The World Ends With You Reviews

• Square Hits a Home Run

  
  By ARNEUO7BF3J55 on 2008-04-30
  The first thing that struck me about `The World Ends With You' is the high quality of the production values. This is a one slick looking game. The next thing that hit me was how complicated the game is. I tend to prefer simpler RPG's like Paper Mario and the fantastic Mario and Luigi games but once you get past the moderate learning curve this is an awesome game. It's also a game the devilishly hard to put down.
  
  As with just about every RPG ever created the meat of the game involves battles and leveling up. The action takes place on both the top and bottom screens. The top screen is managed using the directional pad while the lower requires the stylus. Players are given the choice as to which screen to control while the action in the opposite screen is taken care of by the system. I would generally switch back and forth in mid battle. The stylus attacks are more fun and powerful but the directional pad attacks can allow for devastating synced attacks. It all works very well and has yet to grow tedious. As a player gets more confident in fighting she can chain battles to fight multiple enemies in a row for greater rewards.
  
  The rewards for battles include the standard experience points, cash and treasure but you also get experience points for the pins you bring to the fight. Pins? Pins are a way to customize your attacks. By attaching one or more pins you can employ various attacks including flames, ice, bullets using motions of the stylus. Most pins are upgradable through experience and some even evolve into more powerful pins.
  
  The game I'm most reminded of playing TWEWY is the classic River City Ransom and that is high praise indeed. The game involves traveling around a city, fighting battles and purchasing clothes, foods and pins to increase your fighting abilities. River City Ransom was one of the all time great games and I always wondered why its formula wasn't emulated more. I'm not sure that the developers of The World had River City Ransom in mind when they created this game but it certainly was on mine while I played it.
  
  This is one of the best handheld RPG's I've ever played. The story is very good if a bit more verbose than I usually like. The best thing I can say about this game is I never got bored and that's not always the case with RPG's. There is so much character building in the game whether it be upgrading your pins, creating relationships with salespeople or just increasing your attack and defense stats. I would have to put this game in the must get category for RPG fans.
  
  

• Spectacular

  
  By AJKWF4W7QD4NS on 2008-04-24
  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.
  
  

• A True Masterpiece.

  
  By A3NBNFHS64JZPS on 2008-06-07
  I just wanna tell everyone about an EXCEPTIONAL game. From beginning to end, in every way, I found it to be a true work of art... in fact, the elements come together to make it one simple thing; a masterpiece.
  
  It is called The World Ends With You, by Square-Enix for the Nintendo DS. I won't go into details about exactly what happens... but just know, the plot, storyline twists, and character development are some of the best in any game I have ever played. They are on par with the best movies I have ever seen.
  
  The game takes you through a journey questioning what it means to be alive, and what the point of living truly is. It keeps you on your toes trying to guess the end, and in the final moments still leaves you absolutely shocked, and even leaves many points unresolved (but luckily you can go back after you beat it and complete tasks which answer these ideas which were vaguely laid out for you). It does so in a mind-twisting way that is so distinctively Japanese its brilliance is astounding.
  
  On top of all of that, it features an exceptionally unique art style, with an innovative and fun battle system. In fact, every system or menu in the game is extremely original, yet simple and easy to get a hang of. The music is also top notch (all sorts of j-pop & rock), and theres lots to collect and play with.
  
  Its rare I will praise ANYTHING this much... but this game rekindles that majesty Square used to be known for; the ability to touch the player with a story told not in a couple hours, but through a course of dozens of hours and countless interactive experiences. The ending, as well as several moments in the game, struck a cord with me and what I am dealing with in my own life. Almost never has a game been so inspirational and therapeutic, while completely avoiding sounding like a self-help book.
  
  The World Ends With You mixes fun and an incredibly powerful narrative into one interactive masterpiece. Its games like these that make me remember why I consider video games to be the most potent art form in our world today.
  
  

• Unique RPG for the DS

  
  By A2DDRD1JAGF5Z3 on 2008-04-23
  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.
  
  

• Excellent new RPG from SQUARE

  
  By A26O4ZLM3H7B3H on 2008-04-23
  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.
  
  
• Wonderful, but Repetitive and Linear
  By A29VN46Y8OFOB on 2008-04-28
  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.
  
  
• One of the Best Games on the DS! Get it while you can!
  By A17BS22BIO1QSE on 2008-06-03
  The game stars a young teenager, Neku, a kid sick and tired of the world and the people in it, who wakes up in a strange version of his hometown with all his memories gone. It turns out to be a game organized by a strange group that calls themselves "Reapers" where he has to work with this strange preppy stalker girl, Shiki, to win the game in 7 days or face "erasure"!
  
