Unique, Stylish, and Engaging
Just when everyone keeps complaining that all Square-Enix does is reiterate on its Final Fantasy franchise, along comes an absolute gem called The World Ends With You. Though it is oddly titled, it is very fitting for an offbeat game like this. With strong production values, great presentation, and the kind of great warped storytelling Square is known for, TWEWY delivers.
The game is set in Shibuya, the trendy nightlife district of Tokyo. This is the popular hangout spot for Tokyo's teenage crowd, and it is always buzzing with business. However, the real part of the game takes place in an alternate universe where everyone is part of the Reaper's Game. This game, run by a mysterious person called the Composer, allows Players to fight for a second chance at life by completing set missions. All of the Players involved died prematurely, and are offered a chance to live again. However, each Player must sacrifice an entry fee and must keep from erasure by the end of the seventh day. The Reapers try to erase all of the Players by following their own rules and utilizing Noise, the monsters in the game.
The protagonist of the story is Neku, a totally self-centered emo kid with an attitude problem. He has no memory of who he was before he died or even how he died, and so he must glean information from those who know. Throughout the game, he must learn to rely on others and put his trust in them, causing his world to expand and his heart to soften. The characters, such as Shiki, Joshua, Beat, Rhyme, and the Reapers, are all fleshed out very well and become extremely likable throughout the game. This has always been a strong point in Square's RPGs, and it is readily apparent here.
The gameplay consists of non-random battles with the Noise that take place on both screens of the DS. This is very confusing at first, but the game softens the learning curve by offering difficulty tweaking options and autopilot for the top screen. The bottom screen controls Neku and uses a system with equipped pins to dish out various attacks. Some of these stylus controls do not work well, unfortunately, and you will find yourself relying on the more slash-related pins a lot. The top screen is Neku's partner, fighting the same battle in a slightly different realm. This is controlled with the D-pad and is pretty easy to get used to. Again, it takes over automatically when you stop giving commands, so it is pretty forgiving.
The game never seems to be too difficult, in fact. Even the more menacing bosses aren't that imposing once their pattern is understood. The opportunity to retry battles in Easy Mode also tempers things quite a bit. This can be a brutally challenging game to those who wish it upon themselves, but on default settings, or even a little below, the game is never that hard.
Problems with the game mostly lie with the crazy amount of seemingly important things to do. Following trends with armor, picking the right foods to tweak attributes, competing in minigames, and gathering all kinds of rare pins seem to be necessary, but end up being distractions for the most part. The game makes itself seem more complex than it really is, and tends to drag itself down by being a bit convoluted. If it were more streamlined and understandable, it would be more appealing to entry-level RPG players.
The game is beautiful. This is easily one of the best-looking 2D games on the DS. The mix of 16-bit sprites and hand-drawn backgrounds, along with great character and enemy designs, leads to a great overall look. The soundtrack also blends very well with the game, featuring more classic styles and contemporary J-pop.
The greatest aspect of the game, though, is its uncanny ability to come off as such a cool experience. It really has the ability to suck you in, and it is really great when that happens. What may appear trite at first glance starts coming off as really creative and thoughtful. The game is full of moments like that, and it sets it apart.
TWEWY is destined to be a revered cult classic among Square fans. It deserves to be played by anyone who would be interested in the concept, as it is just filled with quality, creativity, and unique moments. It is a memorable experience that transcends its flaws and really makes a place for itself.
