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You really have to dig anime to dig this game!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: July 26, 2008
Author: Amazon User

While the game play is undoubtedly deep, I couldn't get past the annoying anime characters and fake attempts at "teen hip." It was like watching a bad Disney movie like "Herbie Fully Loaded" made into a video game.

You can digest other reviews to get a clear perception of how the game play works -- Square certainly does a great job of utilizing both screens and makes full use of the stylus. I have no complaints with battle sequences, other than it gets a little repetitive after 30 or 40 similar battles. But if you're an older gamer like me and not particularly fond of anime, and if you like your action RPGs with plenty of interesting puzzles to solve (eg, Zelda), then this offering may not be your cup of tea.

half fun, half grind

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: August 25, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I'm a big fan of dungeon crawlers and RPGs in general. Some of my recent favorites are Rune Factory, Shiren the Wanderer, and the Zelda series. I review from this perspective.

TWEWY is quite different than the usual fantasy RPG dungeon crawl I enjoy. Despite that fact, I've played for about 30 hours now and there are several things about the game that I like. My favorite aspect is the intriguing plot. It reminds me of The Matrix: completely arbitrary, inconsistent, and absurd, and yet somehow the story works so well that you ignore how ridiculous it is. The combat system is innovative, making excellent use of the DS hardware (touch screen, wireless features, etc.). Left-handers will appreciate that fact that TWEWY controls are (nearly) perfectly symmetrical. You are rarely forced into battle without warning -- combat is avoidable, optional, and you can see it coming in most cases. Finally, the game has a wide variety of "pins" (weapons) and monsters, both of which make it more interesting. Some players will enjoy the "street punk anime" design ethic; I'm neutral on this particular aspect.

But on the downside, the game is highly, highly repetitive. In many checklist-type games where you "have to have them all", I enjoy finding all the secrets and mastering all the possibilities. Not so in TWEWY. In order to get all the secrets, you would need to grind and grind and grind the same basic combat 10,000+ times. Yes, the weapons and enemies do change over time, but I'm well past sick of the combat system after 1,000 battles and have given up any notion of "getting them all" and am just focusing on finishing the plot. Moreover, there is simply no conceivable way that most players will be able to find most secrets on their own. For example, "pin evolution" (e.g. creating rare and hidden weapons by evolving them from lower forms) is so convoluted you'd have to be insanely dedicated to explore the evolutionary possibilities on your own, or, do the only sane thing and "cheat" with a hint book or online guide. I looked at an online guide and was glad I did, because it completely disabused me of the notion that I'd enjoy mastering all pins. In addition, many of the secrets cannot be obtained unless you play via the DS wireless system, and many more secrets cannot be obtained except by *not* playing the game for days or weeks on end. (Dozens of secrets only unlock if you leave the game shut down in specific states for 12-24 hours at a time.) In short, 99.99% of all gamers simply aren't hard-core enough to enjoy getting all the secrets, and I say this as someone who enjoyed spending 300+ hours unlocking all the arcane secrets from the very difficult Shiren the Wanderer.

My biggest complaint is harder to quantify, which is that I just don't enjoy TWEWY as much as other RPGs. In another RPG, I might enjoy teasing open a long chain of puzzles to unlock a final mystery; but in TWEWY, the inter-twined pins/brands/items system feels very flat and arbitrary. I imagine this is what a good RPG must seem like to someone who doesn't like RPGs. Maybe it's the weird setting, or massive grind, but for whatever the reason, I intend to stick with this game to finish the plot but don't intend to recommend it to any of my friends.

overrated

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 21, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I thought I might like the game based on all the excellent reviews, even at sites like Gamespot. I really wanted to like this as well, especially because of how unique it looked. But unique was as far as it got. There's a reason why Square's FF series was able to survive so long--the formula works. It's fun, it's an epic adventure always with an amazing soundtrack. Not so much with TWEWY. Granted, I'm still in the earlier parts of the game, which should be kept in mind for the following...but I'm not even motivated enough to continue unless I'm super bored.

Graphics
The graphics are...interesting. The character design definitely resembles Kingdom Hearts, which is one of the reasons why I thought it may be up to par. However the more I look at it, the more I don't really like the style of the drawings. Reminds me more of how people draw anime when they first start--random folds in the shirts everywhere that don't fit, Neku's turtleneck thing that covers up the mouth, etc. But that's just a personal pet peeve.

Characters and storyline
Ugh. The characters are sooo boring. I feel like I'm playing some game made for emo kids (cough Neku cough). The chars seem shallow and I don't have much desire to learn more about them. I'm really surprised at this since Square usually produces such deep characters in their traditional rpgs. And usually it's the characters and their story that make a game great for me. If you don't connect with the characters on some common human level, then any book/game/movie/etc can be boring. The exaggerated reactions were annoying too.
The storyline is at least -somewhat- unique. I liked all the real Shibuya elements that were incorporated.

Sound
Very unforgettable soundtrack. It's all random hip hop pop songs. I know it's suppose to fit the whole Shibuya thing, but it's just background noise to me, and doesn't really fit with what's going on anyway. Just turn on your mp3 and listen to that instead. I didn't like the voice acting.

