"NIKKE THE STAGE" Dress Rehearsal Report! Familiar Sights for Commande

"NIKKE THE STAGE," a stage production based on the 25-million-times downloaded smartphone RPG "GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE," was performed at the Kokumin Kyosai coop hall/space zero from June 6 (Thu) to 9 (Sun), 2024.

The massive cast included members of 01familia, one of the top agencies in the gravure world, as well as idols, voice actresses, and cosplayers who have careers on screen and stage: this gorgeous cast really captured the allure of "NIKKE."

This post is a report on the show. We will cover all the NIKKE-esque charms packed into the show, including one of the main attractions of the original game: the realistic combat sections full of "back-angles" to enjoy.

Familiar Sights for Commanders Brought to Life

Under attack from mysterious mechanical life forms called Raptures, the last bastion of humanity is a single massive underground city: Ark. The protagonist, a commander, aims to retake the surface with the help of Nikkes, mechanical humanoids shaped like young women.

The story begins when the protagonist, a new Commander caught in the chaos of battle, is revived by a Nikke named Marian, and they push through the battlefield together. They meet up with two more Nikkes, Counters Squad members Rapi and Anis, and fight through the Raptures that stand in their way. The relationship between the Commander and the Nikkes is very dry, as the Nikkes are used to the other Commanders who usually treat them as woman-shaped machines, not human beings.

However, our protagonist Commander treats each of the Nikkes as people, showing concern for them in the middle of combat. He dresses one with bandages, even though they are built for mechanical repair: the Nikkes see him as very odd. However, they also often find themselves charmed by his kindness, and as the story goes on, we see the bonds between them deepen.

As these exchanges continue, the team's combat results improve... which makes it all the more shocking when Marian is suddenly corrupted by the Raptures. Only Commanders can execute Nikkes, and our Commander is put in an impossible position. Unable to pull the trigger, he is severely conflicted - until Marian thanks him for his kindness, and helps him end her life in an almost-suicide. Determined to find the truth about Marian's mysterious corruption, the Commander and Counters Squad members Rapi, Anis, and new recruit Neon head to a new battlefield.

The next mission has many funny scenes between the wild Neon with her absolute faith in firepower, the sarcastic Anis, and the disinterested Rapi, allowing the audience to get to know their characters even better and ease some tension.

...Until Rapi suffers a surprise attack and the Commander flashbacks to Marian's death, reminding us that this is a war after all, and the tension returns.

After various events, the Commander and all members of Counters end up banished to a backwater base called the Outpost. From there, they meet more Nikkes in various locations and work together with them to reach new areas. They join Wardress Squad, formed by Yuni and Mihara and led by Syuen, in an operation to capture a Rapture on the surface.

The sadistic Yuni and masochistic Mihara make a good pair in all kinds of ways: not just in combat, but also in regards to their special tastes. This stage play includes a recreation of the scene where Yuni gives Mihara a good pinching as a reward for the both of them: getting to see these Nikkes interact is a highlight of the performance.

However, the mission to apprehend the Rapture is destined to put their bond in danger. No spoilers this time, except that Commanders who played the game will enjoy this part a lot.

In the meantime, the Commander and Counters explore the harsh environment of the northern snowfields, where Raptures run rampant. They find out that the Rapture they were commissioned to capture, known as "Chatterbox," can speak like a human - and could provide a lead on an apparent double agent within the Ark. The Commander also wants to find a surface patrolling Nikke nicknamed a "Pilgrim," who saves him from a sticky situation during the operation.

The members of Counters suffer under not only the blizzard conditions but also grueling combat with Raptures. Then, the group is scattered by a sudden avalanche. The Commander is saved by Ludmilla and Alice, members of the Unlimited Squad, who are working to restore the northern land from the Rapture-caused freeze. With their help, the Commander reunites with Counters, and they head to a Rapture-occupied Pilgrim research institution.

Alice adds brightness with her innocence, and Ludmilla is dependable with her calm and elegant vibe. They work well with all the members of Counters - and unlike the interactions with Wardress, the audience is at ease watching both the dialogue and combat with them. However, things in "NIKKE" are never simple, and it comes to light that Ludmilla has another duty in the north.

Once the battle of the north is over and the group has parted from the two members of Unlimited, it's time for the play's grand finale. Everything comes to a head with the appearance of several characters: Chatterbox, back for a rematch, the Pilgrim Snow White, and a "Heretic," a Nikke who has sided with the Raptures. This Heretic's name is Modernia, and she has a face the Commander could never forget...

This report has been covering the plot so far, but now we would like to describe the stage itself and the seating. In a typical theater, the seats are set up in rows from the front audience entrance to the back of the hall. The stage itself is usually horizontal, with a "stage left" and "stage right," and some stages have two or three vertical levels or varied depths. Live concerts often have a walkway and B-stage that extends from the main stage into the audience seating area.

However, this stage play features a polygonal stage with sides that extend into the middle of the venue, with audience seating arranged in three blocks. This allows the audience to encircle the round center stage. In other words, as the main stage is visible from three sides, it feels as though people seated at either end don't get a viewing angle of 180° - they get 270°.

Plus, the round center stage is surrounded by a slightly lower level. During combat, the Nikkes swap positions around this perimeter, turning around to fire their weapons, and sometimes getting hit by enemies. Yes - it is a wonderfully familiar sight for commanders who have played the game.

The cast does an outstanding job recreating the combat from the game. The way each character handles her weapon, moves her body, and poses is straight from the game. When they have to move in ways not shown in the game, it is always natural and fitting for the character: you can tell that the cast has studied and practiced hard.

Speaking of recreating from the game, the quality of the costumes is truly amazing. The cast and crew must have diligently studied the game content from every angle. Commanders in the audience will definitely get a kick out of seeing them from all angles.

During combat, the front-row seats do feel extremely close to the action. It fits, as the Nikkes are trying to keep distance between them and the enemies with their firepower. The way they spread out right to the edge of the stage really does make you feel like you are right there battling Raptures with them. Plus, the Nikkes walk on the path between the stage and the front rows. It's very fun to get to see them so close each chapter.

During the play, the Raptures are projected onto a transparent screen. As these formidable Raptures generally put up a huge fight, sometimes the Nikkes turn around and collapse onto the edges of the stage. Now, of course, we want them to succeed in their mission and take back the surface, so we don't want them to actually lose, however... that kind of sight is very important for catharsis...

Despite the length of this report, there are many aspects we cannot express well via text alone. We hope someday all Commanders at home get to experience the Nikke's battle for themselves. The staff and cast absolutely know their stuff: see for yourself how much passion they put into bringing "NIKKE" to life.