VideoGame One of my favourite games from the DS and in general.
Decided to rewrite the whole thing because the original review was frankly a piece of garbage.
TWEWY is kind of a special game for me. It's my favourite game, and while it's not perfect, it's very close to it.
But why is do I think it's almost perfect?
Let's start with one of the biggest strengths the game has. Gameplay.
The gameplay is very innovative and makes great use of both of the DS' screens, with the lower one being the one you use to control Neku, our protagonist, with the stylus and the upper one the one where you control Neku's partners with the D-Pad.
This is compounded by a system in which YOU choose your attacks with pins. Yes, pins. These pins have different effects, like summoning three ice spikes or setting the ground on fire. Attacks also have different forms of activation based on different uses of the stylus, such as cutting on the screen or just maintaing the stylus pressed against the screen. Partners also have different combo attacks you'll use to build their Fusion pin, which when touched will do an attack that'll cause tons of damage.
Another great strength TWEWY has is its story. It revolves around the Reapers' Game, a game in which the dead participate to attain a chance to revive. Our protagonist, Neku, wakes up in one of these without memories, and from there he must survive the week with his partner while doing missions ordered by the Game Master of the week. Neku is an emo, there is no questioning it. But the story really goes the extra mile, to say in some way, to make him break out of his shell and make him stop being such an antisocial douchebag, like he started being.
Characters apart from Neku are (mostly) well written. Shiki, Joshua and Sho are my personal favourites. But why mostly?
There are still some characters that A. get almost no development (Higashizawa, Rhyme) or B. just serve as hate sinks that aren't even likeable (Konishi). I know that you can't develop every single character, but these three are supposed to be MAIN characters. This is mostly the point that makes me think this is an almost perfect game. If they just wrote them a teensy bit better, I'd think this game is perfect.
Next up, music. The music in this game is fantastic. It's full of J-Pop and J-Rock, genres which I personally heavily enjoy, so I might be a bit biased in this, but general opinion seems to say that the OST is great, and, like I said, I agree. There's not a single forgettable track in the game. Even the shop themes are great! Graphics are... good, I suppose. They had to make do with the DS graphics. But the really good thing is the artstyle, by Tetsuya Nomura, whom you might know by his work on Kingdom Hearts. From what I've seen from the Switch version, I deduce the graphics are good. I was running out of space to write stuff so the sections cut short. All in all, I love this game. Go play it. Right now. Please.
VideoGame Final Remix review
So, I first played the original DS game back when it came out in 2008. I'll admit that I had some trouble (only getting through the first 3rd of the story before discarding it — partially due to personal problems), but I liked what I played of it. 10 years later, and I've discovered one of the battle songs has been a persistent Ear Worm, which I couldn't place.
Aesthetically speaking, the game itself has a unique Urban Fantasy anime style (which I didn't see again until Splatoon, of all games), an amazing soundtrack and the gameplay is addictive in a way that has both depth and breadth in the battle system. I've never played the mobile version (which the Switch port is based off, as it shifted the gameplay to work on one screen). On the whole, it's a good game, and that doesn't need reiterating (check out the other reviews on here).
So, what does the Switch version offer? The bonus content is just as compelling as the main story, and provides a Sequel Hook (come on Squennix, don't leave us hanging!), the remixes and new tracks are fantastic, and the option to play on a large screen is...there, I guess.
The only bugbear is the gameplay; you can play the Switch in portable mode, which functions more or less like the mobile version. I mostly played it in full screen mode, which uses a Joy Con as a pointer (with a button to move the curser to the middle of the screen and another to represent pressing):
- YMMV a lot on whether the pointer is better or worse than using a touch screen. For my part, I found it a massive improvement on the DS original's resistive touch screen, so whether you prefer it is a matter of...er...preference.
- The card selecting minigame becomes harder (as you can't see every card at once on a larger screen and the pointer is a little slower to move into place than just tapping).
- You'll find it easier on your off hand (since you're not holding the DS/Switch in your other hand).
- The two player co-op mode allows a friend to grab the other joycon and control whatever partner you have at that point in the story (or you to control both at once, if you're some sort of superhuman). Just remember you'll be a couple of hours into the story before it becomes an option.
- Items from the pay-to-play features of the mobile version have been redistributed (and the item shop character's become a character in the bonus content)
All in all, the Switch version doesn't offer that much more if you've got the DS or mobile version already (the bonus story content's all over the internet now), but if you've lost/traded in your copy and want to play again, are playing for the first time, or happen to be a massive fan and want to support the franchise, this is the definitive version.
VideoGame Welcome to Shibuya...
This game is unlike no other I've played, in terms of both story and the uniquely innovative gameplay. The World Ends With You has a surprisingly well-thought-out story of hope, motivation and trust.
Good:
- The main characters are extremely well thought out and the lead shows a surprising amount of Character Development.
- The background characters all have their unique personalities, and each has their own sense of style.
- The story, whilst a little short for what we're used to from Square Enix, is still a compelling play, and requires several playthroughs or use of a Wiki to understand fully.
- The soundtrack. It is quite a marvel of itself, and reflects a range of genres, so there's always one song you'll find yourself hooked on.
- The fact you can buy clothes from regular shops is a marvel, but what else for an RPG set in contemporary Shibuya?
