TWEWY
SCORE: 60
This game is a bit different. To fully review the game, I need to look at it from two different views.
For the secular world, this game is the tops, probably the best DS game in existence and certainly in the top 100 games of all platforms of all time. Gameplay is absolutely unmatched; it comes with some learning curve, but once you get it down, the game is a true blast to play. Sounds are good for the DS. Graphics are detailed for the DS. Square decided to go for a rougher/tougher look that will definitely offend families. Replays shine strong too, with enough unlockables that 100 hours is not overkill, and you can expect more like 150 – 200 hours to 100% complete the game. If you can stomach this game that long.
Even with all that said, the best feature is still unnamed. That is the story and characters. Few games I have played in my dozen or so years of gaming can top this. Each character is fleshed out with background stories that develop over the game. Any gaps for story purposes are even explained in the reports one unlocks after beating the main game. And the story really impressed me. Twists you’ll never see coming show up in hoards, yet every last one makes perfect sense. The writers really turned the game from great to simply incredible! They are almost as good as our EIC with his books.
However, this worldly greatness comes at a steep cost. The entire game is based on the idea of reincarnation. There is a false god-like character called the “composer” who runs things, along with “angels” to watch over the world. The worst offender is the “Reaper Creeper,” which just as easily could have been called an Ouija Board, which a couple of missions are based on. One of the songs supports abortion. And, expect somewhat frequent swearing. Another thing of note is the use of “psychs” to do battle.
Now, if you can manage to sift through all of that, you can also find some okay messages in the game. In fact, the name “The World Ends With You” is the central idea, that of Neku changing his opinion of others and opening up to them, broadening his world. There is also a LOT on trust in this game. One of my personal favorites is how a character changes jealousy into a reason to aim higher in her own life. The swearing has quite the sting, at least for me, even when I realized just how extreme their situation is.
You’d be hard-pressed to find better
production values than this game. However, I cannot recommend it for
kids. Adult gamers may want to play this hand held game for its depth. I
would recommend passing on this game though.
- Brian
{Update} This game contains multiple instances of pro sexually deviancy.
Graphics: 56%
Sound: 55%
Replay/Extras: 72%
Gameplay: 71%
Family Friendly Factor: 45%
System: Nintendo DS
Publisher: Square Enix
Rating: 'T' for Teen
{Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes}
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