According to an interview by A9VG, we’ve learned a couple new things regarding the game and what’s in store for us…
Please note that I’m going from a very round-about way to translate this. I know *nothing* of Chinese but I do understand Japanese. I used an online translation site to first translate this into Japanese and then I attempted to translate that into English. ^^;
First of all, the Chinese version of the game has been confirmed for this spring.
—Will there be any changes from the demo leading into the actual release of the game? Saito:We released the demo version with the intention of gaining some important feedback from players. The main purpose was to allow players to experience the action part of the game and let them tell us what they thought.
—In the Hard and Very Hard modes, the player is not able to use the lock-on function. Will this still be true for the official release of the game? Saito: Yes, the lock-on function is not accessible in the harder difficulty levels, but in Normal and Easy modes, the player can select whether or not they want to use this function.
—In the demo, we’re only able to explore the area on foot. Will there be other modes of transportation in the official release? Saito: In the official version there will be aerial vehicles and also animals that you can ride on.
—In the demo, we could see that weapons have their own stories with illustrations. Will the official release have more of this, additional illustrations, for example? Saito: As you level up your weapons, you can gradually unlock additional portions of the Weapon Stories. The background image that’s used for the Weapon Stories won’t change, but the actual appearance of the weapons will.
—Ishikawa-san, do you have any interesting stories for us? Ishikawa: Perhaps when I started working on this game. At the time, even the character designs were not yet complete. Since the dubbing was done along with the development of the game, I could really get an inside look on its production.
—What significance does the content in the demo have to do with the official release? Saito: In Japan, it was discussed whether or not the demo depicted the ending of the game. We can reveal here that what you see in the demo occurs roughly at the half-way point of the game. We selected that part so you can get a nice chunk of the game to experience. The story in the demo is not an independent story from the rest of the game.
—Ishikawa-san, how do you feel about your role as 2B? Ishikawa: There are so many emotional moments in the story. As for 2B, she isn’t allowed to express her own feelings. Although she doesn’t sound like it, I think she’s a really gentle person. She’s also very concerned about 9S.
—What can we expect from the PRO? Saito: We initially discussed using 4K with the PRO, but as an action game, we needed to be sure we had at least 1080p/60fps. So, the movement in the PRO version should feel more fluid with better lighting and shadows.
—How many different characters can we expect to play? Saito: Right now we can confirm that 2B and 9S will be playable.
—We know there’s a connection between NieR and the Drakengard series. Should people play the previous games to prepare for this one? Saito: There is a connection between them all, but there’s absolutely no problem if you haven’t played them. Simply, if you are familiar with the other titles, you may notice some interesting things. For example, the voice actor for 9S, Hanae-san, has played all of the previous games.
According to other Japanese-Chinese translations, not just mine, it appears as though the events that we see in the demo may not actually take place at the *beginning* of the game, but rather a bit further in. It’s described as the “mid-way” point or half-way through the game, but the DOD/NieR series always use multiple playthroughs… so perhaps this could be towards the end of the first run through, “Branch A”.
There are several points that create confusion with this statement, one is my own translation of some of the storyboards and scripts from the Character Introduction video that was originally shown at the NieR Music Concert & Talk Live. Plus, it appears as though 2B and 9S had never met–so would that mean that 2B is alone for the whole first playthrough? Or perhaps there’s an entirely different story gimmick in play that we have no clue about yet?
We don’t have much to go on here, so it may be better to give our brains a rest and just wait until the game is finally released. We’ve only got a month left to go here in Japan… <3
Dengeki had their first Live Broadcast showcasing the beginning portion of the up-coming NieR:Automata demo last night. I was busy at a dinner party with people from work, so I apologize for the delay in this post.
Beginning the broadcast, we are introduced to the cast on the show:
Dengeki Writer Tadatsugu and Ishikawa Yui
Voice of “heroine” 9S Hanae Natsuki & “DJ” Saito Yosuke
Platinum Games Producer Nishimura Eijiro
■PS4 Vs. PS4 Pro
The first topic of choice was comparing the differences between the PS4 and PS4 Pro versions of the game:
Motion Blur – This feature is meant to be demonstrated in actual motion, but the PS4 Pro adds a little bit of motion blur to make movement more realistic.
Light/Shadows – The beams of light and details of shadows are more clearly defined.
Detailed Shadows – The PS4 Pro version has a much higher defined shadow.
For me, I don’t need these added details in order to enjoy the game. In my current financial situation, I would much rather go with the PS4 instead of the Pro.
■Difficulty Levels
Next we were shown the Difficulty Select menu. As it was stated before, the player is able to change the level of difficulty at anytime during the game. According to these screens, there are a total of four difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, Hard, and Very Hard.
