According to IGN’s exclusive report, the game will hit Android and iOS for free next month, launching on July 28. Alongside the news, Square Enix revealed a first look at Nier Reincarnation’s opening cinematic, with the clip highlighting the spin-off’s gameplay, world, and cryptic narrative.

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Much like in previous trailers, the clip details the story of a mysterious girl who awakens in a mystical land referred to as “The Cage.” Players will be able to explore this world by navigating an array of 2D environments alongside a ghostly companion named Mama. The opening cinematic details a few of these locales, the likes of which will be very familiar to those who’ve played previous Nier games. However, it will also divert from the series’ established style during its memory segments, which the footage shows will offer a visually rich storybook aesthetic.

The new clip also focuses in on Nier Reincarnation’s combat, highlighting a series of battles against various foes. Those used to NieR’s hack-and-slash, RPG gameplay clearly won’t find much of it here, with the title instead relying on a battle system more appropriate for its handheld design. Three characters are able to take on enemies in turn-based encounters, with players selecting when they can pull off devastating special moves to turn the tide of the fight.

For those who’ve missed the news surrounding Reincarnation, the title was worked on by Yoko Taro, the creator of the Nier series. Although the game will be free to play, it’ll contain Gacha-esque microtransactions, with players able to acquire resources and characters through real-world currency. Players can pre-register for Nier Reincarnation in the US and Europe right now by heading to the Google Play or App Store. If 300,000 players pre-register, Square promises it will give them 3,000 gems when they boot up the game, which can be used to acquire new summons.

It will be the second Nier release of the year when it hits next month, with Nier Replicant launching earlier this year to positive reviews. The remaster brought back the original Nier with updated visuals, reworked combat, and a new soundtrack, as well as porting previously Japan-exclusive content over to the West. In terms of the latter, Western audiences could finally play as the younger variant of the game’s main protagonist, switching Yonah’s role from the lead character’s daughter to his sister. The franchise has made a significant impact on 2021 so far and it seems it’s only going to make a bigger mark when NieR Reincarnation launches next month.

NieR Reincarnation hits mobile devices on July 28.

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Source: IGN