Ruined City

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Lore & Background

This urban expanse was once a bustling metropolis for humanity before the war with the Machines began. Centuries after the humans departed or fell, the structures remain as hollow shells. The environment highlights the passage of time; ivy climbs cracked walls, and rusted vehicles sit frozen in traffic jams that never ended.

It is here that YoRHa androids often begin their reconnaissance missions, learning to navigate both physical obstacles and hostile machine patrols. The silence of the city contrasts sharply with the mechanical hum of its new inhabitants, creating a haunting atmosphere where technology and nature have merged into something alien.

In Their Own Story

2B steps over a shattered window pane. The silence is heavy, broken only by the hum of her optical sensors scanning for heat signatures. A rusted billboard flickers with static, advertising products no one will ever buy again. She tightens her grip on her blade, knowing that in this graveyard of civilization, the machines are the new ghosts haunting the halls.

Reader's Guide

The Ruined City acts as a primary tutorial zone for players and characters alike, introducing core combat mechanics within a vertical urban environment. Navigating collapsed walkways and climbing debris is essential to reach hidden data banks and weapons chests. Story-wise, it establishes the desolation of the world YoRHa fights to reclaim from the Machines.

Combat here focuses on standard Machine Weapons, offering a chance to master dodging and parrying before facing tougher enemies in later chapters. Exploration rewards are frequent, with memory fragments scattered throughout the rubble hinting at the lives once lived here. It is crucial for early progression toward unlocking the Factory of Eden and advancing the main narrative.

Be cautious of ambushes from elevated positions, as machines often drop down to attack unsuspecting units. This area remains a haunting symbol of the war's cost, reminding everyone that victory may come at the price of remembering what was lost forever. The environment shifts between open plazas and tight corridors, testing adaptability in combat scenarios.

Did You Know?

• Nature has reclaimed most structures within decades of humanity leaving.
• Machines sometimes wear human clothing found here to mimic behavior.
• Data banks contain fragments of human history lost to time.
• The architecture reflects pre-war Earth technology and design.

Origins and Development

Development on Nier began in 2007 under the direction of Yoko Taro, the creator behind the Drakengard series. This project served as a spiritual successor, specifically continuing the narrative from the fifth ending of the first Drakengard game. Taro was granted significant creative autonomy, allowing him to weave a story inspired by real-world tragedies like the September 11 attacks and the subsequent war on terror. The gameplay mechanics drew partial inspiration from the action-oriented combat of the God of War series. A unique aspect of its production involved creating two distinct versions of the protagonist based on regional feedback: Nier Replicant featured a younger teenage hero for the Japanese market, while Nier Gestalt presented an older adult version for international audiences and the Xbox 360. The soundtrack was composed by Monaca, a studio founded by Keiichi Okabe, which released several albums to accompany the game's atmospheric tone.

Gameplay Mechanics

As an action role-playing game, Nier features a third-person perspective where players control a customizable protagonist through a post-apocalyptic world. The environment is three-dimensional but segmented by loading screens, allowing free movement via walking, running, and climbing. Uniquely, the game dynamically shifts genres; certain indoor areas restrict movement to two-dimensional platforming, while specific battles switch to a top-down shoot 'em up view. Players battle various monsters, including shadowy Shades, large beasts, and robots, earning experience points and currency to upgrade weapons or purchase items. Combat involves customizable weaponry and magic spells powered by a regenerating energy bar, such as projectiles and spectral fists. Beyond the main narrative, the game includes numerous side quests, along with distinct fishing and farming segments that provide additional resources and character development opportunities.

Narrative Synopsis

Set over a millennium after humanity's near-extinction in the mid-21st century, the story follows a protagonist searching for a cure for Yonah, a young girl afflicted by the terminal Black Scrawl. The world is a ruin where feudal civilization struggles against hostile Shades, which are revealed to be human souls separated from their bodies centuries ago. To save Yonah, the hero teams up with Grimoire Weiss, a magical book, and recruits allies like Kainé, a foul-mouthed swordswoman, and Emil, a blindfolded boy whose gaze can petrify enemies. The journey takes a dark turn when the village is attacked, forcing Emil to petrify Kainé to seal a giant Shade while Yonah is kidnapped by the Shadowlord. Five years later, the party regains Kainé but transforms Emil into a skeletal outcast. Ultimately, twin sisters Devola and Popola reveal they are allied with the Shadowlord, explaining that current humans are artificial Replicants whose souls exist as Shades, and the Black Scrawl is a symptom of this tragic separation.

Reception and Legacy

Upon its initial release in 2010, Nier received mixed reviews; critics praised its compelling story, characters, and soundtrack but criticized substandard graphics and disjointed gameplay elements. Despite selling only 500,000 copies initially, the game cultivated a dedicated following over time, evolving into a cult classic. This enduring popularity led to the 2021 release of Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139..., a remaster that addressed previous graphical and mechanical shortcomings with widespread acclaim. The updated version sold over two million copies worldwide, significantly outperforming the original. The franchise's success eventually spawned a sequel developed by PlatinumGames titled Nier: Automata in 2017, cementing the series' impact on modern action role-playing games and proving that its initial commercial struggles did not reflect its long-term artistic value.