The originalNierwas a cult classic nobody expected to get a sequel, let alone one developed by Platinum. Against all odds,Nier: Automatareleased to critical acclaim and ushered in an actual future for the franchise. SinceAutomata’s release, the originalNierhas been remade asReplicantand the series lives on in the upcoming global release ofReincarnation.
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Nier: Automataintroduced most audiences to the franchise, but the game’s story is so much better if you’ve played the originalNier. When it comes down to it,Nier: Automatais toNier ReplicantwhatMetal Gear Solid 2was to the originalMetal Gear Solid.Nier: Automata’s story carries far more impact when you’ve already playedNier.Spoilers for Nier: Automata and Nier Replicant.
10The Route Split Twist
Nier Replicant’s Route split is the game’s big twist while also something of an open secret. After beatingNier Replicantonce, New Game Plus will put you on Route B where Shades will have subtitled dialogue and new cutscenes are added in to flesh out the plot.Nier: Automatafeatures a very similar twist that audiences tend to overlook.
Playing as 9S isn’t just some New Game Plus oddity – it’s the next part of the game. Anyone who’s played the originalNierwill immediately understand thatAutomata’s just branched onto Route B and the story isn’t anywhere near over. What fans of the original might not expect is how different Route C is.
9Facade Lives On In The Desert Robots
Nier: Automatashows off humanity’s lasting presence in many ways, the most impactful being the fact that Robots have their own culture. Without playingNierbeforehand, Robots in the Desert wearing capes, masks, and fighting with swords and shields is just a sign of higher life. With knowledge ofReplicant, it’s an intimate connection to Facade. More importantly, the Trials of the Sand side quest outright shows that Facade’s Rules still live on in Desert Robot society.
8Remixed Music
AlthoughNier: Automatafeatures a mostly original soundtrack, the game’s score includes several musical references toNier Replicant– outright remixing a few of the best tracks.Automata’s track placement forReplicant’s remixed music naturally carries more weight once you’re playedNierand understand the full weight behind Emil and Kaine’s personal themes, along with the Song of the Ancients.
7The Emil Of It All
Emil is the only character fromNier Replicantwho makes it toNier: Automata. While Emil’s loneliness still translates if you haven’t played the firstNier,Replicantoffers so much context that adds to his tragic fate inAutomata. Emil has been alone for thousands of years, forced to watch everyone he loves die off.
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Emil’s dedicated his life to protecting a planet that doesn’t so much as acknowledge him, essentially living out the rest of his life as a hermit. All the same, Emil holds onto his connection to the past and shines as a beacon of hope. In spite of how much he’s suffered sinceReplicant, Emil hasn’t lost his optimism. And he has every right to.
6Mankind’s Fate
YoRHa’s entire motivation inNier: Automatais to prepare the Earth for humanity’s return. The fact humanity’s survival is even being humored is something anyone who playedReplicantbeforehand will immediately catch onto. Nier dooms humanity at the end of the originalNier, killing the Shadowlord and thus preventing Shades from ever returning to their Replicants.Automata’s big twist is that humanity isn’t actually on the moon and has long been extinct, but this revelation is just a given for anyone familiar withNier.
5Kaine’s Home
Emil’s Memories is a late game quest that’s filled to the brim withNier Replicantreferences, ultimately framed around Emil trying to recollect his past. The side quest notably ends with players stumbling upon a recreation of Kaine’s home from the originalNier. Observant players will recognize that the shack is exactly how it was, though it isn’t clear if Emil simply rebuilt the house in its original image or somehow managed to preserve it for all these years.
4The Full Scope Of Devola & Popola’s Arcs
Devola and Popola are two of the most important characters inNier Replicant, responsible for pushing Nier and Grimoire Weiss towards the Shadowlord so that the Gestalt process can begin. Unfortunately, Devola and Popola underestimate Nier and end up killed, ultimately unable to prevent humanity’s complete extinction.
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The Devola and Popola inNier: Automataare reviled for their predecessor’s actions – a fact which the game itself does specify – but knowledge ofReplicantchanges both how audiences twist the twins at first glance along with how they respond to their “redemption” near the end of the story.
3Lunar Tears
The main objective behind Emil’s Memories involves players exploring to track down all the Lunar Tears on the overworld. Lunar Tears are a very important symbol in the context of the originalNier, representing hope in a dying world. Lunar Tears can notably persist for ages without withering and are an important motif in both Kaine and Yonah’s character designs. That the Lunar Tear would mean so much to Emil only makes sense and serves as a constant reminder of what’s been lost to fans ofReplicant.
2Project Gestalt
Players will get to access several files at the end ofNier: Automatathat offer some insight into the game’s backstory, including some documents on Project Gestalt – an event intimately tied to humanity’s extinction. Those who playedNieralready will actually have context for both Project Gestalt and Yonah while gaining brand new information on the series’ backstory. There’s just more impact toAutomata’s ending if you’ve playedReplicant.
1The Final Dungeon
Nier: Automata’s final dungeon is a massive shout out to the originalNierand won’t carry half as much emotional weight if you haven’t playedReplicant. Revisiting a recreation of the Library sets up a chilling finale that’s intimately connected to what came before.Nierfans will recognize that humanity’s cycle of extinction is only repeating while being pelted with fan service at every corner.
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