Nier: Automata is one of gaming’s great success stories. Its predecessor, not so much. Given the massive gap between their receptions, some players may not even know that Automata is a sequel, and that the game that paved the way for it is just as philosophical and bizarre as its more successful sibling. But while it’s a much rougher game, Automata’s predecessor is as worth playing as the hit that followed.
Nier started as a joke. Creative director Yoko Taro’s 2003 Drakengard included a gag ending that saw its mythical creatures break through to modern-day Japan, in an homage to Neon Genesis Evangelion. That ending wasn’t meant to be taken seriously, but it eventually served as the basis for Nier, which launched 15 years ago today.
