Nier is one of those titles that nearly everyone I know has recommended to me, yet somehow I’ve never managed to ever play it for more than a few minutes since it came out five years ago. With the double-whammy of Nier 2 getting announced at E3 and this month being JRPGJuly, it turns out now couldn’t be a better time for me to finally pick it up!
I joking mentioned on Twitter before I started playing that I preferred the young bishōnen protagonist Japan received in the Nier Replicant version, which unsurprisingly received more than a couple responses saying I would change my mind when I started the game. While I still think Replicant Nier has a more appealing character design, I have been finding the more haggard version of Nier in Nier Gestalt (which was the only version localized) equally appealing.
Both games are virtually the same except for the protagonists and their relationship to the sickly girl Yonah they are trying to save, but this relationship is quite central to the game, so I imagine it changes the tone somewhat. Replicant Nier is often just referred to as “Brother Nier” due to the fact that he’s Yonah’s brother, while “Papa Nier” is, as the nickname would suggest, Yonah’s father. Grouchy Papa Nier and his relationships with the various characters in the game have really stood out to me so far, and I’m really impressed with the snappy, sassy dialogue.
As of this post, I’m about 7 hours in and have just received my first party member, though as far as I can tell they can’t be customized in any way and are fully managed by the game’s AI and thus don’t really count as a “party” in the traditional sense. I’ve also been getting a lot of tutorial texts and am experiencing an overwhelming feeling of “maybe I should open the menu and read those,” but there’s nothing I enjoy less than reading through tutorials! I suppose I might take a look at them if I start experiencing difficulties with the combat…
Speaking of which, I haven’t actually read any of the negative reviews of the game (I’ve heard it received many when it first came out), but my overwhelming impression before I started Nier was that the gameplay was supposed to be pretty rough. It’s certainly nothing to write home about, I’ve found it to be pretty fun so far, and am particularly enjoying the different magical powers Nier learns with the help of Grimoire Weiss. That whole first fishing quest can bite me, though.
I don’t believe it’s too much of a spoiler for anyone who hasn’t played to mention that the game is notable for requiring players to go through the game multiple times. From what I understand, I’m nearing the “point of no return” where the game is later replayed from after it’s been completed once… But in the interest of experiencing the game as it happens, I haven’t really read into it beyond that. What I can say is, I’m really digging the game so far, and I fully intend to actually complete a JRPG for once!
Be sure to check back next Monday for Nier Diary no. 2 and see if I’ve made it past the halfway point!
Friendly reminder that if you enjoy this post and other content on Chic Pixel, please use my affiliate links in the sidebar to do your video game shopping! I’d really appreciate it!
haha, was thinking to myself when I read about the battle system “wait till you start fishing” and that picture was, as they say, picture perfect 😀
Anyway Anne, Bishie Nier is soooo white bread compared to Papa if compared side by side throughout the game. Due to context makes Papa all the better, imo ^^
And one more thing, I myself decided to actually replay Shadow Hearts yesterday. Sad part is that I can’t find my PS2 memory card so decided just to emulate it instead as I started from scratch. And boy do that game have some issues but for some reason it’s one of my favourite games of all time 🙂
Haha yup that first fishing bit was quite frustrating! I’m glad I asked someone on Twitter, rather than letting myself get too fed up with it. Turns out I did what pretty much everyone does and fished in the wrong spot to start >_< (in my defence, I don't think it was explained well!)
Cool to hear you started Shadow Hearts! I'm actually a big fan of the second one, but for some reason I haven't played the first despite owning it. I think the battle system in that series is really interesting, and I love the overall atmosphere. Did you ever try the third one?
It wasn’t explained well, not at all 😐
As for Shadow Hearts, I never did start the third one. Was one of those games I bought because I had played and loved the previous ones but had to be pushed back for other things….other things have still managed to push it back :/
Such is the way! I heard it wasn’t as good, but I kind of want to check it out someday…
Yeah I’ll definitely will check it out one day.
Never really bothered with what people think about stuff. Can be interesting to read/hear their opinions but I would still buy whatever caught my fancy, barring any major technical problems as in it isn’t working at all ^^
Hehe yeah I usually just use public opinion as more of a guideline. I really liked the ye olde America setting! Maybe I’ll go find a copy on eBay…
I am so jealous. I wish I could play NieR again for the first time.
I genuinely think it is the most intelligent game ever created. The aesthetics may or may not impress (I actually find them beautiful, in a melancholic sense), and some are put off by the gameplay – as you noted, a lot of negative reviews back in the day – but all of this pales to the fierce philosophy and narrative exploration through the story. Don’t want to spoil that for you, but the existentialism and nihilism that runs through the plot is so intense and detailed it’s almost Shakespearean in complexity.
Citizen Kane was ripped to shreds when it was a new film. It was only 15 years after release that people realised how special that film was. NieR is the game industry’s Citizen Kane. I am calling that now.
Really looking forward to playing more, let me tell you! I’ve heard bits and pieces alluding to the nihilisim you’re talking about, but I can’t wait to actually experience it myself and get the full picture 🙂
NieR has the distinct honor of being my favorite game of the PS3/XB360 generation. One of the few titles that I’ve actually taken the time out of my busy life to beat, multiple times. It always does my heart good to hear about someone enjoying it for the first time.
As far as the Papa/Brother thing goes . . . I simply can’t imagine playing with any other character but Papa. The surrogate family dynamic that emerges between the 3 major characters is so much stronger as Father-Mother-Son than it could possibly be as Brother-Sister-Brother. You’ll see. 🙂
That is a high honor, indeed! I really like what you’re saying about the Papa Nier dynamic with the other characters… I always thought people were talking specifically about his relationship to Yonah, but the surrogate family thing sounds really interesting! I’ll have to wait until I meet the last major character to see 🙂