The Characters are Better
This isn’t a knock against 2B, A2, and 9S, but when you take a look at the cast of NieR Replicant, there’s no question that Automata’s main characters are just weaker overall. Of course, Automata’s protagonists are all androids, which explains why they’re forced to engage in sometimes nonchalant or emotionless behavior, but Replicant’s protagonists are just so much more vibrant and expressive in contrast, and it doesn’t take long at all for players to get attached to them.
Grimoire Weiss and Kaine are the highlights here, especially as the two are always butting heads with each other all throughout the journey. Weiss is delightfully smarmy and arrogant at times, but Kaine and the protagonist himself never fail to knock him down a peg when he gets too overconfident.
Emil rounds out the cast by being the sweet voice of reason that you can’t help but love, despite his deformed appearance. The cast of misfits is simply endearing, and they all come with rich backstories and are way more relatable than Automata’s characters ever were.
