At the end of October 2019, the next content patch for Final Fantasy XIV will go live. Our author Irie believes that players of FFXIV should definitely check out Nier Automata by then.
After the successful launch of the latest expansion Shadowbringers, Final Fantasy XIV is already looking forward to its next major content patch. The special part about this patch is that it will introduce the new 24-player raid “YoRHa Dark Apocalypse,” which is based on the popular game Nier Automata by Square Enix.
I think that especially story-interested FFXIV players would benefit from playing through Nier Automata before the release of the raid. There are several reasons for that.
Better Understanding of the Story
What do we already know about the raid? In Final Fantasy XIV, all raids not only include boss fights but also tell their own stories. This will be no different for YoRHa Dark Apocalypse.
At the Fan Festival in Paris, where the raid was announced, director Yoshida stated that the story would connect to one of the endings of Nier Automata and continue from there.
The eccentric director of Nier Automata, Yoko Taro, is responsible for the actual story of the raid, who is also known for his Drakengard games.
During the FFXIV panel at the Tokyo Game Show, he said that FFXIV players do not need any prior knowledge of Nier to understand the story of the raid. However, he emphasized that those with prior knowledge would have more fun.
This is Yoko Taro’s storytelling style: Like most of Taro’s games, Nier Automata is a profound title that poses difficult philosophical questions to its players and aims to provoke thought. His style of storytelling is often subtle and not immediately obvious.
I fear that FFXIV players who have not played Nier Automata will not notice or understand this complexity of Yoko Taro’s story. Paying attention to this subtle style of storytelling rewards players with much of the narrative.
Taro is also a master at hiding references and nods to his old games in the new titles. So you can rest assured that the Nier raid will also contain some hidden connections that one would not recognize without prior knowledge.
How could the Nier raid permanently affect FFXIV? YoRHa Dark Apocalypse is supposed to be integrated into the MMORPG in such a way that it feels organic and not out of place. This means that it will have a direct impact on the world and lore of FFXIV. It may also influence future expansions.
Already, there are hints and quests in the MMORPG that point to the launch of the Nier raid. During a quest in Kholusia, players learn that there is a “graveyard of machines” underground, a clear nod to Nier Automata.
This was also the case with the Ivalice raid, which brought the kingdom of Dalmasca and the race of the Viera into the game. Both are now a fixed part of the world of FFXIV.
Therefore, it is especially recommended for players who value the story in FFXIV to check out Nier Automata. It will not only help them understand the story of the raid better, but also enhance their understanding of the world of FFXIV, which will be expanded as a result.
Get More Out of Your Gaming Experience
Do FF enthusiasts enjoy the game more? FFXIV is known to essentially be a theme park where many elements from other Square Enix games appear. When FFXIV developers have integrated material from other games into their MMORPG, they have done so with great care and respect for the original.
Long-time FF fans discover cleverly placed references to older parts of the games at every corner. They are not as obvious as the Crystal Tower, Bahamut, or other typical FF elements. However, it is all the more satisfying and cool when you stumble upon them randomly and suddenly understand those references.
Such little details enhance the overall gaming experience.
I have often observed this during the Ivalice raid: players who were familiar with Final Fantasy XII and Tactics were able to get much more out of the raids. They understood more, could better recognize the connections, and even sometimes predicted how the raid would progress.
These gameplay elements will be influenced: This “enhanced gaming experience” extended to almost all areas of the raid. Even simple things like music tracks from FF Tactics elicited joyful reactions from the players. And it was no different with the first theme for the new Nier raid, which was showcased at the Tokyo Game Show.
The theme was created by composer Keichi Okabe and combines the ending theme of Nier, “Weight of the World,” and the main theme of Final Fantasy. In a thread on reddit and YouTube, players expressed their enthusiasm in the comments.
Such collaborations influence in FFXIV not only the story but also:
- The music
- The design of areas, enemies, and equipment
- Mechanics in boss fights
Nier Automata is not an old game, so these reactions have nothing to do with nostalgia, as is the case with FF Tactics. It is therefore not too late to jump in and improve your gaming experience.
Nier Automata is generally a good game
However, it can also be said that Nier Automata is a high-quality game. On Metacritic, it has a score ranging from 84-90 points depending on the platform and has been nominated for numerous awards, many of which it won. Among them, “Role-Playing Game of the Year” at the D.I.C.E Awards.
Developed in collaboration with Platinum Games, Nier Automata shines not only with its story but also with fun gameplay elements:
- The combat system is fast and dynamic.
- The mod system allows you to customize the strengths of your characters and is extremely diverse. You can not only enhance individual stats like attack and defense but also slow down time.
- There is a wide selection of weapons.
- For crafters, there is also a crafting system.
- Various game modes like vertical shooter, bullet hell, and two-dimensional dungeons in Metroidvania style bring fresh air to the gameplay.
- The soundtrack is excellent.
- And most importantly: There is the possibility to fish.
Even side quests, which are often boring or directly annoying in RPGs, have a deeper meaning in Nier Automata and contribute significantly to the gameplay experience. Here, too, the short stories are designed to provoke thought.
Players who love challenges can also try out the brutal difficulty levels of Nier Automata. They will make you sweat just as much as Dark Souls or Sekiro.
In general, one can say that the side quests, optional bosses, and especially the various endings of Nier Automata provide enough content to make the game worth its price.
It is a profound game where the top-notch storytelling of Yoko Taro meets the top-notch gameplay of Platinum Games.
In that sense: Glory to mankind!
Since the story of Nier Automata is emotional, the new music piece for the raid also had an emotional impact on the FFXIV players. MarkTheLeo wrote on YouTube:
I’m crying! This is incredible! The theme of Automata combined with the Prelude of Final Fantasy? […] Kiechi Okabe, you’re insane! Thank you!
Such collaborations influence in FFXIV not only the story but also:
- The music
- The design of areas, enemies, and equipment
- Mechanics in boss fights
Nier Automata is not an old game, so these reactions have nothing to do with nostalgia, as is the case with FF Tactics. It is therefore not too late to jump in and improve your gaming experience.
Nier Automata is generally a good game
However, it can also be said that Nier Automata is a high-quality game. On Metacritic, it has a score ranging from 84-90 points depending on the platform and has been nominated for numerous awards, many of which it won. Among them, “Role-Playing Game of the Year” at the D.I.C.E Awards.
Developed in collaboration with Platinum Games, Nier Automata shines not only with its story but also with fun gameplay elements:
- The combat system is fast and dynamic.
- The mod system allows you to customize the strengths of your characters and is extremely diverse. You can not only enhance individual stats like attack and defense but also slow down time.
- There is a wide selection of weapons.
- For crafters, there is also a crafting system.
- Various game modes like vertical shooter, bullet hell, and two-dimensional dungeons in Metroidvania style bring fresh air to the gameplay.
- The soundtrack is excellent.
- And most importantly: There is the possibility to fish.
Even side quests, which are often boring or directly annoying in RPGs, have a deeper meaning in Nier Automata and contribute significantly to the gameplay experience. Here, too, the short stories are designed to provoke thought.
Players who love challenges can also try out the brutal difficulty levels of Nier Automata. They will make you sweat just as much as Dark Souls or Sekiro.
In general, one can say that the side quests, optional bosses, and especially the various endings of Nier Automata provide enough content to make the game worth its price.
It is a profound game where the top-notch storytelling of Yoko Taro meets the top-notch gameplay of Platinum Games.
In that sense: Glory to mankind!
