E3 2015: Square Enix is Making Another Nier

Day one purchase.

Nier was not a great video game mechanically but boy did I love everything around it.

The most fantastic mess of a video game gets a sequel.

Someone giving Taro Yoko a budget (+ Platinum) is the best thing to come out of E3 this year.

Then partnering with a mechanics-heavy developer like Platinum seems like a great choice. I haven't played it but have heard the Nier hype be discussed before. Never got me to try it, but Platinum certainly will

I could not stop yelling "YES". What a amazing surprise.

Remember the first one? Cause I don't....

It's too bad that if there are any connections it will probably be to Japanese pretty boy Nier and not the good one.

Nier was the game of the last generation and I love it like a mother loves their newborn child.

So imagine how goddamn excited I am about this. It cannot be put into words as none yet exist to accurately describe it.

Yep!

A dream like this coming true (not my personal dream, but still)...it might just rekindle my hope for a Platinum developed Okami sequel.

Platinum is a really, really, really weird choice for this. Cavia is gone and all split up, so it's obviously impossible to get the same team to work on it. Platinum's strength seems to be short games with great combat. Nier was long as hell with boring gameplay, with a focus on the characters. Don't get me wrong, Nier is one of my all-time favorite games, but the non-boss combat was repetitive. The bosses and danmaku bits were neat though.

But hey, Yoko Taro as director and Monaca for the soundtrack, I'm already sold.

JUST DON'T MAKE THE FINAL BOSS DRAKENGARD-TIER, TARO, PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU.

Isn't that exactly why they got Platinum on the case? I mean you got a studio here known for their insane combat/action scenes.

And do you mean you don't want another creepy baby statue that you have to kill with black and white rings to then get shot down by a random airplane? :P

The gimmick to the final ending of Nier is still one of my favorite video game moments that should never be attempted ever again.

@assirra: Probably. I'm totally excited for it, I just hope the focus of the game doesn't shift away from the characters.

Man I'd take that statue over Drakengard 3's final boss and its one final fuck you to the player.

The hype is now.

Good to know that I'll have something to wait for in a post-MGS world.

Just plug the new soundtrack into my fucking veins please!

How can it be worse?!

Spoil me! (in spoilers)

@assirra: Drakengard 3's final bossfight is a 10-minute timed button press sequence where if you miss one, you start all over. The first 6 minutes or so aren't a problem, but after that the camera starts to shift away from the thing you need to see to make it more difficult to know when to press the button. Then in the last minute or so, the screen goes dark and you have to do it by sound/memory. Fuck everything.

As a huge fan of Platnium this has made me order a copy of Nier, a game I was interested in but never got around to.

Man, I've dreaded Square trying to make a Nier sequel. I dreaded it because I am sure they will fuck it up. I KNOW they will fuck it up! I should not be excited!

BUT I AM! I AM EXCITED!

WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK!

@assirra: People have made youtube videos to sync with the game while you play it. The videos clearly show you when to press the button DDR-style (or whatever you want to call it).

This is the thing I am most surprised by and most excited about from the entire show

@beforet: It's a shame cavia is dead, but considering NIER 2 has the original director attached and Drakengard 3 was handled well by Square, I don't think we have much to worry about. They had every reason not to make a sequel, so I trust they wouldn't unless they had something more to say.

I am beyond excited for this, Nier was one of the greatest games that didn't get enough attention from the last generation. Can't wait to see the new story is about as well as what Platinum brings to the table!

what the fuck

Right in my veins, please. I'll be there on Day 1!

Neat. I never finished the first one, but I did enjoy the hell out of it.

I am ashamed to say that I downloaded the video and proceeded through 01:46 frame-by-frame checking to see if it was a panty shot.

It seems to be, yes.

Sounds like the best of all worlds: design and music by the Nier team and combat from a company that can actually do combat well.

And I went into E3 thinking nothing could surprise me...