Gameplay
Eh. It's ok I guess. Again, of course it's unique. But maybe it hasn't been done before for a reason. I don't know about others but although the 2 screen fight system seems cool and makes you feel like you're somehow awesome and multitasking, it is really simplistic and most of the time ends up as button mashing for me. Unfortunately it usually works better than trying to concentrate on both screens.

Overall
Definitely try before you buy. Also go on your gut feeling and not the reviews. If you don't like the art style or the whole emo bit, you probably won't like it. Some people may like the soundtrack--I didn't. It's completely different from other Square games, with only the character design slightly the same. Mostly feels like a game marketed towards the younger crowds...
Of course I had pretty high expectations of this game, so maybe not being as awesome as I'd hoped made it seem worse. Disappointed overall, but I guess I'll finish it at some point since I bought it. Hopefully my review will change as I get into it more.

Wonderful, but Repetitive and Linear

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 14
Date: April 28, 2008
Author: Amazon User

The World Ends With You (JP version: It's a Wonderful World) is indeed an innovative game from the teams behind Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy series. The battle system is very dynamic and the music sounds appropriate for the Shibuya District setting. The best part of the game in my opinion, was the sliding scales for levels that allow the player to make the game as easy as a breeze or tough as nails as he or she chooses.

However, the fun rubbed off after about 2/3 through the game for me. The story is very linear. There are no real side quests or any departure from the 'get out of the Game' storyline for the player to explore. The Tin Pin Slammer (JP: Marble Slash) grew boring very quickly. The battles became repetitive and I eventually set the difficulty level to the Easy mode just the finish the game and see the ending of the plot.

Another warning: screen protector for the stylus screen of the DS is a must. After clocking 150 hours into the game and using slash-movement type pins (JP: badges), the bottom screen of my DS became rough and permanently damaged. I had to slap a Hori protector screen on to preserve a smooth surface and prevent further damage.

Access Points are time-consuming to obtain in the game especially for people who is the only person in the neighborhood who owns the game. It comes down to leaving the DS on for extensive periods of time for random Access Points to come by for leveling up and evolving certain badges. This has caused my game to take over 300 hours and still incomplete.

The World Ends With You

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: May 24, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Very complicated, and addictive. Takes DS gaming to the next level with innovative gameplay, and a unique storyline.

Trust me, it's more than 7 days

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 11, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I actually have been seeing this game around lately and found it Square Enix. Now, when have you EVER heard that Square Enix makes crap? So, I bought the game with my last remaining money and have been playing it lately after my surgery.

I was actually getting scared at first since it said 7 days and how fast I was going through the missions thinking that this game wasn't worth my $40 but then come to realize that you go through more than just 7 days making the game more enjoyable(and worth my money I might add). This game is very enjoyable but can get a bit complicated and a bit confusing but as long as you practice your fights and techniques you'll get the hang of it and love it! The characters are very interesting to hear from and have style to their personalities. I am also glad they have close moments between each character that makes it even more fun to play and read. I recommend this game for at least teenagers, like I said before, it might get confusing to some younger kids and get them frustrated but don't lose hope. Just KEEP PRACTICING and you'll get it, I promise. You may not do so good in your first few battles but you'll improve the more you use the same pins you collected. I wish you good luck and hope you enjoy it! I sure have!

Unique RPG for the DS

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 11
Date: April 23, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Update 04/24/08: Updated review

Synopsis: The World Ends With You is not a traditional RPG where you encounter random enemies or even see them on the screen, rather you scan and search for your enemies (this might sound a bit weird but trust me you will understand once you start playing the game). You start out the game as Neku (name cannot be altered) who is given a strange "pin" and in the beginning you cannot attack any enemies by yourself until you have a partner who happens to be Shiki. Neku and Shiki are part of a "game" where they are given missions to complete otherwise they will be erased.

Playing the game (Battle): The game is pretty much controlled by the stylus though moving around can be controlled by the d-pad. When you are fighting with Neku everything is controlled by the stylus (movement and attack). When partnered up with Shiki, you can control Shiki's attacks with the d-pad (if you are a lefty the A, B, X, Y buttons will act similar to the d-pad). You do not however control her movements, only her attacks. Pins are your main source for attacks. Each pin is used by the stylus and it differs for each one. Make sure you understand how to use each Pin (there is a hint screen that will appear to help you understand how to use the Pin). Once Shiki becomes your partner you have to fight on both screens as Shiki will be on the top and Neku will be on the bottom. Also, once you obtain a specific "Pin" you will be able to perform special attacks called "fuse" where you will need to sync correctly with your partner in order to charge this up. Shiki has the difficult task as you need to match the right card to activate the skill. If you set Shiki on Auto the chance of getting the fuse is not high, though at the same time if you set on manual you might end of losing the battle if you are not paying attention to Neku (I advise most people to leave Shiki on either "Auto" of "Auto after 3 sec" unless you are pretty comfortable controlling both Neku and Shiki to charge up the fuse).

