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{{Short description|2010 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{good article}}
{{About|the 2010 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title      = Nier
| image      = Nier (game box art).jpg
| caption    = Original Western cover art showing (from center to left) the [[Protagonist (Nier)|unnamed protagonist]], [[Kainé]], and Emil
| developer  = [[Cavia (company)|Cavia]]{{efn|Remaster developed by {{ill|Toylogic|ja|トイロジック}}.<ref name="FamInterviewRemaster"/>}}
| publisher  = [[Square Enix]]
| director   = [[Yoko Taro]]
| producer   = {{ubl|Takuya Iwasaki|Yosuke Saito}}
| designer   = Daisuke Iizuka
| programmer = Takeshi Katayama
| artist     = {{ubl|D.K|Yoshio Kamikubo|Shogo Tojo}}
| writer     = {{ubl|Hana Kikuchi|Sawako Natori}}
| composer   = {{ubl|[[Keiichi Okabe]]|Kakeru Ishihama|Keigo Hoashi|Takafumi Nishimura}}
| series     = ''[[Drakengard]]''
| platforms  = {{ubl|'''''Nier Gestalt'''''|[[PlayStation 3]] (West only)|[[Xbox 360]]|'''''Nier Replicant'''''|[[PlayStation 3]] (Japan only)|[[PlayStation 4]]|[[Xbox One]]|[[Windows]]}}
| released   = '''PS3, Xbox 360'''{{vgrelease|[[Asia|AS]]/[[Australia|AU]]|April 22, 2010|EU|April 23, 2010|NA|April 27, 2010}}'''PS4, Xbox One'''{{vgrelease|AS|April 22, 2021|NA/EU|April 23, 2021}}'''Windows'''{{vgrelease|WW|April 23, 2021}}
| genre      = [[Action role-playing]], [[hack and slash]]
| modes      = [[Single-player]]
}}
'''''Nier'''''{{efn|Stylized as '''''NieR'''''}} is an [[Action role-playing game|action role-playing]] [[video game]] developed by [[Cavia (company)|Cavia]] and published in 2010 by [[Square Enix]] for the [[PlayStation 3]] and [[Xbox 360]]. In Japan, the game was released as {{nihongo foot|'''''Nier Replicant'''''|ニーア レプリカント|Nīa Repurikanto|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} for the PlayStation 3 with a younger main character, while an alternative version titled {{nihongo foot|'''''Nier Gestalt'''''|ニーア ゲシュタルト|Nīa Geshutaruto|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} with an older main character was released for the Xbox 360; ''Gestalt'' was released outside of Japan as ''Nier'' for both platforms. A [[Video game remaster|remaster]] of the Japanese version, {{nihongo foot|'''''Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139...'''''|ニーア レプリカントver.1.22474487139...|Nīa Repurikanto ver.1.22474487139...|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} was released for [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox One]], and [[Windows]] in 2021.
The game is a spin-off from the ''[[Drakengard]]'' series, following the fifth ending of the [[Drakengard (video game)|first game]], the events of which have left Earth in ruin. Set over one thousand years later, the story follows the [[Protagonist (Nier)|unnamed protagonist]] attempting to find a cure for a terminal illness afflicting the girl Yonah—either his sister or daughter. The gameplay borrows elements from various [[video game genres]], occasionally switching between them and the main [[Role-playing video game|role-playing]]-based gameplay.
Beginning production in 2007, the game was directed by ''Drakengard'' creator [[Yoko Taro]], who was given a lot of creative freedom with the project. Its storyline drew inspiration from [[September 11 attacks]] and the [[War on Terror]], while its gameplay was partly inspired by ''[[God of War (franchise)|God of War]]'' series. Due to Western feedback, multiple versions of the protagonist were created. The music was composed by Monaca, a music studio led by [[Keiichi Okabe]], and several albums have been released.
''Nier'' was released to mixed reception; reviewers praised the story, characters and soundtrack and were mixed in their opinions of how well the disparate gameplay elements were connected. The execution of some gameplay elements was criticized, notably the side quests, and the graphics were regarded as substandard. Despite this, the game acquired acclaim among players over time, becoming a [[cult classic]]. The original ''Nier'' sold 500,000 copies, while the updated version shipped 1.5 million copies worldwide. A sequel developed by [[PlatinumGames]], titled ''[[Nier: Automata]]'', was released in 2017.
==Gameplay==
[[File:Nier Screenshot.jpg|left|thumb|300px|The main character fighting a giant Shade. The [[Boss (video games)|boss]] [[health bar]] is at the bottom, a [[minimap]] can be seen at lower right, and the top right contains bars representing the protagonist's health and [[Magic (game terminology)|magic]].]]
''Nier'' is an [[action role-playing game]] in which players take on the role of an [[Protagonist (Nier)|unnamed protagonist]]; the protagonist is a middle-aged man in ''Nier Gestalt'' and a teenage boy in ''Nier Replicant'', named by the player.<ref name="EGreview"/> The player directly controls the main character through a third-person perspective to interact with people, objects, and enemies throughout the game.<ref name="1UPreview"/> The player can turn the camera around the characters, which allows for a 360° view of the surroundings. The three-dimensional world is divided into areas separated by loading screens, and the player can move freely throughout these areas by walking, running, jumping, and climbing ladders.<ref name="GSreview"/> In some rooms and buildings, the camera swings to the side and the main character is restricted to moving as in a two-dimensional platforming environment, while during certain battles the camera pulls up to simulate a top-down [[shoot 'em up]] or other video game genres.<ref name="1UPreview"/>
While traveling the player is frequently attacked by monsters, which include shadowy figures called Shades, large animals, and robots.<ref name="1UPreview"/> Defeating these enemies gives the player experience points that can increase the main character's power, and money that can be used to purchase items.<ref name="EGreview"/> The player's weapons can be customized to have greater damage and abilities using materials that can be purchased, dropped from monsters, or scavenged around the world. Multiple varieties of each weapon type can be acquired. The player can also use magic spells, which require enough energy from a constantly regenerating amount to cast. These spells include projectiles and large shadowy fists, among others; new spells are acquired in the first half of the game by completing specific battles.<ref name="RPGreview"/> In addition to the main plotline, ''Nier'' includes numerous [[sidequests]], which give the player experience points and money, as well as fishing and farming segments.<ref name="WIREDint"/>
{{clear|left}}
==Synopsis==
In the mid 21st century, in the midst of a snowstorm in summer amid a ruined city, the protagonist fends off ethereal black monsters to protect the sick young girl Yonah—either his younger sister or daughter, depending on the version. The protagonist uses a magical book to fend off the creatures, but Yonah touches it and is covered in black markings, worsening her condition. The story moves to over a thousand years later, with the current feudal civilization in decline and the black creatures—dubbed Shades—becoming more hostile. The protagonist and Yonah live in a village built within post-industrial ruins, with the protagonist taking odd jobs from the village leaders Devola and Popola to earn money to support the sick Yonah. While rescuing Yonah from a temple after she wanders there looking for a rare flower, the protagonist meets the talking book Grimoire Weiss, which suggests that the two team up to use Weiss's magic and to find a cure for Yonah's disease, identified as the terminal Black Scrawl. In their search, they encounter [[Kainé]], a hot-tempered and foul-mouthed swordswoman; and Emil, a blindfolded boy whose eyes petrify anyone they see. After journeying for a time, the protagonist's village is attacked by a giant Shade. The battle ends with Emil being forced to petrify Kainé to seal the shade, and Yonah being kidnapped by a master Shade dubbed the Shadowlord.
The game jumps forward five years, with the situation worsening. The protagonist and Emil successfully find the power necessary to free Kainé and kill the giant Shade, but getting the power transforms Emil into a skeletal being the villagers fear. Under Devola and Popola's guidance, the party seek out parts of a stone key that will unlock a pathway to the Shadowlord. After defeating five Shades and assembling the key, the team goes to defeat the Shadowlord. Devola and Popola then confront the party, revealing themselves to be allied with the Shadowlord in the name of a greater plan. 1300 years prior, humanity faced extinction due to an incurable disease. In an attempt to survive, they separated their souls from their bodies; the current humans are the artificial Replicants who developed their own personalities, while the Shades are human souls—dubbed Gestalts—who are slowly losing their minds through being unable to reunite with their bodies. The Black Scrawl is a side effect of the Gestalts' insanity degrading their Replicant counterparts. The Shadowlord is the prime Gestalt used to stabilise them, and Devola and Popola are androids who oversee the system. The party defeat them, with Emil sacrificing himself in the process. The remaining group then defeats the Shadowlord, revealed to be the Gestalt of the prologue's protagonist, with his actions driven by the wish to save his Yonah by reuniting her Gestalt and Replicant. The Gestalt Yonah dissipates to save her Replicant version's life, and the protagonist kills the Shadowlord after Grimoire Weiss sacrifices himself to weaken his power.
