The free game trial runs from November 10�6 and you can pre-load it now on your Switch

It's a minor perk more often than not, but free game trials are something I appreciate, especially when it's a series that's hoping to draw in new fans with a notable Switch release. The next game for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers to check out is The World Ends with You: Final Remix as there's going to be a trial starting at 10:00 a.m. Pacific on November 10. It'll be playable for a limited time until November 16 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

The North American Switch Online trial for The World Ends with You: Final Remix can be downloaded prior to that start time, and you can pre-load it on the Nintendo eShop.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sENbkSKBR0

Our reviewer, CJ Andriessen, was pretty indifferent about The World Ends with You: Final Remix as someone who clicked with the original Nintendo? DS game, which was a "compound piec??e of craftsmanship" that made the most of the hardware it ran on. You may have a better go of it as someone who's looking to break into the series, though.

Another heads-up: if you don't need to be convinced with this trial and you've been waiting on a sale, Square Enix is also running a 30 percent off deal on The World Ends with You: Final Remix (until November 23) and NEO: The World Ends with You (until November 19). The latter deal is currently live as of this writing, bringing NEO down to $41.99.

Nintendo recently told investors (and ever-watchful fans) that it intends to "improve and expand both Nintendo Switch Online and Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, striving to provide services that satisfy customers." As a subscriber, I'll believe it when I see it. These game trials are fine for what they are, but they're often easily skipped given the timing and game selection. NSO (and especially the Expansion Pack plan) has bigger criticisms to address �if we can get a steadier stream of trials, though, I'm all for ??it.

Honest question: have you ever bothered with any of these?? Switch Online trials?

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Seize the Day

Square Enix, in collaboration with Domerica and Shin-Ei Animation, has released a third trailer for the upcoming anime adaptation of JRPG The World Ends with You. The new video features the debut of the anime's ending them?e "Carpe Diem," as performed by Japanese musician ASCA.

The new anime is a straight re-telling of the narrative from the kinetic 2007 Nintendo DS release. The World Ends with You the animation will follow the story of unruly teen Neku Sakuraba,?? who wakes within a ghostly side-reality known as The Underground (UG). Palling up with several equally confused teens also lost within this split-dimension, Neku and his new companions must learn of their respective fates and face the challenges that await the?m within the strange, otherworldly contest known as "Reapers' Game".

The World Ends with You the animation will premiere in Japan on April 9. For those who can't wait, March 14 will see Square Enix host a special pay-per-view "UG Shibuya FES" live stream, which will include an advance screen of the first episode, (complete with English subtitles), interviews with cast and crew members, and the opportunity to win exclusive prizes. For full details on this event, check out the Subarashki Anime website.

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Check out its raptastic opening right here

Square Enix has announced that the anime adaptation of hip JRPG The World Ends with You will premiere in Japan on April ?8. The publisher released a new music video, which features a rap remix of the show's original opening theme "Teenage City Riot" as performed by ALI and guest vocalist R-Shitei.

The hype-looking series is a ??joint production of Domerica and Shin-Ei Animation and is a straight retelling of the narrative from the stylish 2007 DS/Switch release. The plot details the twisted tale of protagonist Neku Sakuraba, who awakens on an unnerving alternate plane known as The Underground (UG). Journeying through this split reality, Nebu will encounter a host of friends and enemies as he attempts to make sense of his situation and uncover the truth behind the events that lead to his incarceration.

While The World Ends with You: The Animation is set to officially make its debut on April 9, a "Pre-Broadcast Special Program" is set to air a week prior on April 2. No doubt this previe?w will offer a sneak-peek at the stylistic series, stoking the hype fires one final time before its official release.

The World Ends with You: The Anim??ation begins airing April 9 [Gematsu]

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Check out this bangin' new trailer

Square Enix has officially announced that the anime adaptation of trendy JRPG The World ends With You will premiere in April 2021. The anime series - a direct retelling of the? 2007 video game - is a joint production of Domerica and Shin-Ei Animation.

Square has also released an exciting new trailer, spotlighting TWEWY's cast of eclectic characters, along with the dimension-hopping action that wil?l feature in this adaptation of the beloved Nintendo DS/Switch adventure. The video is set to the anime's dynamic title track "Teenage City Riot," as performed by Japanese artists ALI. Also released was a new promotional image, emblazoned with the edgy overseers known as "Reapers."

