<s>
Drakengard	B-Application
,	O
known	O
in	O
Japan	O
as	O
is	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
video	I-Application
games	I-Application
created	O
by	O
Yoko	O
Taro	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
eponymous	B-Application
first	I-Application
game	I-Application
in	O
the	O
series	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2003	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
and	O
has	O
since	O
been	O
followed	O
by	O
a	O
sequel	O
,	O
a	O
prequel	O
and	O
several	O
spin-offs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
spin-off	O
series	O
titled	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
taking	O
place	O
in	O
an	O
alternative	O
timeline	O
set	O
after	O
a	O
different	O
ending	O
to	O
the	O
first	O
Drakengard	B-Application
than	O
the	O
one	O
2005	O
's	O
Drakengard	B-Application
2	I-Application
followed	O
,	O
was	O
started	O
in	O
2010	O
with	O
the	O
eponymous	B-Application
game	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yoko	O
directed	O
every	O
game	O
in	O
both	O
series	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
exception	O
of	O
Drakengard	B-Application
2	I-Application
on	O
which	O
he	O
only	O
had	O
minor	O
involvement	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
stories	O
of	O
both	O
Drakengard	B-Application
and	O
Nier	B-Application
generally	O
focus	O
on	O
the	O
fortunes	O
and	O
personalities	O
of	O
a	O
small	O
group	O
of	O
protagonists	O
either	O
directly	O
or	O
indirectly	O
connected	O
to	O
and	O
affected	O
by	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
the	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
setting	O
of	O
the	O
Drakengard	B-Application
games	O
is	O
a	O
Northern	O
Europe-like	O
dark	O
fantasy	O
world	O
where	O
humans	O
and	O
creatures	O
from	O
myth	O
and	O
legends	O
live	O
side	O
by	O
side	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
Nier	B-Application
games	O
are	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
distant	O
future	O
of	O
a	O
different	O
ending	O
to	O
the	O
first	O
Drakengard	B-Application
from	O
the	O
one	O
Drakengard	B-Application
2	I-Application
follows	O
,	O
leading	O
to	O
2017	O
's	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
taking	O
place	O
in	O
a	O
much	O
different	O
,	O
post-apocalyptic	O
science	O
fiction	O
setting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
series	O
have	O
been	O
largely	O
praised	O
for	O
their	O
complex	O
characters	O
and	O
storylines	O
,	O
although	O
the	O
gameplay	O
of	O
the	O
Drakengard	B-Application
games	O
has	O
been	O
criticized	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
Drakengard	B-Application
and	O
the	O
original	O
Nier	B-Application
were	O
long	O
considered	O
popular	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
selling	O
well	O
and	O
gaining	O
a	O
cult	O
following	O
,	O
and	O
resulting	O
in	O
multiple	O
adaptations	O
and	O
additional	O
media	O
such	O
as	O
books	O
(	O
including	O
several	O
novelizations	O
)	O
,	O
manga	O
,	O
comics	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
stage	O
play	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
remained	O
little-known	O
outside	O
of	O
Japan	O
until	O
the	O
2017	O
release	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
a	O
worldwide	O
commercial	O
and	O
critical	O
hit	O
and	O
led	O
to	O
an	O
increase	O
in	O
interest	O
from	O
western	O
countries	O
,	O
resulting	O
in	O
a	O
remaster	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
subtitled	O
Replicant	O
22474487139	O
...	O
,	O
being	O
released	O
in	O
2021	O
to	O
larger	O
attention	O
and	O
substantially	O
better	O
sales	O
than	O
the	O
original	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Drakengard	B-Application
,	O
the	O
first	O
installment	O
in	O
the	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
(	O
PS2	B-Device
)	O
in	O
September	O
2003	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
March	O
and	O
May	O
2004	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
Europe	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Europe-exclusive	O
mobile	B-Application
port	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
August	O
2004	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
mobile	B-Application
version	O
was	O
co-developed	O
and	O
co-published	O
with	O