If the player enters [[New Game Plus|further playthroughs]], events start just after Kainé is freed. Kainé's past is focused on, showing the discrimination she suffered due to her parents' deaths, being born [[intersex]], and later being partially possessed by the rogue Gestalt Tyrann. Through Tyrann, the player can understand the previously-garbled speech of Gestalts. New story sequences show the Gestalt antagonists' motivations and backstory, showing them to be sentient and fighting for their own beliefs and goals. The second ending shows the spirit of the Gestalt protagonist and Yonah reuniting in the afterlife, and reveals that Emil survived; further information confirms that the Shadowlord's death will lead to humanity's extinction as Replicants and Gestalts can no longer be rejoined. In a third or further playthrough, Kainé becomes overwhelmed by Tyrann, going berserk and forcing the protagonist to fight her. The protagonist can either kill her to end her suffering (the third ending), or sacrifice his life for her (the fourth ending). The latter choice erases memory of him from Kainé and Yonah, and deletes all of the player's save data.
The updated version of ''Replicant'' adds a fifth ending after a new game is begun following the fourth ending, beginning following the defeat of Kainé's Shade nemesis Hook. Three years after the Shadowlord's defeat, Kainé continues having nightmares about losing something precious, and fights increasingly-hostile Shades. Investigating a settlement, she finds its people killed by robots emerging from its central tree, the control unit recording Replicant memories. Kainé, who is talked to by the control unit's AI through twin childlike avatars. Kainé is aided in fighting past machine duplicates of her by Emil, eventually entering the tree's mainframe and battling enemies drawn from her memories, culminating in a battle with a more-powerful Hook helped by the data remains of Grimoire Weiss. Kainé destroys Hook and the AI, restoring the protagonist in his young form; all of the player's save data prior to the fourth ending is consequently restored.
==Development==
The concept that would become ''Nier'' was first proposed following the release of ''[[Drakengard 2]]'' and the reveal of [[Seventh generation of video game consoles|seventh generation]] consoles. The original concept was for a third entry in the ''[[Drakengard]]'' series. As the project evolved, the original ideas were reworked and the game eventually became a spin-off from the main series. Despite this, the game's director [[Yoko Taro]] continues to think of it as the third ''Drakengard'' game.<ref name="NierOrigins"/> Different reports described its planned platforms.<ref name="NierOrigins"/><ref name="NierINSIDE"/> An earlier report stated it was intended as an Xbox 360 exclusive, then expanded onto the [[PlayStation 3]] (PS3).<ref name="NierINSIDE"/> Yoko later stated that the PS3 version was the original one planned due to the lessening importance of the [[PlayStation 2]], which ''Drakengard 2'' had been made for.<ref name="NierOrigins"/> Including concept planning, the total development time lasted three years, with two years spent actually developing the game. It was initially a small-scale project, but during planning it grew into a full-fledged role-playing game.<ref name="GetInterview1"/>
Development was handled by [[Cavia (company)|Cavia]] with help from [[Square Enix]], who had previously provided development support for the ''Drakengard'' games.<ref name="GetInterview1"/> Square Enix had minimal input on Yoko's vision for the game's atmosphere and story, allowing him high creative control.<ref name="NierINSIDE"/> ''Nier'' is intended to be set over 1000 years after the original ''[[Drakengard (video game)|Drakengard]]'''s fifth ending. In this scenario, the game's protagonists Caim and Angelus travel across a dimensional boundary to fight a monstrous beast. After winning the battle and killing the monster, they are shot down by a fighter jet and killed; their introduction of magic to the world leads to magical research that results in the Black Scrawl.<ref name="NierDOD"/> According to Yoko, after the dark story of ''Drakengard'', Yoko focused on more positive themes of friendship and combined effort.<ref name="NierINSIDE"/> Much of the game was inspired by the [[September 11 attacks]] and the [[War on Terror]]. Yoko took from it the idea of a terrible event where both sides believed they were doing the right thing, and wanted to show the player multiple perspectives of the same events.<ref name="GDC911"/> The term "Replicant" was borrowed by Yoko from the 1982 science fiction movie ''[[Blade Runner]]'', although Yoko did not cite a particular source for ''Nier''{{'}}s name, passing it off as a codename that persisted through development.<ref name="NierINSIDE"/><ref name="GetInterview2"/>
The characters were designed by an artist under the moniker D.K.<ref name="GWInier"/> Two character designs for the protagonist were created for ''Nier''. The developers believed that the Japanese audience would respond more strongly to a younger protagonist, while non-Japanese audiences would prefer an adult protagonist character.<ref name="NierINSIDE"/><ref name= "NierAdult"/> Other than changing the protagonists appearance and modifying a few lines of dialogue to fit with him being a father rather than a brother to Yonah, the developers made no changes between the two versions;<ref name="WIREDint"/><ref name= "NierAdult"/> it was initially believed that the older protagonist was the character's original design.<ref name="WIREDint"/> Many characters underwent changes during development, and some needed to be cut. There were originally thirteen Grimoires, with all but three—Weiss, Noir, and Rubrum—being cut. Emil's character was derived from a female character named Halua, while Kainé was originally a far more feminine type who hid her violent nature.<ref name="NIERnovela"/> Yonah's original Japanese name was derived from the Biblical name [[Jonah]]; this could not be taken verbatim into its localized form due to the name being associated with a man, so the name was changed to "Yonah".<ref name="NierINSIDE"/><ref name="GetInterview2"/> Yoko was initially shocked at Kainé's design, but warmed to it and had it kept.<ref name="GWInier"/> Kainé's character was made [[intersex]], since the team felt it fit in with many other aspects of her gritty backstory. Kainé's status as intersex caused some "commotion" in western territories, which is something the team did not actively intend.<ref name="SilNierInterview"/> Yoko attributed the original suggestion to female staff members working on the game.<ref name="GetInterview1"/> The in-game cutscenes were created and directed by Studio Anima.<ref name="Anima"/>
The combat and action elements of ''Nier'' were inspired by the ''[[God of War (franchise)|God of War]]'' series of games, which both Taro and Saito enjoyed. While the games had not been as popular in Japan as in North America, the two felt that the idea of having boss fights with different combat styles than the regular battles was an idea that would appeal to players in both regions. The changing styles, as well as the occasional changes in camera angle and movement, were meant to "accentuate [the] gap between real, modern scenery and the fantasy world" as a tie-in to the game's story.<ref name="VGint"/> The game was designed to have gameplay that would appeal to non-Japanese players in mind, with producer Saito stating that they wanted to depart from menu-based combat.<ref name="4Gamerdepart"/> The game was meant to appeal to older players; it was intended as an action-role playing game (RPG) for an older market than Square Enix's action-RPG series ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]''. This influenced the decision to have a main character in his 30s for the international version, as well as more blood and swearing than typical in a Square Enix RPG.<ref name="VGint"/> The fusion of different gameplay styles was included as a homage to earlier gameplay styles and genres.<ref name="NierINSIDE"/>
===Music===
{{Main|Music of Nier}}
The soundtrack to ''Nier'' was composed by a collaboration of the studio MoNACA, directed by Keiichi Okabe and including Kakeru Ishihama and Keigo Hoashi, and Takafumi Nishimura from [[Cavia (company)|Cavia]]. Okabe served as the lead composer and as the director for the project as a whole. Okabe was brought onto the project when the concept for the game was first being devised, and worked intermittently on the soundtrack for the next three years until its release. The music for the game was generally composed entirely separately from the development of the game. The music was designed for different motifs to appear in various arrangements throughout the soundtrack, and also to convey a sense of sadness even during the "thrilling" tracks. Okabe was allowed a great deal of freedom regarding what the music was to sound like; game director Yoko Taro's main request was that he use a lot of vocal works.<ref name="OKABEint"/>
The soundtrack to ''Nier'' is largely composed of melancholy acoustic pieces which heavily feature vocals by vocalist Emi Evans (Emiko Rebecca Evans), a singer from England living in Tokyo. She is the singer for the band freesscape, and had previously worked on video games such as ''[[Etrian Odyssey]]''. In addition to singing, Evans was asked to write her own lyrics in futuristic languages. The composers gave her preliminary version of songs and the style they wished the language to be in, such as Gaelic or French, and she invented the words. Evans wrote songs in versions of [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]], Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, English and Japanese, where she tried to imagine what they would sound like after 1000 years of drifting.<ref name="OSVint"/>
