NieR PS3 vs Xbox 360, or East vs West?

nier-ps3-vs-xbox-360.jpg

Some rather bold differences in character design between the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Square Enix’s new “NieR” franchise have been noticed.

With the PS3 version apparently having effete character designs and even a hermaphrodite heroine, Square appears to be making an unsubtle, perhaps even crude, bet on the demographics of each market, with the Xbox 360 version in their eyes most probably the “American” version.

Just whether this bet pays off will be interesting to behold…



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    Comment by Ray
    15:01 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I won't be getting the game anyway.

    But seriously, why the bloody hell does the Xbox version have to look like a gorilla? There are OTHER games than Gears of War and God of War in the west that don't feature a male character that looks like he overdosed on steroids.

    Take a look at, I dunno, recently released Uncharted 2 or Assassin's Creed 2 for a nice view of the middle ground between a proverbial musclebound caveman freak and a stereotypical ladyboy.

    And hell, even the Japanese are able to make a "western looking game" without it looking ridiculous - take a quick look at Demon's Souls, the thing won many awards. So what's with this idiotic bullshit of some companies? If you make a game, make it the same for everyone. This is almost as bad as anime dubs or those god awful german dubs on RTL satellite programs for every movie.

    Comment by Deko Wolf
    15:55 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    So what about the European market?
    We are always left out, if not last.

    Most probably to get the 1st version only...

    Comment by Anonymous
    15:00 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    360 guy needs facial hair and less leather. As it stands, both characters look mad gay, it's just that the 360 is a top and the ps3 is a bottom.

    Comment by Caligastia
    14:56 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I'm so pissed at Square Enix, what are they basing their decisions on?

    Two versions of character designs on different consoles? Only bringing to America the 360 one?

    Worst of all they're most likely not gonna draw the right conclusions if the game doesn't sell here, they desperately need to pull their heads out of their asses.

    I loathe these localization differences, first the dubbing on Final Fantasies and then this, is there no way to let them know that a lot of people here would like to experience as close a version as possible to the japanese one?

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:30 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    ok now we know what wil happen to female chars....

    Comment by HentaiKamen
    14:40 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Tonight on Gay VS Ugly!

    Seriously the xbox version dude looks awful. Why can't the Japanese ever design a normal heterosexual male in video games? Straight doesn't mean ugly.

    As for the PS3 version... His/her/its face looks very plastic.

    Comment by Anonymous
    Comment by Anonymous
    16:06 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    The 360 version is pretty much tailored for North America where they prefer everything to be "big".

    Comment by Anonymous
    19:20 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    i hate them both, ever thought of something simple?
    dun really care which is better probably something better than a emo or an steriod head

    Comment by Anonymous
    18:33 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    LOL

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    Comment by Anonymous
    17:54 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    hey the PS3 version looks like that guy's taking a pic of himself in front of a webcam

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:48 28/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    the 360 version would be the guy who watches that webcam

    Comment by Reichi
    16:26 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Ugh... the story line seemed interesting, but these graphics are really unappealing on either system.
    PS3 version looks blocky, and the 360 one looks like a caveman.

    Comment by Anonymous
    17:53 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    wow it's hard to say that they're the same game.. well, but i dont think i'll be buying this anytime soon

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:28 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    PS3 looks like he's metro and the 360 chap looks like he's come through of a damn time warp in the vikings era...

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:08 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    again JAPAN= the most gay version
    thanks for the ofter but i have to pass

    really we need hunt the japanese designer, they are weird and scary

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:33 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    PS 3 = emo boy
    360 = a little better than emo boy

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:46 28/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    he's a macho man

    the kinda guy you never want to have behind you... ever

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:46 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Why are people getting worked up on this game, it'll be crap anyway.

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:29 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Both look fine to me.

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:30 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    All you gay people can buy the PS3 version. I'm buying the 360 version.

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:35 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Yea they're fags, real manly men love other muscly manly men with huge biceps swinging their big swords in each others faces!

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:32 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I did a bit of research... yeah, the 360 game is completely different from the PS3 one.

    It's shorter and designed to "appeal to Westerners". Also, we're not getting the (probably far better) PS3 version. Instead, the 360 version will be multiplatform in the States.

    ...Wow. I'm pretty fucking pissed right now.

    Comment by Anonymous
    Comment by Anonymous
    13:50 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    They're both shit.... I don't see the point.

    Comment by Anonymous
    13:52 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Well Square will certainly lose all the pretty-boy loving fangirls.

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:47 28/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    ... in the US

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:07 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    They can't be the same guy.

    As he grew older he developed a neanderthal eyebrow ridge?

    Lost his eyebrows?

