Both hold a special place in my heart. I will say Replicant hit me harder at a sort of personal level, specifically on the level of coming to grips w the damage you caused. Not to mention that the emotional depth that it conveys in its various sub stories are just so well done. When the little mermaid shade said "how can I be so ugly in a world so beautiful" I legit had tears in my eyes
Automata hit me hard on a more existential level, I really relate to both the androids and machines looking back at human society and mostly just being like "damn wtf is this." Automata really pulled at my heart w its romance also. Seeing 9s go from a upbeat and competent android to an angsty, hurt, and hate filled was very tough for me, and the whole theme of both 2b and 9s being unable to express their love for one another put a lot of weight on me
I don't agree w you, bc I can't choose one over the other, but I will say, I understand at least
My ex said the same thing since he relates better to the replicants and gestalts with all the small things that make each seem human by nature or typical RPG. I relate better with Automata since I'm not considered anything but a cog in the grand scheme until finally breaking free from the system and learning the truth on my own. Of course, we broke up long before playing both, about 8 years ago.
Yeah I guess it’s really a matter of what subject is the most interesting for you.
Personnaly I relates more with the story of Replicant.
But both games are great
Yoko Taro created these grimdarks as satire after all. The small things will get to you, depends on how you are. Never thought I'd get a happy ending override from both somehow by watching humanity go extinct. I can relate to A2 and 9S more than brother NieR, although I prefer the father version of Gestalt. My ex prefers all the side characters of Replicant/Gestalt while I relate best with Kainé and Emil. Everyone has their differences but NieR became a masterpiece cult classic for many reasons.
I agree with you, the games are really well written. They talk about lots of different topics that are extremely interesting.
But I've had discussions with people who said that Automata was much better and that Replicant was much less good.
I don't agree with that, it's a matter of preference
I think you hit the nail on the head; for why I like Automata more than Replicant. (Hah). Replicant has better characters, more developed with better backstory and motivations, but they were all soo in their own fights that none of them could see the bigger picture and I couldn’t relate that well. (Don’t get me wrong - I love some sweary hussy - book banter). Automata’s characters by contrast are underdeveloped anime rage tweens, but it’s the overarching story of automata, that you are a part of (ending E) that moved me to tears like no form of media ever has.
TLDR: Replicant has brilliant characters in a bleak world who destroy the future.
Automata has paper thin well dressed characters in a bleak world, where everything goes wrong, yet somehow it ends with hope and possiblilty.
That’s a really interesting observation! I think that’s one of my biggest problems with Automata actually, the characters being so thin and one note (or any depth that’s implied we don’t really get to see like 2B). I kinda felt like the events in the game were just happening while the characters went along with barely any through-line or reflection. Made everything feel strangely disjointed to me. Also with how the game seems to want you to DEEPLY care for the characters while also obscuring most things that make them interesting. I like your analysis though.
Yeah, Automata was more intent on having its mystery to the detriment of characterisation, whereas replicant was way overblown. (The 30 page epics about Kaines granny were a tad indulgent). It is interesting watching 2B and 9S interact on a second run though… knowing she’s really 2E… Both are good, both are different.
Yeah, I can agree with that. I think the long text adventures did take up too much space but it felt like a lot of budget issues there more than anything. It gives more meat to Kaine and I much prefer understanding her better than being intentionally left in the dark. Personally I don’t think it’s very good in Automata, unfortunately. I am planning a replay this year so I’ll see how I feel then.
Yeah same here I think I prefer Automata gameplay wise but Replicants story really hit me more because I also have a younger sister that I’m really close with so I felt that connection with the protagonist just wanting to do everything he can for his sister. Yonah is just so adorable too lol
Me too, but thats mostly because of the characters. Gameplaywise of course Automata is leagues above. But the family of misfits just hits way better emotionaly than the stunted Android soldiers imo.
No, you’re not the only one. I played Automata first and was left pretty disappointed by the end. I still went into Replicant with high expectations but not as much as with N:A. I thought Replicant was *leagues* better, even preferring the combat. I feel it’s a lot more fleshed out, better written, way better characters, and the routes are actually what was described (unlike automata which is an almost entirely linear story). Everything just felt like it was given more depth to aid in caring for the world and characters. I still have problems with Replicant, many in fact, but the experience was a lot more fulfilling than what Automata provided me.
To me, apart from the gameplay itself, Replicant is superior to Automata in every way. The music, the story, the characters, everything was better IMO and I think it’s because, at least for me, it was much easier to relate with “humans” than androids, and having a younger sister myself it just hits harder.
Agree to disagree - I enjoyed Replicant v1.2 or whatnot in terms of story, feel, atmosphere and music but my god the gameplay in Replicant is miserable.
Automata has all of the above plus decent gameplay to boot!