Square Enix released a soundtrack album of music from the game, titled ''Nier Gestalt & Replicant Original Soundtrack'', on April 21, 2010.<ref name="RPGFost"/> The soundtrack album reached number 24 on the Japanese Oricon music charts, and remained on the charts for 11 weeks.<ref name="ORIost"/> As preorder bonuses for ''Nier Gestalt'' and ''Nier Replicant'', two mini-albums, ''Nier Gestalt Mini Album'' and ''Nier Replicant Mini Album'', were included.<ref name="SEMOges"/><ref name="SEMOrep"/> An album of arranged music, ''NieR Gestalt & Replicant 15 Nightmares & Arrange Tracks'', was published by Square Enix on December 8, 2010.<ref name="RPGFarrange"/> The arranged album reached number 59 on the Oricon music charts, a position it held for a week.<ref name="ORIarrange"/> Another album, ''NieR Tribute Album -echo-'', was released on September 14, 2011,<ref name="SEecho"/> and an album of piano arrangements, ''Piano Collections Nier Gestalt & Replicant'', was published on March 21, 2012.<ref name="OSVpiano"/>
==Release==
''Nier'' was officially unveiled in June 2009 at the [[Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009]] for both the PlayStation 3 and [[Xbox 360]], along with its developer and publisher.<ref name="IGNannounce"/><ref name="ESCAPISTannounce"/> The localizations for the game—in English, French, and German—were produced during development so that all of the versions could be released at the same time, and so that Cavia and Square Enix could solicit feedback from North America and Europe on the game so that it would appeal to players outside Japan.<ref name="NierINSIDE"/><ref name="GSint"/> Due to its high violence, the game was given a CERO D rating in Japan.<ref name="GetInterview2"/> In Japan, two versions of the game were released; ''Nier Gestalt'' for the 360 which would use the adult lead, and ''Nier Replicant'' for the PS3 which used the young lead. In the West, the ''Gestalt'' version was released on both platforms under the title ''Nier''.<ref name="NierINSIDE"/> The PS3 version had a Japanese voice cast, while the 360 release used the English dub.<ref name="VOversions"/> ''Nier'' released worldwide by Square Enix in April 2010: it released on April 22 in Japan and Australia, April 23 in Europe, and April 27 in North America.<ref name="NierDatesA"/><ref name="NierDatesB"/>
A supplementary guidebook, ''Grimoire Nier: The Complete Guide + Cels'', was released on May 28, 2010 by [[ASCII Media Works]]. The guidebook included documentation of in-game elements, developer interviews, and novellas detailing both additional character stories and a post-game ending scenario.<ref name="Grimoire2010a"/><ref name="Grimoire2010b"/> On May 11, Square Enix released a piece of [[downloadable content]] for the game, titled "The World of Recycled Vessel". The small expansion features a series of fifteen battles with the incarnation of Nier other than the one in the specific version of the game. Nier enters the battles in a dream world accessed through a diary in his house. The expansion offers new costumes and weapons for the game.<ref name="GRdlc"/> A CD drama, ''NieR Replicant Drama CD The Lost Words and the Red Sky'', was released on April 27, 2011. The CD covers additional stories related to the game's backstory and characters.<ref name="CDa"/><ref name="CDb"/>
===Remaster===
[[File:Nier Replicant remake art.png|thumb|200px|right|The remaster of ''Nier'' updated the character art, and used the younger version of the protagonist.]]
An updated version of ''Replicant'' titled ''Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139...'' was announced in March 2020 as part of the 10th anniversary celebrations for the series and was slated for a worldwide release for [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox One]], and [[Windows]].<ref name="NierRemaster"/> It was released on console in Asia on April 22, 2021 in Japan and Asia, and April 23 in the West. The Windows version released worldwide on April 23.<ref name="NierRemasterDate"/> The game came in both standard and a limited "White Snow" edition exclusive to the Square Enix online store. Pre-orders came with a digital soundtrack and platform-specific art-based bonuses.<ref name="Ver122Editions"/> An updated version of ''Grimoire Nier'' was released in Japan in 2021, and for the first time in English in 2023.<ref name="Guide2021a"/><ref name="Guide2021b"/>
Yosuke Saito returned as the producer, Yoko Taro remained as creative director, and the role of game director went to Saki Ito. Development was handled by {{ill|Toylogic|ja|トイロジック}}.<ref name="NierRemaster"/> The combat redesign was supervised by Takahisa Taura of [[PlatinumGames]], who had worked on the game's sequel ''[[Nier: Automata]]''. Toylogic was brought on board due to Yoko knowing its founder, Yoichi Take, from their time working together at Cavia. Kazuma Koda, who worked on later ''Nier'' projects, contributed promotional artwork.<ref name="FamInterviewRemaster"/> Ito described his work reworking the combat and graphical design as preserving as much as possible while matching his own idealised memories of the game and create something to please fans of ''Nier: Automata''.<ref name="PolyInterviewVer122"/> The characters were redrawn by [[Akihiko Yoshida]], Toshiyuki Itahana, and Kimihiko Fujisaka; all three had contributed to the ''Drakengard'' and ''Nier'' series, and were brought in at Yoko's request.<ref name="FamMagInterview"/> Yoshida worked on the redesigns of the young protagonist, Kainé, Yonah and Emil; Itahana redesigned Devola and Popola; and Fujisaka reworked the designs for the king of Facade, his queen Fyra, the father protagonist, and designed new character Louise.<ref name="Ver122artist"/>
The game included new story content, content creating a narrative link to its sequel, and story content originally cut from the game.<ref name="PCGinterview"/> For the remaster, Yoko chose to exclusively use the brother version of the protagonist as he had initially wanted. As the father character had apparently seen mixed responses in the West, Yoko decided to feature the brother in the remaster.<ref name="GSinterviewVer122"/> The father protagonist was featured as the player character in the "15 Nightmares" content, originally released as DLC dubbed "World of Recycled Vessel".<ref name="Ver122artist"/><ref name="PolyInterviewVer122"/> The Mermaid story, featuring new character Louise, was planned for the original game but cut due to budget and reworked into a later novella. Yoko decided to include it given the opportunity, but did not incorporate other novella material as those were original stories rather than cut content.<ref name="MermaidOrigin"/> Weapon Stories, a feature from the ''Drakengard'' series and ''Nier: Automata'', were also incorporated.<ref name="PolyInterviewVer122"/> The fifth ending, originally a backup plan in case the original save data deletion was dropped and later written into a novella, was included both due to Saito's request for fan service and having the budget to incorporate it.<ref name="MermaidOrigin"/><ref name="GSinterviewVer122"/> Tying into later developments in the series, elements of the fifth ending featured advanced technology.<ref name="GSinterviewVer122"/>
''ver.1.22474487139...'' features new Japanese voicework to make the game fully voiced, and both new and rearranged music.<ref name="NierRemaster"/> The score was arranged by Okabe, Hoashi, Ryuichi Takada, Kuniyuki Takahashi, Shotaro Seo, and Oliver Good. Okabe and Hoashi composed the new tracks. Evans returned to perform vocals with Saki Nakae. The chorus work was done by Evans, Nakae, Okabe, Shotaro Seo, Yukino Orita and KOCHO.<ref name="Ver122Album"/> Most of the English original cast returned, including [[Laura Bailey (voice actress)|Laura Bailey]] (Kaine), [[Liam O'Brien]] (Grimoire Weiss), [[Julie Ann Taylor]] (Emil), and [[Eden Riegel]] (Devola and Popola). The protagonist had two voice actors; [[Zach Aguilar]] voiced the younger version, while [[Ray Chase (voice actor)|Ray Chase]] voiced the older version after the time skip.<ref name="Voices"/>
==Reception==
===Initial release===
{{Video game reviews
| MC = PS3: 68/100<ref name="MCPS3"/><br />X360: 67/100<ref name="MC360"/>
| 1UP = C−<ref name="1UPreview"/>
| EuroG = 6/10<ref name="EGreview"/>
| Fam = 34/40<ref name="FAMreview"/>
| GSpot = 5/10<ref name="GSreview"/>
| IGN = 7/10<ref name="IGNreview"/>
| RPG = 4.5/5<ref name="RPGreview"/>
| rev1 = [[IGN|IGN Australia]]
| rev1Score = 7.3/10<ref name="IGNAUreview"/>
}}
''Nier Gestalt'' sold over 12,500 copies in Japan the week of its release,<ref name="FAMsales1"/> while ''Replicant'' sold over 60,000 and was the top-selling video game in Japan that week.<ref name="GAMArepsales"/> ''Replicant'' sold over 121,000 copies in Japan by the end of May 2010, and ended the year with over 134,000 copies sold.<ref name="FAMsales2"/><ref name="TMB2010"/> In 2019, Yoko estimated that ''Nier'' had sold around 500,000 copies worldwide. According to Yoko, "we weren't really in the red, but it wasn't exactly a success either".<ref name="GIinterview"/>
''Nier'' received mixed reviews. Reviewers criticized the graphics, with Ryan Clements of ''[[IGN]]'' saying that "one of Nier's greatest flaws is its visuals," while ''[[GameSpot]]''{{'s}} Kevin VanOrd bemoaned the "flavorless visuals" and "lifeless environments".<ref name="GSreview"/><ref name="IGNreview"/> Dustin Quillen of ''[[1UP.com]]'' said that the game "looks downright primitive", while Adriaan den Ouden of ''RPGamer'', who awarded the game a higher score than most, said that "the environments are bland and poorly rendered".<ref name="1UPreview"/><ref name="RPGreview"/> The music and voice acting, however, were praised; Clements said that "both are quite excellent", den Ouden called the soundtrack "absolutely fantastic", Chris Schilling of ''[[Eurogamer]]'' said that the music was full of "memorable themes", and one of the four reviewers for the Japanese ''[[Famitsu|Weekly Famitsu]]'' termed it "a cut above".<ref name="EGreview"/><ref name="RPGreview"/><ref name="FAMreview"/><ref name="IGNreview"/>
