Look Ma! No dragons

“The World Ends With You”
Console: Nintendo DS
Company: Square Enix
Rating: Action RPG
Grade: 4 Globes

REVIEW. Are you an RPG fan that’s sick of dragons, mystical swords and finding “elemental artifacts?” Then “The World Ends With You” might be just the game you’ve been waiting for. It’s an action RPG set in the real world. Don’t worry. You still fight monsters and not high school bullies or the paparazzi.

TWEWY has you wandering around the Shibuya district of Tokyo, forced to participate in a brutal and sinister game in order to avoid “erasure.” The game has a fairly ridiculous learning curve though. The combat system is one of the most frenetic experiences you are likely to come across.

The visual style is top notch. The soundtrack features real Japanese pop songs and the storyline is haunting and depressing, calling to mind some of the more mature “Final Fantasy” titles. The controls can be frustrating at times but this is still one of the most unique RPGs available.