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22 Apr

NieR Replicant Review: As Flawed and Engrossing as Ever

April 22, 2021
Posted by Samson

Nier replicant

Nier Replicant Ver.1.22474487139 … – PlayStation 4

"NieR Replicant is still the same flawed game it was in 2010, but a much-needed touch-up makes its fantastic story shine."

Fantastic story
Fully developed characters
Exciting new content
The much-needed visual upgrade

Repeated struggle
Outdated gameplay
Blunt side quests

NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… tries to rewrite history. The action RPG is an updated version of NieR, a cult PlayStation 3 game that received a lukewarm reception when it launched in 2010, the game that was doomed to dark.

That is, if the players can overcome the problems they had with it. That's the tricky thing about remakes of this type. In a way, they're tied to fate. The new version brings updated graphics and gameplay improvements, but it's still the same PS3 game with all of its strengths and flaws kept true to the original.

While the update can't solve basic design issues, the much-needed improvements from NieR Replicant finally let the fantastic story of the original game shine. Players may rush for a challenging experience to get there, but few games are as narratively bold and mystifying as this one.

A haunting journey

The opening sequence of NieR Replicant is about as arresting as it comes. Players are instantly introduced to an apocalyptic environment filled with jumbled shadows, creepy beings that look like they're half torn out of reality. We meet a panicked boy who tries to protect his sick little sister while the two are in a shabby building. There's a massive battle in which the hero quickly shoots to level 30, followed by a deeply disturbing leap in time over 1,300 years into the future.

This is just the beginning of a haunting story that continues to fascinate. Over a century later, the same brother and sister live and survive in a humble village founded long after the collapse of humanity. The game begins by finding the boy to track down magical spells called Sealed Verses that can cure his sister's mysterious illness but barely scratch the surface. It's a completely unpredictable story that is a page-turner for video games. The less you know about it, the better.

A notable change here is that NieR Replicant uses the protagonist from the Japanese version of the game. When NieR originally started in the US, the optimistic brother turned into a gruff old man who wanted to save his daughter. The change makes a huge difference. The hero feels more vulnerable and it makes the journey more personal.

Perhaps NieR was barely ahead of his time, but like his hero, the story has not aged a day all these years later.

The story is striking, but it's the characters that give it soul. Along the way, players encounter companions like Grimoire Weiss, a presumptuous, sentimental book, and Kainé, a warrior with a mouth as fierce as her blade. Each character receives a fully realized arc on the way to the true end of the game. Like NieR Automata, the game features multiple endings that require players to repeat parts of the game multiple times. It's an unnecessarily demanding barrier that is sure to put some off, but I was more than ready to move on to achieve a closure that is really paying off.

There's an alternate timeline where NieR is the early 2010 PS3 release, which raises the bar for video game narratives than it did for 2013's The Last of Us. Both titles have strong character work and use similar ones Tricks to hide information from players. Perhaps NieR was barely ahead of his time, but like his hero, the story has not aged a day all these years later.

Bronze, not platinum

If it looks like I've spent a lot of time praising the story, it's because the gameplay is where there are problems. Most importantly, it was not developed by PlatinumGames, which NieR Automata managed. Those hoping for the same action the studio is known for will be disappointed with the downgrade.

The combat systems are similar on their surface. It is an action role-playing game that has players with oversized weapons hacking through shades. The difference is that NieR Replicant's swordplay is a one-button affair. Hacking involves pressing the attack button over and over while playing the same combination. It's a repetitive system that makes some of the game's later fights feel like they're being conducted on an autopilot.

Nier replicant

The fight has been redesigned for the game to feel a little closer to NieR Automata, but there's only so far that it can go. Although it feels more fluid, small changes can hide not fully cooked actions that barely change over the course of 30 hours.

A magical system helps solve some of these problems. Players can assign four different spells to their controller's triggers, adding a little more versatility and range to the battles. Basic actions like dodging and blocking also need to be mapped to buttons. Therefore, players should adapt their toolset to suit their play style. The game's "word" system is a nice touch too. Defeated enemies can drop a magic word randomly that can be applied to any weapon or ability. These can increase attack power, add effects to weapons and much more. Customizing a loadout requires more brainpower than actually using it.

The fight has been redesigned for the game to feel a little closer to NieR Automata, but there's only so far that it can go.

