Square Enix have released a hearty nine minutes of in-depth gameplay from the upcoming NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…. Showcasing the Barren Temple area from the game, we’ll see parts of the desert kingdom of Façade, building up to a boss battle against a swarm of sentient cubes.
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… will be coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on 23rd April 2021.
NieR Replicant is more than just a remaster of the game, featuring upgraded visuals, revised combat and re-arranged music for the soundtrack. Square Enix are dubbing is a “retelling”, as opposed to remaster or remake. Developer ToyLogic are doing a great job updating the game visually and their decision to record dialogue with the original cast of voice actors to now make the game fully voiced.
The game revives the cult classic action RPG from a decade ago. NieR was originally developed by Cavia as a spin-off from the Drakengard series, but with the curious decision to have two version in Japan – NieR Gestalt for Xbox 360 and NieR Replicant for PS3. This took the setting of NieR and changes the main character to make him a brother for Yonah instead of her father.
NieR Replicant is the predecessor to the hit post-apocalyptic action-RPG NieR: Automata, which has sold over 5 million copies since its release in early 2017. In our glowing review of the Yoko Taro directed game, Dom said:
NieR: Automata is the epitome of a sequel you didn’t know you needed. The original NieR was itself a spin-off to the Drakengard series, and one that, whilst gaining a cult following, certainly didn’t achieve the kinds of sales that most risk-averse publishers would consider worthy of a sequel. Yet here we are, with a second Yoko Taro-helmed NieR game, this time boasting the action-gaming heft of PlatinumGames firmly behind his uniquely dark vision.
Yoko Taro’s unique storytelling ability has matched perfectly with the committed development culture at PlatinumGames, making NieR: Automata a mature and thought-provoking action-JRPG. Its tight combat and compelling narrative sets it apart from both its predecessor and the Drakengard series, and it’s utterly essential for fans of the genre.
See our full NieR: Automata review here.
Source: press release
