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[Belts On] The World Ends With You
randombattle
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I've noticed a severe lack of discussion about this game despite it being so close to release. Lost in the sea of Crisis Core buzz perhaps?
Also known as It's a Wonderful World or That DS game by the Kingdom Hearts Guy.
Who cares about boxes! What's the story?
Wikipedia states
TL;DR
This game is a lot like recent release FF7 : Crisis Core. It's broken up into linear chapters where you watch a cutscene, run around in a series of areas, and fight some random monsters. The twist comes from the Reaper's Game. In each 'chapter' you are given an general overall mission like the aformentioned "Reach building 104." If you fail to complete a mission in the time it gives you.. well you gotta reload from the last time you saved. Luckily your cellphone has a clock on it so you always can keep track of the time. Though it's never as simple as just walking down the street to your mission objective, thanks to the Reapers who stand in your way. They do this by sending monsters called Noise (yes like static noise) at you.
Which brings you to the games most interesting feature.
The battle system.
Now this game uses both the stylus for battle and the d-pad with the L or R buttons. And you use both to control the two characters simultaneously. On the bottom screen you control one of the main characters, Neku, and on the top you control the second main character, Shiki. Neku uses the touch screen to attack his enemies depending on the type of pins he has equiped. Some allow you to draw a line through your enemies to slash them like a sword swing and some allow you to tap an enemy to shoot a blast at them. Shiki, being on the top screen, uses psychokinesis on her stuffed animal to attack enemies in with a combo system. Depending on how well you combo with Shiki you can unleash a combined attack with both characters in a cinematic special move.
Whats important about the two screens are that Shiki does not show up on the bottom screen and vice versa. The enemies aren't in the same spots on either screen, however if one enemy is on the bottom screen he will also be on the top screen and enemies on both screens share the same health bar. So if tactics is your thing you can attack the same enemy with both characters at once to decimate them.
So I just spam the attack stylus command and chug potions?
Not quite. Like I said Neku's attacks are determined by which pins he has equipped. As you progress you might find good pins dropped from random monsters, or bought in stores. But if you want to get ahead of the game you can level up your pins and even evolve them into better pins. Each pin has it's own XP bar that increases 3 different ways. By using it in battle, while you aren't playing the game (yes the game will level you up while you have it shut down upto 7 days worth of xp), and by using the WiFi trading system. Pins level up different ways too, some might increase their damage when you level them up, and some might let you use them more often in battle.
Luckily the game has it's own pokedex in the game that lists which monster drops what and at what level, and since it also tells you the drop rates for the items you found. It keeps grinding to a minimum. And if something still isn't dropping enough awesome loot you can decrease your level and turn up the difficulty to increase the drop rate and change the item drops.
It's nice to be able to pick when you want a hard fight for maximum loots and when you want to just get on with the story.
Thats great and all but how does it look?
One word.
Outstanding.
Much like the GBA Kingdom Hearts game this is almost entirely a 2d game. It uses 2d sprites for all the characters and objects in the world, laid on top of a panoramic 3d background.
Check out these images for proof.
Looks are for shallow people! What about the sound!?
The World Ends With You features fully vocialized music tracks for almost every song. If you are a fan of Jet Set Radio and Hip/Hop/J-Pop then you won't be disappointed here. If you aren't well give it shot because some of the songs are pretty damn catchy. How about an example? Characters also have voice work but only for a few key lines and battle commentary. If you were to ask me I'd say everyone's voice fits them well and there doesn't seem to be any terrible Capcom quality dialog.
All in all your standard high quality work I think everyone expects from SquareEnix now a days..
But I hate belts and zippers!
Actually despite the what the topic says the KH/FF costumes made entirely out of belts and zippers are not present in this game. The main character even comments on his lack of zippers during a few of the dialog scenes.
So rest easy this game is light on the retarded costumes and for the most part people wear normal clothes.
Ok sounds great! When does this come out?
If you happen to live in Japan then last year.
If you happen to live in the UK then RIGHT NOW! Shocking but yes the UK actually gets this before the states!
If you live in the USA then Also right now! : For those looking to get this with out the SquareEnix price hike you can pick it up on sale at Circuit City for 30$
If you live in Australia.. hahaha why are you playing games!?
Wikipedia states
Wikipedia wrote:Neku Sakuraba, a 15 year-old boy with a hobby for music and graffiti, wakes up in what seems to be the Shibuya shopping district of Tokyo, Japan. With no idea why he's there, he opens his hand to realize he is holding a strange black pin. After flipping it with his hand, the thoughts of the people surrounding him began to flow into his head at once. Surprised, Neku discovers he is able to read the minds of others, and assumes it has something to do with the black pin he is holding.
A cellphone starts to ring in his pocket, and he can't tell whether it is his or not. A text message appears: "Reach 104. You have 60 minutes. Fail, and face erasure. -The Reapers". After discovering he can't delete the message, a timer of 60 minutes imprints onto his right hand. Neku is in Shibuya to play the "Reapers' Game", which spans a total of 7 days. All Players of the Reapers' Game have a black pin with a skull embedded on it. The Reapers' Game has certain rules, which prevent him from leaving the Shibuya district. If Neku doesn't complete the game, he will be stricken from existence along with Shiki Misaki, a girl who is another Player in the game. Shiki and Neku forge a pact to work together with her for the week.