  The game play takes a little time to get use to, but feels extremely satisfying when you do get good at it. You control Neku at the bottom screen with the stylus and control Shiki at the top with the buttons, at the same time. This sounds a little confusing, at first but you quickly do get the hang of it, the game also features many ways to adjust the difficulty to your liking. You equip pins to modify Neku's psychic powers, most pins also have brands that get enhancements depending on the trends in your location. In fact, even the clothing that your characters equip get bonuses based off of the trends.
  
  The game even takes the ideas of trends and fashions and applies it to the art and music. It's soundtrack features a trendy mix of Hip-hop, Rock, Techno and JPop reminding some of other artistic games with trendy music such as Jet Set Radio. The art as well is hard and edgy, with many sharp edges and strange proportions, it definitely takes style and cranks it past 11.
  
  The only thing I can say where it lacks is the lack of a multiple player battle mode or co-op, (It features multiple player in the forum of a fun mini-game) and that it has only one save file. However with the intriguing story (with it's surprising plot twists), addictive gameplay, quantity of things to explore, collect, and customize, and killer sound track and art, The World Ends With You is a game you do not want to miss! (And with the game being hard to find you should check back as often as possible to see when it is available)
  
  A WARNING TO PARENTS: This game is rated T for Teen. Some games rated T are more okay for children than others, (with content matching what is often in children's cartoon shows despite being rated T) . This game however, is not the case, despite the kid-friendly design of the characters this game this game features a lot of STRONG LANGUAGE and ADULT CONTENT, and I strongly suggest this for ONLY AGES 13 AND UP.
  
  
• Amazing game! It's a blast!
  By A3Q0YHUSFHY8W1 on 2008-04-25
  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.
  
  
• The World Ends With You
  By AX1SGF7VI3RFZ on 2008-05-24
  Very complicated, and addictive. Takes DS gaming to the next level with innovative gameplay, and a unique storyline.
  
  
• Worth the Wait!!
  By ASH79IGSTQ7GZ on 2008-04-25
  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
  By A1FZGRPNC3XP32 on 2008-04-25
  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
  By A3Q3BB205ET4H2 on 2008-05-01
  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.
  
  
• A unique game on a unique system
  By A1AISPOIIHTHXX on 2008-05-02
  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.
  
  
• Zetta fabulous and fun
  By A2XH4YFBLK20OD on 2008-05-31
  First off, I will have to state for the record that The World Ends With You is the game that broke me into buying a Nintendo DS. I'd seen the previews when the game first was announced in Japan, and eagerly awaited its debut there and eventual port into English. I was not disappointed at all, and this game was well worth the wait.
  
  The World Ends With You is truly innovative gameplay from Square Enix, and I'd say it's one of THE games for a Nintendo DS. The controls are intuitive and work well with the touchscreen (slash for 'slashing' attacks, tap for 'bullet' attacks, etc.), but the top screen is not ignored. It takes some time to get used to watching both screens at once, but thankfully the game has Autoplay settings that allow the game to take over for you.
  
  Aside from the gameplay itself, TWEWY is full of fresh and appropriate music (you're in Shibuya, so of course there will be Jpop/Jrock). There is also tons of customization to be had, from the Pins you use (over 300) to the clothes you wear (laugh at the gothic loli dresses all you want, but they provide great stat boosts). There's even the Squeenix staple of a minigame -- Tin Pin Slammer -- that you can have fun with when you don't feel like slaughtering Noise.
  
  The 'time limit' of 7 days makes the whole game seem like it's going fast, though you can really take it at your own pace. Aside from the plot-related fights, all battles are controlled by the player, so there's no random encounters or turn-based combat. Even in these "7 days", the characters themselves are engaging and much more than they seem on the surface -- even the Reapers are different from each other and have their own quirks, and the NPCs you encounter are quite fabulous. While the main character of Neku Sakuraba starts off as a misanthrope, you can't help but get captured by his changes through the game; he's definitely not a static, cookie-cutter character.
  
  The World Ends With You is a great game, and I recommend that anyone with a DS buy it and enjoy it as well.
  
