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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.

Worth the Wait!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 7
Date: April 25, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Totally amazing game. After anticipating the game to hit the shelves, I raced to the nearest best buy and bought myself a copy, and I must say this game was well worth the wait and money. One of the best games for DS on the market, so this is a must have ^____^.

excellent action RPG that lets you choose your play style

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: April 25, 2008
Author: Amazon User

The best thing about this game is the combat. It is excellent, if you don't mind working fast with both of your hands at the same time (one on the stylus, one on the keys). The depth is very impressive for a DS game. Furthermore, you can really challenge your skills by reducing your level and increasing the difficulty (yielding better drops). Monster behavior is quite diverse, and if you want to excel at combat, it will take you a lot longer than just finishing the storyline.

That said, if you can't stand button mashing, you might be frustrated at times. Also, ultimately you are still bound by the rules of RPG -- regardless of how good your skills are, you can always achieve all the game's objectives by simply putting enough time into the game.

The storyline is very good, but the characters are barely decent (or worse, depending on your taste).

The game has a lot of unique features that are just fun to learn about.

Music is excellent if you like j-pop. Overall feel and quality of the game is also excellent, despite being set in a modern Tokyo (which is kinda less fun than middle-earth dungeons and dragons, IMO).

Overall, I consider it one of the top DS games.

You can read more about this game at the general and gameplay wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_Ends_With_You
http://twewy.wikia.com/wiki/The_World_Ends_With_You

The World Ends if you don't buy this game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: May 01, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I'm not sure who comes to Amazon looking for advice on which games to get, but I can't say enough good things about TWEWY. It has, quite literally, the very best battle system I have ever played in an action RPG, not to mention one of the most demanding- in battle, you control characters on both screens at once, and though it may seem overwhelming (and in the beginning, it very well may be), you'll soon be chaining combos and earning pins at an astounding rate.

Don't let this end up on a "Great Games Nobody Bought" list- it deserves better.

Absolutely amazing

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: April 27, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I Love this game so much! It's so original and just takes full advantage of everything that the DS can do. The game is a little tricky to get used to but it really eases new players into it. You get to choose your level of difficulty at any given point in the game. You decide how easy or hard the game is going to be. You also choose when and who you want to fight. There are NO random battles to drag you down in this game. I would recommend this game to anyone who is looking for a new and great RPG.

A unique game on a unique system

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: May 02, 2008
Author: Amazon User

It's kind of difficult to be a gamer in the next-gen era since there's just so many games that it is kind of difficult to invest the kind of hours a game requires since there is so many games that interest you and with work, school etc taking up time as well, it can be tricky trying to play everything that comes down the pipe. Strange as it is, I haven't played much DS games but not for lack of games but just lack of funds. I thought I'd give The World Ends With You a shot and while I wouldn't say it's one of my favorite games on the DS, it's sure quite fun to play anyway.

Story: You play as Neku, a kid who is more comfortable being by himself and doesn't want to rely on anyone (a kid after my own heart, it seems). He awakens in the Shibuya District in Tokyo with amnesia and no clue of how we arrived. Soon, he receives a message to be somewhere in 60 minutes or face erasure. With the ability to read minds and teaming up with a young girl, Shiki, Neku has to complete various tasks and take on numerous creatures lest he face being erased.

Graphics: The game's graphics go for more a presentation rather than really going all-out in terms of the visuals. With character designs from Tetsuya Nomura who worked on various Final Fantasy games and the movie, the game takes on a comic-book feel mixed with 2D graphics to create the world which is quite inviting and certainly never boring.

Sound/Music: The voice acting is kind of scattered with voice clips and sentences now and then as well as the occasional "huh?" when a character's confused or surprised. It works well within the game though too bad it wasn't voice acting the entire game. As for the music, it's a good mix of J-Pop and Rock and even though I wouldn't really call it a buy or even download-worthy but it works quite well and I never felt like I had to put on my own music.

Gameplay: Most DS games use either screen as a map or extra gameplay features such as accessing special attacks or character stats. This game however requires both to fight as Neku and his partner have to battle the creatures on both screens in a sort-of tag team as Neku battles with the stylus on the bottom while the partner takes on the same enemy with the D-Pad or the face buttons on the top. Beat an enemy on one screen and it disappears from both screen so coordination and combos are extremely helpful. In fact they're kind of a necessity since successful attacks will pass a "puck" to the other player and keep it going long enough and better attacks will form. I will admit at first it was hard to keep track of both screens but while I still got hit quite a bit, I became a lot better and with the game's adjustable difficulty menu (the "harder" you make it, the better items and EXP you get) so it's best to start slow.

Neku uses attacks based on "pins" which are basically equippable moves that can level up the more you use them. One requires a vertical slash with the stylus to cut enemies while another can allow you to nab cars and other objects and fling them at enemies. Tap repeatedly for bullets, drag to create a fire trail or slash vertically to create ice columns are just some of the special attacks that you can utilize. If you don't have a screen protector yet, buy one since the action can get quite scratch-heavy and a protector will help. Another is that it's very easy to miss your enemy and with a usage timer that has to recharge before you can use it again, you'll probably rely on a certain set of pins for best in battle.

Other things can be used such as shops where you can buy clothing and wearing certain clothing in certain areas will give you bonuses since you're more "with it". It is isn't like say San Andreas where you can make your guy super muscular or ridiculously fat but it gives more options for strategy and gameplay changes. Other things like eating food which takes time to digest which will also give you stats help with playing the game and the customizing and new game+ features help the game feel more fresh the more you play. A word of caution though: this game can easily kick your *** if you're not careful and I often found myself being attacked from all sides on both screens because my eyes or fingers weren't fast enough but not to dissuade gamers from picking it up since it is fun and certainly different than "press X" gameplay but it took some getting used to.

There's games that are a bit more niche audience and more for a certain kind of gamer but I'd say everyone needs to at least play The World Ends With You at least once. Not just for the uniqueness of it but the possibility after all the weirdness that you just might end up loving it.

Wow! Amazing game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: May 10, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I have to say... this game is one of a kind. It can be extremely easy or pretty difficult, and it all depends on you.
the combat system is pretty awesome. Using pins, though, kind of reminds me of using cards (like in kingdom hearts: chain of memories.) Still, the game is a fresh take on a classic genre.
Though the plot is a little linear, you find yourself growing attached to the characters. And who could beat that music? I find myself humming it when I'm not playing!
This is great for a casual gamer, as well as serious. It's a lot of fun!

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