NieR Replicant Remake Announced by Square Enix
While most fans associate Square Enix with the Final Fantasy series, the JRPG giant has developed and produced a number of notorious franchises. Examples include the Mana and Chrono series, Deus Ex, Tomb Raider, and Kingdom Hearts. However, not every series is given the same amount of resources during development. In fact, Square is notorious for underfunding projects. Such is the case with the prequel to the critically acclaimed NieR Automata: NieR Replicant. But during the wee hours of Saturday night, Square Enix had a surprising revelation.
A Twilight Reveal
Despite releasing in the same month as Breath of the Wild and Horizon Zero Dawn, NieR Automata went largely unnoticed for several months. It was not until fans recognized the superb Platinum gameplay coupled with Yoko Taro narrative that the game rose to prominence. Fast forward three years later, and NieR Automata has sold over 4.5 million copies.
After witnessing Automata’s success, Square Enix is finally correcting one of its past mistakes: underfunding the original Nier Replicant project. During a twilight announcement on several social media platforms, Square Enix revealed that it is remaking the original Nier game.
In an interview that coincided with the trailer, Yosuke Saito revealed several details about the Nier remake:
- Yoko Taro, Yosuke Saito, and Keiichi Okabe are returning to spearhead the project.
- Saito emphasized that the upcoming game is a remake and not a simple graphical remaster.
- The remake will include full voice acting.
- Although not definitive, Saito hinted at a potential new ending.
- Series composer, Keiichi Okabe, re-recorded each soundtrack and included many new songs in the remake.
- At the time of the original release, the western audience did not have access to the Replicant version. This is the first time that Nier Replicant will be playable in the west.
More Questions than Answers
While the news of a Nier Replicant remake is both exciting and intriguing, several questions remain. Namely, the community needs more information on the following:
- If the remake includes a new ending, will it more firmly connect the main game to Automata or the Drakengard series?
- Is PlatinumGames consulting on the project? In particular, is the combat being re-engineered to mirror Automata?
- Will the Nier Replicant remake run in the same engine as Automata?
- Is Square Enix developing new cutscenes for the remake?
Regardless of the unknowns, we are thrilled that Yoko Taro has earned the chance to remake a game with a full array of resources. While the current release date is ambiguous, fans might not have to wait too long for the remake. Square Enix announced that it will soon be available on PC, PlayStation 4, and XBOX One.
Conclusion
Although it is not unusual for companies to announce remakes, the NieR announcement is as unexpected as it is exciting. While Square Enix did not adequately fund the original game, we hope the remake updates not only the graphics but also the gameplay. As more NieR Automata fans become accustomed to the series, perhaps Yoko Taro’s vision for the series will flourish. But we want to know what you think. Did you play NieR Automata? If so, are you looking forward to the NieR Replicant remake? Let us know in the comments below or the social media links on the right. Also, be sure to check out our other articles on the NieR series, which includes our latest “Music that Moves” column.
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