Macrospace	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Drakengard	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
the	O
second	O
installment	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
and	O
direct	O
sequel	O
to	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
in	O
June	O
2005	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
February	O
2006	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
March	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
year	O
in	O
Europe	O
and	O
Australia	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
the	O
third	O
main	O
installment	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
and	O
a	O
prequel	O
to	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
released	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
PS3	I-Operating_System
in	O
December	O
2013	O
in	O
Japan	O
and	O
May	O
2014	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
it	O
was	O
published	O
in	O
all	O
regions	O
by	O
Square	O
Enix	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
,	O
a	O
spin-off	O
from	O
the	O
main	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
(	O
PS3	B-Operating_System
)	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
(	O
as	O
Nier	B-Application
Replicant	I-Application
in	O
Japan	O
for	O
PS3	B-Operating_System
only	O
,	O
Nier	B-Application
Gestalt	I-Application
in	O
Japan	O
for	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Nier	B-Application
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
Europe	O
)	O
in	O
April	O
2010	O
across	O
all	O
regions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
updated	O
version	O
titled	O
Nier	B-Application
Replicant	I-Application
ver.1.22474487139	I-Application
…	I-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
in	O
April	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
,	O
a	O
distant	O
sequel	O
to	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
same	O
universe	O
but	O
thousands	O
of	O
years	O
in	O
the	O
future	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
in	O
February	O
2017	O
,	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
in	O
March	O
2017	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
in	O
June	O
2018	O
,	O
and	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
October	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
Reincarnation	I-Application
,	O
a	O
spin-off	O
title	O
for	O
mobile	B-Application
platforms	O
,	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
Nier	B-Application
universe	O
but	O
disconnected	O
from	O
the	O
other	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
Android	B-Application
and	O
iOS	B-Application
in	O
February	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
idea	O
for	O
Drakengard	B-Application
originated	O
in	O
1999	O
between	O
Takamasa	O
Shiba	O
and	O
Takuya	O
Iwasaki	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
was	O
conceived	O
as	O
a	O
blend	O
of	O
elements	O
from	O
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
and	O
Dynasty	B-Application
Warriors	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
the	O
title	O
was	O
changed	O
,	O
as	O
Drag-On	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
was	O
considered	O
wrong	O
for	O
a	O
western	O
audience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Drakengard	B-Application
was	O
considered	O
enough	O
of	O
a	O
success	O
that	O
a	O
sequel	O
was	O
commissioned	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yasui	O
ended	O
up	O
making	O
Drakengard	B-Application
2	I-Application
the	O
thematic	O
opposite	O
of	O
the	O
previous	O
game	O
,	O
employing	O
a	O
lighter	O
tone	O
and	O
broader	O
color	O
palette	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
originated	O
when	O
Yoko	O
and	O
Shiba	O
teamed	O
up	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
third	O
Drakengard	B-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
what	O
it	O
became	O
,	O
Yoko	O
has	O
stated	O
that	O
he	O
considers	O
Nier	B-Application
to	O
be	O
the	O
true	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
,	O
Yoko	O
and	O
Shiba	O
came	O
together	O
again	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
proper	O
second	O
sequel	O
to	O
Drakengard	B-Application
,	O
with	O
the	O
intention	O
of	O
creating	O
a	O
hard	O
core	O
RPG	O
for	O
the	O
fanbase	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
