The World Ends With You: Solo
Remix is an iOS remake of the cult hit Japanese RPG on the DS. The original
achieved very high review scores from critics and players alike, but didn't
achieve the sales it probably deserved, and the phone remake has not of yet
sold as many as some think it deserves.
The player controls Neku, a teenage introvert who appears to
have a hatred of everyone around him. Stuck inside a game where the only
options are winning or death, Neku is forced to team up to take on the 'Noise'
that run rampant through the streets of Shibuya.
In order to fight the Noise, the player uses a series of
swipes and taps to activate 'Psychs'. As you go further on through the game,
you'll notice yourself create your own fluid, rhythmic style, and will select
your psychs accordingly. What starts off simple quickly becomes complex, but
the learning curve is smooth enough to not put off newcomers. The only slight issue
is that once you get into a rhythm, it can become repetitive if you don't
change around, so the game throws new psychs at you to try and keep the game
fresh.
Graphically, The World Ends With You is fantastic. It uses a
unique art-style, that looks stunning and suits the smaller screen perfectly.
Despite the colourful cel-shaded style, it retains a serious tone.
The World Ends With You has a very abstract but interesting
plot that grips the player, and the dialogue is at times very funny. It's not a
laugh out loud type of game, but there are some funny lines in there.
As positive as this review has been so far, obviously the
game will not appeal to everyone, and at a very steep (for iOS at least) price
of £12.99, it's expensive to find out. The price is the biggest negative,
especially with no real way of trying before you buy. This is also due to the
fact that the game is unique and will not appeal to the normal casual market
for the iOS systems.
The World Ends With You is a gripping, fun and innovative
game that captures the charm of the streets of Japan in it's own unique style. The
gameplay is fluid and fits around the player, but most importantly is fun and
simple to use. Whilst the price seems steep, £12.99 for 30 hours of
entertainment is a great deal in the end, and far better than many console
games.
Graphics: 94%
Gameplay: 89%
Lifespan: 90%
Innovation: 85%
Accessibility: 81%
My Overall Score: 91%
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