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A fantastic remake that improves its source material in virtually every way, Nier Replicant is a must play. That said, it’s a faithful remake of a game that always had some design hiccups and quirks that could be off putting for anyone unprepared. Nier Replicant isn’t the kind of game you want spoiled, but it’s worth doing some research starting a playthrough. Spoilers for Nier Replicant’s endgame from Entry 5 onwards.  

10 Strap In For A Slow Start

Nier Replicant is an excellent game, but the first half is admittedly on the slow side. There are a lot of cutscenes and character introductions work better in hindsight than they do on a first playthrough. As a result, it might take some time to connect with the main cast or their world. Gameplay also moves on the slow side, very gradually opening up the overworld and always leading players to new locations slowly. Fortunately, things pick up considerably during Part 2. 

9 Every Area Is Revisited

While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing in practice, the fact Nier Replicant reuses every major area multiple times (in and out of the main storyline) can be frustrating. For those just playing through the main story, expect to go through each major dungeon (save for the Barren Temple) in full at least twice. Anyone doing side quests will be revisiting every single area in the game multiple times – often back to back and for no good reason. The sooner you make peace with this, the better. 

8 Side Quests Are A Drag

If Nier Replicant has one fatal flaw, it’s its side quests. Side quests in Part 1 tend to be your basic fetch quests that send Nier all over the overworld for material that are far too grindy to track down (even more on that later). Side quests only get more complex in Part 2, regularly bringing you back to old dungeons. 

RELATED: 10 Mistakes Everyone Makes While Playing Nier Replicant

It’s also worth pointing out that nearly half of all side quests are missable. With the exception of The Fisherman’s Gambit, every single quest in Part 1 gets locked out after the time skip (the point of no return is once you enter the Manor by Seafront). Anyone who doesn’t want to miss 100% completion will need to complete 50% of all cutscenes in Part 1. 

7 Don’t Sell Items

Nier Replicant is a very grindy game for anyone striving for 100% completion (something Nier very clearly doesn’t want players to obtain). Along with redirecting Nier all over the place, side quests tend to demand a number of unique materials to complete. This often means grinding for items over and over again. While some items are dropped by enemies, too many are found at random harvest points – something the game could strive to feature more of. 

6 Make Sure To Collect Weapons

Although Nier only has access to a single weapon type in Part 1, he gains access to Two-Handed Swords and Spears following the five year time skip. There are over 30 weapons in Nier Replicant, all of which are hidden throughout the world. Some are obtained by completing side quests, some are hidden in crates, and others can be purchased at stores. Every single weapon is required to see the true ending, so make sure to collect them all sooner rather than later. 

5 There Are Multiple Endings

No matter what, do not stop playing after beating the game once. Nier Replicant’s first ending is just a taste of the real story. After completing the game and starting New Game Plus, you’ll be on Route B. Route B starts roughly 60% of the way into the game and features new cutscenes. After completing Ending B, Route C features a new decision after the final boss that branches into either Ending C or Ending D. There’s also a fifth ending tied to Ending D specifically. 

4 World Of The Recycled Vessel Is Locked To New Game Plus

World of the Recycled Vessel was the original Nier’s sole piece of DLC. While World of the Recycled Vessel is now an inherent part of Nier Replicant, it’s locked until New Game Plus. More importantly, World of the Recycled Vessel is now necessary for seeing Endings C, D, and E unlike in the original game. 

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Completing World of the Recycled Vessel unlocks three new items, all of which are part of the 100% weapon retrieval necessary for the true ending. While this does make Nier Replicant’s homestretch even more of a grind than Nier Gestalt, World of the Recycled Vessel is an utterly fascinating side story that subtly fleshes out the game’s lore. 

3 Route C Has New Cutscenes 

One of the biggest changes Nier Replicant makes is adding even more extra content to repeat playthroughs. In the original Nier, only Route B changed the story before the actual ending. Nier Replicant’s Route C features brand new scenes that flesh out Devola and Popola’s motivations along with adding more context for the new character Louise – making the Mermaid storyline somehow even sadder. 

2 There Are References To Automata And Drakengard 3

It perhaps goes without saying, but Nier Replicant actually references Nier: Automata and Drakengard 3 in several new spots. Yonah has a few new diary entries, including one where she mentions a merchant named Accord – directly linking Nier Replicant to the events of Drakengard 3, along with its multiverse. Similarly, there are subtle references setting up Automata, and the events of Ending E have significantly more impact if you’ve already played Nier: Automata to completion. 

Light spoilers for Ending E. 

1 Ending E

Fans of the original will want to know that there’s a brand new ending following the events of Ending D. In the original Nier, Ending D erased your data completely and you weren’t allowed to use your character’s name ever again. After obtaining Ending D in the remake, start a new file and play up until the second Aerie boss fight in Part 1. From here, the story will transition to Ending E and you’ll even switch playable characters in the process. 

Next: NieR Replicant: The Scattered Cargo Side Quest Walkthrough