What's the result of a combination of a Japanese RPG, with a catchy soundtrack, and awesome gameplay? Sheer brilliance.
Graphics: They are very well elaborated and appealing. Everything is so precise, you'll go crazy looking for those tiny details. The first impression I got of the graphics is something very laid back and graffiti themed, which a touch of gangster writing. Don't get me wrong - Square Enix have pulled something very original here, and it's a plus. Pseudo 3D looks great here, which I cannot give less than 10/10 for the originality.
Sound: My, we have had some games with simply awesome soundtracks on the DS, and this has got to be one of the best, if not the best, soundtracks I have EVER listened to. It fits the game's theme perfectly, and is neither intrusive to the gameplay nor shallow so that you notice it. Takeharu Ishimoto composed a masterpiece, and it deserves to be recognized as so. 10/10, without any doubt whatsoever.
Gameplay: Well, the story is very deep and an key element to the game. Once again, SE are worthy of a praise, as its very original and interesting.
You are a boy called Neku, and you team up with other Players to play a 7 week long game by the Reapers. Each day, the mission they give you is different, and you (or other Players) must succeed to go on. Otherwise, you are erased and lose the opportunity to get your life back (yes, you are dead and to have another shot at life, you have to play the Reapers' game).
Enough of the story, lets move on to the key aspects of the game. The battle mode, while having a bit of a steep learning curve (because you'll have a battle on the top and one on the bottom simultaneously), so you'll have to look at your HP bar to make sure your partner isn't suffering, otherwise you risk being erased. It will beep when your HP is low, though.
Also, you earn pins by battling and doing other quests to aid you in battle. Some pins have the ability to evolve, and so they need one of the 3 kinds of Pin Points to do so. The BPP (represented in blue in your Pin PP bar) are the Battle Pin Points, and are gained by battling and erasing Noise (those are your enemies). SDPP (Shutdown PP, represented in green) are gained when you turn off your DS and go do other stuff. Finally, MPP (Mingle PP, in red) are obtained by Mingling with other people.
You can also buy clothes and other equipment in shops, do quests, and a huge variety of other things, provided you have money. I'll give a 10/10.
Replay Value: With the tons of features that the game stuffs you with at the beginning, and the amount of pins available to train, you'll perhaps find yourself overloaded. However, the game (and I) advise you to take things with ease, because you aren't obliged to learn everything at once. Take one step at a time, and you'll see yourself as a Pin master in no time!
It also offers tons of things to do, so you'll never get bored. Mingle Mode is very interesting; however, even if you don't have a partner to mingle with and need to evolve your pins using so, the game generates aliens (virtual characters) that award you 100 MPP each. The icing at the top of the cake would be global WiFi, but that isn't present. If it would have been, this category would have deserved a 10. 9.5/10, still.
To sum it all up, the combination of a Japanese styled RPG, with a truly brilliant soundtrack, appealing graphics, and excellent gameplay is called The World Ends With You.
It's certainly the hype of the moment and will be remembered as one of the best games on the DS. Possibly one of the weirdest (in a good way) RPGs ever made, but truly a must to play for any fan. It's so complete in every way, you'll love it!
Absolutely recommended!