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How Metascores Are Calculated
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1 vs. 100
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
The story begins as our hero, Neku, wakes up amidst the hustle and bustle of Shibuya, Tokyo. Confused and disoriented, he receives a message on his phone warning him that he will cease to exist unless he completes a certain mission. With his life seemingly on the line, Neku plunges into the back streets of the urban labyrinth... Experience the urban grit and neon of the coolest district in Tokyo with a distinctive, high quality style of in-game artwork. Meet an achingly hip cast of characters each with an interesting personality and stylish sense in fashion, music and culture. Highly innovative and intuitive combat system that makes full use of the Nintendo DS Touch Screen, Dual Screens and Microphone. Use psychic powers to read the thoughts of the population, put words into people's minds, and move objects to help you progress in your adventure. Immerse yourself in an amazing audio soundtrack featuring a diverse fusion of bleeding-edge hip-hop, rock, and techno. A tale of friendship, hope and overcoming your challenges, creatively told with a modern edge. Shop till you drop: Keep abreast of the latest Trends to stay one step ahead of the fashion scene and your enemies. Trade items with friends using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection too. Action-packed minigame fun that can be enjoyed by up to four players via DS Wireless Play. Engage the Chance Encounter mode via DS Wireless Play to share data with fellow game users you bump into in the real world. [Square Enix]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 100
G4 TV
Games rarely have things this interesting to say or approach them from this outlandish a vector. Listen up.
 100
GameShark
The game hits the mark on virtually every point and its unique blend of fashion savvy, fast paced combat, OCD inspiring item management and audiovisual presentation should not be missed.
100
Gaming Age
TWEWY is definitely the current reason to own a DS right now, and you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you choose to not check it out.
100
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Addictive gameplay and stylish content make this the perfect handheld complement to your all-night Grand Theft Auto sessions.
100
Gaming Nexus
Don't let The World Ends With You pass you up as it is easily the best DS title released in the last two years.
100
Nintendojo
The World Ends With You stands tall as both a compelling piece of interactive art and a brilliantly designed and executed game.
96
GamingTrend
It's rare to find an RPG for a handheld system with this much content. There's so much video game joy here that you it should satisfy just about any RPG gamer.
95
Console Gameworld
One of the most fun, addictive, out-of-the-box RPGs since Earthbound. If you can handle the hardcore learning curve, the payoff is terrific.
95
The New York Times
A remarkably deep and complex game. It is as though the designers sat around thinking of every possible feature you could have in a role playing game and then managed to squeeze them all in.
95
GameZone
Not only is the gameplay built from the ground-up for the DS, but the story is actually about something – not just orcs and elves.
93
Worth Playing
The World Ends with You is a game that every RPG fan who owns a DS needs to have.
91
Game Revolution
With its frantic dual-screen battles in a dense little city, The World Ends With You is a surprisingly hardcore, impossibly ambitious DS title. This pint-size powerhouse might sadly intimidate a few DS owners and their Pokeymans. Don’t get scared off; put down your Zeldas and your juice boxes for two minutes and try taking on The World.
91
IGN AU
This is going to be the cult-hit DS game of 2008. Jupiter and Square Enix have developed a game that nails just about everything it tries – and it tries quite a lot of new or carefully lifted ideas.
91
1UP
This is a game that works precisely because it's something new and different, and deserves to be celebrated for its originality...and for making its more banal moments as compelling as the inventive ones.
90
Games Radar
The World Ends With You is an amazing marriage of style and gameplay. The dual screen combat further stretches what the DS can achieve in gaming that is far from a lame gimmick.
90
GameSpot
The World Ends With You is a compelling and immaculately presented RPG from start to finish, and is a great way for Square Enix to kick off a new franchise.
90
Play Magazine
I celebrate this game, and congratulate Square for having the courage to localize a piece that is so thoroughly Japanese. [May 2008, p.64]
90
GameTap
And while it all seems a little hokey or emo (as the kids call it these days) at first, The World Ends With You is actually one of the most interesting and gratifying experiences I’ve had with an RPG in years.
90
GamePro
The briskly moving plot and the unique battle system adds up yet another winner for Square Enix. [May 2008, p.82]
90
Thunderbolt
As far as handheld RPGs go, it doesn’t get much more original than this.
90
Nintendo Power
Thw World Ends with You may not have a big name like "Final Fantasy" or "Kingdom Hearts" attached to it, but it certainly deserves the same kind of success. [May 2008, p.87]
90
IGN
Few games make it into the "amazing" category in our opinion, but with a game that sets as many standards, breaks down as many walls, stomps as many preconceptions, and offers as much depth and versatility as The World Ends With You, we simply can’t consider it anything but exactly that.
90
Gamestyle
The World Ends With You is one of the best games of the year without a doubt. A fantastic plot with an amazing cast of character bring this virtual Shibuya to life in a game you’ll definitely want to see through to the end.
90
GamerNode
The World Ends With You is hands-down one of the best DS games yet. It's fun and unique, and every DS-owning RPG fan needs to pick this up.
90
NGamer UK
The most exciting ds game we've played in ages. [June 2008, p.56]
90
Pocket Gamer UK
The Worlds Ends With You is a deep and multifaceted adventure with clever combat, innovative features and a worrying shop-till-you-drop addictivity.
90
Kombo
The World Ends With You is a very unique and stylish RPG that all DS users should try out, at the very least.
