The World Ends With You

[Dopples]

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bi ... _front.jpg[/img]

It's being called the most original thing outta Square-Enix in years. It's recieving pretty positive reviews, and was featured as EGM's Handheld Game of the Month. To be fair, it does start off cliche. You control a little emo twat named Neku who has amnesia, and has a gigantic "I'm more important than you" complex. That said, the setting is in Modern Shibuya (It's the Hollywood of Japan), where noone can see him, and he can't leave. Soon, he finds himself a part of the "Reaper's Game", which is basically a fight for survival. I won't spill anymore details about the story, but Neku does meet his share of friends who can see him, as well as enemies who can too.


What really sets TWEWY apart from the rest of the RPGs out for the DS right now is the battle system. It's a bit hard to explain, but this screenshot should help.
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/20 ... een001.jpg[/img]
If you can't tell from the screenshot, the battle system uses both screens at once, which can be a bit overwhelming at first. But it's actually quite easy to relieve the stress. Basically, you directly control Neku with the bottom screen, and do attacks based off of what badges he's wearing and what kind of movements you use with the stylus. The top screen show's the player's partner. You control the partner by pressing the arrow combinations to make them attack, depending on what symbol you land on. It's hard to get a hang of, so you can set it to auto so you can focus on Neku.

So yeah, discuss.

 

[Marcus]

So yeah, discuss.

I hate Nomura's style and cannot stand his asymmetrical designs and belt fetish.

Personally I think the game is an almagamation of bad ideas with lots of LOL WEIRD thrown in to please that little crowd who refuses to play anything that's "too mainstream" but I openly admit to preordering this game and fully paying it off.

 

[Dopples]

So yeah, discuss.

I hate Nomura's style and cannot stand his asymmetrical designs and belt fetish.

Personally I think the game is an almagamation of bad ideas with lots of LOL WEIRD thrown in to please that little crowd who refuses to play anything that's "too mainstream" but I openly admit to preordering this game and fully paying it off.

Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of his style either. However, I can look past it, considering the game itself is very fun. I didn't play much mind you, so I don't know how it is throughout, but what I did try out was pretty rad.

 

[moog]

So yeah, discuss.

I hate Nomura's style and cannot stand his asymmetrical designs and belt fetish.

 

[Skyla Doragono]

TokyoKenshin, try actually saying something instead of quoting people.  You'll look like less of a twat.

Anyway, I got this as soon as it was released overseas, and enjoyed it almost immediately.  The game is oddly addicting and challenging at the same time.  The shop system is interesting, forcing you to buy stuff and making the shop keeper love you so you can unlock the full potential of the items you buy.  Like Dops said, the battle system can be confusing, but it doesn't take long to get the hang of it (and of course, there's enough tutorials to help you along the way).

 

[arcthemonkey]

There is nothing particularly "asymmetrical" about the designs of the characters in this game, and there is only one or two belts to be seen. Seems something is irrelevant :P

Also, I want to play this but i have no money

 

[moog]

TokyoKenshin, try actually saying something instead of quoting people.  You'll look like less of a twat.

Uh, maybe I was agreeing with Marcus? Maybe theres a slim chance thats why I quoted him =\

Either way, I dont like this game very much. The battle system was kind of an immediate turn off, but ill agree that the designs werent as recycled as Nomura usually does (thats why I hate him so much)

Overall, I wouldnt tell someone not to buy it, becuase my friends loved it so I guess this is just me. Oh well.

*goes back to playing FF Tactics*

 

[Marcus]

There is nothing particularly "asymmetrical" about the designs of the characters in this game, and there is only one or two belts to be seen. Seems something is irrelevant :P

Also, I want to play this but i have no money

I'll admit it's not as bad as, ugh, Kingdom Hearts' art design but Nomura likes giving everyone belts, HUGE FUCKING POCKETS, bigass shoes, and the asymmetrical design was a nod to his "Let's add ONE accessory like a bracelet or shoulder pad on one side of the body... but not the other.  FASHION!!!" 

