NieR
Before NieR: Automata, there was NieR. As much of a risk-taker as its 2017 sequel, NieR was stifled by its own ambition. The title tried to implement too many combat systems, leading to a watered-down experience. On release, reviewers were split on the efficacy of the title’s gameplay homages. Combined with its primitive visuals, NieR was not a success on release. The story is fondly remembered, however, for delivering on the risk-taking the gameplay failed to do.
The plot opens in 2049, before suddenly cutting to 1312 years later. The story then features a delightfully meandering plot complete with memorable side quests, yet this is not the reason why NieR succeeds in spite of its mechanics. The title’s success lays in its revolutionary approach to multiple endings, with the plot changing significantly on multiple playthroughs. Without wanting to spoil too much, NieR’s story is remembered as it was a modern attempt to change the terms of the medium.