    Comment by Anonymous
    19:22 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    This is how the Japanese see Americans obviously.

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:11 29/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    *sigh* I was looking forward to purchasing the PS3 version when it hits the states....

    Comment by Ukonkivi
    12:53 21/05/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Bishounen > Macho kthx.

    Comment by Anonymous
    02:15 08/12/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Both look fugly, can we call it a day?

    Comment by Anonymous
    Comment by Anonymous
    23:17 29/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Anon think the game with the muscle man is the occidental one, both US & Europe, on XBOX 360 and PS3.

    Comment by Anonymous
    19:39 30/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    just visited the IGN page of the Nier game for both the Xbox360 and PS3... and guess what? both have the same ugly character on the cover art!

    360 version: http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/761/761551.html
    PS3 version: http://ps3.ign.com/objects/774/774976.html

    look like this is not a 360 vs PS3 game design, but east vs west game design. I still would rather have the Japanese version art.

    the question now is: will the main character design be the *ONLY* difference between the 2 version? Or would they modify the sister or even modify some scenes to fit the western audience?

    Comment by Anonymous
    08:05 28/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I'd rather have a fearsome looking warrior guy, than a girly faced man, who looks like he can barely carry a sword, let alone swing it. The 360 character is realistic, the Japanese version looks like he got his hair done in a salon.

    And who says the 360 version is particularly western anyway, as if all anime is prone to having girly men. Ever watched Ninja Scroll or Basilisk?

    Comment by Riiku
    00:54 28/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    It will pay off. The 360 version looks ugly, but ugly-loving americas would buy it.

    Comment by Anonymous
    02:07 28/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I still prefer the beautiful and intelligent guy to the unattractive with probably orc intelligence guy.

    Oh,and I'm a guy as well.

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:52 28/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    What a man with teh muscles can't be intelligent? Since there both the same character, wouldn't they have the same intelligence?

    Comment by Rethardus
    21:19 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Fuck you all.

    They both look horrible, just admit it.

    One is your standard weeaboo food, the other one is for the nerd who thinks he's tough because he plays Gears.

    Stop arguing over who's better, because it's a personal preference about ugliness.

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:54 28/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    one has Futanari in it

    'nuff said

    Comment by Anonymous
    20:08 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    PS3 ver. = Gay

    Xbox360 ver. = HOBO

    Gay + HOBO = You people that troll on this article.

    nuff said.....

    Comment by Anonymous
    19:38 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    It's so easy to decide on this! X360 version = no hawt futa so fuck that.

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:52 28/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I know, right?

    now all it needs is some yuri...

    Comment by Anonymous
    19:45 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    why do westerner prefer a ugly middle age muscle brain over good looking guy?

    Comment by Anonymous
    09:38 03/01/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    who said they preferred it its just a stereotype beside both look ugly you should be concerned more about the gameplay and story than this little matter

    Comment by Anonymous
    19:58 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    if they actually releases that steroid using cavemen for the Ps3 version...Count me out since i rather spend my money on something that wouldn't annoy me while i am playing my game.Square better get it right!

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:19 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    XBOBX SUCK,THE CHAR WANT TO COPY GOW KRATOS! GAYBOX SUCK !

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:15 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    lol, Xbox version looks worse... he looks like a retarded cave man... and we see those kind of looks on U.S games... They should have Just left it the way it was... It's just my opinion though.

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:17 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    ps3 is win nuff said lol

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:13 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Different character designs for platforms?

    Thats the most amusing concept I've seen in a good, long while.

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:12 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Microsoft fails once again. Gee, is the only success they ever did has making Win7?

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:07 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I've got to ask, please say that noone posting above me actually thinks it's a real, comparable set of screenshots.

    Seriously.

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:09 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Everything Japanese is superior compared to Western, Chinese and Korean shit!!!

    The PS3& Wii will crush the Shit-Box 360!!!

    Comment by Anonymous
    16:17 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Yes, let's do this anon, Japan vs. the rest of the world.

    Just like the "good ol' times" amirite?

    Comment by Anonymous
    12:06 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    If Japan is so superior why the hell did they get their collective asses kick by USA!!!!Without USA there would be no Japan,no Anime,no Manga,no Ozamu Tezuka because , under the japanese militaristic rule Ozamu Tezuka will be shot,thus ended the golden age of manga before it even began.Lets not forget that while arguing US vs Japan.
    By the way the all of the firt generation of home consoles like Atari came from USA not Japan,The japanese came into the game industry much much later.

    Comment by Anonymous
    08:16 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I prefer the Wii and the PS3 over the 360 myself but that comment just reeks of fanboyism

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:09 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Why must 360 owners be assummed to be owned by nothing but neckbearded WRPG playing warcraft faggots?