But yeah, this game isn't zipper + belt crazy like other Square games.

 

[arcthemonkey]

I've always liked his designs. They are unique, but they all retain a definite style. The same can be said for most artists.

 

[Souloux]

im gonna give the game a chance before i decide if i like it or not.

 

[Harvest]

Who the heck says "Twat" anyways?  Even my British friends don't.  XP  I see it on BBC sometimes though.

Anyways I'm pretty much agree with what's being said.  The style is not in my taste and he loves belts and pockets too much.  It's not bad, just not in my taste.

 

[Dopples]

Dunno if it's my place to say this, but this thread was more for discussing the game, not the artist's style. I'm sure a seperate thread for that would be suitable, but please don't post it here.

 

[Meness]

I fell in love with this game the moment I heard of it, and during then, it was still Japan-only. I myself like the battle system, something fun to play with. Everyone should give it a try, it's addicting.

Off-Topic:
I <3 Nomura's design style, although I must say, he did really go overboard with the zippers in Kingdom Hearts (almost all the characters clothes have it).

 

[BellGoRiiing]

At first I thought this game was going to be boring and overrated and stuff...but after reading a review of this game (jut look at the crap-load of features! lol) I'm thinking of getting it. How well does this game do with the difficulty, I heard its actually on the harder side?

 

[Skyla Doragono]

It is pretty difficult.  It eases you into the game play pretty well, but by the third mission you're pretty much on your own.

 

[Marcus]

Dunno if it's my place to say this, but this thread was more for discussing the game, not the artist's style. I'm sure a seperate thread for that would be suitable, but please don't post it here.

yeah well the art is part of the game.  i have every right to say how ugly the grainy sprites are juxtaposed against the blurry backgrounds.

and the intro, my god, the intro.  if you can actually make it past the stupid intro then there's a somewhat decent game to play but MY GOD THE INTRO IS MIND WRACKINGLY DUMB.  it's made even worse because the main character is the typical 15 year old japanese emo and every other sentence is "LEAVE ME ALONE GET AWAY FROM ME..."

basically, if you hated SQUALL (...whatever...) then you will absolutely hate Neku.  The dude even loves listening to bad j-pop and graffiti GOD I WANT TO REACH INTO THE GAME AND PUNCH HIM IN THE FACE

 

[Cruelty]

looks really japanese(akaGAy)

 

[Prexus]

Aside from Neku being a terrible lead (lol fanservice to emo asian fever white boiz), this game is rediculously fun. I just today loaded it up and I love the comic-book esque graphic style and the music is energetic and great, mixes perfectly with the style of game and the battle system. I could easily see myself sinking 40+ hours into this game.

 

[Trevlac]

I dunno, I found this game amazingly refreshing and got super OCD about making myself trendy, getting good equips, eventually mastering the two-battle control style, and owning one of EVERY pin. In fact, I beat it without accomplishing that and now I'm playing through with a guide to make sure I get them all.

The thing is, at first this game put me off because the art and music didn't jive with me, but the gameplay made me feel like I was really in this Shibuya shopping district and the art and EXTREMELY repetitive j-pop music grew on me.

If this had a sequel the only thing I'd ask for more of is: Change the character sprite to reflect what you wear. It was hard to justify wearing things because they look cool and I ended up wearing stuff I didn't like just because the stat bonuses were better.

 

[Dopples]

I'm a bit more forgiving of Neku by the end of the game, since you find out

Spoiler

that Neku was chosen by the Composer to defeat Kitijani (Can never spell his name. His nickname is Shades in the game) because of his emotions. Since Psychs are controlled based off of the user's emotions and imagination, it actually makes sense why he was chosen. Also, his character matures by the end of the game, which made him a bit more likeable.

Oh, and am I the only one who found the extra chapter insanely weird...?