NIER

The fact that Nier was released back in 2010 makes me feel pretty old! This is one of the best action RPGs of its generation and the game was so good, that it actually got a remaster in 2021! Today though, I am talking about the game that started this what has now become a franchise! I played the hell out of the PlayStation 3 version of this and had a truly amazing time doing so.

Doing It For Your Daughter

The story is what I remember most from my time with the original Nier. This is a very complex story with many twists, turns, and fantasy elements. However, at its core, I would say the story is about a father trying to save his sick daughter and that is a premise that I think makes you really want to drive forward. Our “hero” is joined by some interesting companions such as a talking book, a youngster, and a woman with a real case of sailor's mouth if you know what I am saying.

The thing about the story here is that you have to play it multiple times to get the full scope. Now, this may seem like a gimmick to artificially extend the game, but that is not the case. Each playthrough actually feels like it matters.

Looking Back With Nostalgia Goggles

I decided to write this Nier review due to me playing the recently released, Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139 which looks phenomenal. The thing is back in 2010, this game looked pretty good. Its visuals were never one of its strongest aspects, to begin with, but going back and playing this game now, I must say you can 100 percent tell this is a game from the PlayStation 3 era. This is especially true for the character models in the game which can be a tad rough.

Rocking And Slashing

I love the soundtrack of this game and think this part of it holds up very well. It fits the hack and slash style of the gameplay very well and gets you really pumped up for battle. There is some voice acting here and it is… ok, there is one voice in the game (no spoilers) that I found very annoying, but for the most part, it is passable.

A Magic Potion Of Styles

I have already said that I loved the story of Nier and that is my favorite aspect of this game, but the gameplay is pretty damn solid too. The remake Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139 I will admit made various changes that improved things, but as far as hack and slash action RPGs go, this is still a very solid one. I liked how the game would keep you on your toes with side scrolling sections, isometric sections, and so on.

The hack and slash combat feels very satisfying and I much prefer this to using magic as you are rooted to the spot when spellcasting. The campaign is a decent length, but the side quests that are here are not worth your time at all. The main story is so great, I just wish they had more interesting side quests to do.

Pros:

• This game has a story that really hooked me
• There are some very interesting characters to come across
• You have a reason to beat the game multiple times
• I love the soundtrack

Cons:

• This is a game that was made in 2010 and it certainly looks like it!
• The side quests feel very tacked on and are more of a chore than anything else