Playing the game (ranking/leveling): This game has a ranking system where the amount of damage you inflicted on your enemies and the amount of time that you took will determine your rank for that battle and how much PP points you will be awarded after each battle. Also, whether you take any damage, get 10+ consecutive hits will also factor into the PP points as well. PP points is what you need to raise the ranking of your pins. Ranking are from E, D, C, B, A, and * (* being the highest and you need to get both * ranking in time and damage to get this ranking, A + * will not get you a * ranking) You also gain Exp Points but that depends on the enemy you face and has nothing to do with the type of rank you receive at the end of the battle. In addition, you will get base PP Points and this number is determined by the level you set in your option screen (unlike conventional RPGs where you level up and cannot alter your current level you can change your current level and bring it down all the way to level 1). Decreasing your level means more enemy drops such as Yen (currency of the game) and more PP Points, however the battles can be more difficult and you might find yourself getting the game over screen often (I played the game on low level and found the challenge and extra enemy drops to be more rewarding and besides once you figure out which Pins to use the game isn't that hard, of course the same can't be said of boss battles).

Playing the game (food): Food is a vital part of the game to raise the stats of your characters. Each character is allowed to have 24 bytes of food each day. Each food will have the number of bytes listed and in order to digest the food you will need to fight battles equaling the number of bytes of the food. Reminder that your limit for 24 bytes disappears the next day (real time) and you can start the process over again.

Misc: The story starts off way too quick for anyone to follow, but it does unravel itself so you'll need to play to find out what's going on. The graphics are very good for the system and I have to say the art is done very nicely. Soundtrack is another great feature for this game as it features J-Pop and Rock music. Also, the battles feel refreshing since you are fully in control of the battle unlike many traditional RPGs where you choose what you want to do.

So far I have to say I am impressed with this game. It has a very interesting battle system and it takes skill to control both characters at the same time. Also, the game takes place in Japan so those unfamiliar with the culture will get to understand a bit of Japan. Even though I've had good things to say about the game so far that doesn't mean the game is perfect, here are a few gripes for the game.

The battle system takes time to learn especially when you are controlling both Neku and Shiki. Controlling both at the same time can take a while getting used to and many might find this a bit annoying especially when you are dealing with a group of enemies. Activating the fuse skill is even more annoying since you need to guess the right combo to obtain the right card. This is especially annoying when your attention is on the top and Neku is getting pummeled. Other than that the story and setting might turn some people off especially for those who are into fantasy RPGs (e.g, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Breath of Fire, Tales of Destiny, etc.)

I personally thought the game was executed very well and it definitely warrants a purchase for those who are fans of RPG. My score remains the same as before.

Spectacular

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 18 / 25
Date: April 24, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Square Enix comes out of nowhere with The World Ends With You, which ends up not only being a spectacular RPG, but also ends up being one of the absolute best games available for the DS. Taking place in Tokyo, you start out playing as Neku, and are forced to complete tasks. Failing to do so will do nothing more than just erase you from history is all. Though you can't really tell from that small synopsis, The World Ends With You features a dynamic and engaging storyline that draws you in, as well as some rich characterizations. The first thing you'll probably notice is that the game features some simply gorgeous art design and stylish presentation. The game also features an innovative and easy to get into combat system that is a breath of fresh air for portable RPG's, and the uses of the touch screen are wonderfully done as well. As a whole, The World Ends With You makes great use of the DS' technical aspects, possibly the best uses that a third party game has done for the system yet. If there are any drawbacks to The World Ends With You, it lies in the game's Tin Pin Slammers mode. While it is just a fun little extra, there isn't really much to it. Other than that though, nearly everything else here is flawless: the music, the character animation, the effects; things couldn't be much better. All in all, it's rare that a game like The World Ends With You comes out of the blue and ends up being something so special. That alone makes the game worth owning, and here's hoping that this is the start of a bold new franchise that can only get better and better from this point forward.

Excellent new RPG from SQUARE

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 12
Date: April 23, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I have been waiting for this game for over a year now, ever since I saw Square was doing an RPG for DS designed by Tetsuya Nomura (FFVII). I must say the wait was worth it. This game has some of the best 2D mechanics on the DS system. It is set in modern day Shibuya, Japan (the shopping district) and you control a band of hip kids who find out they will be erased in 7 days if they do not eliminate "noise" from the world. The controls require a learning curve, but it's nothing the average teen or adult can't handle. There are over 300 different attacks you can learn through the use of "buttons", not to mention buffing your character with different clothing and food items. One of the best thought out RPGs for a handheld system ever, and definitely worth a purchase.

Amazing game! It's a blast!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: April 25, 2008
Author: Amazon User

SE delivers again! This game is absolutely amazing. It's fun and challenging. The graphical style is sweet and the sound... The sound is so good they released the soundtrack on itunes.

I wish they would have included graphical change on clothing styles since it does play a role in the game. I understand it's not necessary but it would've been a nice addition.

For those of you thinking this game is only for kids, it's not. I'm a 30 y/o guy and find this game to be one of NDS's overall top ten.

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