bit-tech Shopping: Square Enix The World Ends With You (DS)

Rating: 10

Time with product: 3 Months

Strengths: Great storyline and graphics, innovative use of dual screen

Weaknesses: Limited number of saves (1 per cartridge)

Summary: In The World Ends With You, you play Neku Sakabara, a teenager in Tokyo who plays 'The Reapers' Game' which gives him missions to complete within an allotted time. Failure means that he will be wiped from existence. You must join forces with other characters and together battle the hoards of enemies who attack you. The game makes fantastic use of the DS's dual screens, having a combat active on each. The bottom screen is controlled through the stylus and touch pad while the one on top is controlled through the d-pad. You have to control both characters in real time and they share a common life pool, so you can't simply sacrifice one to focus on the other. The pace can feel incredibly frantic as you switch back and forth, but it's also very rewarding when you have the rhythm down. Luckily, you can adjust the difficulty of the combats if you find that one of them is too much for you.As the storyline progresses, you'll collect more 'pins' with which you can make stylus attacks as well as other equipment (clothing). There are multiple endings and so plenty of gametime and playability.

Rating: 8

Time with product:

Strengths: Great Graphics, Unique Touch Screen Gameplay, Great Story

Weaknesses: Dual Screen Fighting can take some time to get used to

Summary: The World Ends With You is another great RPG from Square Enix and this time it takes place in Modern Day Japan which is a nice change from their usual Final Fantasy universe. The game has a lot to do like collecting different pins and outfits for your characters and the unique use of the DS touch screen for the battles suits this game well. If you are a fan of the more recent Square Enix action RPG titles, The World Ends With You is another great release especially on the DS since you can take it with you anywhere and enjoy.

Rating: 10

Time with product:

Strengths: A unique and refreshing RPG out of left field and one of the best games on the DS

Weaknesses: None, except that it may be brutally difficult for some players

Summary: The World Ends With You is a unique DS role playing game that may just be one of the best games on the system. It stands apart from many RPGs (on any system) for several reasons. The first is that it is not set in some mythical kingdom of elves and trolls, but in modern day Japan. But there's more to it than that. While exploring the streets of Tokyo you don't simply look in barrels for items or talk to static characters like in many RPG's. You can actually go into the mind of your character and via his telepathic ability read the minds of those around you by literally touching their thoughts (with the DS stylus). Another unique element is that your character will gain experience while your DS is turned off - that's right, the game keeps track of the real time between plays and you gain some (not a lot) of experience for each break you take. Another unique element is that you can decrease your character level or increase the difficulty in order to have a better chance of finding rarer items. In order to get some of the best stuff this is a necessity and will really keep you thinking as to when to lower your level (thus decreasing your stats and making battles much harder) and when to power back up. You can also reap great rewards by chaining battles together. The most unique aspect of the game is also the most important for any RPG - the battle system. This game uses a dual-screen, dual-character battles that simply couldn't be done on any other system. You control your main character on the touch screen via the stylus while also controlling his partner on the upper screen via the d-pad. This is an entirely unique and challenging way to fight. All of the unique elements of this game (and I didn't mention many others including the food aspect where you are limited in how many bites you can take per day as well as the mingle mode where you can pick up items and experience from other nearby DS systems playing wirelessly even if they aren't playing this game!) add up to an entirely original and extremely creative experience. The only downside to the game is that it is definitely on the challenging side and requires a firm commitment to learn its battle system and delve into the depth of its gameplay. But do so and you will be rewarded.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 3 Months

Strengths: Music, unique action RPG elements.

Weaknesses: Doesn't feel awesome.

Summary: I want to love this game, but it falls short of really pulling me in. The main character is a cliche, quiet loner, offset by a perky female supporting character. They must work together despite being polar opposites. It's a decent dynamic, but all too common. The designs are also a bit anorexic, even for my anime-favored tastes. Other than that, the characters are colorful and hip, matched by the music and some ok levels. As for the gameplay mechanics, the stylus actions are well mixed as there are different ways to trigger each of the different powers.I have to appreciate this for NOT being the typical fantasy epic. For that, I was very satisfied to play this game and experience something different.

Rating: 10

Time with product:

Strengths: An excellent, unique J-RPG game, high-quality at all levels exploring themes of time and survival

Weaknesses: None unless you dislike coolness

Summary: Tetsuya Nomura (see FF7 + Kingdom Hearts) continues to deliver games with miles-ahead-of-the-curve innovation, creative departures from the JRPG standards which are so easy for other developers to fall prey to (myriad monsters, dungeons, and a bratty princess tossed-in-the-mix). This game is no different; it explores the modern urban J-pop youth culture that American audiences may know vaguely from watching anime (see "FLCL," "Airgears," "Shakuga No Shana" or "Haruhi Suzumiya") and such (or other games like the equally excellent "Jet Grind Radio" or the more recent and also stellar "Persona 3") which is captured perfectly from the music to the uber-style clothes to the search for meaning amidst-chaos and angst felt by the protagonist. Ok, I am getting side-tracked and long-winded: this game is awesome. Buy it! It will be a RARE HTF game before too long. It is well-worth the current price tag. Ah, battle system. It makes use of the Nintendo DS well, fighting takes place on the two screens, to attack you have to do motions on the touchscreen or even shouting into the microphone. Elements of J-youth culture, like fashion, food, and cell phones, are all over the place on the missions. The character designs are amazing, typical Nomura high-quality. So get it already : ]Nerd Trivia: Released in Japan as Subarashiki Kono Sekai/This Wonderful World. "World ends with you" sounds better to me : ) Commonly abberviated TWEWY.