It should be noted, however, that this trailer/date was not the prize at the end of the mysterious countdown clock over on the official Square Enix website, with? fans eagerly anticipating its ultimate revelation.

T??he World Ends with You the Animation begins airing in April 2021 [Gematsu]

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Playing in Traffic

Square Enix has released a short 90-second preview clip from the upcoming anime adaptation of 2007 Nintendo DS title The World Ends with You, currently in?? production at Domerica and Shin-Ei Animation.

The clip sees TWEWY protagonist Neku Sakuraba awaken within The Underground (UG), an alternate plane of existence that exists alongside the real world. Over the course of the an??ime, Neku will find others seemingly trapped in this ??unnerving universe as he forms bonds with these strangers in an effort to uncover the events that led them to this bizarre dimensional shift.

The World Ends with You The Animation will begin airing in 2021. The World Ends with You: Final Remix is available now on Nintendo Switch.

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Getting the gang back together

Square Enix has announced that the anime adaptation of The World Ends With You will launch worldwide in 2021. The first teaser trailer for the anime was premiered during a special panel at Anime Expo Lite 2020.

The World Ends With You the Animation will see Neku, Shiki and friends relive their strange, psychedelic escapades in "The UG", an alternate reality version of Tokyo's jam-packed Shibuya district. Having awoken on Scramble Crossing with no knowledge of any recent events, Neku and his band of ho??t-headed teen pals must now face the wrath of the "Reapers' Game" if they are to understand the twisted fate that has befallen? them.

Co-produced by Domerica and Shin-Ei Animation of Doraemon fame, TWEWY the Animation will also reunite several key members of the original game's development team - including artists Tetsuya Nomura and Gen Kobayashi, composer Takeharu Ishimoto, and numerous voice actors. It seems that the iconic audio/visual style of the unique JRPG will be making a smooth transition into the anime realm. You can find more information, along with fresh character art, over at the official website.

The World Ends with You the Animation will launch in 2021.

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More details coming in July

Square Enix has announced that it has commissioned an anime adaptation of its urban fantasy RPG The World Ends with You, which launched on the Nintendo DS back in 2007, before being revamped for the Switch platform in 2018.

As of this writing, there have been no?? images or details released regarding this exciting new animated endeavour, ?but the anime will be receiving its official unveiling during next weekend's Anime Expo Lite presentation.

You can check out the action for yourself over on the Anime Expo Lite's official YouTube and Twitch channels. The Day One presentation will kick off Friday, July 3 at 18:00 PT / 21:00 ET / 02:00 BST.  In the meantime, Square Enix has opened an official countdown website, which you can find right here.

The World Ends with You: Final Remix is available now on Nintendo Switch.

Square Enix announces The W??orld Ends with You anime ??adaptation [GoNintendo]

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Shibuya Hearts I.5 ReMIX

Few games have made as big an impact on me as The World Ends with You. Though ubiquitous with the JRPG genre today, it was the first title to give me a taste of what life is like in modern-day Tokyo, igniting a fascination with any and all games featuring the same setting. Without it, I probably would've never played Akiba’s Trip, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor, or Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE. These titles enveloped me into the cultures and trends of Tokyo, but it was TWEWY that planted that flag first.

After a decade of leading fans on with an iOS port of the original and inclusion of a few characters in Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, Square Enix is returning to the well once more to give supporters what it’s calling “the definitive version of a modern RPG classic.” The World Ends with You: Final Remix brings everything from the prior versions to Switch, along with a new chapter, co-op, HD artwork, and an amazing remixed soundtrack. The only thin??g it's missing is a decent way to play it.

The World Ends with You: Final Remix (Switch)
Developer: h.a.n.d., Square Enix
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: October 12, 2018 (WW), September 27, 2018 (Japan)
MSRP: $49.99

When The World Ends with You hit North America more than a decade ago, it was electrical. While Nintendo and many other developers were trying to broaden gaming’s appeal with their big, blue ocean, Picross-E developer Jupiter created something specifically for fans who enjoyed a challenge. TWEWY was not designed to be relaxing or a game you could unwind in. It required your full attention at all times, the ability to understand an opaque combat system, and a genuine love for Japanese teen culture. Those who stuck with it were rewarded with a Shibuya full of color and flair and the very best soundtrack on the Nintendo DS. The art, the story, the music, the combat; they all played an equal role in making The World Ends with You a masterpiece.

