Cavia's
Nier, often touted in previews as being a spiritual successor to the
Drakengard series, hits stores April 27 here and April 22 over in Japan.
Weekly Famitsu published the first review of the Square Enix-published title today, and evidently somebody on the staff really likes dark fantasy and talking tomes of magic, because it earned one 10 and three 8's for a total of 34 points and a Gold award. This, despite the fact that "the story is a lot less twisted than you'd expect," as one reviewer put it. "It's more of a standard sort of drama and you'll get into it that way." Another writer was harsher still on the gameplay: "It's a nice enough action game -- simple, no needless frills, lots of volume to it -- but it's just like the rest of the pack. I also didn't see much purpose to the weapon customization and optional quests, which is a shame." (Still, that editor joined others in praising the soundtrack -- " a cut above, mixing well with the story's combination of tranquility and insanity.")
As the editor who gave out the 10 score noted, though, Nier's real charm comes in unlocking the whole story, like it was with Drakengard. "My first impression was that the controls are comfortable, your companions both eccentric and deeply portrayed, and the story packed with elements of parody," he wrote. "I thought it all mixed together into a very quaint and charming package. That was all blown away once I viewed all of the endings -- you definitely want to see them for yourself; nothing like it's been done in gaming."