game. But I think I get what it's trying to do? CYCLES are the game's central motif. Cycles of trauma, loss, hatred, destruction. So the repetition is thematically sound and an effective way to make budget limitations serve the story, rather than hinder it. I don't know, I've sniffed a video essay or two featuring games that don't make fun their highest priority, which from a certain perspective is genius, actually. There's probably already one out there for this game lmao

But yeah, the fatigue is real. I'm absolutely phoning in the combat--thinking about how much I tried to parry in the beginning of the game is kinda hilarious. Now, it is nothing but mindless Dark Lance and finisher commands--there's rarely a reason to do anything else! I'm certainly overpowered at this point, but why turn up the difficulty when I'm just trying to get to the new cutscenes and lore drops? Plus, Moog's display of strength adds to the chilling effect of mercilessly cutting down the shades we now know to be the disembodied souls of human beings.

The drip feed of information only produces more questions. I gather that all gestalts are shades, but are all shades gestalts? How did the replicants, meant only to be empty vessels for human souls, develop their own independent sentience? Why do some shades, like Louise, possess immense power? Why is the Aerie shade, and why is it's name Wendy?! Why do Devola and Popola's actions seem so contradictory (in new cutscenes they discuss how they are using Moog to stop the Shadowlord, but then they die trying to stop us from reaching him)? Are we dealing with multiple sets of twins?

Oh yeah, that reminds me of all the pairs of siblings in this game. I have no deeper thought than the mere observation. Moog and Yonah! Devola and Popola! Emil and Halua! Jakob and Gideon! The sister shade we cut down while her little brother pleads for mercy during the Aerie's destruction! Even Hansel and Gretel, I guess? Every single time, one of the pair meets a tragic end, and most of the time, the other one LOSES THEIR SHIT. Valid, but um not like that please--

Emil is the moment. While just about everyone else is driven to war crimes by their trauma, this sweet boy is unflappably optimistic and selfless. Never once do we see him express anything but care for others, he shrugs off mistreatment, and when his body is disfigured, he immediately accepts it with a smile. When he loses control, engineered by others to serve as a weapon, he expresses deep remorse at harming others. Finally, he sacrifices his life to save Moog and Kaine. The other character who chooses to sacrifice herself for another is OG Yonah. Our innocent babes :(

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