  
  
• Best Game on DS so far...
  By A2ET2I3NT4405H on 2008-06-01
  ... although I've only played six on the system to be fair. But the graphics are beautiful, the anime-type sequences are funny, and the pop music soundtrack is actually pretty good. The thing I like most, however, is how the stylus is integrated in the gameplay. All the other games I've played, and most I've read about, hardly use the stylus at all, or badly. The tap and slash stylus fighting is very intuitive, and the use during inventory screens feels quite a bit like my PDA. The use of the top and bottom screens during the battle sequences is fun, and controlling both characters during battle is challenging. The game doesn't force you to play both, however; there is an option to have the top-screen character auto-play, and at different speeds of takeover. The game also sports a sliding scale difficulty that can be used at any time. All in all, an extremely well-designed and beautiful game.
  
  
• Trust me, it's more than 7 days
  By A2QRLBVRHAIF13 on 2008-07-11
  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!
  
  
• You really have to dig anime to dig this game!
  By A1XWRLTW0YGB7V on 2008-07-26
  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
  By A23314SLHPAHAM on 2008-08-25
  I'm a big fan of dungeon crawls and RPGs in general. Some of my recent favorites are Rune Factory, Shiren the Wanderer, and the Zelda series. I love games with lots of secrets and long "checklists" of difficult goals to accomplish. I review from this perspective.
  
  TWEWY is quite different than the usual fantasy RPG dungeon crawl I enjoy. The action takes place entirely within an alternate reality version of downtown Tokyo (Shibuya). Despite that fact, I've played over 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. The game has a wide variety of "pins" (weapons) and monsters, both of which break up the monotony of combat somewhat. Also, there's a decent wireless minigame for 1-4 players. 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, the epitome of a "grind". 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 approximately 5,000 times (no exaggeration) -- and that's if you're good at the combat and know how to maximize the experience you get from it. 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, it is simply inconceivable that anyone could 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. Many secrets cannot be obtained unless you play via the DS wireless system. Even more secrets cannot be obtained except by *not* playing the game for days or even months on end. (Dozens of secrets only unlock if you leave the game shut down in specific states, and you have to leave it shut down for a *long* time. See my comment on this review below for a spoiler secret which can greatly help ease this frustration.) 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 maybe its the unabashedly massive grind, but for whatever the reason, I plan to finish this game for the plot but don't plan to recommend it to any of my friends.
  
  
  
• Absolutely amazing
  By A6EN42A8WQUBV on 2008-04-27
  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.
  
  
• The World Starts With You!
  By A3JY1I7EUEHAOY on 2008-05-14
  I was like the many who were not too sure about this game but heard enough good things to give a shot. BEST MOVE EVER! I am over 50 hours into a DS game and i'm not bored after the main game is over! Everything about this game is unique and refreshing. After you beat the game there is still much to do and accomplish. The combat does eventually get a little repetitive but different. This is absolutely a must buy!
  
  
• great RPG
  By A1ZFZAV2IGSOXO on 2008-06-26
  A lot has been said about the difficulty of this game, but I actually think that Square has done an amazing job making the game as user friendly as possible. The game is only as deep as you want it to be, rewarding harcore players while not scaring off more casual players; an amazing tightrope walk.
  
  The game is in fact very very easy if you play it as at your maxed out level on Normal. What is interesting is that you can change the difficulty and your level at will, making it only as hard as you want it to be. You get rewarded for playing it harder, of course, but the game really seems to want everyone to enjoy it and it doesn't feel like it's just punishing you for no reason (like a lot of japanese RPGs). Also your weapons level up when you're NOT playing the game! I know i've put down many RPGs and never came back to them because they were either too hard, or I thought I had forgotten the intricacies of the battle system. The game actually encourages short play sessions and makes you a little stronger every time you come back, which is brilliant I think.
  
  Overall I hope that this is future of RPGs (and not FF12 which is barely a game at all) and it proves that Nintendo is the true home of innovative game mechanics.
  
  
• Fresh gameplay, good story
  By A1XA3KFU6MP0FL on 2008-05-27
  Fun game with a lot of dynamics. There are a lot of gameplay components that can be a bit overwhelming at first, but the game eases you in fairly well. The story is well composed and well told. Highly recommended if you want a challenging rpg.
  
  
• Highly Impressed
  By A37XPEP2BHBI7N on 2008-05-28
  Honestly I have been un-enthusiastic about alot of the highly anticipated and hyped games for the DS system. I decided though that I would take a chance and try and fall into a game which is so highly stylized. I mean it, these characters look like hip-hop anime characters and I love it. The battle system at first seems a little tappy but soon the system evolves into a practical cornucopia of exciting and easy to use sub-interfaces. Blowing on it, touching it, slashes, dragging, its amazing. Please try this game.
  