The mileage will vary here. The story is awesome, but is it worth fighting your way through pesky battles to get there? That depends on how much the narrative and characters appeal to players. I was invested enough to get my way, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't rush through battles to get to the cutscenes.

Replicate the original

When it comes to remakes (or "version upgrades" as director Yoko Taro calls it), NieR Replicant brings a lot to the table. The most important thing is to reconnect the 2010 game with its superior sequel. NieR and Automata have long felt completely separate, but the new pass unites them. The visual boost, fantastic re-recorded music, and combat improvements finally make these games feel like they are part of the same universe.

At least NieR Replicant makes it easier to put up with the mistakes with a more modern paint job that is easy on the eyes and ears.

Replicant is also bringing some new content to the game, which is a welcome addition. There's a new quest that blends in seamlessly with the story, adding more depth to an underdeveloped area of the original (but also adding length to the repetitions required). There's one more piece of new content that is downright spectacular. I'm not going to spoil the fun, but it sure is the main selling point for NieR fans hungry for deeper lore.

Nier replicant

All of the new aspects are great, but there are a lot that can't be fixed. Side quests are mostly lifeless retrieval missions, the story tirelessly takes players into the same handful of areas, and the game's female lead is still wearing incredibly revealing lingerie that barely qualifies as clothing.

Some of the issues people had with the original game are actually fixed here because they're too embedded in the core design. Anything but a remake in the style of Final Fantasy VII could not have completely rewritten history. Perhaps NieR is a phenomenal work of storytelling trapped in a mediocre action RPG. Nevertheless, at least NieR Replicant makes it easier to endure the mistakes with a more modern paint job that is easy on the eyes and ears.

Our opinion

NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… confirms that the original NieR was way ahead of its time and way behind it. The story is incredibly compelling and only gets better with new content added. On the other side of the coin, the repetitive gameplay feels dated, even by 2010 standards. Those who push their way through the 30-hour adventure will be rewarded with a daring odyssey. In hindsight, it may even outperform NieR Automata, but it's hard to blame someone who'd rather watch everything on YouTube than play it for themselves.

Is there a better alternative?

NieR Automata remains the more polished and fun game of the two. Those who haven't played it should start there and come back to it if they want more.

How long it will take?

Reaching the true end takes a total of 30-35 hours. Beat the game once takes closer to 20, but believe me when I say that by the time you stop there, you'll only have played half the game.

Should you buy it?

Yes. Those who believe the gameplay is king may want to have clear control, but the story here is unlike anything out there.

Editor's recommendations

22 Apr

Blog

Female-Led Relationships: Pros and Cons In 2021

April 22, 2021
Posted by Samson

A relationship in which the woman is more dominant than the male partner is a female-led relationship. In such a relationship, the woman acts as the main character and has to take all responsibility and make decisions for herself, for the relationship as well as for her male partner.

This is a completely new concept that has broken all stigma of society. Women in this relationship can do whatever they want in life while with a man. They have the privilege of giving their opinion, being part of every decision, working anywhere and doing everything else without being accountable to anyone.

What are the types of female-led relationships?

Type 1

This is the lowest level of a woman-led relationship. With this type of FLR, the woman doesn't even have a great idea of what it is. However, the man in the relationship suggests trying this new concept. Here the woman allows the man to take over part of her duties. However, the woman cannot decide everything for herself. They need to consult their male partner before they can finalize anything.

Type 2

This type of relationship is of moderate intensity and a little more advanced than the first type. Such a type of relationship is the result of the fact that the woman begins to like and enjoy authority that she may not previously have wanted. This enables the woman to take responsibility and make the decision in certain aspects of the relationship. However, it doesn't give her complete control over the relationship. In most areas, she still has to discuss with her male partner before making any important decisions.

Type 3

This is a much higher level of a woman-led relationship where the woman is almost entirely responsible for the relationship. They feel more secure and do not bow to patriarchal society. This is usually a result of their progressiveness, education, and strong prospects. She has full authority and is completely responsible for making decisions, earning finances, running the household, and many other things. The man in this relationship is still happy to be responsible for looking after the children and doing housework.

Type 4

This is an extreme type of relationship where the woman acts as a master while the man is literally treated as a servant. This is a very unhealthy type of relationship in which the man has absolutely no authority and his decisions are also made by the woman. The woman acts as a dictator. However, sexual intimacy in such a relationship can be on another level.

