Fourteen years ago, gaming auteur Yoko Taro gave audiences the game NieR. The title was a spiritual successor to his Drakengard series and laid the foundation for the philosophical epic NieR: Automata. The game received positive reviews from critics but became a cult classic rather than an international success. However, one of the most interesting facts about the game’s development is how it was originally released. Japanese markets have one protagonist, yet in the West, the main character is fundamentally different. The story behind the two different protagonists in the game’s original release tells viewers of the divide between the two markets. Here is a breakdown of NieR’s divergence between the West and Japan.
The Two Protagonists of NieR
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In the original Japanese version of NieR, released in 2010, the main protagonist was a teenager the player could name. He was a warrior in a fantasy world trying to find a cure for his sister Yonah’s “black scrawl” disease. Along the way, he joined forces with the foul-mouthed Kaine, the wizard Emil, and the talking book Grimoire Weiss. While the game was primarily an action RPG, it had elements of top-down and text-based adventures. In the 2021 re-release of Replicant, he became the definitive main character. Zack Aguilar voiced the younger version of the character, while Ray Chase voiced the older version.
However, when the game was first released in America, it was labeled as a version known as Gestalt. Instead of our younger protagonist, this version was an older, hulking warrior who was the father of Yonah. Jamieson Price voiced this version. As such, he served as a fundamentally different character with his gruff, stoic persona. Surprisingly, the two versions’ game mechanics and plot structure were otherwise identical. Finally, without getting into spoilers, naming the two versions “replicant” and “gestalt” is a clever reference to the game’s mythos.
Yoko Taro’s Answer to the Question
In an interview published by Siliconera, the developers of the game answered the question of why the protagonist was changed. As stated above, this divide between the two versions did not change the general story or what game they were playing; it only changed who they were controlling and who would be on the box art. Square Enix chose it as they didn’t believe a young, angsty protagonist would sell well in American markets. Instead, they chose an older, burly protagonist more reminiscent of the hyper-masculine games that dominated the market in the area.
Changing stories to better suit different markets is hardly a new phenomenon. For a similar example, the original Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was renamed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in American markets, as American children would not understand the reference. However, there are likely few games that made such a huge change to appeal to different demographics.
The change came after a discussion with American and European executives in Los Angeles. One of the reasons they decided on this change was their desire to have the new IP sell. As such, this compromise laid the foundation for the eventual release of NieR: Automata, a revered game across the board. This isn’t to say the original Japanese game wouldn’t have fans, only that it wouldn’t have the same broad appeal Square sought. The original Replicant and Gestalt versions were mutually exclusive regardless of players’ tastes in either market.
A Difference in Tastes for Games
While there are many stories of games changing translations or minor details for different markets, few have ever used entirely different protagonists. Even if this was just one game, it does highlight the difference in tastes between Japan and America. The original version from Replicant plays into many of the tropes of your standard JRPG protagonist. Much like Cloud, Sora, or some other shonen protagonist from these types of games. Such heroes fit better with the emotional, existential themes of these games.
For American audiences, they enjoyed a good power fantasy. Contemporary protagonists included Kratos, Marcus Fenix, and Master Chief, all traditional “macho” protagonists. There are many ways to compare the themes and gameplay of American RPGs and JRPGs, and the protagonists that both markets gravitate towards exemplify this. Ultimately, both versions of the character were still three-dimensional and remained in a compelling story.
Although both versions have their fans, only the original Japanese version received a remaster, while the Gestalt version was left in the era of the 360 and PS3. A while ago, Square announced that the older version of the protagonist could be introduced in a DLC if it sold well enough. Sadly, as three years have passed, it is unlikely that fans will get the DLC soon. They haven’t given up hope, but the chances are dwindling.
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