Bad:
- The story. If you are looking for a meandering, breathtaking saga of a story, you've come to the wrong Square Enix game.
- This may be nitpicking, but the partner system. While forcing gameplay change and forcing you to change strategies, it's a bit fustrating to have someone you're comfortable with swapped for a completely different-handling character.
YMMV:
- The dual-screen battle system. I have no particular opinion on this, as it varies depending how badly I'm losing. It may be confusing to new gamers, and while the game eases you into it, ultimately you can only focus on one screen at once, and this can become a stumbling block in boss battles.
- The collectables system. If you are not a 100% completionist, it likely won't interest you.
- Leveling up your attacks. This is implemented with three kinds of weapon exp, all with different ways to earn it. The inclusion of a DS wireless communications only weapon exp is another stumbling block for those without friends with DS' and have to rely on random encounters.
I extremely reccomend this game to those who are seeking for something completely new in gameplay, style and a story quite unlike any other.
VideoGame This Ain't Your Grandpa's JRPG...
Excuse the corny metaphor, but The World Ends With You is really an experience unlike any other. It might be slightly short, but the story and gameplay are both innovative and incredible. It's difficult to know where to begin with the pros and cons, but here we go.
Pros
- The characters seem like real people. Rather than getting grim, angsty warriors/chosen ones, we get regular modern-day teenagers who struggle with identity issues, responsibility, etc, just like the rest of us. They seem very authentic... and they can still be pretty badass.
- The story, while on the short side, is unique and compelling, with a whole bunch of clever twists. It may take three playthroughs to completely understand it, plus there are bonus pieces of the story to unlock after you've beaten the game.
- The battle system never gets dull or boring. There are literally hundreds of ways to attack enemies, and every single stylus technique known to game-dom will be utilized by the different pins you can equip. Customization for battles is practically endless. 300 different pins is a lot to choose from.
- The soundtrack kicks ass. I'm not kidding. If it isn't the out-and-out best soundtrack for a videogame, it's at least the coolest. You'll have plenty of crazy catchy rock, hip hop and J Pop tunes to accompany you through the streets of Shibuya.
- Buying designer clothes is this game's answer to the RPG tradition of buying armor and robes. It's original, works very well, and fits the mood of the game perfectly. Have fun collecting all the threads from thirteen different clothing brands.
Cons
- If you want a grand, sweeping, multi-world, hundred-hour epic a la Tales Of Symphonia or Final Fantasy X, you may be a little disappointed. Like I said, the story is kind of short for an RPG, and you'll never leave the Shibuya district of Tokyo.
- No voice acting beyond the occasional gasp or grunt and a handful of battle quotes. The characters will also say something when you give them something to eat, but it's not much. Fortunately, you'll never get tired of hearing, "It's a party in my mouth!"
- The sheer amount of extra stuff to collect (pins, threads, swag, etc) can be overwhelming. This is a good thing for some and a bad thing for others.
This game comes highly recommended. Check it out and experience the most original RPG ever created.
VideoGame An RPG Like No Other
I fondly remember The World Ends With You as one of the best RPGs on the DS, not just because it's well-made, but because it's innovative and goes places that few others go, resulting in a unique and memorable experience.
The game not only takes place in a modern setting, but in the real location of Shibuya, Tokyo. A teenager named Neku wakes up in the Scramble Crossing, being attacked by monsters called Noise and unsure of how he got there. As a misanthropic loner, he must learn to trust and work with his fellow Players if he wants to survive, a process that involves hardship and personal growth.
The story is deep and complex, featuring a relatively small but engaging cast. All the main characters undergo significant Character Development, while the minor players can be surprisingly complex. Not only is the main plot engaging, featuring a lot of plot twists and a struggle between multiple schemers with competing agendas, but it also features subtly effective foreshadowing, making it worth replaying.
The combat system is unique and uses the DS well. You use the stylus on the touch screen to use Neku's "pins"- basically weapons with various forms of attacks that go into a cooldown after being used enough- and the D-pad or ABXY buttons to control his partner on the top, alternating between the two for maximum effect, a system that is efficiently designed. Each of the partners has a unique playstyle, and while some can be difficult to master, the different partners give the game variety.
The clothing you equip not only increases your stats and provides special abilities, but also affects the trends of an area(you get benefits for wearing the most popular brand), giving many options and rewarding those who choose their gear intelligently. You can also increase or lower your character's level, and the greater the difference between your current level and your maximum level, the more drops you get. That said, the level slider doesn't make as much of a difference as you think since most of your stat points come from eating food (which is digested after winning battles) and your equipment.
On the downside, there's a lot of grinding involved, especially if you're going for 100PercentCompletion. This is likely because for the most part, you have to actively seek out Noise by scanning, as opposed to games in which battles come from Random Encounters or enemy avatars. It's a good change of pace, but you will still have to seek out battles in order to be strong enough to progress through the story. The postgame has some interesting sidequests, but you'll have to grind if you want 100PercentCompletion.
In addition to its strong story and gameplay, the game has strong aesthetics, with excellent character designs and enjoyable contemporary Japanese music for the OST. TWEWY checks all the boxes when it comes to making a quality RPG, so I highly recommend it.