Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139
A relic from yesteryear, or a wondrous remaster waiting for its chance at the limelight?
Shades are common enemies who play a major part in the lore of the game.
© SQUARE ENIX
WE LIKE AN ODDITY, and this is definitely one. An upgraded rerelease of a 2010 Japan-only PS3 game whose sequel, Nier Automata, did rather well when released on PC in 2017, Nier Replicant (that’s the full title above, we’ll not use it again) was the final game released by Cavia Games. This prolific Japanese console developer, known for the Drakengard titles, was home to Nier creator Yoko Taro, a man who always wears a mask in public. For the sequel, Square Enix, which is also behind this remaster, obtained the help of third-person combat specialist Platinum Games to spice things up.
Then there was another game, Nier Gestalt, that was also released in 2010, but this time made it to North America and Xbox 360, where it was just called Nier. The two 2010 games featured the same plot, but you played different characters while following it. The success of Nier Automata saw Taro become known to a new generation of journalists, and he chose to put out a statement saying the remaster will probably be a commercial failure, because his games always are. Are you keeping up?