NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... Review
When Nier was released in 2010, it defied traditional RPG conventions in a big way. It deconstructed the idea of a typical JRPG protagonist, who believed he was doing the right thing and had a noble goal. Most heroes have their own set of just principles, and they are usually morally black/white. Nier's themes challenges the player on what justice is, and wraps it in a bleak and cold existential blanket.
Imaginative, though it may be, Nier was a bit on the unpolished and rough side for a 2010 Square Enix production. The incongruity of the quality was made more apparent when PlatinumGames' NieR: Automata showed everyone how great the Nier franchise could be. Automata was such a hit, that the boys at Square Enix green lit a remake of the first game, immediately.
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... wouldn't just be a remake, but would also be like a director's cut. Content that got cut would be restored, and the protagonist would be redesigned to match Yoko Taro's original intent. "Father" Nier would be reverted back to "Brother," and fans of Automata can experience where it all began.
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NieR Replicant is still an imperfect cult game like it was in 2010; but now it's much smoother, a little nicer looking, and has a few extra features. A lot of what hurt the original game is still present and accounted for, like the new game plus that does not ever let the player go back to being the boy version of the hero, and the low budget presentation.
It would have been preferable if the dialogue sequences had a bit more cinematic flair to them instead of characters talking in flat wide shots, or if there was an option for the original soundtrack. While still deeply flawed, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... is still highly recommended for its depressing existential scenario that makes players look at RPGs in a different way.
Score: 7/10
