8 Most Underrated Video Games Of 2021 (So Far)
3. Nier Replicant Ver.1.22...
Nier: Automata was a surprise hit when it dropped in 2017, so much so that some players didn't even realise it was a sequel. That's because the original title, Nier, didn't make anywhere near as much of a splash back in 2010.
While most agreed that conceptually and thematically it had a lot going for it, Nier was criticised for its uninspired combat and padded missions that resulted in long stretches between the flourishes of genius in there.
Put simply, it was a game that would have benefitted from more tinkering, which is exactly what it received when a remake, Nier Replicant ver.1.22, released earlier this year.
The title casts you as the brother of a dying girl called Yonah (in the original you're actually her father), as you search high and low for a cure to the 'Black Scrawl' epidemic. Along the way you'll experience the kind of dark humour and pathos you'd expect if you played Nier: Automata, alongside the intense creativity and originality that made the sequel such a resonant piece of work.
The improved combat doesn't quite match the variety and impact of Automata, but it's still enjoyable and stylish, and sustains your interest as the story extends into the tens of hours.
The improvements made here over the original make it much more accessible to a mainstream audience, while the wit and charm at the heart of the title remains as quirky as ever.