Reviewers were divided in their opinion on the effectiveness of the multiple styles of gameplay presented. Seth Schiesel of ''[[The New York Times]]'' said that while "there are plenty of games that surpass it in each area," that ''Nier'' pulled all of the styles together into a "coherent, compelling whole" instead of feeling "disjointed"; he especially praised a section of the game that is presented entirely through text.<ref name="NYTreview"/> Patrick Kolan of IGN Australia, however, said that while the different styles were "interesting" and one of the game's biggest strengths, they suffered from poor execution and cohesion and left the game "with split-personality disorder".<ref name="IGNAUreview"/> Clements said that "the developers' ideas sometimes outshine the actual implementation", while highlighting the gameplay elements as part of what made the game fun.<ref name="IGNreview"/> Adriaan den Ouden called out the variety as the best part of the game, likening it to a buffet table, while also acknowledging that none of the sections were "amazing" on their own and could easily be looked upon poorly.<ref name="RPGreview"/>
The regular combat was reviewed as solid, if not exceptional, and the sidequests were seen as repetitive, with Quillen saying that "the side quests in ''Nier'' are about as numerous as they are totally mindless," VanOrd calling them "a series of monotonous events, often connected only by long stretches of nothing," and a ''Famitsu'' reviewer saying that they "didn't see much purpose" to them.<ref name="1UPreview"/><ref name="GSreview"/><ref name="FAMreview"/> Clements said that the combat had "a fair amount of satisfaction", though players should "not expect anything too extraordinary", and Kolan termed the combat as "moderately deep".<ref name="IGNreview"/><ref name="IGNAUreview"/> Critics gave a generally positive review to the plot and characters; VanOrd liked most of the characters but thought Nier was bland and the story "soggy", while Schiesel called the story "provocative" and "profound", saying that it "succeeds at fostering an emotional investment in its characters and in its world".<ref name="GSreview"/><ref name="NYTreview"/> Quillen said that the plot "takes some fascinating and truly original turns" and that ''Nier'' has "a supporting cast of genuinely interesting folks," and Schilling said that the story made the game "difficult to dislike".<ref name="EGreview"/><ref name="1UPreview"/> The ''Famitsu'' reviewer that viewed the game the most favorably said that he was "blown away" by the multiple endings, and that "nothing like it's been done in gaming".<ref name="FAMreview"/>
In 2015, Jeffrey Matulef of ''Eurogamer'' characterized ''Nier'' as "the rare game that gets better with age". Despite "poor sales and tepid reviews", he wrote, the game had acquired a cult following, which he attributed to its "sense of wonder" due to its cryptic storytelling, mashup assortment of game mechanics and melancholy mood.<ref name="EGlegacy"/>
===''Replicant ver.1.22474487139...''===
{{Video game reviews
| title = ''Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139...'' reception
| MC = PC: 80/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nier-replicant-ver122474487139/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... for PC Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=April 22, 2021}}</ref><br />PS4: 83/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nier-replicant-ver122474487139/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... for PlayStation 4 Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=July 8, 2021}}</ref><br />XONE: 83/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nier-replicant-ver122474487139/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... for Xbox One Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=April 22, 2021}}</ref>
| EGM = 8/10<ref name="EGMver122">{{cite magazine |url=https://egmnow.com/nier-replicant-ver-1-22474487129-review/|title=NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487129… review |author=Patterson, Mollie L.|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|date=April 22, 2021 |access-date=April 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120175448/https://egmnow.com/nier-replicant-ver-1-22474487129-review/|archive-date=2022-01-20|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| Fam = 34/40<ref name="FamScore">{{cite web |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/04/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1689 |title=Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1689 |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=April 14, 2021 |website=Gematsu |access-date=April 30, 2021}}</ref>
| GI = 8.25/10<ref name="GIver122">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/review/nier-replicant-ver-122474487139/nier-replicant-review-new-blood-old-veins|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423021853/https://www.gameinformer.com/review/nier-replicant-ver-122474487139/nier-replicant-review-new-blood-old-veins|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 23, 2021|title=Nier Replicant Review – New Blood, Old Veins|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|access-date=April 22, 2021}}</ref>
| GSpot = 8/10<ref name="GSver122">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nier-replicant-review-carrying-the-weight-of-the-world/1900-6417666/|title=Nier Replicant Review - Carrying The Weight Of The World|author= Michael Higham|website=[[GameSpot]]|access-date=April 22, 2021}}</ref>
| IGN = 8/10<ref name="IGNver122">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nier-replicant-ver-122474487139-review|title=NieR Replicant Ver. 1.22474487139 Review|author=Saltzmann, Mitchell|website=[[IGN]]|date=April 22, 2021|access-date=April 22, 2021}}</ref>
| PCGUS = 90/100<ref name="PCGver122">{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/nier-replicant-pc-review/|title=Nier Replicant PC Review|author=Muncy, Julie|website=[[PC Gamer]]|date=April 22, 2021|access-date=April 22, 2021}}</ref>
}}
By June 2021, ''Replicant ver 1.22474487139...'' had shipped over one million copies worldwide in both physical and digital sales,<ref name="SQEXsales"/> noted as being double the estimates for the original version.<ref name="SalesReplicant" /> As of November 2022, ''Replicant ver 1.22474487139...'' has shipped 1.5 million copies worldwide.<ref name="4Gsales"/>
''Famitsu'' lauded the gameplay improvements and visual upgrade, though one reviewer noted the lack of fast travel and another said some players might be thrown off by "quirks" in the design.<ref name="Famver122"/> ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''{{'s}} Mollie L. Patterson enjoyed the remaster, liking the young version of the protagonist better than the earlier adult version and praising its reworked gameplay and additions.<ref name="EGMver122"/> Jason Guisao of ''Game Informer'' felt the visual upgrade was inconsistent and disliked the side quest structure, but lauded the overall narrative and improvements to the game's mechanics.<ref name="GIver122"/> ''GameSpot''{{'s}} Michael Higham was generally positive about the game, praising its narrative, new elements and music while finding its gameplay and world held back by archaic design.<ref name="GSver122"/>
Mitchell Saltzmann of ''IGN'' negatively noted the repetition in later areas and the side quest design, but praised the graphical and gameplay updates along with the new story content.<ref name="IGNver122"/> Julie Muncy of ''[[PC Gamer]]'' positively noted the improvements to combat and general movement, and praised the story's tone and additions, but highlighted that the original's pacing issues were also retained.<ref name="PCGver122"/> Chris Plante of ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'' enjoyed the slow pace of the narrative and the combat, but disliked the archaic design and was uncomfortable with some of Kainé's storyline.<ref name="Polyver122"/> Malindy Hetfeld of ''Eurogamer'' did not like the game as a whole, but enjoyed its later narrative and noted that the graphical and gameplay improvements had made it playable for modern audiences and series fans.<ref name="Eurover122"/>
''Replicant ver 1.22474487139...'' won the "Best Score/Music" category at [[The Game Awards 2021]].<ref name="TGAmusic"/> It also saw nominations at the 2021 NAVGTR awards in "Outstanding Animation, Technical", "Outstanding Game, Franchise Role-playing", "Outstanding Original Dramagic Score, Franchise", and "Outstanding Song, Original or Adapted".<ref name="NAVGTR"/>
{{-}}
==Legacy==
''Nier'' was the last game that Cavia made; the company was absorbed into its parent company, [[AQ Interactive]], in July 2010.<ref name="1UPcavia"/> Square Enix executive producer Yosuke Saito later commented that "a number of things" related to ''Nier'' were in progress, and that an announcement could be due in 2011.<ref name="4Gsequel"/> The only announcement ended up not being for a new ''Nier'' video game, but instead for a live evening concert for Nier's music titled "Nier Night ~ Evening of Madness" which took place on October 28, 2011.<ref name="NierConcert"/> In March 2011, there were plans made between Yoko and Takuya Iwasaki, one of the original producers for ''[[Drakengard (video game)|Drakengard]]'', to develop a port of ''Nier'' for the [[PlayStation Vita]] at Iwasaki's company Orca. The port would have incorporated material from both versions of the game. When Orca was chosen to help develop ''[[Dragon Quest X]]'', the project was shelved.<ref name= "FamInterview"/> A number of key staff from ''Nier''{{'}}s development, including director Yoko and Okabe, would later reunite to work on a new entry (''[[Drakengard 3]]'') in the ''Drakengard'' series from which ''Nier'' was spun off.<ref name="DR3unveiled"/>
