NIER is the next crack for a Japanese developer to make a game that can cut it in the western market. As it is crystal clear to most people who understands games when it comes to western parts and Japanese RPG game this part of the world gets lost in transition. It seemed before that Japanese publishers bring in significant income and able to self-sustain their industry based on eastern sales alone, but they seemed to have changed there aim by raking in a profit from the western part of the world. NIER seems to be everything that is right with attempts made to drag in the western market.

Square Enix has introduced a mix of both RPG and hack-and-slash gameplay elements on order to make the game more western. The game see’s the user follow RPG like characters, enemies, and towns on a very RPG based plot. With the action part of the gameplay being very hack-and-slash meaning users are not dragged into the less ponderous combat you would expect in an eastern game. So NIER automatically becomes a mixed style.

The combat in NIER like the game introduces a mixed style of combat. Although the game is hack-and-slash at heart, Square Enix has gone out their way to add the feel of the eastern RPG with the inclusion of magic. So the basics for your hero in NIER will have you wielding a sword using a couple of buttons to string together a different type of attack. Along side these basics you have the very useful Grimoire Weiss, who is a talking magical book that fires off your magic spells for you. Also in the game you will be introduced to the dodge button, which will become an integral part of your combat.

To go with the combat in the game Square Enix has introduced a large range of weapons, and magical elements to the game. Meaning you can switch between your weapons and the magic you will use during the game to suit best, this gives the combat some variety. On the same note, you will find a weapon you may like and keep to using that sword, but you will still find yourself switching between your magic in order to defeat set enemies.

The plot in NIER is a very complex one to follow, and throughout many parts of the game you may not believe what has happened. But, the plot does open the game to the extra gameplay elements, in which you will find yourself working through many different types of settings, having to complete puzzles, defeat enemies, and completing quests. During these tasks you find many interesting characters along the way, and face many foes, some of them being enormous, this sets up some great battle set pieces.

On the quests you will get a good feel of exploration and progression which every RPG should give the user, but the combat gives it a different feel than fans of the genre are used to. Like many other RPG’s the customization system has a lot of depth as you build up magic and abilities and upgrade your weapon as you go along. This is done through a very intriguing word editing system. Through out you battles with enemies they will drop words, you can then use these words in you inventory to customize your skills.

NIER has considerable depth to the game, and brings the RPG and hack-and-slash genre together well. But, you could say in reality parts of the game are not original along the lines of the gameplay, and characters.

Although Square Enix have introduced the elements of the RPG and hack-and-slash genres together very well, and over all have produced a game that could become a sleeper hit. Considering that when east meets west games can often lose what is so special about their approach to gaming, but in this case it could well have worked.

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