  
• Amazing! Never would have thought...
  By A1UOG88WYUFIM5 on 2008-06-12
  I agree with the other reviews on this site. This game is truly one of a kind! I had never heard of this game before. After reading several reviews, however, I thought I would give it a shot. Wonderful story and gameplay. Definately keeps you engaged all the way through! I am much more of a casual game-player (being a young professional and all), but definately worth it!
  
  
• Excellent RPG!
  By A3PN0JG5MWJKZ6 on 2008-08-08
  I've never much been into RPGs, I usually get stuck or bored by the time I'm barely beyond the exposition. I read the reviews for this game and decided to give it a try based on all of the positive feedback. I have to agree that this is an incredible game for the Nintendo DS and in general.
  
  The storyline sucks you in, the graphics and music are top notch, and the game play is challenging (but not impossible!) at whichever level you set it. The battle/drop system also requires a bit of strategy, which keeps it interesting. I appreciate how the game fully utilizes the purpose of the DS by granting the ability to utilize both screens during battles and/or do battle with the stylus.
  
  What I most love about this game is that once you 'beat' it, it gives you more options to continue playing and opens up new part of each chapter to allow you to uncover more of the story.
  
  Overall, a very impressive game for the DS. I found it hard to put down the first time through, and now that I've beat it I'm very much looking forward to going back and uncovering the rest of the story and the final promised 'surprise'.
  
  
• Wow! Amazing game!
  By A1BYVG49FT57X3 on 2008-05-10
  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!
  
  
• Buy this game!
  By A273N7S4UCVGAM on 2008-06-01
  It is really good and lasts longer than you'd think. Definitely a great twist on RPG's. A lot to do and explore, music is nice. Buy it, you won't be sorry!
  
  
• My son was pleased with this purchase
  By A2T5X8W56JFU79 on 2008-06-28
  My son asked me to order this for him. He says he likes it and it is fun. There isn't anything he does not like about it.
  
  
• incredible new game
  By A29EKO07ZMB9V1 on 2008-07-05
  i cannot add much to the other well written opinions. if you haven't played this through past the credits, you have missed the best part of the game. i cannot recommend this game enough. (not for young players) i love the back story, and the extra day you get past the credits. this has to be the best all round game made for any platform, and i would not be surprised to see it be turned into a movie.
  
  
• TWEWY
  By A3E427O6R72MZQ on 2008-07-27
  TWEWY is a exciting new type of RPG. It has many new features never before seen in an RPG, and a must own. A few of the features are as follows.
  
  Pin System - Your main character, Neku, battles with "Pins". They range from being able to fire beams of energy, to being able to pick up and throw objects, to "Street Fighter" type close combat moves.
  
  Duel Screen Battles - You partner up with different characters throughout the game. You fight on the bottom screen, they fight on the top screen. You fight agains the same enemies, but you control both of your characters at once. Neku, your main character is controled by the stylus, and your ally is controled by the D-pad, (Or the XYBA for lefties)
  
  Food System - You consume food and raise your stats. It takes a certain number of battles to digest food, but when you do, you get a stat bonus for the rest of the game. You can consume up to 24 bites of food at the start of each day, the first 18 of which replenish each day, but you can always eat food with 6 bites or less.
  
  Clothing System - You wear clothing as equipment, and it gives you stat bonuses, but it also affects your pins based on the trends. Each area has different trends. Wearing the trend increases the power of your Pins in battle. You can also start your own trends by battling with clothing or pins that may not be trendy.
  
  Choose your level/Battle Chains - You gain XP and increase your "max level" throughout the game. Any time out of combat, you have a slider bar where you can choose any level below your max you want to fight at. In doing so, you increase the challange of battles, but increase the reward. You can also chain combats together to Multiply your reward. For example, your Max level is 10, you choose to fight at lv 8. That rewards you x3 the chance of loot (10=x1, 9=x2, 8=x3). Choosing then to chain 3 battles together (no break in between, and difficulty increases in each battle) would result in x9 chance of reward on every battle (3x3). Also, outside of battle, you can choose the difficulty of the battles, from "Easy, Normal, Hard, and Ultimate"
  
  
  That being said, TWEWY is a definate must own for any RPG fans. It is the most refreshing RPG I have played in years. It has a great story that unfolds as you progress through the game, so many inovative features, and has many options so you can set it to your own difficulty. There should never be a time when you get bored with the game being to easy, or frustrated with the game being to hard.
  
  
  

• Final Fantasy IV
• Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES
• Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
• Professor Layton and the Curious Village
• Advance Wars: Days of Ruin