DS Review: The World Ends With You
by Kat Bailey on April 24, 2008
Westerners should count themselves lucky that the World Ends With You managed to make it out of Japan. As recently as five years ago, Square-Enix’s quirky RPG starring a typically angst-y teenage protagonist playing a bizarre game in the middle of Shibuya might have been deemed too bizarre for western audiences. And who knows, they might have been right. But times change, and it looks like we’re the better for it.
You take on the role of Neku as he wakes up in the middle of Shibuya’s Hachiko Crossing with a timer ticking down on his hand and no memory. Anybody who has ever passed through Tokyo will have to smile at this point, as Square-Enix has faithfully replicated every nook and cranny of the famous district.
Even the false store fronts carry a ring of authenticity with them, as names like “104” and “Towa Records” are poor disguises for well-known landmarks. All of this will probably be lost on the majority of westerners, but it’s nice that the localization didn’t bother to sugarcoat the fact that this is a very Japanese game set in a very Japanese location.
You spend a great deal of time attempting to solve the mystery of the “Reapers” and their sadistic game against this backdrop, and as you do so, TWEWY does an effective job of steadily doling out the play mechanics. On the surface, the battle system consists primarily of scribbling as fast as you can in an effort to knock out all of the beasts (called Noise) that inhabit Shibuya. But pretty soon, you’ll be trying to use the Dance Dance Revolution like moves of your partner who is battling simultaneously on the top of the screen. Then you’ll be trying out new attacks, which are provided by pins that are garnered from shops and enemies.
Did I mention that fashion is a heavy element in this game? Well, it is, as you buy not just pins, but a variety of hats, sweaters, dresses from a variety of (occasionally recognizable) retailers, marking perhaps the first time in which naked consumerism has actually boosted your stats across the boards. Customization freaks will find plenty to love in raising their reputation with the different shop owners in order to access the best clothes and abilities, while collectors will have a job on their hands trying to get all of the pins in the game.
In the meantime, this game does a terrific job of bringing its vibrant setting to life. Neku and company were designed by the omnipresent Tetsuya Nomura of Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts fame, and while it’s easy to write off the style that they evoke as tired (yet another blonde, spikey-haired protagonist), they are notable for fitting in quite seamlessly with the setting.
Another high point is the music, which is quite simply the best soundtrack on any system this year. It’s an eclectic mix of J-Pop vocal artistry, and even if your tastes don’t run in that direction, it’s hard not to feel energized when your met with a familiar synthesizer blast at the beginning of a battle. Too many RPGs these days utilize overly dreary or simply boring soundtracks, so it’s great to be playing a game that practically demands headphones.
In the hands of lesser designers, the wild battle system combined with the sheer variety of creative play mechanics would amount to an overcomplicated mess. But happily, as often as you find yourself dealing with the game’s more innovative elements, it never really feels overwhelming. Veteran RPG fans will pick up on the ins-and-outs of the game pretty quickly, and the result is one of the freshest experiences to hit either consoles or handhelds in quite some time.
With its solid art direction, outstanding soundtrack and creative gameplay mechanics, TWEWY ends up being a surprisingly addiictive game that is an enjoyable departure from the majority of RPGS out there. Enjoy it while it lasts, because most people should be familiar with Square-Enix’s penchant for running new ideas into the ground. But until it does, the World Ends With you is practically a mandatory purchase for anybody with a Nintendo DS and a taste for Japanese RPGs.
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