A sequel titled ''[[Nier: Automata]]'', developed by Square Enix and [[PlatinumGames]] for the [[PlayStation 4]], was released in Japan on February 23, in North America on March 7 and worldwide on March 10, 2017. The PC version of ''Nier: Automata'' was released on March 17, 2017. The [[Xbox One]] version was released on June 26, 2018. The [[Nintendo Switch]] version was released on October 6, 2022. Yoko, Saito and Okabe returned to their previous roles. Other staff members include Yoshida as lead artist and producer [[Atsushi Inaba]].<ref name="NiewNew"/><ref name="Nier2Release"/> A mobile game, ''[[Nier Reincarnation]]'', produced by Applibot, with Yoshida returning to design the characters, was released on February 18, 2021.<ref name="NierRemaster"/> Owing to the success of ''Automata'', ''Nier'' was reprinted for the [[PlayStation 3]] in [[PAL territories]] in April 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last=Barker |first=Sammy |title=Square Enix Is Reprinting NieR on the PS3 Due to Popular Demand |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2017/04/square_enix_is_reprinting_nier_on_the_ps3_due_to_popular_demand |website=[[Push Square]] |access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref>
== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}
== See also ==
* [[Celestial Alphabet]]
==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="ESCAPISTannounce">{{cite web | last=Ng |first=Keane | date=May 29, 2009 | title=Square-Enix Announces New Front Mission, Nier | url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/92062 | work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] | access-date=June 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608050521/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/92062 |archive-date=June 8, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="IGNannounce">{{cite web | last=Brudvig |first=Erik | date=May 29, 2009 | title=Pre-E3 2009: Square Announces Nier | url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/988/988044p1.html | publisher=[[IGN]] | access-date=July 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107030927/http://ps3.ign.com/articles/988/988044p1.html |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="WIREDint">{{cite magazine |last=Meyer |first=John Mix |title=Q&A: Square Enix's Nier Combines Fighting, Farming |url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/03/nier-interview/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=July 12, 2011 |date=March 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425065318/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/03/nier-interview/ |archive-date=April 25, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="GDC911">{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2014/03/20/nier-drakengard-creator-says-nier-inspired-9-11/ |title=NieR and Drakengard Creator Says NieR Was Inspired By 9-11 |author=Ward, Robert |publisher=Siliconera |date=March 20, 2014 |access-date=March 20, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="GSint">{{cite web |last=Saito |first=Yosuke |title=Nier Yosuke Saito Interview (Xbox 360) |url=http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/nier/video/6253732/nier-yosuke-saito-interview |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=July 12, 2011 |date=March 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713055728/http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/nier/video/6253732/nier-yosuke-saito-interview |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="VGint">{{cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |title=NIER Preview |url=http://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/nier/preview-2260.html |publisher=Video Gamer |access-date=July 12, 2011 |date=March 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713055813/http://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/nier/preview-2260.html |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="OKABEint">{{cite web |title=Interview with Composer Keiichi Okabe |url=http://member.square-enix.com/na/features/nier/soundtrack/ |publisher=[[Square Enix]] |access-date=July 9, 2011}} (registration required)</ref>
<ref name="OSVint">{{cite web |last=Napolitano |first=Jayson |title=Deep into NieR: Interview With Vocalist and Lyricist Emi Evans |url=http://www.originalsoundversion.com/deep-into-nier-interview-with-vocalist-and-lyricist-emi-evans/ |publisher=Original Sound Version |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=May 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713055914/http://www.originalsoundversion.com/deep-into-nier-interview-with-vocalist-and-lyricist-emi-evans/ |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="RPGFost">{{cite web |last=Gann |first=Patrick |title=NieR Gestalt & Replicant OST |url=http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/nier/index.html |publisher=RPGFan |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=April 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713055925/http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/nier/index.html |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ORIost">{{cite web |script-title=ja:ニーア ゲシュタルト & レプリカント オリジナル・サウンドトラック |trans-title=Nier Gestalt & Replicant Original Soundtrack |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/67810/products/music/864276/1/ |publisher=[[Oricon]] |access-date=July 9, 2011 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713055931/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/67810/products/music/864276/1/ |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="SEMOges">{{cite web |last=Kotowski |first=Don |title=Nier Gestalt Mini Album :: Review by Don |url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/don/niergestalt.shtml |publisher=Square Enix Music Online |access-date=July 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060033/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/don/niergestalt.shtml |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="SEMOrep">{{cite web |last=Kotowski |first=Don |title=Nier Replicant Mini Album :: Review by Don |url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/don/nierreplicant.shtml |publisher=Square Enix Music Online |access-date=July 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060040/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/don/nierreplicant.shtml |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="RPGFarrange">{{cite web |last=Gann |first=Patrick |title=NieR Gestalt & Replicant 15 Nightmares & Arrange Tracks |url=http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/nier-arr/index.html |publisher=RPGFan |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=December 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060049/http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/nier-arr/index.html |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ORIarrange">{{cite web |script-title=ja:ニーア ゲシュタルト ＆ レプリカント/15 Nightmares & Arrange Tracks |trans-title=Nier Gestalt & Replicant / 15 Nightmares & Arrange Tracks |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/67810/products/music/892749/1/ |publisher=[[Oricon]] |access-date=July 9, 2011 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060054/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/67810/products/music/892749/1/ |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="SEecho">{{cite web |script-title=ja:ニーア トリュビュートアルバム 発売決定 |trans-title=Nier tribute album to be released |url=http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/sem/page/nier/tribute/ |publisher=[[Square Enix]] |access-date=July 9, 2011 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531040930/http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/sem/page/nier/tribute/ |archive-date=May 31, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="OSVpiano">{{cite web |last=Napolitano |first=Jayson |title=NieR and Dear to Our Hearts: Piano Collections NieR (Review) |url=http://www.originalsoundversion.com/nier-and-dear-to-our-hearts-piano-collections-nier-review/ |publisher=Original Sound Version |date=March 19, 2012 |access-date=March 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321145643/http://www.originalsoundversion.com/nier-and-dear-to-our-hearts-piano-collections-nier-review/ |archive-date=March 21, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="NierOrigins">{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2013/04/05/drakengard-3-producer-and-creative-director-explain-how-the-game-came-to-be/|title=Drakengard 3 Producer And Creative Director Explain How The Game Came To Be|author=Sato|publisher=Siliconera|date=April 5, 2013|access-date=September 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323092437/http://www.siliconera.com/2014/03/20/nier-drakengard-creator-says-nier-inspired-9-11/|archive-date=2014-03-23|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name= "NierDOD">{{cite web|url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/1234038_1407.html |script-title=ja:『NieR Replicant（ニーア レプリカント）』／『NieR Gestalt（ニーア ゲシュタルト）』戦いの地は......東京!? |trans-title="NieR Replicant" / "NieR Gestalt" The battleground is ... Tokyo !? |language=ja |publisher=[[Famitsu]]|date=April 16, 2010|access-date=March 16, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name= "NierAdult">{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2010/05/20/barbarian-nier-was-born-in-los-angeles/|title=Barbarian Nier Was Born In Los Angeles|author=Spencer|date=May 20, 2010|access-date=March 15, 2012|publisher=Siliconera}}</ref>