90
GameDaily
It's a convoluted story, but with intriguing characters, inspiring visuals and a stellar soundtrack, it's a journey worth your time.
90
n-Revolution Magazine UK
Thrillingly inventive, dazzlingly original. Makes all other handheld RPGs look stale and uninteresting. [Issue#23, p.76]
90
Gamer.nl
Even if you dislike Japan, J-Pop or anything that has to do with this country, The World Ends With You will appeal to you.
90
Gaming Target
I commend Square-Enix on bringing over a very niche title and taking the gamble with both the game mechanics and the audience.
90
Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
Square Enix proves that J-RPG doesn’t have to stick with a pre-formatted formula, offering a modern environment, a combat mechanic free of random encounters, and a adjustable difficulty that maintains the challenge to the player. Essential to all DS owners. [June 2008]
90
N-Europe
Fantastic visuals, a wonderful soundtrack and original and compelling gameplay make this a must-have gem for the DS.
90
AceGamez
The hardcore will love its every moment, but casual gamers looking for a gateway drug into the role-playing genre won't give it a second look; like an arthouse favourite or a good long book, it's slow to pick up but impossible to put down.
90
Gamervision
The World Ends With You is definitely not a game for everyone. It takes chances, it's bizarre, it's different, and it's difficult to even explain. However, it's also one of the best new RPG experiences I’ve had in the last few years.
90
games(TM)
The greatest strength of The World Ends With You is that, in spite of its genre-bending innovations, not a single new element has been introduced just for the sake of it. [June 2008, p.110]
89
IGN UK
Indeed, the game's appropriation of real-world themes and issues are at the heart of its success.
88
Official Nintendo Magazine UK
A highly original RPG that oozes class through the screens and speakers. The unique battle system is a great idea, despite being let down occasionally by iffy controls. [May 2008, p.87]
88
Games Master UK
A punchy young upstart like this is just what the staling RPG world needs. [May 2008, p.68]
88
Gamer 2.0
The World Ends With You is a game that's really hard to get into at first because of its bizarre presentation. However, the strangeness of the game is what really makes it stand out from any RPG—or rather, any game, that's come out before it.
88
Cheat Code Central
It is a great example of innovative gameplay, and though it might take a while to get a hold on the actual battle mechanics, once you get going, you won't be able to stop!
86
Electronic Gaming Monthly
It's not perfect, but it's refreshingly original. [May 2008, p. 88]
86
RPG Fan
My final thought on The World Ends With You is that it's a grower. I was not initially sold on the game, but as I sunk more time into it, the more it grew on me.
85
PALGN
The World Ends With you is easily one of the best and undoubtedly one of the most unique experiences available on the Nintendo DS. Despite a tough learning curve, we highly recommend this one-of-a-kind title.
85
AtomicGamer
Simply put, TWEWY is not perfect, but it brims with a style, depth and richness unmatched by any other RPG on the portable platform.
83
GameTrailers
From it's setting in modern Tokyo to its fast paced enemy encounters, The World Ends with You stands out as a daring and innovative franchise for Square-Enix, in spite of the main character's struggle with amnesia.
83
Game Informer
This is the stuff cult hits are made of. [May 2008, p.98]
82
Ferrago
All that said, this is a game that doesn't pander to the casual gamer. Those that persevere will however find a very accessible experience bubbling under the teen angst.
80
VideoGamer
It will please fans of all things Japanese the most and probably alienate others, but there's something about TWEWY that makes it just a little bit special.
80
Cubed3
But the eclectic mix of a new take on traditional RPG values, thoroughly modern settings, a funk-filled soundtrack and a completely unique battle mechanic pays off considerably, making the venture one that should not be missed by fans of the genre and newcomers alike.
80
Deeko
If you're looking for something different in an RPG then do yourself a favor and give this game a shot.
80
netjak
Overall, The World Ends With You is a shining example of what could be done on the DS.
80
Edge Magazine
When control is wrested from the narrative, the action mechanics are deep and interesting, making unique use of both of the DS screens at once. [May 2008, p.94]
80
Level7.nu
Its intense battles combined with the unique graphical look and equally unique soundtrack makes The World Ends With You one of the most interesting titles to grace the DS right now. If you're patient enough to handle the somewhat complex gameplay and the text heavy dialogue, this is a title you definitely don’t want to miss out on.
80
EuroGamer
It's bold, inspiring and bubbling over with dozens of ideas, any one of which would be cause for celebration in most games, but the over-reliance on a daunting sink-or-swim combat system that will leave many players gasping for breath ultimately counts against it. A truly brilliant game, it's just a shame that it couldn't ease off on the information overload and make that brilliance easier for everyone to appreciate.
80
GameSpy
The beautiful world, smart controls and surprising depth kept us coming back for more.
75
NintendoWorldReport
It's ironic, then, that the monotony of the new battle system still ends up being redeemed by a great story. And if great stories are your thing, The World Ends With You will warm your heart. If you are all about gameplay, you'll probably get bored fairly quickly.
70
Zentendo
It ultimately suffers from trying too hard to be innovative and forgets the important part of being user friendly.
Joe S. gave it a9: Peter F. gave it a10: William gave it a10: Adam F. gave it a9: Stephane J. gave it a9: Al R gave it a2: [Anonymous] gave it a10: |
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