The descriptions for each difficulty level is pretty entertaining as well… Probably.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the Auto Mode is only accessible from the Easy difficulty setting. Just like the rest of the difficulties, you are able to enter the Auto Mode at any time. The System Message also details exactly what areas the Auto Mode will help you with.
■The Demo: Setting
We’re shown very briefly a screen of text which details the setting of the demo. I had originally thought the demo would be merely a YoRHa training simulation on the Bunker (which is may still be), but the events that take place here appear to follow along with the clips of the Opening Sequence Conte that I translated before.
First off, let me translate the setting screen:
243rd Descent Mission
Mission Dispatch Date: March 10, 11945 Target to be Destroyed: Enemy Massive-scale Weapon (Various specifications confirmed) Active Units: 1D (Captain), 2B, 7E, 4B, 11B, 12H
Mission Details:
According to the information gathered by the Intelligence Squadron, it is clear that “there is Bio-machine activity with a large-scale weapon in the Factory Ruins in which Mankind has sent you”. Additionally, the Analysis Squadron reports that after thorough inspection of the Bio-machines’ activities and the amount of materials they’ve gathered, it has been concluded that “it is highly probable that they are building a weapon of massive proportions.”
The objective of this Assault Mission includes the dispatch of a 6-unit squadron to the enemy territory (the Factory Ruins) to gather intel of the area and the large-scale weapon in order to destroy it. Unit 9S from the Intelligence Squadron is scheduled to rendezvous and assist with the mission.
End of transmission.
It was stated that the B Type of androids is an all-rounded “Battler” model series, whereas the S Type is the analytical, information gathering “Scanner” model series. I entirely forgot that an old page detailing information on the YoRHa idol group from DearStage listed additional android types. So, here’s what each type is likely to stand for, including the discontinued type designations:
A – Attacker (Discontinued)
G – Gunner (Discontinued)
S – Scanner
B – Battler
D – Defender
E – Executioner
H – Healer
Edit: September 2, 2018. As a little aside here, I’ve been misinterpreting the “Cancellers” as a stand-alone YoRHa Type Model–the Type C–but this was a headcannon that apparently I made so long ago that it solidified as fact in my brain. After confirming with Yoko, he states that the YoRHa Type C models have not been revealed thus far. This is likely a system built into the aerial flight units to help shield them from enemy fire as they descend through Earth orbit.
Continuing with the information from the Opening Sequence Conte, 2B is flying in her “Ho229” aerial suit (the mech) and it eventually receives massive damage before 2B has to jump from it. This is where Pod042 quickly states the situation:
Pod042:
Ho229 equipment has received massive damage. Abandon operation. General communication system down. Booting the Laser Communication System. Scanning terrain……long-distance. Transferring control to FCS. Transferring control to IMU. Booting FFCS. Signal from 2B’s Black Box confirmed. Booting NFCS. Beginning secondary assessment sequence of 2B’s vitals. Beginning short-range camouflage pulse. Booting close-range battle parameters. Enemy response, massive numbers detected.
2B:
I can see that.
In this sequence, we see 2B battling some Lv1 Bio-machines of small to medium sizes within an enclosed area.
When she defeats the larger machine:
Pod042: Enemy destruction confirmed.
2B:
Not yet…..
And that’s when the gigantic saw busts through the wall.
And we’re presented with a warning screen that lists the enemy’s name in classic Angelic Script format, which reads “Mars”.
When 2B first engages in battle with this huge machine, she wonders if this is the “Massive-scale Weapon” that they were charged to destroy, but Pod042 tells her that it is, unfortunately, not their target.
Eventually, 2B thinks that she’s defeated the gigantic machine, but it comes after her with another saw. This time, she gets a little help–and scolding–from 9S.
“It’s dangerous if you don’t make sure it’s dead…”
9S:
You’re 2B, right? I’m 9S. I’ve been instructed to assist you.
2B:
I understand.
9S:
So that big can opener was the “Massive-scale Weapon” we were after?
2B:
No. It seems like it was just a defense mechanism.
9S:
Then… I guess we’ll have to look for it.
I’ve got an aerial suit, so I’ll take a look around out here.
2B:
Alright. I’ll search the area inside.
■Merchandise: YoRHa / 2B Hoodie
This is the new hoodie that will first become available at Jump Festa this weekend at the Square Enix booth. This item will also be available from the Japanese SQEX e-STORE at a later date.
■NieR Music Concert & Talk Live Blu-ray
The very nice Blu-ray of the NieR Music Concert & Talk Live event that was held this past April was just released on December 14. This also became the present for a lucky viewer on the NicoNico side of the broadcast; the blu-ray would be opened and signed by the hosts of this broadcast.
■The Resistance Camp, Items, and Weapons
As it had been shown in past live streams of the game, the Resistance Camp is populated by many different types of androids, some very human-like types and others that clearly resemble tin robots. Devola and Popola also reside somewhere in the camp.