<ref name="GetInterview1">{{cite web|url=http://getnews.jp/archives/60012|script-title=ja:カイネの誕生は「男性のヒロインを入れて☆」と言う要望から 『ニーア レプリカント・ゲシュタルト』の横尾ディレクターにインタビュー！（前編） |trans-title=Interview with Director Yokoo of "Nier Replicant Gestalt" from the request that "Kine was born with a male heroine ☆"! (Part 1)|language=ja|publisher=GetNews|date=May 19, 2010|access-date=March 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720030446/http://getnews.jp/archives/60012|archive-date=July 20, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="GetInterview2">{{cite web|url=http://getnews.jp/archives/60285|script-title=ja:妹ヨナの日記は女性社員が書いた！ 「グラマーになりたい！」 『ニーア レプリカント・ゲシュタルト』の横尾ディレクターにインタビュー！（後編） |trans-title=Interview with Director Yokoo of "Nier Replicant Gestalt" from the request that "Kine was born with a male heroine ☆"! (Part 2) |language=ja|publisher=GetNews|date=May 21, 2010|access-date=March 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191027/http://getnews.jp/archives/60285|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="4Gamerdepart">{{cite web |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/098/G009875/20100709053/ |script-title=ja:「ジャンルという概念を打ち破りたかった」――裏話もたっぷり聞けた「ニーア レプリカント/ゲシュタルト」ロングインタビュー |trans-title="I wanted to break the concept of genre."-A long interview with "Nier Replicant / Gestalt" who heard a lot of behind-the-scenes stories |language=ja |website=[[4Gamer.net]] |publisher=Aetas |date=July 10, 2010 |last=Kajita |first=Mafia |access-date=January 24, 2021}}</ref>
<ref name="NierINSIDE">{{cite web|url=http://www.inside-games.jp/article/2010/05/18/42090.html |script-title=ja:【DEVELOPER'S TALK】『ドラッグ オン ドラグーン』のスタッフが再集結！PS3とXbox360で異なる主人公を描いた『ニーア レプリカント／ニーア ゲシュタルト』に迫る |language=ja |trans-title=[Developer's Talk] The staff of "Drag on Dragoon" are reunited! Approaching "Nier Replicant / Nier Gestalt" depicting different protagonists on PS3 and Xbox 360|publisher=Inside Games|date=May 18, 2010|access-date=March 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713055632/http://www.inside-games.jp/article/2010/05/18/42090.html|archive-date=July 13, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="GWInier">{{cite web|url=https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/interview/370231.html|script-title=ja:スクエニ、「ニーア レプリカント/ゲシュタルト」開発チームインタビュープロデューサー齊藤氏、ディレクター横尾氏に、ゲームに込められた独特の工夫の数々を聞いてみた |trans-title=Square Enix, "Nier Replicant / Gestalt" Development Team Interview We asked producer Saito and director Yokoo about the unique ingenuity of the game. |language=ja |publisher=Game Watch Impress|date=May 30, 2010|access-date=February 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322024348/https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/interview/370231.html|archive-date=March 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="NIERnovela">{{cite book|script-title=ja:ニーア ザ・コンプリートガイド+設定資料集|trans-title=Grimoire Nier: The Complete Guide + Cels|publisher=[[ASCII Media Works]]|isbn=978-4048686716|pages=160–163|language=ja|date=May 28, 2010}}</ref>
<ref name="SilNierInterview">{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2010/03/31/our-nier-interview-goes-beyond-the-black-scrawl/|title=Our Nier Interview Goes Beyond The Black Scrawl|last=Yip|first=Spencer|publisher=Siliconera|date=March 31, 2010|access-date=March 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108175916/http://www.siliconera.com/2010/03/31/our-nier-interview-goes-beyond-the-black-scrawl/|archive-date=November 8, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Anima">{{cite web|url=http://www.studioanima.co.jp/works/2010/05/nier-gestaltnier-replicant.php|script-title=ja:Clinet Works - NieR Gestalt/NieR Replicant|language=ja|website=Studio Anima|access-date=2021-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213070313/http://www.studioanima.co.jp/works/2010/05/nier-gestaltnier-replicant.php|archive-date=2010-12-13|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="NierDatesA">{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/2010/02/03/nier-coming-to-north-america-and-europe-in-april-too/|title=Nier Coming To North America And Europe In April Too|author=Yip, Spencer|website=Siliconera|date=2010-02-03|access-date=2024-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411064729/https://www.siliconera.com/2010/02/03/nier-coming-to-north-america-and-europe-in-april-too/|archive-date=2010-04-11|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="NierDatesB">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-shippin-out-april-19-23-nier/1100-6258967/|title=AU Shippin' Out April 19-23: Nier|author=Kozanecki, James|website=[[GameSpot]]|date=April 19, 2010|access-date=2024-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028095134/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-shippin-out-april-19-23-nier/1100-6258967/|archive-date=2013-10-28|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="VOversions">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/02/02/nier-dated-in-japan|title=NieR Dated in Japan|author=Gentayat, Anoop|website=[[IGN]]|date=2010-02-02|access-date=2024-05-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215150640/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/02/02/nier-dated-in-japan|archive-date=2012-12-15|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Grimoire2010a">{{cite web|url=http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/262/262005/|script-title=ja:5月28日発売の『ニーア ザ・コンプリートガイド＋設定資料集』を紹介（前編）|language=ja|website=[[ASCII Media Works|Dengeki Online]]|date=2010-05-14|access-date=2024-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517133619/http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/262/262005/|archive-date=2010-05-17|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Grimoire2010b">{{cite web|url=http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/264/264586/|script-title=ja:ここまで見せる？ 『ニーア ザ・コンプリートガイド＋設定資料集』紹介（後編）|language=ja|website=[[ASCII Media Works|Dengeki Online]]|date=2010-05-26|access-date=2024-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528000716/http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/264/264586/|archive-date=2010-05-28|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="CDa">{{cite web|url=https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/359/359482/|script-title=ja:『ニーア』ドラマCDに出演した遊佐さん＆門脇さんが注目するのはテュラン!?|trans-title=Yusa and Kadowaki, who appeared on the drama CD of "NieR", are paying attention to Tyrann!?|language=ja|website=[[ASCII Media Works|Dengeki Online]]|date=2011-04-11|access-date=2022-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508154948/https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/359/359482/|archive-date=2021-05-08|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="CDb">{{cite web|url=https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/362/362675/|script-title=ja:『ニーア』ドラマCDの声優インタビュー後編！ 5人のコメントを一挙掲載|trans-title=Voice actor interview for "NieR" drama CD Part 2! 5 comments posted at once|language=ja|website=[[ASCII Media Works|Dengeki Online]]|date=2011-04-23|access-date=2022-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003003013/https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/362/362675/|archive-date=2021-10-03|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="NierRemaster">{{cite web|url=https://www.rpgsite.net/news/9607-nier-replicant-is-getting-a-remaster-for-ps4-xbox-one-and-pc-via-steam|title=NieR Replicant is getting a Remaster for PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam|last=Vitale|first=Adam|website=RPG Site|date=March 29, 2020|access-date=March 29, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200329075341/https://www.rpgsite.net/news/9607-nier-replicant-is-getting-a-remaster-for-ps4-xbox-one-and-pc-via-steam|archive-date=March 29, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Guide2021a">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/202107/09226145.html|script-title=ja:『ニーア レプリカント ver.1.22』攻略+設定資料+短編小説集が7月9日発売。厚く大きくなった増補改訂版|language=ja|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|date=2021-07-09|access-date=2024-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710033645/https://www.famitsu.com/news/202107/09226145.html|archive-date=2021-07-10|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Guide2021b">{{cite web|url=https://press.na.square-enix.com/SQUARE-ENIX-MANGA-BOOKS-REVEALS-NEW-BOOKS-COMING-SPRING-2023|title=Square Enix Manga & Books Reveals New Books Coming Spring 2023|publisher=[[Square Enix]]|date=July 22, 2022|access-date=2024-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330011433/https://press.na.square-enix.com/SQUARE-ENIX-MANGA-BOOKS-REVEALS-NEW-BOOKS-COMING-SPRING-2023|archive-date=2023-03-30|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="FamMagInterview">{{cite magazine|script-title=ja:『NieR Re[in]carnation』配信記念特集！ これまでの情報の総まとめや開発者インタビュー。『NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139...』の続報も掲載 |magazine=[[Famitsu]]|publisher=[[Kadokawa Corporation]] |issue=1687 |date=February 18, 2021}} [https://www.frontlinejp.net/2021/02/21/nier-series-developer-interview-part-1-3/ Translation]</ref>
<ref name="FamInterviewRemaster">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/202005/15198489.html|script-title=ja:ふたつの新作『ニーア』について開発スタッフに直撃。『ニーア』10周年は呪われていた!?|language=ja|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|date=May 15, 2020|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208121241/https://www.famitsu.com/news/202005/15198489.html|archive-date=February 8, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Voices">{{cite AV media|author=[[Square Enix]]|date=March 26, 2021|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n26YT8RW-WM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/n26YT8RW-WM |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|title=NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... / English Voice Cast Reveal|medium=Video|access-date=March 23, 2020|format=Web video|website=[[YouTube]]|url-access=registration}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
