PLATFORM: PC, PS4 (REVIEWED), XBOX ONE | RELEASE DATE: APRIL 23RD
Released in 2010, Nier (AKA Nier Gestalt and also, rather confusingly, Nier Replicant in Japan), is very much one of that era’s unsung heroes. At the time, it earned praise for its story and soundtrack but little else, although since then it’s built up quite a cult following among action-RPG fans thanks to its satisfying combat, impeccable soundtrack and engaging storyline. ver.1.22 is an updated version of the original Japanese Replicant, polishing up some of the rougher edges, restoring previously-cut content and adding a few new extras that help link the original game to its 2017 sequel, Nier Automata.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world more than 1000 years from now, ver.1.22 follows a teenage boy (you) and his efforts to cure his little sister’s mysterious illness with help from the village librarian, a cantankerous floating book, a foul-mouthed half-human and a rather intriguing young boy. Reminiscent of several 3D Legend of Zelda games in style, tone and structure, you’ll be fending off enemies across the plains en route to far-off places where you complete side quests, trade with the locals and progress through the story. From the crumbling medieval vibe of your hometown and the Greek island-esque Seafront village to the shifting sands of Facade and beyond, the world is full of eye-catching fantastical environments inhabited by incredibly well-written characters with memorable and thought-provoking tales to tell.
One of the original game’s downfalls was the amount of ground that needs to be covered during your adventure and the crazy amount of backtracking and repeat visits that need to be made to the same half a dozen or so areas. This is still unfortunately an issue, as is the game’s abundance of fetch quests and insistence on trolling the player more times than anyone could possibly enjoy. Reaching your destination to find there’s nothing there, or completing a long-winded quest and receiving nothing but an anticlimactic jokey “haha there’s not actually a reward for that one” non-payoff really gets old very quickly. But it seems that was the sort of thing that passed for “amusing” in 2010, so why not give us a chance to experience it all over again? Thankfully, side quests in ver1.2.2 are exactly that – put them to one side if things gett a bit overbearing, and concentrate on the excellent main story instead.
Outside of some repetitive and grindy side content, though, v.1.22 excels at pretty much everything else that it attempts. Combat blends hack n’ slash melee attacks with a vast suite of magical powers (which might just form one of the all-time greatest videogame arsenals), all of which can be upgraded using words which are randomly awarded throughout the game. The excellently-designed enemies – demonic entities known as Shades – somehow look like they’re made of light, slime and sludge all at once, and there are some particularly memorable and horrifying bosses throughout the game’s 30 or so hours. The gameplay itself is consistently surprising – while it focuses on exploration and combat, it takes in a variety of other genres at various times with brief side-on platforming sections, a few twin-stick shooter-like areas and even a jaunt through a haunted mansion straight from Resident Evil’s playbook.
Graphics have been sharpened up since the 2010 original, although maybe not quite to the point that one might expect from a remaster – a lot of the textures and environments still look distinctly last-gen, with the only really noticeable difference being that it’s all running in 60fps now instead of the original 30. The overhauled soundtrack, though, rerecorded and expanded by the original composer and orchestra, is a genuine work of art – consisting mostly of orchestral pieces with choirs singing and chanting in a made-up language, it adds an ethereal layer to ver.1.22’s already otherworldly, extraordinary setting.
The game’s 2010 origins might still show through in a few less-desirable ways, but ver.1.22 definitely hits way more times than it misses. Its unique atmosphere and flawless soundtrack can’t be praised highly enough, the writing, storytelling and voice acting are up there with the very best in this type of game, and the combat is consistently engaging and satisfying. If you’re looking for a fantastical adventure that you’ll remember for years to come, Nier Replicant ver.1.22 is a must play.