Within the camp are item and weapon shops, people to talk to and even some who will enlist your help in the form of quests. Here’s a quick glance at the Item and Weapon Shops:
Producer Saito Yosuke mentions that you are able to obtain new weapons from the shop or by discovering them out in the field. Weapons can also be upgraded with the use of items that you gather from defeating enemies. Weapon upgrades can be done in the Weapon Shop menu:
Buy
Upgrade
Sell
Of course, Weapon Stories are back in Automata, so you can expect to see the typical 4-step story progression for each weapon. And with the collaboration with FFXV, Noctis’ Engine Blade will be a usable weapon in Automata along with its own Weapon Story.
Speaking of weapons, another type of weapon was announced during the PSX events in the US and Mexico: the spear! Here is a quick look at the names of these weapons:
■Other Playable Characters & The Open World
At about 39 minutes into the live broadcast, Saito says that at some point in the game, 9S will become a playable character. He wouldn’t elaborate on that any further before Tadatsugu followed up with another question regarding the “Open World” aspect of the game. He went on to say that each area connects seamlessly (no loading time necessary), but there are parts of the story in which some areas are closed off to you…possibly making this definition of “Open World” a little less open. Perhaps it’s more like FFXV in which the majority of the world is free to roam as you like…up until a point. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
■Android Report – Multiplayer?
During the gameplay footage, one of the hosts playing the game died, which displayed the “Android Report” screen…which they didn’t want to release just yet.
As far as the YoRHa stage play goes, upon the destruction of the androids, their remaining data is uplinked to the Bunker to be used in the creation of future, more advanced androids. Could this be the function that would utilize multiplayer aspects? Maybe this is a sort of scoreboard in which you can view when and how players DIED. lol
■Further Collaborations and More!
A weapon or other equipment from NieR:Automata will be in PSO2! (Expect to see Emil’s head)
▶︎ The collaboration with PSO2 will include the following items from NieR:Automata:
Costumes and hair designs of 2B, 9S, A2
Accessories
Weapons
Lobby Actions
Mag: “Pod”
Theme Song Music
A weapon or piece of armor from NieR:Automata will appear in Monster Hunter Frontier Z! There will even be a related original quest as well! (Expect to see Emil’s head)
A “visual summary” of the game detailing its artwork, additional text by Yoko Taro, and more will be released on the same day as the game (Size: B5).
Dengeki has been the publisher of the these giant collections known as the “complete guide” for these games, and they plan to release their next work for NieR:Automata sometime toward the end of March! (Size: B5, Pages: Roughly 300 pages)
Regarding the release of the guidebooks, Hanae suggests that the publisher release enough books since it was very difficult for him to even find one to buy! Let’s hope they listen to him!
Credits:
All translations and photo edits on this page were done by me. Photos from the Dengeki 1st Live Broadcast were taken from the YouTube version of the broadcast.
Shortly after SQEX updated the official NieR:Automata site with the English version of the new theme song, I was intrigued to find out as much as I could about the vocalist.
The quality of her voice reminded me a lot of the Japanese singer AI. I looked into it some more and came to the conclusion that this wasn’t AI, but probably an entirely different vocalist than we’ve heard before.
A week later, I was able to attend the NieR Music Concert & Talk Live concert and we learned the name of the new vocalist: J’Nique Nicole.
Ever since then, I had been working on this interview and, being delayed by many personal ups and downs in my life, I feel badly that it’s taken me this long to put the final touches on this to share. So, for everyone involved, I’m very sorry for working so slowly.
Then, without further adieu, please enjoy the interview:
NieR:Automata was featured in this week’s issue of Dengeki Playstation, giving it 4 pages of info on the new characters and a recap of the music concert and talk live.
◼︎ Let’s take another look at NieR Replicant since it’s been released on Playstation Now.
Saito: Sorry for the sudden inconvenience, but Yoko is running a little late…
ーOh.
Saito: But, we can start without him. (haha) You can add in his comments after the fact wherever you like. (haha) Or maybe just put them in bold.
ーAlright. (haha) So…… Now that the previous game is available through Playstation Now, may I ask your thoughts on it as you look back at it once more?
Saito: I’ve heard here and there that there are some people who’ve heard the soundtrack from the first game but never actually played it, so with NieR:Automata in the works, this is a great opportunity for them to try it out. It’s absolutely not necessary to play Replicant in order to play Automata—we’ve made sure of that—but still we’d love for more people to give it a try. It will only be available for a limited rental period at a reduced price, though. Even still, we’d love to get more people to experience it. I think there may have been many people who stopped playing after the A Ending, but if you hang in a little longer, the story gets much fuller from the B Ending on, so I really hope you try it out!