<ref name="PCGinterview">{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/nier-replicant/cut-content|title=Nier Replicant features cut content from the original and something for "Dad Nier" fans|last=Harris|first=Iain|website=[[PC Games]]|date=April 14, 2021|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415072730/https://www.pcgamesn.com/nier-replicant/cut-content|archive-date=April 15, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="NierRemasterDate">{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/09/nier-replicant-ver-1-22474487139-launches-april-22-2021-in-japan-and-asia-april-23-in-the-west|title=NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… launches April 22, 2021 in Japan and Asia, April 23 in the west|last=Romano|first=Sal|website=Gematsu|date=September 24, 2020|access-date=April 16, 2021}}</ref>
<ref name="Ver122Editions">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nier-replicant-preorder-bonuses-editions-and-release-date/1100-6482556/|title=Nier Replicant Preorder Bonuses, Editions, And Release Date|author=Petite, Steven|website=[[GameSpot]]|date=2021-04-07|access-date=2024-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504094718/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nier-replicant-preorder-bonuses-editions-and-release-date/1100-6482556/|archive-date=2021-05-04|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="PolyInterviewVer122">{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/interviews/22399273/nier-replicant-automata-sequels-prequels-dlc-interview|title=The creators of Nier Replicant on the little changes that make a big difference|author=Yang, George|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date=2021-04-23|access-date=2024-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328150009/https://www.polygon.com/interviews/22399273/nier-replicant-automata-sequels-prequels-dlc-interview|archive-date=2024-03-28|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MermaidOrigin">{{cite web|url=https://blog.playstation.com/2021/12/22/how-the-little-mermaid-chapter-was-created-for-nier-replicant/|title=How The Little Mermaid chapter was created for NieR Replicant|author=Hertzog, Clara|website=[[PlayStation Blog]]|date=December 22, 2021|access-date=2024-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222140235/https://blog.playstation.com/2021/12/22/how-the-little-mermaid-chapter-was-created-for-nier-replicant/|archive-date=2021-12-22|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Ver122artist">{{cite web|url=https://blog.ja.playstation.com/2021/04/22/20210422-nierrv1p2/|script-title=ja:PS4®『NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139...』本日発売！ シリーズ第1作がフルボイス化などでバージョンアップ！|language=ja|website=[[PlayStation Blog]]|date=2021-04-22|access-date=2024-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422023326/https://blog.ja.playstation.com/2021/04/22/20210422-nierrv1p2/|archive-date=2021-04-22|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="GSinterviewVer122">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/yoko-taro-didnt-mean-to-make-nier-sad-on-purpose/1100-6490892/|title=Yoko Taro Didn't Mean To Make Nier Sad On Purpose|author=Higham, Michael|website=[[GameSpot]]|date=2021-05-01|access-date=2022-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501163913/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/yoko-taro-didnt-mean-to-make-nier-sad-on-purpose/1100-6490892/|archive-date=2021-05-01|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Ver122Album">{{cite web|url=https://monaca.jp/works/2376|script-title=ja:NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... Original Soundtrack|language=ja|publisher=Monaca|access-date=2024-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130041018/https://monaca.jp/works/2376|archive-date=2023-11-30|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MCPS3">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nier/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3 |title=NIER for PlayStation 3 Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=July 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060233/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/nier |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MC360">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nier/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360 |title=NIER for Xbox 360 Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=July 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060246/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/nier |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="FAMsales1">{{cite web |url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/rank/top30/1234957_1134.html |script-title=ja:【ゲームソフト販売本数ランキング TOP30】集計期間：2010年4月19日～4月25日 |language=ja |trans-title=[Top 30 game software sales ranking] Aggregation period: April 19 to April 25, 2010 |publisher=[[Famitsu]] |date=May 10, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060256/http://www.famitsu.com/game/rank/top30/1234957_1134.html |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="GAMArepsales">{{cite web |last=Graft |first=Kris |title=Cavia and Square Enix's Nier Replicant Leads Japan Charts |url=http://gamasutra.com/view/news/28319/Cavia_and_Square_Enixs_Nier_Replicant_Leads_Japan_Charts.php |publisher=[[Gamasutra]] |access-date=July 1, 2011 |date=April 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110034312/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/28319/Cavia_and_Square_Enixs_Nier_Replicant_Leads_Japan_Charts.php |archive-date=November 10, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="FAMsales2">{{cite web |url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/rank/top30/1236105_1134.html |script-title=ja:【ゲームソフト販売本数ランキング TOP30】集計期間：2010年5月24日～5月30日 |language=ja |trans-title=[Top 30 game software sales ranking] Aggregation period: May 24th to May 30th, 2010 |publisher=[[Famitsu]] |date=June 10, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060345/http://www.famitsu.com/game/rank/top30/1236105_1134.html |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="TMB2010">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-BestSell2010.shtml |title=2010 Top 100 Console Software in Japan |publisher=The Magic Box |access-date=February 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812190332/http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-BestSell2010.shtml |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="GIinterview">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2019/01/01/talking-to-yoko-taro-platinumgames-takahisa-taura-and-composer-keiichi-okabe-about-life|title=Talking To Yoko Taro, PlatinumGames' Takahisa Taura, And Composer Keiichi Okabe About Life, Death, And Opportunity|last=Khan|first=Imran|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|date=January 1, 2019|access-date=February 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205205401/https://www.gameinformer.com/2019/01/01/talking-to-yoko-taro-platinumgames-takahisa-taura-and-composer-keiichi-okabe-about-life|archive-date=February 5, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="1UPreview">{{cite web |last=Dustin |first=Quillen |title=Nier Review |url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/nier-review |publisher=[[1UP.com]] |date=May 6, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019183927/http://www.1up.com/reviews/nier-review |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="EGreview">{{cite web |last=Schilling |first=Chris |title=Nier Review |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/nier-review |publisher=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=July 12, 2011 |date=April 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060424/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/nier-review |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="FAMreview">{{cite web |last=Gifford |first=Kevin |title=Japan Review Check: Nier, Knights in the Nightmare PSP |url=http://www.1up.com/news/japan-review-check-nier-knights |publisher=[[1UP.com]] |access-date=July 13, 2011 |date=April 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019183945/http://www.1up.com/news/japan-review-check-nier-knights |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="GSreview">{{cite web |last=VanOrd |first=Kevin |title=Nier Review |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/nier/review.html |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=July 12, 2011 |date=May 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060454/http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/nier/review.html |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="IGNreview">{{cite web |last=Clements |first=Ryan |title=Nier Review |url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/108/1088798p1.html |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=July 12, 2011 |date=May 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060504/http://ps3.ign.com/articles/108/1088798p1.html |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="RPGreview">{{cite web |last=den Ouden |first=Adriaan |title=Nier – Staff Review |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/games/nier/nier/reviews/nierstrev1.html |publisher=RPGamer |access-date=July 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060517/http://www.rpgamer.com/games/nier/nier/reviews/nierstrev1.html |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="IGNAUreview">{{cite web |last=Kolan |first=Patrick |title=Nier AU Review |url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/108/1085474p1.html |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=July 12, 2011 |date=April 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060526/http://ps3.ign.com/articles/108/1085474p1.html |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="NYTreview">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/arts/television/04nier.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=Wielding Swords in a World of Sharp Tongues |first=Seth |last=Schiesel |date=May 4, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060536/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/arts/television/04nier.html |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="EGlegacy">{{cite web |last=Matulek |first=Jeffrey |title=Nier is the rare game that gets better with age |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-06-28-nier-is-the-rare-game-that-gets-better-with-age |access-date=June 28, 2015 |publisher=[[Eurogamer]] |date=June 28, 2015}}</ref>
