JRPG veterans: NieR

NieR. A game panned by the critics but already has garnered a cult following. While some may agree with the critics and claim that NieR is mediocre in every way, others insist that NieR is highly underrated, and a hidden gem.

I wasn't sure about getting NieR because of the mixed opinions, but I didn't have to decide to make a purchase in the end. My boyfriend, a huge Drakengard fan, bought it due to the fact that NieR is developed by the same folks. Since then we have been fighting over ps3 time so that we can play NieR.

NieR's graphics make it look like a ps2 or Wii game, and this is one reason the critics reviewed it harshly. Not only are the graphics out of date, but the game has a washed out appearance and some arguably uninspired environments. Furthermore, the protagonist looks like Dante of Devil May Cry fame beaten with an ugly stick. At first glance, NieR is a typical hack 'n slash game a la God of War, Bayonetta, etc with the exception of the gimmick of wielding dark/blood magic, courtesy of a mysterious, talking book named Grimoire Weiss.

While NieR's combat, and the talking book are hardly the most original concepts, the whole is more than the sum of it's parts when it comes to NieR. The critics say mediocre, I say NieR's combat is not as obnoxious as Darksider's, Bayonetta's, or God of War's. There are no visually-stunning and devastating mega combos that can be executed with button mashing. While there is some button mashing to be found, most strategy will be used on whether you choose to melee an enemy, or blast it with magic, and if so, what kind of magic you will choose to use (as the spells vary from rapid fire attacks to absorbing magic power).

NieR is not even without visual merit. The graphics make the world feel melancholic. The fantastic soundtrack helps immerse the player further. The soundtrack is of PSX-era JRPG quality... think Final Fantasy VII, Chrono Cross, Star Ocean 2... The voice acting is also stellar in this game.

It won't be difficult to empathize with NieR, whose daughter is plagued with a terminal illness. The interaction between NieR and his daughter are emotionally powerful and set the mood for the story. Speaking of, the story is also a high point of the game, and is incredibly gripping and will keep you playing as you will thirst to unravel the mystery.

Nier's pacing has also been criticized. The game has a ton of fetch quests and backtracking. Today's games are much more streamlined then this, so critics will not tolerate it. But I think oldschool JRPG fans will actually appreciate the pacing. The pacing, particularly the backtracking, also gives the game some realism. It feels like one big conversation, instead of a linear experience, and it feels like areas need to be revisited, and NPCs need to be talked to again. Oh, it is important to regularly check up on your daughter Yonah. Nier is in debt to the village, who provide for him, and is eager to work his butt off for the virtue of fairness. Be prepared to fill this role for the most immersive experience.

Nier has certain points in the game where the gameplay is different. At times, you must use NieR's magic to shoot enemies as if you were playing a rail shooter. There are also 2D platforming segments and times when the game turns into a text adventure. Many people talk about how unique this makes Nier, but such mini games embedded in dungeons has been around in JRPGs for awhile. For example, the mandatory motorcycle race in FFVII.

In the end, I believe Nier has a cult following because it plays like a Playstation Japanese action-RPG. It is modern Alundra. It is also a great game.