The world ends if you do not play this game
The World Ends With You (WEWY) starts fast and doesn't let go. The story doesn't present a grand and sweeping narrative where an unwilling protagonist eventually saves the world or universe. Instead, the game takes place in modern Tokyo and your character Neku receives a message on his cell phone. "Clear this mission...or face erasure" - The Reapers - a mysterious organization that controls a parallel world called the Underground and issues missions to the Players including Neku in what they call The Game. Eventually you meet other Players who are in the same universe hoping to scramble down the streets trying to solve various missions after another. Although the purpose of these missions doesn't initially appear obvious, one thing is clear. If you don't complete the mission, you die.
In the world of WEWY, everyday life goes on in the Realground (i.e. real world) and Players cannot be seen by people in the real world and are stuck in the Underground. In the Underground, Players can scan the streets and the people of Shibuya and look for Noise - negative feelings of people in the Realground a.k.a. "monsters". Scanning can also reveal the thoughts of the non-player character in the Realground which may help to progress the plot. It also reveals random Noise symbols that drift about the area, or in some cases, float around a specific character.
Once contact is made with the Noise it is usually defeated by "erasing" them. Based on the Game's rules, Players are required to form a pact with another player to survive the Noise. This is where WEWY's bread-and-butter dual battle system takes place. On the top screen, you are using the button's or the directional pad to control 1 of 2 characters. On the bottom screen you are using the stylus. "Erasing" is done through the use of Psych abilities and the use of Psych Pins which are activated through a combination of button pushing and specific gestures of the stylus. In any case, you will find yourself going through intense tapping, swipping, and mashing of the directional pad. Even the microphone is used as well. But it's not just a bunch of random scribbling, yelling and mashing. It's a coordinated attempt of attacking the Noise which involves careful planning and strategy.
What's really interesting about the battle system is the feature of the adjustable battle settings. In WEWY, fighting the Noise is never a frustrating affair. Prior to battle, you can adjust your Level Gauge. Your Level Gauge determines the amount of loot, money and experience you get from erasing the Noise. The higher the gauge, the more difficult and lengthy the battle pans out but the rewards are much greater. And if you think the gauge is set too high and overestimated your power against the Noise, you can escape the battle at anytime with no penalties, adjust the gauge, change Psych Pins and jump back in the fight! However, there are a few seldom cases where you cannot escape (i.e. boss). If controlling two players wears you out, you can also setup one of your Player friends to Auto-play and just worry about one of the screens.
WEWY's battle system is incredibly deep but not complicated. The battle system is rich with original concepts that work very well and introduces many different scenarios against the Noise. Each Player (character) you make a pact with also has a very different feel on the battlefield. Overall, the battle system is never stale and each Psych Pin and Thread (armor) you use can change the properties of your attacks.
This is many different games at so many different levels but seemlessly blends them all together into a cohesive experience. By the time you are several hours into the game, you will be going through twists and turns, play Tin Pin Slammer, collect hundreds of Psych Pins, solve puzzles, fight many memorable foes and forge relationships with many Players.
It's a shame that many DS gamers have overlooked such a hidden gem. The World Ends With You should be considered a classic among the hardcore gamers looking for that unique experience. It's innovative, engaging, deep but most importantly, entertaining.
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