What are the benefits of a female-led relationship?

Better communication

Women are often more communicative than men. They can talk about anything like their thoughts, problems, life plans, goals, and much more. Therefore, they also want their partner to be as communicative as they are. In a loving, female-led relationship, women believe in open and honest communication.

Supports equality

A proper, female-led relationship is more about an even distribution of responsibilities and power between the male and female partner. It's not about losing all of your husband's rights at all. Basically, it supports the idea that women shouldn't be left behind when it comes to taking responsibility and blaming.

Improved organization and efficiency

There is no doubt that women are more organized than men. Whether at home or elsewhere, women are more efficient at managing everything, keeping track of things and providing support. A female-led relationship therefore needs to be better organized.

What are the downsides to a woman-led relationship?

About dominance

Overdominance in a female-led relationship can be extremely damaging. It is known to be toxic when a woman bears all responsibility for the relationship and doesn't even let the man make decisions. It makes men lose their self-respect and feel very bad.

Social stigma

Society sees a relationship led by women very differently. It's seen as a stigma. People view it as a dominant relationship that ignores the woman because she keeps the man under her control and is unable to take care of her home and children.

Imbalanced relationship

The lack of basic two-way communication can lead to a very dysfunctional relationship. It's okay until both partners have equal decision-making powers. However, when the woman begins to be dominant, she can lose her balance in certain aspects. This leads to a high imbalance in the relationship.

Final thoughts

You now have a good view of a female-led relationship. It's a great concept that gives women the same rights and responsibilities that they can handle in a relationship. It gives them freedom from male dominance and makes them even stronger.

22 Apr

Blog

Garmin Venu 2 Review: Superb Tracking With Superior Battery

April 22, 2021
Posted by Samson

garmin venu 2 review 2s

"The Garmin Venu 2 / 2S is near the height of fitness trackers and smartwatches."

Up to 11 days of battery life
Detailed tracking of important health data
Health alerts keep users informed about stress
Dozens of workout routines
Numerous dials

High price
iPhone users cannot reply to messages

The Garmin Venu 2 / 2S is proof that Garmin has successfully changed direction from car-mounted GPS devices to incredibly powerful, useful wearables. This smartwatch can do more than just display messages – it monitors a whole range of health information. It will also yell at you when your vitals get too out of whack. Think of the Garmin Venu 2 / 2S as your personal, health-focused Jiminy Cricket.

Minimalistic design

The Venu 2 has a simple yet elegant design. The all black band, face and bezel give the Venu 2 a subdued look, but the minimalist design goes with any outfit. It can easily take the place of a "fancier" bracelet without spoiling the overall look.

The Venu 2S is optionally available with a white band with a gold bezel. It also has a slightly smaller screen at 1.1 "compared to the 1.3" screen on the Venu 2. There are two buttons on the right side of the band that, along with the touchscreen, control most of the Garmin's functions. The band has approximately 20 micro-adjustment slots so you can get the perfect fit regardless of the size of your wrist.

The best part is that the smartwatch is convenient. I wore it to bed every night for two weeks and it didn't feel uncomfortable once, unlike many other wearables I've tried. The Garmin Venu 2 is lightweight and will quickly become a standard part of your everyday life. I don't feel it when I'm wearing it, but I definitely feel it when it's not on my wrist.

Health traits

The health features are where the Garmin Venu 2 really shines. This smartwatch takes almost all of the best features of fitness trackers and smartwatches and combines them into a single tool that has been used at almost every point in my day.

Battery life

The first thing to note is that this iteration of the Venu includes some new features that will bring it far more usefulness than before. The most important among these is the battery life. The first time I buckled up the Venu 2 was around noon on a Friday. I didn't take it off to recharge until the next Thursday evening – almost seven full days.

It has the range to provide charge for more than a week.

According to its specifications, the Venu 2 can last up to 11 days on a single charge as long as it is in smartphone mode (meaning the built-in GPS beacon is not used). I received a lot of notifications throughout the day that probably drained the battery faster than usual, but with minimal use I can easily believe it will last that long on one charge. It also charges quickly – just 10 minutes is enough to restore a single day's charge while four hours fully restore the battery.

