They both definitely take place in the same world but are set more than a millennium apart, and with the new updated release of NieR Replicant, they both now have more in common in terms of combat mechanics. What they do share is the deconstruction of video game tropes, with a story that also leans heavily on philosophical matters, namely concepts from Kierkegaard and Nietzsche.

In isolation, one does not need to play either NieR games to enjoy the other, as they are quite self-contained besides a few callbacks here and there, and a handful of cameo appearances. Which makes it even more of a whiplash when NieR: Automata instead takes place back in a post-apocalyptic Earth with the lead protagonist being androids instead of humans. This final battle in the skies of Tokyo leads to the apocalypse seen in the original NieR Replicant, and basically sets the stage for the entire series.ĭespite starting off as a modern albeit post-apocalyptic take on the real world, NieR Replicant quickly course-corrects into a fantasy game once the main quest begins. In Ending E of Drakengard specifically, Caim and Angelus find themselves in an alternate universe, namely in the middle of Tokyo. The story is about a warrior named Caim who makes a pact with a dragon called Angelus to defeat an evil empire. NieR: Automata fans are probably familiar with series director Yoko Taro’s love for multiple endings in his video games.ĭrakengard is a fantasy action RPG, with a gameplay style reminiscent of Dynasty Warriors with 3D shoot ‘em up elements.

The entire NieR series stems from one of the endings of the first Drakengard game. So how do all these games even intersect with one another? Let’s find out.

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