The Reapers monitor the duo's actions and invite them to dangerous and difficult tasks. In order to survive, Neku and Shiki have to defeat the "Noise", physical manifestations of people's negative thoughts and feelings. The Noise are based on animals such as pigeons, wolves, and bears and can also take the forms of objects and historical monuments in Shibuya. Neku's psychic talents are essential not only to gather clues and hints from the people, but to also detect the Noise that sweep through the roads of Shibuya. During their week in Shibuya, Neku and Shiki run into other people who have become involved in the Reapers' Game.
TL;DR
Story shmory! How's it play?If you were to think of what would happen if Kingdom Hearts and Jet Set Radio had a lovebaby that was more serious and darker then it's parents you wouldn't be too far off. Theres a fairly hefty amount of violence and swearing for a game of this style but it all works well given the source material. The characters are actually pretty interesting and the game is translated very well. Though if you are one who hates anything related to Japanese culture then this game isn't for you. It borrows heavily from the underground atmosphere the game's local is known for.
This game is a lot like recent release FF7 : Crisis Core. It's broken up into linear chapters where you watch a cutscene, run around in a series of areas, and fight some random monsters. The twist comes from the Reaper's Game. In each 'chapter' you are given an general overall mission like the aformentioned "Reach building 104." If you fail to complete a mission in the time it gives you.. well you gotta reload from the last time you saved. Luckily your cellphone has a clock on it so you always can keep track of the time. Though it's never as simple as just walking down the street to your mission objective, thanks to the Reapers who stand in your way. They do this by sending monsters called Noise (yes like static noise) at you.
Which brings you to the games most interesting feature.
The battle system.
Now this game uses both the stylus for battle and the d-pad with the L or R buttons. And you use both to control the two characters simultaneously. On the bottom screen you control one of the main characters, Neku, and on the top you control the second main character, Shiki. Neku uses the touch screen to attack his enemies depending on the type of pins he has equiped. Some allow you to draw a line through your enemies to slash them like a sword swing and some allow you to tap an enemy to shoot a blast at them. Shiki, being on the top screen, uses psychokinesis on her stuffed animal to attack enemies in with a combo system. Depending on how well you combo with Shiki you can unleash a combined attack with both characters in a cinematic special move.
Whats important about the two screens are that Shiki does not show up on the bottom screen and vice versa. The enemies aren't in the same spots on either screen, however if one enemy is on the bottom screen he will also be on the top screen and enemies on both screens share the same health bar. So if tactics is your thing you can attack the same enemy with both characters at once to decimate them.
So I just spam the attack stylus command and chug potions?
Not quite. Like I said Neku's attacks are determined by which pins he has equipped. As you progress you might find good pins dropped from random monsters, or bought in stores. But if you want to get ahead of the game you can level up your pins and even evolve them into better pins. Each pin has it's own XP bar that increases 3 different ways. By using it in battle, while you aren't playing the game (yes the game will level you up while you have it shut down upto 7 days worth of xp), and by using the WiFi trading system. Pins level up different ways too, some might increase their damage when you level them up, and some might let you use them more often in battle.
Luckily the game has it's own pokedex in the game that lists which monster drops what and at what level, and since it also tells you the drop rates for the items you found. It keeps grinding to a minimum. And if something still isn't dropping enough awesome loot you can decrease your level and turn up the difficulty to increase the drop rate and change the item drops.
It's nice to be able to pick when you want a hard fight for maximum loots and when you want to just get on with the story.
Thats great and all but how does it look?
One word.
Outstanding.
Much like the GBA Kingdom Hearts game this is almost entirely a 2d game. It uses 2d sprites for all the characters and objects in the world, laid on top of a panoramic 3d background.
Check out these images for proof.
The World Ends With You features fully vocialized music tracks for almost every song. If you are a fan of Jet Set Radio and Hip/Hop/J-Pop then you won't be disappointed here. If you aren't well give it shot because some of the songs are pretty damn catchy. How about an example? Characters also have voice work but only for a few key lines and battle commentary. If you were to ask me I'd say everyone's voice fits them well and there doesn't seem to be any terrible Capcom quality dialog.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LYw2xCuFZggAll in all your standard high quality work I think everyone expects from SquareEnix now a days..
But I hate belts and zippers!
Actually despite the what the topic says the KH/FF costumes made entirely out of belts and zippers are not present in this game. The main character even comments on his lack of zippers during a few of the dialog scenes.
So rest easy this game is light on the retarded costumes and for the most part people wear normal clothes.
Ok sounds great! When does this come out?
If you happen to live in Japan then last year.
If you happen to live in the UK then RIGHT NOW! Shocking but yes the UK actually gets this before the states!
If you live in the USA then Also right now! : For those looking to get this with out the SquareEnix price hike you can pick it up on sale at Circuit City for 30$
If you live in Australia.. hahaha why are you playing games!?