I thought I was done with this. I thought I knew what was coming. I thought.

Good luck following up the best thing that ever was.

It's so nice to live in a world where SE isn't just flailing its arms ineffectually. They are actually doing some cool stuff. I just can't believe that there is a new Nier!

Whoooooo!

How exactly did they convince Square to do this? What is happening over there?

This E3 was going so well and now they had to go and say the word "Nier" again.

Eh, we may have some disagreements on Drakengard 3, but that had more to do with Access, and Platinum I can trust to make the game play good. That's basically why I have some faith here.

Platinum, huh? That's strange. But then again, cavia was an absolute shit company that managed to make one amazing game while Platinum is kind of the opposite. Almost everything they touch is great.

But most importantly, Keiichi Okabe is making the soundtrack again. That's all I care about at the end of the day, even if I never play this game. They even included a bit of the Popola/Devola leitmotif:

Then I'm guessing you never played the original. That game is kind of unforgettable if you finished it. Three times, ideally.

An entire Sunday I'll never get back or ever forget.

I've been waiting for Last Guardian since it was announced. This still tops that, and everything else at E3. Nier was the best fucking story of the last generation and the best fucking soundtrack of the last generation.

Fuckin' A. I only got around to playing Nier two months ago because I only got a 360 half a year ago (long story), but I've been hearing enough about it that I knew it was a must. That and having heard "Hills of Radiant Wind" a bunch. I'm on my third playthrough (or third half-playthough?) and am going onto the fourth. I read ahead a bit and totally spoiled the thing that happens after, but I'm still stoked to actually see it. That makes me wonder what the hell a Nier 2 means. It honestly felt like a one-off because of the Drakengard tie-in. Speaking of Drakengard, I'm planning on playing 1-2 (and maybe 3???) just to get more background on all those load screen notes. Also read up a little bit but I like wading in deep. When the first black one popped up, goddamn. And yeah, I've been playing the soundtrack daily since I finished it. My favorite is probably Kaine/Salvation.

Go on only if you've played through the second ending. I wouldn't want to spoil it for a fellow Nier fan.

Best news of E3, though not being developed by Cavia makes me worry. Their certain brand of jank is kinda integral to the experience for me.

@ch3burashka: Drakengard 2 is not required at all. Not directed by Taro Yoko. Just go to 3, which is a prequel to 1.

Also, Nier is actually just a sequel to one specific ending of the first Drakengard. The craziest ending, in fact.

@ch3burashka: I've heard that you can skip Drakengard 2. And Drakengard 1... ooof, that game has some problems. Have fun unlocking the last ending, there's A LOT of grinding involved. And the gameplay was never great (or even good) to begin with. I'd seriously suggest just reading Dark Id's screenshot Let's Play.

And believe me, I love Nier's soundtrack. I'd go so far as to say that it's my #1 soundtrack of all time but I'm sure I'm forgetting something. It's been in my regular music loop for the last 3 or so years and I didn't get tired of it, which is rare. Personally, I prefer Kaine Escape, though Salvation is still great. Also Song of the Ancients Popola/Devola/Fate, Yonah (all versions), Hills of Radiant Winds, Grandma... yeah, it's my favorite soundtrack.

@larrydavis: Oh, hey. Didn't see you there. Yeah, going 1 and 3 is what I've heard though I only ever played the first Drakengard. That was enough for me.

I guess it's time to finally finish the first Nier then.

While I don't think Nier's gameplay was bad enough to detract from the story and music, I feel like some more polished mechanics a la Platinum will be the missing pieces that will make this game truly amazing. I'm sure they will adjust their trademark flair to fit the setting as well.

I got goosebumps just hearing the same music in this trailer. Glad this was picked up.

@thankyougiantbomb: You know there could be a penis under there ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) got to stick with the brand.

Did the gameplay story actually have any changes in NG+ for unlocking all the endings?

I think I youtube'd this game...