The World Ends With You Review

Most gamers out there would probably agree that the world of role-playing games has been stuck in a specific rut for quite a while. We're not talking down on games like Fire Emblem and Advance Wars on DS (RPG-like tactical games), or the still-remarkable Final Fantasy series, but rather the hundreds upon hundreds of RPGs out there that don't dare to be different. We can understand a few "period piece" role-playing games, but does every story-heavy adventure out there need to revolve around swords, bows, magic, castles, and hoards of monsters emerging from some sort of ultimate evil? It's fine in moderation – and when done extremely well, games go beyond any preconceptions – but the RPG world could use a little kick in the pants to get it moving, and that's exactly what The World Ends With You is. Square Enix – more specifically Team Jupiter, the creators of Kingdom Hearts – has challenged every facet of the RPG genre, and the result is one of the best pocket games we've played in years, and one of the top DS experiences out there.

More than any other DS title out there we could write volumes on the features and intricacies in The World Ends With You, so while we'll be covering every aspect in this final review, we urge players that want to know more to check out our latest in-depth hands-on with the game, as it too has a wealth of information to read through.

Like we mentioned, The World Ends With You (formally called It's a Wonderful World in Japan, but changed due to licensing issues with the name) is out to challenge everything you'd commonly expect from a RPG experience – especially one on DS – and it flourishes because of it. The story is set in common day Japan, more specifically in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, following the story of an introverted (to a fault) teen by the name of Neku who wakes up mysteriously in the middle of the city streets. Within minutes he receives a text message on his phone that states that he has only a few minutes to complete the first stages of "The Game" or face erasure. Unaware of his past, and unable to communicate with anyone on the busy streets of Shibuya, Neku is thrust into a ghost-like world where he and his partner must complete daily challenges, destroy evil entities known as "Noise" which are the embodiment of stress and social distortion in the world, and attempt to regain his life back one day at a time. Along the way the game's referees and designers, The Reapers, give Neku and his partners new missions, and force them to run the rat race that is The Game.

Since the story is so completely "out there," especially for a pocket RPG, it'll take a while for players to warm up to the storytelling, characters, and design of The World Ends With You. The game has a very specific art style that you'll either love or hate, but for those on the fence about it we encourage you to give the game a shot, as there's far more depth here than anywhere else on DS, and that's no overstatement. Everything from the battle system, unique world interface, storytelling, music, and interactive "out of game" elements make The World Ends With You a must-play experience, and the visual style is just the beginning.

The most exclusive aspect of The World Ends With You is the battle system, which combines the use of d-pad and touch screen to control both Neku and his active partner at the same time. Since the Reaper's Game is all about having teams of two compete, Neku instantly meets his first partner Shiki, and the race is on. As the player, you'll need use Neku's advanced psychic power to harness "pins" that are found throughout the world (over 300 in all) to do specific stylus actions, while also putting in d-pad combos for Shiki on the top screen. The same enemies exist in each world, so it's a matter of juggling back and forth with both characters, passing a combo puck from player to player with each attack and building up insane combos.

The battle system is extremely daunting at first, and the game even encourages you to take it one step at a time until you feel comfortable playing both sides at once. There's an auto-battle system for your partner on the top screen, so if needed, players can drop the d-pad control for a slower (but still helpful) automated system. The action can get extremely hectic, but once you master the dual screen combat it'll prove exactly why The World Ends With You can only exist on a system like DS, and it's a remarkable battle mechanic in the end. Not only will you have touch controls and d-pad battle, but also on-the-fly mini-game aspects such as roulette wheels and card-matching puzzles, each of which lead to use super-attacks that deal tremendous damage. There's no beating around the bush with the game's difficulty though; it's hard, and meant only for the hardcore.



While a crazy battle mechanic is all well and good, it doesn't make for an instant classic on its own, and Jupiter realized that. Visually the game is extraordinary, making use of moving manga panels and dual-screen cinematic presentation very reminiscent of something like Jet Set Radio, with story elements taking place on the top screen via character portraits. The only major letdown with the presentation is that character art and text tell the story, rather than using any VO or scripted sequences. Still, the display of text boxes and the shifting of character portraits on the top screen recreate the manga feel, and it works. More than that though, it's the seamless blending of visual style, impressive (and realistic) audio that captures the sounds of Tokyo, and one of the best soundtracks we've heard on DS.