Sorry Australia... 
Gaming companies just don't like you. But i still do..
Gaming companies just don't like you. But i still do..
I never asked for this!
randombattle on
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The battle system sounds fun, and reminds me of some Mega Man-esque game that I remember seeing a preview of like a year ago but never heard anything since. It was like Chronos Twins or something.
XBL - Foreverender | 3DS FC - 1418 6696 1012 | Steam ID | LoL
Reminds me of Jet Set Radio
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
But for this yeah you would be kind of fucked. If you own a DS you should own this game. No questions about it.
I never asked for this!
Might wanna look at that box art again.
I said for the most part.
I never asked for this!
out... now...
in the uk?...
probably then it's out here in Ireland...
YOU FUCKING BASTARD!!! I THOUGHT I HAD SETTLED INTO A NICE, NON-GAMES-BUYING EQUILIBRIUM WHERE I CAN CONTENTEDLY PLAY AND ENJOY THE GAMES I ALREADY HAVE, WITHOUT THAT CONSTANT THIRST FOR MORE!!! AND NOW...THIS? WHY WOULD YOU BRING SUCH A THING TO OUR ATTENTION? (caps)
Honestly, compared to the normal Beltanzipper designs that Nomura throws around with wild abandon, these are pretty goddamn subdued.
I still think the giant pizzacutter sword with what looked like a stack of pizzas in a belt holder was hilarious.
Platinum FC: 2880 3245 5111
Not actually Nomura design (at least I don't think so, it seems someone named Ryoma Ito did them), but yes, as far as unfortunate character designs go, his may actually overshadow Nomura's, adding belts and zippers to much loved, unzippered characters notwithstanding...
ERAU QSSI DLRO WEHT
Everyone gives S-E shit for rehashing/recycling, but personally I've always enjoyed the massive spread of differences in play and atmosphere from their titles, even more so in the past few months.
Anyways, like Maximum Zero, I think my main reason for wanting this game is mostly for the awesome art style. I just love the look!
J-rockin or bopin, but still.
Let's just say that the characters fit the game really well, and from the little I played of it was quite frantic and fun.
Interesting stuff at the SE site for once!
http://member.square-enix.com/na/features/wewy/02/
http://member.square-enix.com/na/features/wewy/
mmmm... Hips. Loves me some hips.
PSN: Dyvion -- Eternal: Dyvion+9393 -- Genshin Impact: Dyvion
Platinum FC: 2880 3245 5111
Is that a skirt? I thought it was jean shorts... those things are painted on nowadays anyway.
PSN: Dyvion -- Eternal: Dyvion+9393 -- Genshin Impact: Dyvion
Link to a roundtable discussion and chapter 1 of the official 2 chapter manga.
Also the OST will aparently be DLable from iTunes or the SE E-Store.
Platinum FC: 2880 3245 5111
It's a vicious cycle.
People in Japan (at least the fuckers I know) lord over me the fact that they get all the games I want to play months in advance, sometimes sending me scraps that they are done with.
I, being an American, take this anger and hold it over the Europeans. This was especially fun to use on Euro Nintendo fans, as some shit took years to come out if at all.
Now we have proof that at least one person is doing the same thing to the ultimate video game bitch of them all.
Brazil?
Hmmm.
Reviews are remarkably positive, too.
EDIT: A fairly glowing review from IGN UK: http://ds.ign.com/articles/865/865109p1.html
8.9 / 10, with a "buy this game" recommendation.
I'm still going to wait to hear what you folks have to say, but I'm basically sold on this game. It looks like a total blast.
Will this game be enough compensation?
*cough*
"YOUR LIGHT HEART'S LIGHT WILL BE FILLED WITH A DARK HEART'S LIGHT AND YOUR HEART SHALL BECOME DARKENED WITH THE HEART OF DARKNESS ABLOOBLOOBLOOBLOO"
...charming dialog similar to Kingdom Hearts?
Well it seems to me that darkness hearts dark darkness hearts Kingdom Hearts dark.
White FC: 0819 3350 1787
I'm a few hours into it and it's written quite normally. There hasn't be any really ridiculous "I SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONE TO FILL YOUR DARK SOUL WITH LIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!!" type scenes. Which does make sense seeing how the main characters are just supposed to be normal people so its right for them to talk like normal people and not go on about dark light dark hearts of light darkness.
I can honestly say this is probably my favorite DS game I've played so far.
I never asked for this!
Also, their schools need a uniform policy somethin' fierce.
This isn't about the stereotypical super powered school students.
I never asked for this!
They fight grim reapers.
I never asked for this!
Seriously, it's very, very good. Unless you have some pathological aversion to anything Nomura's touched - "BOOTS ZIPPERS LOL" idiots stay away, in other words - you should play this. The stylus controls alone pound Phantom Hourglass into a small hole in the ground and leave it there whimpering in shame. Looks and sounds beautiful, hugely distinctive, tremendous fun to play, tons of stuff to collect... buy it, so Squenix make more of this kind of thing. They're treating the DS like royalty at the moment and I don't want it to stop any time soon.
Read my book. (It has a robot in it.)