Destructoid’s award for Greatest Remaster/Remake of 2021 goes to…

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NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…
Whereas many online game manufacturers have a powerful world fanbase from the very starting, it typically takes a franchise just a little longer to turn into a family identify. There’s maybe no higher instance of this than Sega’s Yakuza, a collection that had already launched a number of video games throughout three generations earlier than Yakuza 0 made its grand debut on PS4 and opened up the town of Kamurocho to the mainstream gaming group at massive. It had at all times been there, it simply wanted the suitable opening with which to welcome the folks to its neon-infused streets en masse.
One other instance of this phenomenon comes within the type of Sq. Enix dystopian franchise NieR. Already a spin-off from the equally obscure Drakengard collection, the 2010 motion RPG had its fair proportion of followers, however didn’t actually flip western heads en masse. Then, in 2017, developer PlatinumGames unleashed the critically acclaimed hack ‘n’ slasher NieR Automata upon the world and — because of its mesmerizing storytelling, wild motion, and eponymous protagonist, 2B — NieR was not a cult model, instantly discovering itself referenced alongside extra mainstream gaming collection comparable to Remaining Fantasy, Tomb Raider, and Bayonetta.

And thus, it comes as little to no shock that when the unique NieR was remastered this 12 months as NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…, it instantly discovered higher favor and fortune than its authentic 2010 launch. Interesting to a completely new viewers of followers — gatewayed into Yoko Taro’s incomparable universe by way of 2B’s thrilling escapades — NieR Replicant was capable of reintroduce its fascinating worlds, characters, and lore to an viewers now extra attuned to the collection’ tone, lore, and calm but totally apocalyptic model.
Higher nonetheless, NieR Replicant allowed the unique RPG to return loaded for bear, that includes fully-voiced character dialogue, and with deeper context and resonance added to its story of affection, loss, journey, and redemption. Whereas all of those upgrades add polish to NieR evocative and emotional narrative, NieR Replicant‘s gameplay additionally acquired a technical improve by way of an overhauled fight system (courtesy of PlatinumGames) and lovely remastered visuals from developer Toylogic, permitting the title’s participating forged of characters and grim, but oddly calming vistas to shine like by no means earlier than.

NieR Replicant is a remaster/remake finished accurately. Greater than a nostalgia-baiting cash-grab, or a half-hearted retread, the 2021 revisit demonstrates progress — Development in expertise, progress in its creators, and progress within the franchise itself. Whereas it may need taken over a decade for the folks to expertise its evocative, heartstring-tugging journey en masse, it has most actually been definitely worth the wait. The crucial success of NieR Replicant and NieR Automata solely galvanizes this distinctive and compelling sci-fi collection. For a franchise in-built bleakness, the longer term stays curiously vivid.

Chris Moyse

Senior Editor – Chris has been enjoying video video games because the Eighties. Former Saturday Evening Slam Grasp. Graduated from Galaxy Excessive with honors.

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