It’s hard to believe it’s been seven years NieR: Automata Released, but somehow the time passed in the blink of an eye.I think what’s more confusing is Square Enix Somehow, Yoko Taro and his collaborators didn’t let themselves make a full-fledged sequel, despite the fact that it has sold 8,000,000 copies to date and even featured an enhanced remake of the original game. Sure, there are mobile games, but they’re dead now, so I can’t help but feel like there’s a little Nier-shaped hole in my heart at the moment.
There have been a lot of great games released over the years, but nothing has hit that specific niche quite like NieR: Automata. Sure, there’s some thrilling action gameplay and some powerful stories, but Automata’s unique blend of sci-fi imaginings of life in a post-human, robot-filled world is something that’s hard to capitalize on elsewhere. It wasn’t until last week, when developer Sunset Visitor released 1000xRESIST, that the ambitious and impressive game finally hit the same sweet spot.
“1000xRESIST” tells the story of a character named Watcher, who is a clone of an immortal girl named Iris, who herself was the result of aliens known as “The Occupiers” who brought a disease to our earth 1,000 years ago. The only remaining human being after the disease. Right off the bat, you can probably clearly see the influence of NieR: Automata, although I think 1000xRESIST takes the theme of the Square Enix game up a thousand. Just like Automata, there are plenty of twists and turns, and some secrets are revealed.
Gameplay-wise, you won’t find too many similarities, as exploration is the main focus of 1000xRESIST. As great as Automata’s combat is, what’s most beloved about it is its story, and 1000xRESIST’s story is indeed very relevant to the issues we face today. In addition to the Watchers, there is an entire society of clones, none of whom are immune to the disease like the original Iris, causing them all to constantly wear masks to avoid infection. Reminds you of some kind of pandemic we’ve all been through lately?
Thanks to the game’s sci-fi setting, you can relive Iris’ memories, where you can learn about the past and what life was like before the world went to hell. There are plenty of melancholy moments as you learn the fate of the world, which makes the conflict between long-dead characters seem all the more painful. But there’s also mystery that quickly leaves you wanting to know more. Who are the residents? Why did Alice survive while the rest of humanity became extinct?
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The title of the game “RESIST” is also very important to its story. While not focused on anything specific, 1000xRESIST is partly set in Hong Kong in the early 2020s, where there was a lot of civil unrest and protests, and may be partially referenced by similar protests held in 2019/2020.
It depicts resistance to oppression as a complex, painful, and necessary thing, but also shows that these problems can persist even if humanity is essentially wiped out and replaced by clones of one person. This repetitive feel is again similar to Automata, although you don’t have to replay certain parts exactly.
It’s also visually stunning, probably the most daringly art-directed game of the year, and I hope it becomes part of the awards season discussion later this year. There’s really no indication of when we can expect a non-mobile sequel to NieR, but mentally, 1000xRESIST feels like the closest thing you can get while relying on two of its own Legs stand and offer something you really wouldn’t find anywhere else this year. While you wait for the next big release of the year, maybe find some time to get used to this one.
1000xRESIST is now available on PC and Nintendo Switch.