Video Game Review: World of ‘Nier’ Takes Time to Reveal Depth

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CHICAGO – When the representative who sent me a copy of the newest Square Enix RPG “Nier” suggested that I needed to give the game time to impress me, I was immediately concerned. Modern gamers don’t like to wait for their entertainment. And, more often than not, “wait, it gets better” is a false promise. But not in the case of “Nier”.

Video Game Rating: 3.5/5.0

It takes a few hours, but the world of “Nier” will suck you in. There are several reasons for the limp out of the gate including a slow start from a storytelling standpoint, a garish visual aesthetic, and an unusual gameplay style that blend button-mashing with role-playing elements, but as those first hours give way to the meat of the title, it becomes harder and harder to put down.

Nier
Photo credit: Square Enix

Games that need time to get under your skin are incredibly rare. Most developers know that there are lot of people out there renting games or buying titles at stores willing to take them back if the player is dissatisfied and so they try to hook them early. “Nier” is unlikely to hook anyone early.

Nier Photo credit: Square Enix

First, the graphics are downright laughable. The character animation, repetitive backgrounds, poorly designed villains - most of “Nier” looks absolutely awful. It’s a bad-looking game but the weirdest thing about this title is how the hideousness of the design almost works to the game’s advantage. As the storytelling becomes more emotionally rewarding and the gameplay more interesting, “Nier” kind of distinguishes itself as something of an ugly duckling of RPGs.

The core of “Nier” is the story of a father trying to save the life of his daughter. Even the protagonist of the game - an angry old man - is a bit unusual in that video games are almost always driven by youthful characters. And Nier himself is only one of the odd characters that will drive the story. Notable supporting players include a magical, wisecracking book called Grimoire Weiss and a foul-mouthed, lingerie-clad hermaphrodite named Kaine, whose arrival pushes the game from a casual enjoyment to something much more addictive.

Nier’s daughter is afflicted with something called the Black Scrawl but her condition is reflected in a growing evil across the entire world. So, as Nier tries to find a cure for his child, he’s faced with a universe that grows increasingly dangerous around him. The bulk of the game is a pretty standard mission structure with what you’d expect from an RPG including leveling up, magic choices, weapon choices, items to buy/sell, etc. As for combat, it’s pretty standard button-mashing but it can sometimes be incredibly frustrating in the game’s general inability to lock on to enemies and some odd camera work, especially in dungeons.

Nier Photo credit: Square Enix

Frustrating combat, ugly graphics, a weak first act - why do I like “Nier”? Believe it or not, it’s the story. The emotional drive of the lead character, the increased stakes and size of the missions, the supporting characters introduced throughout the game - all of these elements work to create an atmosphere that’s downright mesmerizing. Rarely do games actually suck you into their world and the characters who live there but “Nier” gets there through the power of its plot (and a gorgeous score that deserves a lot of credit for making the visuals easier to take).

To be a fair critic however, I must note that there are simply unacceptable elements to “Nier” that makes one wonder if the game couldn’t have been an instant classic if a little more care had been put into them. Weak backgrounds and goofy character animations are one thing but when you’re on a raft for a good chunk of time as you are in the city of Facade and the masked fellow pushing the raft has a stick that’s clearly still on your vessel and not doing anything, such laziness of design can pull a gamer out of the experience. There are numerous such moments in “Nier”. (And if I never fish in a game again, it will be too soon.)

It’s a constant tug of war. As the story sucks you in, so much of the design and general awkwardness of the gameplay pushes you back out. It’s a rare title that will enrapture some at the same time that it infuriates others but it’s easy to see that happening with “Nier”.

Ultimately, I believe “Nier” can be a very rewarding experience for patient gamers. It’s not a title to use to show off your fancy new TV or to pick-up-and-play with a limited amount of time. It takes effort - arguably too much effort considering the great games out there from minute one that compete with it - but sometimes the best things in life take a little time.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com [email protected]