the	O
previous	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Access	O
Games	O
,	O
a	O
developer	O
whose	O
noted	O
games	O
included	O
Deadly	B-Device
Premonition	I-Device
,	O
and	O
brought	O
in	O
team	O
members	O
used	O
to	O
create	O
action	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
run-up	O
to	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3s	I-Application
release	O
,	O
both	O
Yoko	O
and	O
Shiba	O
expressed	O
their	O
willingness	O
to	O
continue	O
the	O
series	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
if	O
the	O
latest	O
game	O
was	O
enough	O
of	O
a	O
success	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
new	O
Nier	B-Application
game	O
was	O
revealed	O
to	O
be	O
in	O
development	O
at	O
Square	O
Enix	O
and	O
PlatinumGames	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
stories	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
's	O
characters	O
were	O
written	O
by	O
Yoko	O
,	O
Shiba	O
and	O
Iwasaki	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
main	O
game	O
script	O
was	O
written	O
by	O
Sawako	O
Natori	O
,	O
who	O
would	O
go	O
on	O
to	O
co-write	O
the	O
main	O
scenarios	O
for	O
future	O
Drakengard	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yoko	O
designed	O
the	O
darker	O
elements	O
to	O
both	O
contrast	O
and	O
actively	O
compete	O
with	O
the	O
likes	O
of	O
Dragon	B-Application
Quest	I-Application
and	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
production	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
his	O
focus	O
changed	O
to	O
writing	O
a	O
story	O
where	O
everyone	O
believed	O
they	O
were	O
in	O
the	O
right	O
whatever	O
their	O
actions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
dark	O
narrative	O
themes	O
were	O
kept	O
for	O
Drakengard	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
many	O
of	O
the	O
other	O
narrative	O
elements	O
were	O
made	O
more	O
mainstream	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
intended	O
to	O
return	O
to	O
a	O
dark	O
aesthetic	O
,	O
but	O
also	O
to	O
include	O
moments	O
of	O
humor	O
and	O
tie	O
in	O
with	O
Nier	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
character	O
designer	O
for	O
the	O
Drakengard	B-Application
games	O
is	O
Kimihiko	O
Fujisaka	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
returned	O
in	O
the	O
same	O
capacity	O
for	O
Drakengard	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
and	O
later	O
for	O
Nier	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Disliking	O
some	O
of	O
his	O
initial	O
designs	O
for	O
Drakengard	B-Application
,	O
he	O
took	O
the	O
opportunity	O
to	O
remodel	O
them	O
more	O
to	O
his	O
liking	O
for	O
the	O
arcade	O
game	O
Lord	B-Application
of	I-Application
Vermilion	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
Fujisaka	O
designed	O
the	O
protagonist	O
Zero	O
around	O
the	O
dark	O
themes	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
although	O
some	O
unusual	O
elements	O
were	O
nearly	O
cut	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
character	O
designs	O
for	O
Nier	B-Application
were	O
handled	O
by	O
an	O
artist	O
under	O
the	O
moniker	O
D.K.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
Niers	B-Application
international	O
release	O
,	O
the	O
protagonist	O
was	O
redesigned	O
from	O
a	O
teenager	O
to	O
an	O
adult	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
,	O
the	O
main	O
character	O
designs	O
were	O
handled	O
by	O
Akihiko	O
Yoshida	O
,	O
an	O
artist	O
noted	O
for	O
his	O
work	O
on	O
the	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
he	O
was	O
initially	O
expected	O
to	O
refuse	O
,	O
he	O
agreed	O
as	O
several	O
staff	O
members	O
at	O
his	O
company	O
CyDesignation	O
were	O
fans	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
music	O
for	O
Nier	B-Application
was	O
composed	O
by	O
Keiichi	O
Okabe	O
,	O
who	O
composed	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
as	O
something	O
different	O
from	O
the	O
main	O
series	O
,	O
and	O
to	O
directly	O
reflect	O
the	O
sombre	O
tone	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
setting	O
and	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Okabe	O
returned	O
to	O
compose	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
for	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
:	O
in	O
an	O
interview	O
,	O
he	O
