One of my greatest gaming shames is that I never finished NieR: Automata, which is often lauded as one of the best games of the past generation. I enjoyed what I played, but for one reason or another, I just fell away from it and never found the time to go back. I?d always planned on returning some day, but once Replicant was announced I decided to start there and make my way forward if I ended up enjoying the one that started it all. Well, I guess I?m playing Automata next because NieR Replicant is an incredibly special game with a fantastic story, memorable characters, and fun gameplay that?s only slightly let down by some repetition and simplistic mechanics.
NieR Replicant is an ?upgraded version? of the original NieR from 2007, although this time it?s based on the ?Replicant? version of the game?originally only released in Japan and stars a much younger protagonist. Overseas we got the ?Gestalt? version of the game, which featured a protagonist that was a father to Yonah and not a brother. Functionally the two versions are the same, and simply change the relationship between a few characters, but this release marks the first time we?re able to play as the younger Nier. When people discuss NieR, one of the first things to be brought up is its story, and that?s for good reason because there?s really not a lot else like it. Replicant has you playing as a young hero that you get to name yourself, but for simplicity’s sake, I’ll refer to them as The Protagonis...