The World Ends With You Review

 Young me I'm sorry, you were right, the week 2 boss was obnoxiously hard

The World Ends With You (Which I will be shortening to TWEWY from here on out, pronounced teh-woo-wii) is a urban fantasy JRPG originally notable for being a breakout hit on the DS. Making ample use of the split screen to augment the story and gameplay while even featuring a predecessor to streetpass built into the game itself. I've replayed the game on the Final Mix release on Switch, which while changing up a lot of the gameplay and being a little iffy on the control side. Offers a co-op mode that, if played with a controller in each hand, appropriately simulates the originally game's split-focus action gameplay in a way to not detract from the story.

In a lot of ways, that first paragraph really sums up why it's hard to write a review of TWEWY. Not only were it's defining gameplay features limited in both console and time (good luck naturally getting the streetpass esque encounters in 2023) but the plot itself hinges around a mentality that, in my eyes, was at it's strongest in the era it released in. Add in the hook of being focused around a city/urban environment and the culture and people that tends to foster and you have a game that will hit wildly differently for nearly everyone who plays it, no matter when that may be. It hit for me, but I can distinctly remember those days as they were core years for my own youth and development.

So, I suppose the main thing to address with this review is obvious. Should you, reader, pick up this highly praised and beloved JRPG and play it in modern day? Is it a game that had it's time and is only worth it for the nostalgic? Should you just jump to NEO TWEWY and enjoy that, which I've not experienced but I've heard good things about?

If I were to answer, I'd say it depends on a few different things, but not so many I couldn't try to help. If you remember mid-late 2000s anime and gaming culture, as well as the general vibe of the world at the time. You'll probably find this game a delightful throwback to that era even in it's switch form, with a solid story and game build around those ideas.

If anything about the game super appeals to you on it's own, the aesthetic, the music, the split-character gameplay. You also won't be disappointed, the game uses all of that to it's fullest. Just make sure you're playing the most appropriate version for what you enjoy (That is, either Final Mix solo co-op, or maybe just original DS with a few modern day cheats to avoid the issues that crop up)

Lastly, if you either live in a city environment, like big big city culture, or have ever struggled with misanthropy and isolation issues in the past, the story of the game may speak to you even stronger and make it extra worth a look.

All in all, TWEWY is fantastic, but hard to pin down in modern day. I think it's still well worth the playthrough, but I couldn't see myself recommending it as a MUST GET like I would've for the DS way back when. NEO? Well that one remains to be seen.

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