stated	O
that	O
,	O
in	O
composing	O
the	O
music	O
,	O
he	O
tried	O
to	O
emulate	O
the	O
work	O
of	O
the	O
earlier	O
composer	O
without	O
imitating	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Okabe	O
is	O
again	O
providing	O
the	O
music	O
for	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
,	O
with	O
singer	O
Emi	O
Evans	O
also	O
returning	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Drakengard	B-Application
games	O
take	O
place	O
in	O
a	O
dark	O
fantasy	O
version	O
of	O
Medieval	O
Europe	O
called	O
Midgard	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Humans	O
appear	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
predominant	O
species	O
,	O
although	O
races	O
such	O
as	O
dragons	O
,	O
fairies	O
and	O
elves	B-Application
are	O
shown	O
to	O
exist	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
core	O
element	O
of	O
the	O
Drakengard	B-Application
universe	O
is	O
the	O
ability	O
for	O
humans	O
and	O
beasts	O
to	O
form	O
a	O
Pact	O
,	O
a	O
magical	O
bond	O
which	O
links	O
their	O
souls	O
and	O
grants	O
the	O
human	O
partner	O
great	O
power	O
at	O
the	O
cost	O
of	O
some	O
physical	O
ability	O
or	O
personal	O
trait	O
(	O
their	O
voice	O
,	O
singing	O
abilities	O
,	O
etc	O
.	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
universe	O
of	O
the	O
Drakengard	B-Application
series	O
is	O
split	O
between	O
multiple	O
timelines	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
core	O
timeline	O
is	O
formed	O
from	O
Drakengard	B-Application
and	O
its	O
sequel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
acts	O
as	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
's	O
prequel	O
,	O
but	O
most	O
of	O
its	O
events	O
take	O
place	O
in	O
separate	O
timelines	O
leading	O
to	O
different	O
outcomes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
a	O
malevolent	O
flower	O
uses	O
servants	O
called	O
the	O
Intoners	O
,	O
women	O
gifted	O
with	O
the	O
power	O
to	O
use	O
magic	O
through	O
song	O
,	O
as	O
instruments	O
of	O
humanity	O
's	O
destruction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Drakengard	B-Application
,	O
which	O
succeeds	O
the	O
fifth	O
version	O
of	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3s	I-Application
events	O
detailed	O
in	O
a	O
supplementary	O
novel	O
,	O
the	O
Watchers	O
use	O
a	O
group	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Cult	O
of	O
Watchers	O
to	O
spark	O
a	O
religious	O
war	O
and	O
destroy	O
the	O
seals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Drakengard	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Watchers	O
continue	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
former	O
head	O
of	O
the	O
cult	O
to	O
destroy	O
the	O
new	O
seals	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
dragons	O
prepare	O
to	O
usurp	O
the	O
gods	O
and	O
rule	O
over	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
is	O
set	O
in	O
an	O
alternative	O
reality	O
created	O
by	O
events	O
stemming	O
from	O
Drakengards	B-Application
fifth	O
ending	O
:	O
in	O
this	O
reality	O
,	O
our	O
modern	O
world	O
was	O
decimated	O
by	O
a	O
plague	O
created	O
by	O
the	O
magical	O
beings	O
who	O
came	O
through	O
the	O
portal	O
,	O
bringing	O
humanity	O
to	O
the	O
brink	O
of	O
extinction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
after	O
the	O
fourth	O
ending	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
featuring	O
appearances	O
and	O
mentions	O
of	O
characters	O
from	O
both	O
Nier	B-Application
and	O
the	O
Drakengard	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Drakengard	B-Application
games	O
feature	O
a	O
mix	O
of	O
action-based	O
hack-and-slash	O
combat	O
during	O
ground-based	O
battles	O
and	O
aerial	O
combat	O
mixed	O
in	O
with	O
RPG	O
leveling	O
mechanics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Basic	O
gameplay	O
changed	O
little	O
for	O
Drakengard	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
but	O
there	O
are	O
some	O
differences	O
and	O
additions	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
weapon	O
types	O
being	O
tied	O
to	O
the	O
character	O
they	O
are	O
associated	O
with	O
,	O
with	O
changing	O
them	O
also	O
swapping	O
the	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Nier	B-Application
and	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
controls	O
the	O
main	O
protagonist	O
with	O
two	O
