Exactly fourteen years after the release of its predecessor, NEO: The World Ends With You perfectly recaptures Shibuya while also delivering fun JRPG combat.
NEO: The World Ends With You intends to please fans of the original 2007 title while also attracting an entirely new community of players. In order to accomplish this, developers Square Enix and Hokkaido Artists' Network and Development (h.a.n.d.) have taken steps to increase the game's accessibility through variable combat difficulty. Combat in NEO: The World Ends With You is designed to be simplistic, with players using only a handful of inputs to defeat their enemies. However, combinations allow skilled players to reach an additional level of mastery, and difficulty settings further increase the game's accessibility to either new or veteran players.
Unfortunately, reviews suggest that the story of NEO: The World Ends With You can be quite difficult for newcomers to grasp. The game acts as both a sequel and remake of The World Ends With You, with an animated series adaptation of the first game making the narrative even more complex for those trying to follow along. For fans of the franchise, the story should be of no concern, as the expansion of the first game's story being something that group has been waiting on. However, reviews suggest that those inexperienced with the franchise may find themselves lost in the narrative. Here is a breakdown of what reviewers have to say about NEO: The World Ends With You:
Cody Gravelle - 4.5/5 - Screen Rant
"NEO: The World Ends With You effortlessly combines deep JRPG combat and systems with stylish accessibility, resulting in a memorable, excellent game."
Rebekah Valentine - 7/10 - IGN
"NEO: The World Ends With You is a sequel that leans heavily on recapturing what made the original so special. That’s to its benefit in some ways, such as its vivacious depiction of Shibuya, its incredible soundtrack, and its stylish, flowing combat system, but to its detriment in others."
Jade King - 4/5 - TheGamer
"Combat falls victim to repetition, yet the ideas that surround it are substantial enough that such flaws are easy to forgive. If you’re after a vast JRPG adventure, it’s time to surrender yourself to the underground and never look back. TWEWY is back, and I hope it’s here to stay."
Dalton Cooper - 3/5 - Game Rant
"NEO: The World Ends With You gives players a tremendous soundtrack and a ton of content, and once the combat clicks, it's a genuinely good time. However, that comes with the caveat that players have to invest roughly 10 hours before the game really starts to be fun, and then they still have to deal with its repetitiveness."
Kaile Hutner - Unscored - Polygon
"If none of the narrative stuff interests you, there’s plenty of in-game stuff to collect: I’m currently working on completing my pin collection, whittling down my Noisepedia and hunting down graffiti (the game’s version of achievements). When this game shines, it really shines, even if maybe too much of that shine is refracted by its past."
Christian Donlan - Unscored - Eurogamer
"While the storytelling can be pretty verbose at times, the characters are neatly drawn and everything chatters along with the ping of incoming texts and status updates."
A majority of reviewers have praised NEO: The World Ends With You's deep RPG combat system, interesting narrative, and immersive recreation of the original title's Shibuya. The urban fantasy world is filled with areas to explore and collectibles to obtain, and particular praise has been heaped upon the game's soundtrack as well. However, repetition is among the game's chief criticisms, and newcomers may find themselves lost in the narrative if they aren't familiar with the franchise.
NEO: The World Ends With You is a highly-anticipated follow-up to a classic JRPG, so expectations from fans are no doubt extremely high. By all s the title has mangled to live up to the hype, delivering a fresh experience that also recaptures the most beloved aspects of its predecessor. For those seeking a return to Shibuya, or newcomers who want to experience the world for the first time, NEO: The World Ends With You delivers on many fronts.
NEO: The World Ends With You releases on July 27, 2021, for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
