I'm giving this book 5 stars because I love Replicant, but truth is it's just a novelization of the second half of the game, after Kainé wakes up at the library and up until ending E, which doesn't really add anything new to the story. I just finished Reincarnation some weeks ago, so it was nice reading ending E again as it had been years and with how everything ties up now with the sleeping beauty server and her...
‘Life is better when you have someone to fight for.’
Behold another biased NieR review (or rather just me relaying my thoughts afterwards since my reviews aren’t… reviews, they’re just my thoughts and feelings). As usual, I very much enjoy the retelling of the story. Whilst I personally don’t think the same intensity of emotions come across in the book as they do in the game (my friends will know how bad I cried at both Replicant and Automata), it was still enough to provoke feelings of anxiety towards the parts I was not prepared for.
Having not finished the entirety of NieR Replicant (the game), I was enticed to see what occurred after Route D. I wanted so badly to know how the events of Replicant then linked to the events of Automata despite the very large time gap between the two. Honestly, with all the information I received, I’m a little confused and will probably have to play the game in its entirety in the hopes it clears up some of my confusion.
Like before, seeing Popola and Devola’s input between each section was nice. More context in between Nier’s journey, seeing their responses and their actions to what has occurred.
‘Rules… Do not exist to bind you. They exist so you may know your freedoms.’
I think once I experienced Route E in the game, knowing what I do now, I will respond with more emotion. Usually, I am overcome with emotion at both pieces of media, literature and game. I do believe I cried at both Automata and its respective novels. Perhaps I am all cried out after my hours of sobbing over Replicant recently.
Overall, I enjoyed this experience. Despite being confused at some of the lore, I can clear that up. And like File 01, I will be giving this 4 stars ⭐️
Glory to Mankind (wrong game, I know, but it’s chronologically correct).
This was fantastic. It's completely different from the game because you get the whole story at once, so your understanding of Nier is biased in yet a different way from each of the playthroughs, and that's exciting. I both love and hate how obvious it made some of the plot points-- the emphasis was a little too much because I felt it overemphasized a few small details, but at the same time, it's nice to have some things laid out as facts.
again, amazing retelling of NieR: Replicant ver.1.22474487139... not a fan of certain dialog happening earlier than it should somewhere in the middle of the book when the protagonists face off against two familiar roadblocks. also explaining what happened before the events of Drakengard leading into the NieR universe was a very welcomed change since the game didnt talk about it at all! the ending was also a really good retelling of Ending E from the game.
Its closer to 3.5 stars but it did manage to make me emotional at times and its a much better novelization than the NieR Automata one. I was kinda expecting this ti be pretty bland but found myself enjoying the time spend reading this book.
A really good sequel! I love the big reveal at the end, it's just so wild and out there. Also, I'm glad they included ending E after D. 10/10 very good will read again!!
A generally enjoyable adaption, though after finishing it I realized how poorly it was all put together. The "big reveal" is interesting, but character actions in relation to it, especially for the twins, don't make much sense. Also, one major character (Yonah) kinda disappears as an important goal. The final chapter also just changes the rather sorrowful result of the battle with the Shadowlord, too, but without any real explanation of how it all happens.
I'm also disappointed in Yoko Taro's concepts. I'm not very impressed with the whole "ghost in the shell" idea. Taro doesn't really do anything with it either besides just pull in the heart strings. He asks normal sci-fi questions like "what does it mean to be human", but seems to think that just asking them is enough. Other authors and creators do a lot more with the issue.