Nier Reincarnation

Nier Reincarnation is a role-playing video game set in a realm called the Cage; it takes place in the same universe as Nier and its sequel Nier: Automata.[1][2] Players take on a role of a young girl dubbed the Girl in White, who is guided through the Cage by a ghost-like being called Mama, unlocking memories of the past while avoiding a black armoured creature called the Dark Monster.[1][3]

The gameplay is split into three parts. The first is the Girl in White exploring different areas of the Cage with Mama. During this exploration, they come across statues dubbed Scarcrows which grant and upgrade weapons used to fight enemies within unlocked memories. In these memories, dubbed Weapon Stories, players experience the memories of those related to a weapon from a side-scrolling painting-like perspective.[3]

Battles play out automatically in real-time within the memories with a party of three characters against waves of enemies, with special attacks activated by tapping icons on-screen when they have charged.[3][4] While many characters are present in-game from the outset, other characters are obtained through a gacha system.[3]

Nier Reincarnation is being developed by Applibot and publisher Square Enix. Series creator Yoko Taro acted as creative director, with Square Enix's Yosuke Saito acting as co-producer.[1] Applibot's Daichi Matsukawa acted as co-producer and co-director.[5] The main characters were designed by Akihiko Yoshida, while background and concept artwork was designed by Automata artist Kazuma Koda. The music was handled by returning composer Keiichi Okabe.[1][6] The team's aim was to make an ambitious title with 3D graphics comparable to a cross-platform title.[7][8] During production, it used the code name "Dark".[7]

While the game is within the same universe as the other Nier titles, Yoko wanted to separate the game from the others so it could be enjoyed by newcomers.[8] In contrast to the other Nier titles, Yoko did not take a principle role in creating the story. Instead a team of around four other writers, with Yoko's role being to take their ideas and create a coherent plot out of them.[9] Mama's companion role in the story was compared by Yoko to the Grimoires in Nier and the Pods in Automata. The multiple protagonists and story structure were based on the progression of Puzzle & Dragons. He also stated that the game would have a definitive ending, though its gameplay could be repeated and extended.[8] Okabe's contribution was around twenty songs, all original and not incorporating music from earlier Nier titles.[6] On Yoko's request, each song covered a variety of styles while maintaining the established atmosphere of the Nier universe.[8]

The game was first announced in March 2020 alongside a remaster of the original Nier.[7] A closed beta test ran from July to August of that year.[1] Pre-registration opened in September, alongside announcements that the title would released in North America and Europe.[2] While originally planned for a 2020 release, Square Enix delayed its Japanese debut into the first half of 2021.[10]

• Official website