    Comment by Anonymous
    08:01 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I don't think they're assuming, they're not going to invest that much money in a game and then gamble with it. They're probably figured out that the X360 really is owned mostly by neckbearded WRPG playing warcraft faggots.

    Comment by Anonymous
    08:01 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    They're = they've

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:19 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    This is the worst Japanese attack on America since Pearl Harbor.

    It's obviously rascist.

    The Japanese one is handsome, intelligent and attractive.

    The American one is a dumb ugly retarded caveman.

    Save that kind of slander for the Bible Belt!

    Comment by Sylar
    06:57 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    And the more sad thing is that they have a point.

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:27 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    You know, I still don't care about NieR. They try and try to pull interest through shocking developments, but I just have no desire to play it.

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:20 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    USA/360 = Gorilla on steroids who can probably only say "KILL - MORE BLOOD!" = Epic Story for US People HAHA

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:22 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    i guess westerners just want burly half naked men...

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:24 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    They're supposed to be fathers?

    Eh, to me they're both good in their own right. I do like the sleeve design on the PS3 one, though.

    Comment by Barbarian of Gor
    06:05 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Hey!

    It's "Elric versus Conan!"
    -They actually DID do a crossover in an early BWS illustrated Conan comic!

    But, it's brilliant! Two types of "Heroic Fantasy"...

    The first character would be the charming hero that even the queen has the hots for while the men if not his friend directly are jealous of. But, he's liked by the ladies because he's not really chasing them, so they are subconsciously throwing themselves at him hoping he will be interested. He might be into men. I'm "Liberal", really and "Live and let live" but his image says; "Faggot"

    The second would be leading the barbarian horde, ready to trample the jeweled thrones of -whatever world- 'neath his sandaled feet. Puts a broadaxe in the high priest's head, then kills their "God" that's just a hideous thing that shambled from the stars. No complex games of romance, he just grabs the ladies and carries them off. "Why you whine woman!? Og will give you many babies!!!"

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:01 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    ....no one's gonna say it?

    Okay then....THE 360 VERSION LOOKS LIKE A SHAVED GORILLA WITH A PATCH OF WHITE FUR ON IT'S HEAD!!

    Comment by Anonymous
    Comment by Anonymous
    05:22 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    In the first he could be an evil man and skilled fighter...the second looks like a musclebound retard who is a refugee from Hokuto no Ken.

    Comment by Erdekaiser
    05:26 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    He is too pusy to be from Hokuto no Ken.

    Comment by Anonymous
    18:41 28/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Needs a Mowhawk to be in Hokuto no Ken.

    Comment by Anonymous
    05:24 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    The PS3 version looks more delicious. If he can become like that in the 360 version, try imagining his futanari friend

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:55 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    hell yeah,Futanari rules.

    Comment by Erdekaiser
    05:21 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    The bad thing is there will be no sexy panzu in 360 version. That's for sure.

    Comment by Pyrolight
    05:06 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    360 version wins hands down for character design.

    Getting a little sick of the fairy-cake bad guys.

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:52 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I'm going for 360.Although ps3 chara design is good in its own merit BUT it DOESNT SUIT THE ROLE.So its 360.
    By the way ,In japan big muscular characters is also popular or have anyone forget Hokutonoken (fist of the northstar).

    Comment by Anonymous
    02:45 29/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I dislike both, but I probably dislike the PS3 version the most.

    The idea is, apparently, that the 360 one is a father looking for his daughter and the PS3 one is a brother looking for his sister - or something to that effect.

    Either way the 360 is where it's at for RPGs, so if it gets good reviews I'll probably grab it there.

    Comment by Anonymous
    23:48 28/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I cant see a difference between these two Nier, you guys sure use a magnifier to spot a difference.

    Geez...

    Comment by Fairos
    06:31 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    It could no have been said any better Pyro

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:24 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Because looking more ugly and like you were abusing steroids is better character design right? :rolls eyes:

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:33 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Who the hell are you guys kidding, they both like crap

    Comment by Anonymous
    19:31 28/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Anon above got this right.

    Comment by Anonymous
    02:23 28/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    at least the PS3 has a futa

    Comment by Anonymous
    08:09 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Agreed. Both are on the two opposite ends, and look horrible no matter which angle you look at them.

    Comment by Pyrolight
    06:55 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    The Ps3 version I would just wait for him to emo /wrists. At least in the Xbox version he looks like someone you would not want to meet on a dark street.

