Earlier in the year at E3, we unveiled a brand new game in the Nier franchise coming exclusively to PS4 in 2016. Today, we’re proud to unveil not only the official title of the game but also first ever gameplay footage!
I’m sure you guys have lots of questions about Nier: Automata, so let’s get you all up to speed.
What is Nier: Automata?
The original Nier is a very unique action RPG that struck a chord with many passionate gamers when it came out five years ago. The story revolves around the main protagonist Nier as he searches for a cure for his daughter who is infected with the Black Scrawl virus, a seemingly incurable disease.
To this day, gamers around the world still talk about Nier fondly and the soundtrack and design book are still selling so there’s clearly something special about it. If you haven’t played the original Nier, do try and track down a copy because it has one of the most memorable and emotional casts, stories, and music in recent memory.
Nier: Automata is the next game in the Nier franchise and it’s a collaboration between Square Enix and PlatinumGames. You probably recognize PlatinumGames’ distinct action style in the gameplay trailer but if you look closely, you’ll be able to spot gameplay elements from the original Nier as well. It’s still an action RPG so don’t worry if you want more RPG mechanics in the game, they’re still there!
What is the story in Nier: Automata?
Earth has suddenly been invaded by beings from another planet and mechanical life forms with overwhelming power were used as weapons of war which forced mankind to flee to the moon. In order to take back the earth, a resistance force of android warriors has been created by humanity to fight these invaders.
The world that you see in Nier: Automata is one where androids and mechanized weapons clash in ferocious combat in a barren and deserted wasteland. It’s set after the original game but the story is written in a way which means you don’t have to have played the first one.
The world/universe is still linked between the two Nier games though so if you have played the original, you will no doubt recognize some of the locations and characters who may or may not be returning. The locations in particular will look different as they’re now more like ruins after the alien invasion but there will also be areas where you get the sense of a very advanced civilization.
Most of the story is still shrouded in mystery though so there’s more to look out for and discover further down the line.
Who is the female character in the gameplay trailer?
She’s not actually female, or maybe it’s more accurate to say she’s not actually human. Her name or serial number is 2B and she’s an android. In the world of Nier, there are strict rules meaning this kind of android is not allowed to have emotions. However, each different model has its own quirks and characteristics and 2B has a comparatively cold and level headed personality.
Keen fans and eagle-eyed readers might have noticed that at the end of the E3 announcement trailer there were three words that popped up — “doll,” “human,” and “machine” so there were hints from the start…
Who is behind Nier: Automata?
Fans of the original Nier will be happy to know that all of the key members of the creative team are back for Nier: Automata! Below is a quick rundown of who is who on the team.
Yoko Taro (Creative Director) & Yosuke Saito (Producer)
I don’t think it would be a proper Nier game if Yoko Taro and Yosuke Saito weren’t involved! They are the original duo behind the first Nier game.
Keiichi Okabe (Composer)
Keiichi Okabe was the composer of the first Nier and the music is such an integral part to the game. It really helped shape and form the games identity so it was really important to the team to get Keiichi Okabe on board for Nier: Automata.
Akihiko Yoshida (Character Designer)
Akihiko Yoshida has worked on many monumental Square Enix games like Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy XIV, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Vagrant Story among others.
Yosuke Saito actually suggested Akihiko Yoshida as the character designer for Nier: Automata as a crazy idea as expected him to say no and turn the idea down. Yoko Taro is also a big fan of his work and as luck would have it, the CEO of the company that Mr. Yoshida is affiliated with is a hardcore Nier fan so this really helped getting him on board with Nier: Automata!
PlatinumGames (Developer)
Of course, I should give a special mention to the team at PlatinumGames who are developing the game! You’re probably already aware of who they are but they’re the developers behind incredible games such as Vanquish and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Yoko Taro describes them as “really young, talented hotshots” and when it comes to action gameplay, they are world class, so it’s super exciting to see their contributions to the gameplay.
Yoko Taro also moved to Osaka for this project and practically lives in the PlatinumGames studio which is about 400km away from his actual home. It’s all for the greatness that is Nier: Automata though!
So that is a brief introduction to Nier: Automata! I hope you guys like what you’ve seen so far. There’s plenty more to show and talk about the game so do keep an eye out for future updates. If you’ve got any questions, I’ll be sure to try my best to answer them in the comments.
