Is this a series

[kesonjus]

if so how many games are there already out, and is it bad if i start from this one do i lose alot in lore and in the characters?

[The Fabulous Slayer]

I tried to figure it out, and from what I can tell it is a series that consists of at least 4 games already. Also from what I can tell you can easily start from this one and understand it properly.

[DarkSaber2k]

Strictly speaking it goes Drakengard > Nier > Nier Automata. There is also Drakengard 2 & 3

[Uninstallr]

I'd watch the Clemps Analysis on all the Drakengard and Nier games if you want to know the stuff prior to Automata. https://www.youtube.com/user/MrClemps

[Arlen Tektolnes]

Nier is based on one of the alternate endings to Drakengard.

Nier: Automata is a sequel to Nier.

You don't newed to know anything whatsoever about Drakengard to play Nier. I quite obviously haen't played the new one yet, but assume the same thing applies.

It's set either fairly far in the future or the past compared with Nier and likely doesn't feature m/any of the same characters.

You should be fine.

I'd still suggest playing Nier though, just because it's an interesting game.

[Donald Trump]

Memes > Near > Near Your Mama.

[Xafron Chi]

I've done a little bit of research on it myself. If anyone has better information feel free to correct me.

The first Nier game had two different versions. Nier Gestalt and Nier Replicant. I believe Nier Replicant was only in Japan, while Nier Gestalt was in Japan as well as Europe/North America, and was simply called Nier in Europe and North America. They are mostly the same game with only minor differences from what I can tell.

The Drakengard series has three games, Drakengard 1, 2 and 3. Two of them released before Nier, and the third one released after Nier. Nier isn't a direct sequel to these games, but a spinoff. Drakengard has multiple endings, and Nier specifically takes place after the fifth possible ending of the first Drakengard game.

Nier also had multiple endings, and Nier: Automata takes place after its fourth ending. It sounds like, while set in the same world, it takes place thousands of years after Nier making it kind of it's own little island of a game. There are some things that carried over from the first Nier but a lot of it is new stuff. It's an "indirect sequel."

All kind of weird, but personally I am intrigued by the game and its story/characters.

[Derus]

Drakengard 3 -> Drakengard 1 -> Nier Gestalt/Replicant -> Nier Automata
Nier Automata has its own story but there are couple of references to older titles.

[Klay]

The story happens in the same universe as other games, but you don't have to play them to understand what's happening. So it's not an actual "series" as such.

[Hellstorm901]

I'm not too sure but I think it's a series in the sense that they share the same setting/lore

[Marduk the Sun God]

Originally posted by Derus:

Drakengard 3 -> Drakengard 1 -> Nier Gestalt/Replicant -> Nier Automata
Nier Automata has its own story but there are couple of references to older titles.

I've watched summary vids for Drakengard 1 & Nier in preparation for Automata, is Drakengard 3 relevant enough to Nier that I should care about it as well?

[A D L]

Originally posted by Derus:

Drakengard 3 -> Drakengard 1 -> Nier Gestalt/Replicant -> Nier Automata
Nier Automata has its own story but there are couple of references to older titles.

Jesus I had no idea it was that convoluted. I thought it was Drakengard 1/2/3 - NieR 1 - NieR Automata

[BearPajamaGod!]

Originally posted by Alexander DeLarge:

Originally posted by Derus:

Drakengard 3 -> Drakengard 1 -> Nier Gestalt/Replicant -> Nier Automata
Nier Automata has its own story but there are couple of references to older titles.

Jesus I had no idea it was that convoluted. I thought it was Drakengard 1/2/3 - NieR 1 - NieR Automata

If I'm not mistaken the fake joke ending to Drakengard 1 leads to NieR however Drakengard 3 kinda comes before Drakengard 1 or is a prequel which then leads to Drakengard 1 and NieR followed by NieR Automata.

[Karakasa]

From everything I have heard:

Drakengard: Combat is bad to barely passible, story is dark with each ending getting wierder and wierder. Ending E leads to NieR.

Drakengard 2: Don't bother, gameplay is just as bad if not worse than the original AND Yoko Taro wasn't a part of it so the story isn't up to par either.

NieR: The game you would most want to play if you were to only play one of the previous games, however just about everything that is relevent to Automata is included in the game itself so you don't have too. Though I do still recommoned atleast watching someone play it, there are a few atleast on Youtube.

Drakengard 3: Around the same level of NieR, maybe a little under. Still better gameplay wise then the first two games. This one is actually a prequel to the first game.

I never played any of the games besides Automata(by the time I wanted to play NieR Cavia had already closed down and it wasn't being sold anymore) but I did watch videos for NieR and D3 and read up on the first two. You can easily enjoy Automata without playing any of them, though again if you can watch a playthrough of NieR before playing Automata you'll probably get a bit more enjoyment out of it.

On which game takes place where: Drakengard 3----Drakengard----NieR----NieR Automata

Drakengard 2 takes place not too long after Drakengard but, again because Taro had nothing to do with it, literally has nothing to do with the rest of the series. It can be ignored.

[A D L]

On the subject of Drakengard, watch a YouTube video summarizing the events leading up to NieR and hope that the remaster happens and does the story justice in the gameplay department.

[Derus]

Originally posted by Beef Supreme:

I've watched summary vids for Drakengard 1 & Nier in preparation for Automata, is Drakengard 3 relevant enough to Nier that I should care about it as well?

Yep, I watched all of them too.

Spoiler Drakengard 3:

I think the android Accord who guides Zero (the protagonist) through all 4 timelines could be relevant cause she is an android.

The flower Lunar Tear has its appearance too and grows from one of the Zeros eyes, is parasitic, holds Zero alive and must be destroyed (Zero kills all her 5 sisters, her dragon Mikhail kills her and with her the flower).

The last battle in timeline D looks almost like the last battle from Drakengard 1.

I don't think there is anything more relevant.

Edit: ok, added spoilertags