After a long wait, NierR Replicant ver.1.22474487179... is finally out. Nothing with the same title has been released outside of Japan before, but Western fans of the NieR series may remember playing a very similar JRPG in 2010: NieR Gestalt, or simply NieR. Fans now playing the new NieR Replicant may not be aware of the major differences between this game and its variant, NieR Gestalt.
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487179... is a bit of an ambiguous title. It's more than a remaster of the original NieR, but it's also very true to the original and isn't considered a full-fledged remake. Square Enix describes it as a "modern upgrade," but a lot of NieR fans have never played the original to begin with. So what's different about it, and how does it compare to NieR Gestalt?
Replicant and Gestalt are actually two versions of the exact same game, released in different regions and on different platforms. The story and gameplay are identical and overall, there are very few differences between them. That said, each variant is different, and fans often do prefer one or the other.
There are only a couple of differences at most between the two titles, but each makes a huge impact on the visual impact and feel of the game. All of the major differences are tied to Nier, the unofficially named Protagonist, which makes them hard to miss. The differences are few, but they aren't small secrets hiding in the corners of the game. Instead, those differences are front and center.
NieR Replicant and Gestalt Tailored the Protagonist to Different Cultures
The original NieR game was released at a time when JRPGs weren't nearly as popular in the West as they are now. As a result, two different versions of the game were released. NieR Replicant was released in Japan and had a much younger protagonist with a small frame, and Gestalt's version of Nier was a bulked-up man in his 40s.
Both games were meant to appeal to different cultures' views on masculinity, and cater to what they would find most appealing. The developer felt like the more delicate, effeminate Nier in NieR Replicant was more suited for a Japanese audience, whereas the macho strongman in the NieR Gestalt version would attract more Western gamers.
The world will never know if NieR Replicant would have sold just as well with the younger protagonist, but the motivation behind designing two protagonists was primarily for marketing purposes. Overall, it didn't have a huge impact on gameplay or story, and both games are amazing.
However, the different protagonists did cause the developer to make another change. In NieR Replicant, players experienced the relationship between Nier and Yonah as brother and sister. In Gestalt, they have a father-daughter relationship. Players have differing opinions on which relationship works better, but the dialogue doesn't change much. Nier is fighting to save Yonah in both games, so the only thing that really changes is the context of the story.
What players prefer varies widely. Some people are closer to their siblings than they are to their parents, and vice versa. The different relationships between Brother/Father Nier and Yonah have a big impact on how players view the characters and situations, but on the design and narrative levels, it doesn't change a whole lot.
Replicant and Gestalt Originally Released in Different Countries
When it first came out, NieR Replicant was released exclusively in Japan. Now, the modern upgrade is bringing the Japanese version to Western audiences. Both Replicant and Gestalt were part of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 generation, and while the updated NieR Replicant hasn't been made specifically for PS5 and Xbox Series X, it's still exciting to see this incredible version become more accessible.
NieR Replicant was the original version of the story and wasn't changed until Square Enix put pressure on the developer to create a second version, thinking that Replicant might not be as successful outside of Japan. Outside of Japan, Gestalt was available on PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
Gestalt, however, was also available in Japan at its launch. NieR Replicant was released exclusively for PS3 in Japan, while Gestalt was released exclusively on Xbox 360. Which version of the game Japanese fans got to play depended on what console they owned, so really, the original version of the story was available to a much smaller group of people than Gestalt.
Replicant's exclusivity makes the release of Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487179... that much more exciting. The updated game is also the first version of the NieR Automata prequel available on PC.
So while there aren't a ton of differences between NieR Replicant and Gestalt, there are definitely enough to distinguish them from one another and add to the significance of ver.1.22474487179... Some fans may continue to prefer Gestalt, and that's perfectly fine. But now, fans of the NieR series and JRPGs in general finally have the opportunity to experience the first NieR game the way the developers originally intended.
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487179... is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.