Video game fans across the globe fell in love with Nier: Automata when it released back in 2017. The mind-bending, emotional action-RPG about a post-apocalyptic society of androids was an unexpected collaboration between two massive game development powerhouses. The gameplay and combat were designed by the character-action masters at PlatinumGames, but the world and story were developed by wild and unique Japanese game director Yoko Taro. While the game is an incredible standalone work of art, it has ties to a previous game from Yoko Taro that not many people have gotten a chance to experience. Thankfully, fans of Nier: Automata will soon be able to experience where the story began, as the original game in the series, NieR Replicant, is set to get a remaster on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Announced at the end of a special 10th anniversary NieR live stream, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… is an updated version of the Cavia-developed action-RPG from 2010, this time developed by Toylogic with support from PlatinumGames. Additionally, the main creative trio responsible for the original game are set to return, as director Yoko Taro, music composer Keiichi Okabe, and producer Yosuke Saito will also be working on the new remaster. Additionally, the game will be fully voiced and feature re-recorded dialogue from the following Japanese cast members:
- Nobuhiko Okamoto as Protagonist (boy)
- Koji Yusa as Protagonist (young man)
- Ai Nonaka as Yonah
- Hiroki Yasumoto as Shiro no Sho (Grimoire Weiss)
- Mai Kadowaki as Emil
The Japanese voice actors of Nier: Automata protagonists 2B and 9S, Yui Ishikawa and Natsuki Hanae, will also be involved in NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…. While it isn’t confirmed whether or not they’ll be voicing their Nier: Automata characters in this game, the live stream event revealed that there will be a new character in this version of the title. Additionally, composer Keiichi Okabe revealed that he has re-recorded every song of the original soundtrack for this release, alongside brand new songs.
Square Enix describe the remaster as follows:
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… invites players into a dark, apocalyptic world as they join a brother’s captivating quest to cure his sister of a deadly disease — a quest which will in turn make them question everything.
Developed in collaboration with Toylogic, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… brings together an all-star team including acclaimed director, Yoko Taro (Drakengard, NieR:Automata), composer Keiichi Okabe (TEKKEN, Drakengard, NieR:Automata), and producer Yosuke Saito (DRAGON QUEST X, NieR:Automata).
NieR Replicant was originally released in 2010 on PlayStation 3 by Square Enix and now-defunct developers Cavia, who previously made Drakengard and Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles. It was released alongside an alternate version titled Nier Gestalt, which launched exclusively for the Xbox 360 and featured an older father as the protagonist instead of the young brother from the PlayStation 3 version of the game. NieR Gestalt was the only version of the game to come to North America, re-titled simply as NieR. That makes this upcoming remake the first time fans will be able to experience the other version of the game in English.
Alongside news of a NieR Replicant remaster, Square Enix also announced that a mobile game spinoff of the series, titled NieR Re[in]carnation, is on the way. The teaser trailer for the smartphone game doesn’t reveal much, but certain details in the art and environment might clue fans in on where and when the story of this game takes place. The game is set to be free to play, with optional in-game purchases available as well. Square Enix is producing the title, while the developer is Applibot and character designs are being handled by CyDesignation.
[Via]
