Old game sparks new interest

Back in 2008, Square Enix released stateside “The World Ends With You,” an urban fantasy RPG for the Nintendo DS, and one of Square Enix’s first true new IPs in years. The game proved to be a sleeper hit and won acclaim from a number of publications as well as a surprisingly large fanbase.
When the Square Enix teaser for an upcoming project was leaked onto the Internet, multiple people were instantly taken in by the graffiti-inspired aesthetic and interpreted this leaked image as the announcement of a sequel to “TWEWY.” Cries of betrayal sounded the moment it was revealed that the announcement was for an iOS port of the game. While this reaction was immature, it also demonstrated how much of an impact Square Enix’s experimental RPG had.
One aspect of “TWEWY” that made it stand out is its choice of setting. The game takes place in the central shopping district of Tokyo, Shibuya. However, it is a realm parallel to the real world known as the “Underground” inhabited by monsters called Noise. The realm hosts the “Reaper’s Game” in which new arrivals to the realm, known as Players, have to complete objectives each day. This is all while being hunted by the Game’s enforcers, known as Reapers, or face being erased from existence. The most unique aspect of the Underground is the fact that various events in the real world can have an impact on the Underground and vice versa. The compromise between the real and fantastic elements of the setting is what makes it so fascinating.
Rather than a standard save-the-world plot, “TWEWY” focuses on the internal struggles of its protagonists as they overcome their personal flaws. This is exemplified in the game’s protagonist, Neku. At the start of the game, he comes off as unlikeable due to his insistence to keep himself closed off to others, frequently vocalizing his dislike of people and only seeing them as a means for his own survival in the Reaper’s Game. However, he ultimately develops into a likeable, caring individual. Admittedly there are flaws with the story; the scheme occurring behind the scenes of the Reaper’s Game proves to be incredibly convoluted and Neku’s development at times does feel rushed. However, a story that mostly forgoes world-saving for character development ultimately makes the plot very relatable.
Further diverting the game from JRPG archetypes is the intricate battle system. The battles take place on both screens of the DS with Neku occupying the touch screen while his partner occupies the top. Both have to fight enemies simultaneously in real-time. The whole system seems overly complicated at first, but the game does a fairly decent job of guiding the player through the basics through an extensive series of tutorials as new mechanics are introduced.
Capping off the experience in “TWEWY” is the phenomenal presentation. The game presents a unique art style reminiscent of street graffiti, juxtaposing stylized character sprites against drawn backgrounds that accurately capture multiple locales in the real Shibuya. Some of the character design admittedly dips into the “generic anime” category, but for the most part the character designs are also quite unique and attractive. Finishing off the presentation is a unique soundtrack that mixes a series of eclectic vocal songs that cover a surprisingly broad range of genres.
“The World Ends With You” proved to be a rare sort of game that managed to be both unique and a commercial success. Even better, it manages to stand by long established Square Enix franchises, such as Final Fantasy, despite not even being a series. It may never get a successor, but it will never be truly forgotten.