Both hold a special place in my heart. I will say Replicant hit me harder at a sort of personal level, specifically on the level of coming to grips w the damage you caused. Not to mention that the emotional depth that it conveys in its various sub stories are just so well done. When the little mermaid shade said "how can I be so ugly in a world so beautiful" I legit had tears in my eyes Automata hit me hard on a more existential level, I really relate to both the androids and machines looking back at human society and mostly just being like "damn wtf is this." Automata really pulled at my heart w its romance also. Seeing 9s go from a upbeat and competent android to an angsty, hurt, and hate filled was very tough for me, and the whole theme of both 2b and 9s being unable to express their love for one another put a lot of weight on me I don't agree w you, bc I can't choose one over the other, but I will say, I understand at least
My ex said the same thing since he relates better to the replicants and gestalts with all the small things that make each seem human by nature or typical RPG. I relate better with Automata since I'm not considered anything but a cog in the grand scheme until finally breaking free from the system and learning the truth on my own. Of course, we broke up long before playing both, about 8 years ago.
Yeah I guess it’s really a matter of what subject is the most interesting for you. Personnaly I relates more with the story of Replicant. But both games are great
Yoko Taro created these grimdarks as satire after all. The small things will get to you, depends on how you are. Never thought I'd get a happy ending override from both somehow by watching humanity go extinct. I can relate to A2 and 9S more than brother NieR, although I prefer the father version of Gestalt. My ex prefers all the side characters of Replicant/Gestalt while I relate best with Kainé and Emil. Everyone has their differences but NieR became a masterpiece cult classic for many reasons.
I agree with you, the games are really well written. They talk about lots of different topics that are extremely interesting. But I've had discussions with people who said that Automata was much better and that Replicant was much less good. I don't agree with that, it's a matter of preference
And in the end, that is what it boils down to. NieR really does make you think in the end, regardless. Maybe that was the whole point.
Imo Automata is the better game but replicant had the more interesting world/lore/ost.
I played automata first, and absolutely love Replicant so much more.
I definitely prefer Replicant, but if someone values gameplay over everything I have no issue suggesting starting with Automata to get invested.
For me, stories and characters are the most important, I am a very casual gamer. So that is not a surprise that Replicant worked better with me.
I think you hit the nail on the head; for why I like Automata more than Replicant. (Hah). Replicant has better characters, more developed with better backstory and motivations, but they were all soo in their own fights that none of them could see the bigger picture and I couldn’t relate that well. (Don’t get me wrong - I love some sweary hussy - book banter). Automata’s characters by contrast are underdeveloped anime rage tweens, but it’s the overarching story of automata, that you are a part of (ending E) that moved me to tears like no form of media ever has. TLDR: Replicant has brilliant characters in a bleak world who destroy the future. Automata has paper thin well dressed characters in a bleak world, where everything goes wrong, yet somehow it ends with hope and possiblilty.
That’s a really interesting observation! I think that’s one of my biggest problems with Automata actually, the characters being so thin and one note (or any depth that’s implied we don’t really get to see like 2B). I kinda felt like the events in the game were just happening while the characters went along with barely any through-line or reflection. Made everything feel strangely disjointed to me. Also with how the game seems to want you to DEEPLY care for the characters while also obscuring most things that make them interesting. I like your analysis though.
Yeah, Automata was more intent on having its mystery to the detriment of characterisation, whereas replicant was way overblown. (The 30 page epics about Kaines granny were a tad indulgent). It is interesting watching 2B and 9S interact on a second run though… knowing she’s really 2E… Both are good, both are different.
Yeah, I can agree with that. I think the long text adventures did take up too much space but it felt like a lot of budget issues there more than anything. It gives more meat to Kaine and I much prefer understanding her better than being intentionally left in the dark. Personally I don’t think it’s very good in Automata, unfortunately. I am planning a replay this year so I’ll see how I feel then.
Yeah same here I think I prefer Automata gameplay wise but Replicants story really hit me more because I also have a younger sister that I’m really close with so I felt that connection with the protagonist just wanting to do everything he can for his sister. Yonah is just so adorable too lol
Yeah, I felt closer to the characters in Replicant too. And I don’t even have a sister ^^
No one stops! Hits hard
Nope. Same.
I agree man
Never played but watched automata first and then replicant. I find myself rewatching replicant's story more often.
Me too, but thats mostly because of the characters. Gameplaywise of course Automata is leagues above. But the family of misfits just hits way better emotionaly than the stunted Android soldiers imo.
I totally agree
No, definitely not
No, you’re not the only one. I played Automata first and was left pretty disappointed by the end. I still went into Replicant with high expectations but not as much as with N:A. I thought Replicant was *leagues* better, even preferring the combat. I feel it’s a lot more fleshed out, better written, way better characters, and the routes are actually what was described (unlike automata which is an almost entirely linear story). Everything just felt like it was given more depth to aid in caring for the world and characters. I still have problems with Replicant, many in fact, but the experience was a lot more fulfilling than what Automata provided me.
Same here, I'm stoked to replay Replicant at some point soon. I plan on getting Grimoire Noir to read the stories also
To me, apart from the gameplay itself, Replicant is superior to Automata in every way. The music, the story, the characters, everything was better IMO and I think it’s because, at least for me, it was much easier to relate with “humans” than androids, and having a younger sister myself it just hits harder.
I completly agree with you. The gameplay was more simple and easy than Automata. And I am not a big gamer so I had more fun with Replicant.
Agree to disagree - I enjoyed Replicant v1.2 or whatnot in terms of story, feel, atmosphere and music but my god the gameplay in Replicant is miserable. Automata has all of the above plus decent gameplay to boot!