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NieR: Automata RPG's 29-Minute Gameplay Video Streamed
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
PlayStation began streaming a 29-minute gameplay video on Monday for the NieR:Automata PlayStation 4 game. In the video, two Square Enix staff members join PlayStation Blog's Ryan Clements to preview the action role-playing game's quests, battles, and other elements.
Square Enix North America began streaming a "Glory to Mankind 119450310" trailer for the game on Friday.
The game will ship for the PlayStation 4 in Japan on February 23, followed by North America on March 7 and Europe on March 10. The game's PS4 demo is available now. Square Enix also plans to release the game on PC via Steam.
Square Enix is offering the game in a limited Black Box edition. The Black Box edition, which retails for US$189.99, includes: a collector's box, the game, a YoRHa "2B" figurine, a 64-page hardback artbook, a steelbook case featuring artwork from Bravely Default/Final Fantasy XIV artist Akihiko Yoshida, and a soundtrack of 13 live-recorded songs from both NieR and NieR:Automata. The Black Box edition is only available on the Square Enix Online Store.
The Black Box edition will also include the Day One edition digital content: a Machine Mask Accessory, a Grimoire Weiss Pod, a Play System Pod Skin, a Retro Grey Pod Skin, a Retro Red Pod Skin, and a Cardboard Pod Skin. The Day One edition also includes reversible box art featuring character illustrations by Yoshida.
Square Enix describes the story:
The distant future…Invaders from another world attack without warning, unleashing a new type of threat: weapons known as “machine lifeforms.” In the face of this insurmountable threat, mankind is driven from Earth and takes refuge on the Moon.
The Council of Humanity organizes a resistance of android soldiers in an effort to take back their planet. To break the deadlock, the Resistance deploys a new unit of android infantry: YoRHa . In the forsaken wasteland below, the war between the machines and the androids rages on.
A war that is soon to unveil the long-forgotten truth of this world...
The game is a follow-up to the 2010 NieR game, and reunites the director, producer, and composer. Freelance developer Taro Yoko (Drakengard series, NieR) is helming the project as director at Platinum Games. Yosuke Saito (Dragon Quest X, NieR) is credited as producer, and Keiichi Okabe (Drakengard series, NieR, Yuki Yuna Is a Hero) is composing the music. Takahisa Taura (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Anarchy Reigns) is handling the game design, and Akihiko Yoshida (Bravely Second, Final Fantasy XIV) is designing the game's characters. J'Nique Nicole and Emi Evans are each singing a version of the game's theme song.
The game's Japanese cast includes:
- Yui Ishikawa as 2B
- Natsuki Hanae as 9S
- Ayaka Suwa as A2
The now-defunct Japanese game developer Cavia (Drakengard, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles) developed the original NieR game as a spinoff of the Drakengard series in 2010. Two versions of the game were released for two different consoles: Cavia released NieR Gestalt for the Xbox 360, and NieR Replicant for the PlayStation 3. NieR Replicant featured a different character design for the protagonist, and minor differences in the plot. NieR was the last game Cavia developed before being disbanded and absorbed into AQ Interactive Inc. in July 2010. Taro Yoko went on to direct Drakengard 3 under Access Games.
