The World Ends With You….

Despite the doomsday connotations associated with those words, it is nothing more than the latest DS title coming in Spring 2008 from Square Enix.

Previously released as Subarashiki Kono Sekai (It’s a Wonderful World) in Japan, The World Ends With You is set in modern-day Tokyo, and tells the story of a boy named Neku who uses his psychic powers to manipulate people and read their thoughts.

The game‘s main storyline focuses around Neku receiving a text message telling him he only has seven days to live. Taking major influence from Japan’s modern day culture including its people, music, clothes, food and design, Neku can save himself if he collects fashionable clothes and friends. Sounds a lot like real life for a teenager to me.

Game details are listed after the break.

Here are the full details of the game pulled from straight from Wikipedia which seemed to have much more information than Square Enix.

Most of the gameplay focuses on finding clues and battling Noise. Players can use Neku’s mindreading abilities to hear people’s thoughts by using the touch screen of the Nintendo DS. The game’s combat system, called the “Stride Cross Battle System”, uses both screens of the Nintendo DS. Neku has three partners, one in each and specific chapter of the game. The player can freely choose which partner to use, once clearing the game. One of the three partners is displayed on the top screen, while Neku is displayed on the bottom. Battle actions take place simultaneously between both characters. The touch screen is used to move and attack with Neku, whose abilities depend on the badges equipped. On the top screen, movement can be controlled with the D-Pad, which is tapped for specific techniques.

The game is divided into three chapters, and an extra story is accessible after clearing the main game and fulfilling the reports from all days. There is a badge collection system that allows players to use new abilities by collecting badges scattered throughout Shibuya, obtainable either through defeating Noise or purchasable in stores. Different badges allow Neku to use a variety of new abilities. Players can buy clothing and food for Neku and his partners in the stores located all across Shibuya, to increase their Brave points, offense and defense points, or synchronization percentage.

HP between Neku and his partner is shared, and when Neku and his partner lose all their HP during battle, the game is over. The player is taken to a selection screen to choose an action: retry the battle, retry the battle on Easy Mode, flee from battle (unavailable for key boss battles and when black Noise symbols are chosen for battle), or return to the title screen.

Players can also play a mini-game named Marble Slash, a game similar to the Western marble game ringer. This is played by dragging and clashing badges to knock off the opponent’s badge off of the arena. Each badge has different weight and special attacks.

Thanks: Wikipedia