    Comment by Anonymous
    18:27 28/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Dont worry, if you meet him in a dark street you only need to say "Hey, Guy. Your shoe's untied. "
    And after some hours he gonna say "Upon closer inspection, these appear to be loafers."

    Comment by eon789
    05:20 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    yeah. i'm with you. The PS3 one seems to have more of a Diabolical Tone to Him while the 360 one seems to have more of a Menacing Touch. Also Diabolical get pretty much Killed after after FFVI, VII, and FFIX (still great games though.) Guess i'll wait and see.

    Comment by eon789
    08:27 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    after looking up some info on it. it's going to be 2 separate games set in the same universe. and the 360 one is going to be the only one of the two released in america... Damnit Square.

    Comment by Ken
    15:41 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    i thought they are brothers, not same person lol

    Comment by Anonymous
    19:10 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    wow. i cant believe people like the xbox version. he doesnt even have eyebrows, and notice the weird shape of his angry eyes. square screwed up on that model. the ps3 model reminds me of the main character of the movie fight club mix with the evil dude from gladiator. his eyes seem to portray a picture to me while the big xbox dude shows nothing. ps3 dude looks like he actually has a past (a somehow disturbing one). it is an rpg so kudos to ps3 for having a person who looks like he has an interesting background.

    Comment by Anonymous
    19:12 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    xbox fans mainly play fps shooters. they dont get into character like how rpgs do. also the xbox dude looks like he came from one of those fps.

    Comment by nocturne
    12:45 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    1.21 jiggawatts? GREAT SCOTT!

    Comment by Angel Mercury
    06:49 29/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    That's too bad about the 360 version being the only one released in the US. I'd probably check out both.

    Comment by kajunbowser
    11:28 30/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I am disappoint @ Square Enix. Giving gaijin fugly X360 release is bad form.

    *plays middle finger orchestra*

    Comment by Anonymous
    21:20 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I don't care about this shit. I just want to play the original character designs as the big brain behind all this intended us to enjoy it.

    Not some marketing bla bla shit.

    Comment by Anonymous
    08:42 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I know what game I'M not going to be buying. Seriously, that 360 version is horribly ugly.

    Comment by Anonymous
    09:53 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    nocturne: You're right. It does look like Dr. Brow.

    Comment by nocturne
    09:29 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Is it just me, or does the 360 version look like a brawny Doc Brown?

    Comment by Schrobby
    05:26 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Are you crazy? The 360 edition looks like your typical crude western action game. I'm sick of exactly that.

    Comment by H-Ero
    06:30 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I'm getting sick of both. It's getting harder to recognize characters anymore when they all look the same (America using overly masculine men and Japan using overly feminine men). I'm not saying that these are bad characters but if they're going to keep using the same character arch-types then they should put in more effort to make their characters more distinguishable.

    Comment by Anonymous
    17:12 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    @ 07:43

    It worked for Raiden (if you've played MGS4, you know what I'm talking about). ;)

    And yeah, both of these look pretty bad to me. How about some color?

    Comment by First Posting Idiot
    11:20 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    You shouldn't be surprised by overly muscular 360 characters. Look at the 360 exclusives that hit it big in America.
    Halo, Gears, Crackdown. Those games' characters share quite a similarity.

    Comment by kamanashi
    13:35 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    @ 9:34 Anon: NO PIRATES! NO NINJAS EITHER! ONLY SAMURAI AND SCHOOL GIRLS!

    Comment by Anonymous
    13:15 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    This is assimilation

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:04 29/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Hmm. Character with black mask, kimono, left hookhand, right weilding katana and mini skirt? This would be ultimate char. If we add tentacles its rpg+eroge!

    Comment by Anonymous
    09:34 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    They should start bringing back the classics...

    Like that guy who has a absolutely badarse hook in place of a hand, that totally mean eye-patch(even though he has perfect sight with both eyes), and perhaps even a killer wooden leg!

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:42 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    You nailed it.

    Everything is growing more generic.

    Comment by Anonymous
    07:43 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Yes and we need a new body type. I wonder if disfigured or missing 2 limbs would be a hit.

    Comment by Anonymous
    05:38 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    no, you're just a flaming weeaboo.

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:18 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I would have liked the ps3 vers if it didn't have the typical anime hair. That's what I'm sick of. Especially in 3D. Looks better in 2D.

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:19 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    And you're an Anonymous Nerd On Net - ANON.

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:35 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    @ 6:19

    Ain't you an Anon too... O.o

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:47 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    It's a well known fact that Anonymous is full of self-loathing.

    Comment by Anonymous
    05:56 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    To me they just had the 360 character age quicker. It's based on the console, since it's always one step in the grave.

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:13 27/12/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Amen





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