Like the previous Venu, the Venu 2 can store songs in its on-board memory (although this version can store up to 650 songs instead of 500). Playing music and using your GPS will reduce battery life to just eight hours on a single charge. Still, it's impressive that the range is more than a week or less than a day, depending on the activity.

Health surveillance

Another useful feature is all-day health monitoring. This allows the Venu 2 to collect various health metrics throughout the day, including your heart rate, stress level, breathing, and even your pulse ox – your blood oxygen levels. Checking these stats can give you a good idea of your fitness level, but you don't have to find out for yourself.

Another new feature is called Fitness Age. It gives you a rough estimate of the age of your body compared to your chronological age. You can check your fitness age on the Garmin app for suggestions on how to improve. For example, this could indicate that you are lowering your BMI or increasing your activity level during the day.

The new built-in workouts can help with this. The HIIT workouts help you keep track of your time and allow you to set up custom timers and intervals, while the Advanced Strength Training Tool keeps track of your personal bests at a glance and shows which muscle groups were trained during the workout .

Sleep score and health snapshot

The last two functions go hand in hand. The Sleep Score gives you an estimate of how well you slept on a scale from 1 to 100, as well as suggestions on how to improve your sleep. It shows you how long you've been through each phase of sleep – a useful feature when you're trying to get the most out of your lack of sleep.

If you want a complete overview of your health, you can use the Health Snapshot to do a 2-minute workout while the Garmin Venu 2 records your heart rate, breathing, stress and other measurements. At the end of the workout, you will receive a report of your score and a rough estimate of your health.

Body battery

The body battery is a really interesting feature that is frighteningly accurate. It measures your overall energy level from 1 to 100 based on how well you slept the night before, how much activity you have during the day, how much stress you are, and more. At the beginning of the day you can see how much you “charged” during the night, and during the day you can see how much energy is “used”.

In my time with the Venu 2, the value of the body battery is about what I feel. Every time I feel tired or have trouble concentrating, the body battery value is below 40. At least it has given me greater awareness of the ups and downs of my energy throughout the day, especially the slump after lunch.

Other properties

Aside from its numerous health features, the Garmin Venu 2 also functions as a smartwatch. You will receive notifications from your phone right on your wrist. One of the few downsides to the Venu 2 is the inability to respond to messages like the Apple Watch can.

The Venu 2 works with Garmin Pay so you can do your shopping without ever having to withdraw cash or a debit card. At a time when everyone is still trying to avoid touching objects, this feature is a fantastic option.

If you're struggling to motivate yourself to exercise, the Garmin Connect app can help. I know competition is the best way to get me going, and the ability to earn badges through badge challenges makes me want to fill my profile with whatever I can. You can also view a news feed to see how your friends fared compared to yourself this week.

And if you decide to customize your watch face to suit your personality, there are several watch faces to choose from in the Connect IQ Store. You can even create your own watch faces with pictures from your phone.

In the Connect IQ Store you can also install various music apps like Spotify or Amazon Music, navigation apps like Find My Car and even other training apps like a tracker for elliptical trainers or inline skating.

Price and availability

The Garmin Venu 2 and 2S are available now at Garmin.com for $ 400. It has not yet been announced whether it will be available from other retailers.

Our opinion

The Garmin Venu 2 / 2S is incredible technology that brings many features into one small package – and has enough customizations that you can change to be unique to your lifestyle. It's a full-fledged fitness tracker with most of the features you'd expect from a smartwatch. If iPhone users could reply to messages or post a social media post right from the watch, it would be perfect.

The depth of health monitoring features make it a valuable tool for anyone looking to get fit. However, it's especially useful for people who want to shed a few unwanted pounds before a big event. For example, if you have a wedding in a few months and want to make sure you look good in your suit, the Venu 2 / 2S will help you keep track of which exercises are best for you.

However, the $ 400 price tag is steep. As much as I enjoyed using the Venu 2 / 2S (and will continue to do so), $ 300 seems like a better price – that is, all of the advanced sensors explain the cost. It's worth noting that the screen is a little too easy to scratch for a $ 400 device. There is a small blemish on the face after banging the clock against the wall.

Ultimately, however, it's a great watch – and the health warnings are the icing on the cake. You can set your Venu 2 / 2S to notify you when your heart rate or stress level exceeds a certain level. This can remind you to stop, stand back, and take a breath.