other	O
characters	O
acting	O
as	O
AI-controlled	O
supports	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
designed	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
faster	O
experience	O
than	O
the	O
previous	O
games	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
protagonist	O
being	O
given	O
a	O
special	O
hyper-mode	O
and	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
freely	O
switch	O
between	O
weapons	O
without	O
pausing	O
the	O
action	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
,	O
while	O
featuring	O
similar	O
hack-and-slash	O
combat	O
,	O
also	O
includes	O
other	O
gameplay	O
types	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
top-down	O
view	O
for	O
puzzle	O
areas	O
,	O
2D	O
style	O
areas	O
for	O
buildings	O
or	O
similar	O
structures	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
theme	O
for	O
the	O
world	O
of	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
as	O
described	O
by	O
composer	O
Keiichi	O
Okabe	O
,	O
is	O
"	O
the	O
sense	O
of	O
contrast	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Multiple	O
anime	O
series	O
have	O
influenced	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
characters	O
over	O
the	O
years	O
,	O
including	O
Neon	B-Application
Genesis	I-Application
Evangelion	I-Application
,	O
Sister	O
Princess	O
and	O
Puella	O
Magi	O
Madoka	O
Magica	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
developing	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
the	O
team	O
drew	O
inspiration	O
from	O
the	O
God	O
of	O
War	O
series	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
narrative	O
structure	O
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
September	O
11	O
attacks	O
and	O
the	O
War	O
on	O
Terror	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
central	O
theme	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
is	O
struggling	O
out	O
of	O
a	O
bad	O
situation	O
,	O
defined	O
by	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
staff	O
using	O
the	O
Japanese	O
word	O
"	O
agaku	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
game	O
received	O
two	O
novelizations	O
:	O
Drag-On	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
:	O
Side	O
Story	O
on	O
November	O
28	O
,	O
2003	O
,	O
and	O
Drag-On	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
:	O
Magnitude	O
"	O
Negative	O
"	O
on	O
January	O
23	O
,	O
2004	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
novelization	O
of	O
Drakengard	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
written	O
again	O
by	O
Nagashima	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
September	O
30	O
,	O
2005	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nagashima	O
wrote	O
character	O
stories	O
and	O
manga	O
for	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
leading	O
up	O
to	O
that	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
manga	O
was	O
Drag-On	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
:	O
Utahime	O
Five	O
,	O
a	O
prequel	O
following	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
main	O
antagonists	O
,	O
and	O
Drag-On	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
:	O
Shi	O
ni	O
Itaru	O
Aka	O
,	O
which	O
acts	O
as	O
a	O
sequel	O
,	O
although	O
for	O
Branch	O
A	O
,	O
as	O
it	O
along	O
with	O
Branches	O
B	O
,	O
C	O
,	O
D	O
,	O
and	O
E	O
lead	O
to	O
alternative	O
timelines	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
book	O
detailing	O
the	O
narrative	O
connection	O
between	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
Drakengard	B-Application
,	O
titled	O
Drag-On	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
3	I-Application
Story	O
Side	O
,	O
which	O
serves	O
as	O
the	O
fifth	O
branch	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
B	O
and	O
D	O
,	O
narrated	O
by	O
Brother	O
One	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
28	O
August	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Drag-On	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
3	I-Application
Complete	O
Guide	O
+	O
Setting	O
,	O
a	O
complete	O
guide	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
extra	O
features	O
explaining	O
the	O
game	O
chronology	O
and	O
a	O
novella	O
set	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Shi	O
ni	O
Itaru	O
Aka	O
,	O
was	O
published	O
by	O
ASCII	O
Media	O
Works	O