<ref name="GRdlc">{{cite web |last=Reparaz |first=Mikel |title=Make Nier even weirder with World of Recycled Vessel DLC |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/nier/news/make-nier-even-weirder-with-world-of-recycled-vessel-dlc/a-20100510164924414018/g-20090529125748166015 |publisher=[[GamesRadar]] |access-date=July 20, 2011 |date=May 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720215911/http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/nier/news/make-nier-even-weirder-with-world-of-recycled-vessel-dlc/a-20100510164924414018/g-20090529125748166015 |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="4Gsequel">{{cite web |last=Masashi |first=Oji |script-title=ja:総勢60名以上のゲームクリエイター＆声優/4Gamer執筆陣に聞いてみた「2010年の注目タイトル」と「2011年への意気込み/期待」 |trans-title=More than 60 game creators & voice actors / 4Gamer authors asked "2010 Featured Titles" and "Enthusiasm / Expectations for 2011" |url=http://www.4gamer.net/games/000/G000000/20101227002/ |publisher=4Gamer |access-date=July 13, 2011 |language=ja |date=December 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060603/http://www.4gamer.net/games/000/G000000/20101227002/ |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="1UPcavia">{{cite web |last=Quillen |first=Dustin |title=Nier Developer Cavia is No More |url=http://www.1up.com/news/nier-developer-cavia |publisher=[[1UP.com]] |access-date=July 13, 2011 |date=July 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705173243/http://www.1up.com/news/nier-developer-cavia |archive-date=July 5, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="NierConcert">{{cite web |last=Spencer |first=Spencer |title=Nier Developer Cavia is No More |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2011/09/29/no-new-nier-game-but-fans-in-japan-can-go-to-a-nier-concert/ |publisher=Siliconera |access-date=January 23, 2013 |date=September 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121074806/http://www.siliconera.com/2011/09/29/no-new-nier-game-but-fans-in-japan-can-go-to-a-nier-concert/ |archive-date=January 21, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="DR3unveiled">{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-03-13-deadly-premonition-developer-making-drakengard-3|title=Deadly Premonition developer making Drakengard 3|last=Phillips|first=Tom|publisher=[[Eurogamer]]|date=March 14, 2013|access-date=October 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017150132/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-03-13-deadly-premonition-developer-making-drakengard-3|archive-date=October 17, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="NiewNew">{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/6/16/8790213/nier-2-platinum-games|title=Square Enix is making a new Nier with Platinum Games|first=Michael|last= McWhertor|date=June 16, 2015|access-date=June 16, 2015|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616183731/http://www.polygon.com/2015/6/16/8790213/nier-2-platinum-games|archive-date=June 16, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name= "FamInterview">{{cite web|url=http://www.famitsu.com/news/201507/02082185.html|script-title=ja:豪華布陣で挑む『NieR New Project（仮題）』スタッフインタビュー詳細版 |trans-title="NieR New Project (tentative title)" staff interview detailed version that challenges with a luxurious lineup |publisher=[[Famitsu]]|language=ja|date=July 2, 2015|access-date=July 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704163513/http://www.famitsu.com/news/201507/02082185.html|archive-date=July 4, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Nier2Release">{{cite web|url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/10/29/the-full-story-behind-nier-automata-on-ps4/|title=The Full Story Behind Nier: Automata on PS4|last=Seto|first=Dan|publisher=[[PlayStation Blog]]|date=October 29, 2015|access-date=October 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029222328/http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/10/29/the-full-story-behind-nier-automata-on-ps4/|archive-date=October 29, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="SalesReplicant">{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/nier-replicant-has-shipped-1-million-units-worldwide/|title=NieR Replicant Has Shipped 1 Million Units Worldwide|last=Hashimoto|first=Kazuma|website=Siliconera|date=June 22, 2021|access-date=June 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622124538/https://www.siliconera.com/nier-replicant-has-shipped-1-million-units-worldwide/|archive-date=June 22, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="SQEXsales">{{Cite web|url=https://www.jp.square-enix.com/company/ja/news/2021/html/2bdf7dbbde7eafe85ad859a52a660ff1097c02be.html|script-title=ja:『NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139...』全世界累計出荷・ダウンロード販売本数100万本突破|language=ja|publisher=[[Square Enix]]|date=2021-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728171811/https://www.jp.square-enix.com/company/ja/news/2021/html/2bdf7dbbde7eafe85ad859a52a660ff1097c02be.html|archive-date=2021-07-28|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="4Gsales">{{cite web|script-title=ja:NieRシリーズの全世界販売本数が「NieR:Automata」700万本，「NieR Replicant」150万本を突破 |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/306/G030635/20221125101/ |website=[[4Gamer.net]] |access-date=25 November 2022 |language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125105039/https://www.4gamer.net/games/306/G030635/20221125101/|archive-date=2022-11-25|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="TGAmusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-game-awards-2021-winners-revealed |title=The Game Awards 2021 Winners: The Full List |website=[[IGN]] |last=Bankhurst |first=Adam |date=December 10, 2021 |access-date=January 25, 2022}}</ref>
<ref name="NAVGTR">{{cite web|url=https://navgtr.org/2021-winners/|title=2021 Winners|publisher=National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers|access-date=2024-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210132212/https://navgtr.org/2021-winners/|archive-date=2023-12-10|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Polyver122">{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22395953/nier-replicant-review-ps4-pc-xbox-one|title=Nier Replicant is a brilliant game with one big catch|author=Plante, Chris|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date=2021-04-22|access-date=2024-05-13}}</ref>
<ref name="Eurover122">{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-04-22-nier-replicant-ver-1-22474487139-review-a-better-version-of-the-weakest-game-in-the-series|title=NieR Replicant ver. 1.22474487139... review - a better version of the weakest game in the series|last=Hetfeld|first=Malindy|date=April 22, 2021|website=[[Eurogamer]]|access-date=April 29, 2021|quote=The version number, the square root of 1.5, means to tell you that this is neither a remake nor just a remaster, it's somewhere in between.}}</ref>
<ref name="Famver122">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/game/title/40101/reviews|script-title=ja:(PS4) NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139...|language=ja|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|access-date=2024-05-13}}</ref>
}}
== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book |last=Taro |first=Yoko |title=Game Creators of Biography |publisher=[[Cygames|Cycomi]] |year=2021 |location=Tokyo |language=ja |chapter=Yoko Taro-hen |author-link=Yoko Taro}}
* {{Cite book |last=Turcev |first=Nicolas |title=The Strange Works of Taro Yoko: From Drakengard to Nier: Automata |publisher=[[Third Éditions]] |others=Foreword by Yoko Taro |year=2019 |isbn=978-23-7784-048-9 |location=Toulouse}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote|Nier}}
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021181840/http://niergame.com/ |date=October 21, 2015 |title=Official website }}
{{Drakengard}}
{{Portal bar|Video games}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nier (video game)}}
[[Category:2010 video games]]
[[Category:Action role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Cancelled PlayStation Vita games]]
[[Category:Cavia (company) games]]
[[Category:Drakengard]]
[[Category:Dystopian video games]]
[[Category:Extinction in fiction]]
[[Category:Fantasy video games]]
[[Category:Open-world video games]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 2049]]
[[Category:Fiction set in the 4th millennium]]
[[Category:Hack and slash role-playing games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 3 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 4 games]]
[[Category:Post-apocalyptic video games]]
[[Category:Postmodern works]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Square Enix games]]
[[Category:Video game spin-offs]]
[[Category:Video games about skeletons]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Keiichi Okabe]]
[[Category:Video games set in the 2040s]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Xbox 360 games]]
[[Category:Xbox One games]]