Hey guys, it's been a while since I've had an actual blog post up and I got done with The World Ends With You a few days ago, so I thought I'd write up some impressions. Unfortunately, I'm not completely dead yet so I apologize for that. Enough bullshitting though. For those interested, enjoy your read.



Yes I realize I'm a little late on this, but give me a break. If you're feeling a little dried up from the overabundance of casual brain tests, and Pokemon collecting on your DS then you might want to try out The World Ends With You. The World Ends With You (Or TWEWY) is a very hip and stylish action RPG from the minds of Square Enix and Co-Developer Jupiter. (Holy shit they did Golden Sun)

Like many Square Enix titles, the story revolves around a teen with a heart full of angst, a mind diagnosed with amnesia, and too much hair gel. The story takes place in Shibuya, Japan which I didn't learn was real until a few days ago. Neku awakens in the middle of Shibuya with a pin that grants him the ability to see peoples thoughts. It turns out that Neku is playing The Reapers Game, a game that is privileged to the dead who have received Player Pins. Soon after awakening Neku meets another player named Shiki, a girl with a skirt that defies the laws of gravity and hip bones like spartan spears. As it turns out, the Reapers Game isn't friendly. The premise is to survive the week by completing a mission sent to your phone each day by the Game Master. (I'm not making this shit up.)



The way TWEWY is played is very unique, you and your partner are controlled on separate screens, but your health and the enemies you see are one in the same. The top half is controlled by using the d-pad, where your partner is stationed. Pressing left or right depending on which side the enemies are on will start a combo that branches off into three separate paths. There is a special technique that you and your partner will initiate for matching up cards or symbols (depending on your partner) but just tapping in one direction will score you the move eventually.

On the bottom, you control Neku using the stylus. This is where it gets to be frantic, yet fun. Depending on what pins you have equipped, you will have to do an array of different stylus motions to execute the psychs (moves). It can get hectic trying to remember the motions for the pins you have equipped, and trying to do the different combo branches to get that special move. Like I said, the enemies and your health bar are one in the same. Attacks you do on one screen damage the enemies on the other and attacks you receive on one character effects your health as a whole.

It's a very intuitive and fresh use of the dual screen functionality that the DS has and really puts your focus on using your abilities and team work to get through the challenges. One thing that really stood out for me is a character named Sho. This psychopathic boss has a tendency to build huge pieces of "Art" (which are just piles of trash and rubble) What he does on his free time is not the thing that makes him stand out from other generic characters though. What does is the fact that he is a mathmatician. Yes, a boss that kicks y our ass while shouting "sin, cosin, tangent." It was a truly great feeling to see such a unique character in this game.



There is a surprising amount of content in the game. If you have OCD and absolutley have to have every pin and clothing item in Shibuya, you have your work cut out for you. Many times you will feel like the end of the game is near only to be thrown back into your seat for another session. This is not a bad thing by any means, the game play is fun, the dialogue is witty and although the story gets a bit convoluted, you still are attached to the characters you're playing.

The World Ends With You brings a breathe of fresh air to the DS and you owe it to yourself to at least try the game if you're looking for something new. You might be like me and turn the volume off as soon as you hear the first lyric to an up beat J-pop song, but don't let one issue (which is totally to each his own situation.) change your mind about TWEWY as a whole.


For those of you who played the game, what are your opinions?