in	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
was	O
expanded	O
after	O
release	O
with	O
a	O
CD	O
drama	O
which	O
told	O
of	O
events	O
immediately	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Drakengards	B-Application
fifth	O
ending	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
supplementary	O
book	O
titled	O
Grimoire	O
Nier	B-Application
containing	O
extra	O
stories	O
and	O
concept	O
art	O
alongside	O
a	O
fifth	O
ending	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Japanese	O
girl	O
band	O
Yorha	O
performed	O
on	O
the	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
soundtrack	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
2015	O
performed	O
a	O
stage	O
production	O
written	O
by	O
Yoko	O
Taro	O
that	O
is	O
directly	O
related	O
to	O
the	O
plot	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
band	O
's	O
fictional	O
backstory	O
places	O
them	O
as	O
military	O
androids	B-Application
similar	O
to	O
the	O
playable	O
characters	O
in	O
Automata	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Drakengard	B-Application
series	O
has	O
received	O
mixed	O
to	O
positive	O
reviews	O
over	O
the	O
years	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
So	O
far	O
,	O
the	O
original	O
Drakengard	B-Application
has	O
received	O
the	O
most	O
positive	O
response	O
of	O
the	O
main	O
series	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Drakengard	B-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
have	O
received	O
lower	O
scores	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
some	O
mixed	O
feelings	O
from	O
reviewers	O
either	O
for	O
the	O
story	O
as	O
a	O
whole	O
or	O
certain	O
aspects	O
of	O
it	O
,	O
the	O
characters	O
and	O
plot	O
of	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
have	O
also	O
been	O
praised	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
major	O
exception	O
is	O
Drakengard	B-Application
2	I-Application
:	O
the	O
story	O
's	O
lighter	O
tone	O
and	O
more	O
traditional	O
narrative	O
were	O
noted	O
and	O
sometimes	O
criticized	O
for	O
being	O
overly	O
simplistic	O
or	O
too	O
similar	O
to	O
other	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Drakengard	B-Application
characters	O
have	O
remained	O
popular	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
with	O
Dengeki	O
holding	O
a	O
popularity	O
contest	O
for	O
those	O
characters	O
to	O
celebrate	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
tenth	O
anniversary	O
and	O
the	O
announcement	O
of	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
characters	O
of	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
have	O
also	O
proved	O
to	O
be	O
highly	O
popular	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Drakengard	B-Application
2	I-Application
also	O
came	O
in	O
for	O
such	O
criticism	O
,	O
although	O
minor	O
improvements	O
were	O
cited	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
contrast	O
,	O
the	O
gameplay	O
of	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
generally	O
praised	O
or	O
seen	O
as	O
an	O
improvement	O
upon	O
the	O
previous	O
two	O
entries	O
,	O
though	O
the	O
dragon-riding	O
segments	O
came	O
in	O
for	O
criticisms	O
for	O
difficult	O
controls	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Opinions	O
were	O
divided	O
on	O
Niers	B-Application
unconventional	O
mix	O
of	O
gameplay	O
styles	O
from	O
multiple	O
game	O
genres	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
praising	O
the	O
variety	O
and	O
others	O
seeing	O
it	O
as	O
poorly	O
executed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Drakengard	B-Application
2s	I-Application
first-week	O
sales	O
were	O
similarly	O
impressive	O
,	O
selling	O
100,000	O
units	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
sold	O
just	O
under	O
115,000	O
units	O
in	O
its	O
first	O
week	O
,	O
and	O
over	O
150,000	O
units	O
by	O
May	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
two	O
versions	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
—	O
Gestalt	O
and	O
Replicant	O
—	O
sold	O
roughly	O
12,500	O
and	O
60,000	O
copies	O
in	O
their	O
first	O
week	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
became	O
a	O
worldwide	O
success	O
,	O
shipping	O
over	O
4	O
million	O
copies	O
by	O
June	O
2019	O
,	O
becoming	O
the	O
best-selling	O
title	O
in	O
the	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