Final Remix keeps most of the experience intact. You’re still playing as Neku Sakuraba, an ornery, street-art-loving teenager who’s forced to play the Reapers’ Game with three partners over the course of three weeks. Win and he gets a second chance at life. Lose and he’s erased forever. N?eku, Shiki, Beat, Rhyme, Mr. H, Joshua, and the rest of the cast look absolutely resplendent in high definition as do the carefully crafted backgrounds that give Shibuya its one-of-a-kind look. The soundtrack still slaps and players are able to choose between the original music or remixed tracks, some of which are pretty damn creative.

If you haven’t played The World Ends with You, the narrative ?is spread out over the course of 21 days. Each day, Neku and whomever he&rsqu??o;s teamed up with will receive an assignment from the master of the aforementioned Reapers’ Game. The complexity of these tasks varies and oftentimes the story will have you completely ignoring the challenge of the day in favor of pursuing an alternate goal. Some assignments only require you to visit a certain location in Shibuya though most revolve around fighting the Noise and solving light adventure-game-style puzzles.

There are no random battles in Final Remix. Players are required to first mentally scan the area, giving them a look at the inner thoughts of passersby and the various symbols for the Noise they can fight. In theory, the bigger the symbol, the heavier the fight. Encounters are?n’t initiated until selected, letting players choose which battles they’ll pursue as well as how many fights in a row they can handle. Neku’s attacks revolve entirely around the pins you collect throughout the game. Either picked up during the story or purchased from one of the dozen or so retailers around Shibuya, each pin will have a specific input associated with it you n??eed to perform to activate its power. One of the first pins you receive lets you set enemies on fire simply by holding down on the screen. Most pin actions are simple, and while you can have up to six pins equipped at once, you can’t have two pins that share the exact same input.

The key to success in battle is figuring out which pins work best together in which situations. Some let you pick up objects on the field and throw them at enemies, but you’ll often come across a battlefield with nothing to pick up. Then there are the brands to consider. Each pin, as well as the all the clothing you can equip, come from a certain brand. If the label you’re brandishing is one of the three most popular in the area ?of Shibuya you’re fight??ing in, you get a boost in combat. Conversely, if you’re using pins from the least popular brand, your attack power is cut in half.

It can be annoying to continuously check which brands are in style with every area you visit, but in practice, players have a lot more cont??rol over the situation than initially implied. Continued use of the s??ame pins will bolster their popularity, and several of the tasks you’re asked to perform to advance the story will require you to do just that. I have a set of Jupiter of the Monkey pins that are timed so perfectly I can continuously attack the Noise without worrying about cooldown. This collection got me through approximately 80% of the game, brand popularity be damned.

The more you fight, the more you can leve??l up pins until they’re considered mastered or they evolve into a more powerful version. While I never once felt I needed to grind to advance in the story, I did spend a l?ot of time farming for supplies for those high-end pins. Where that might be a slightly unappealing route with the original game because of how combat is handled, it’s absolutely no big deal here because the experience has been conventionalized to a point where it barely requires any skill at all.

On Nintendo DS, The World Ends with You presents players with an intricate control scheme that takes time to learn and master. You control Neku on the bottom screen with the stylus, unleashing his pin? at??tacks with various gestures. On the top screen, the partner character attacks at the same time using specific inputs on the directional pad. It’s complicated -- I make no bones about that -- but also so damn rewarding.

When the game was ported to iOS in 2012, the set-up changed. That version is entirely touch controlled, which makes sense for a tablet or phone with just one screen. Neku moves and attacks in basically the same way as before, but partners now act as pins and only activate when you perform their specified action. While Square Enix could have given us a third control set-up -- one that takes advantage of everything the Switch has to offer in the same way the original did on the DS -- Final Remix rests on the laurels of the mobile port, creating a situation where there is really only one ?good way? to play the game.

Well, “good” is a strong word. Let’s go with adequ?ate instead. Playing in handheld mode, which uses the mobile version’s touch controls whole hog, is a perfectly adequate way to experience the game. It’s not without flaws -- a finger doesn’t have the same pinpoint accuracy as a stylus -- and it’s not exactly what I’d call engaging, but it’s serviceable. Some pins are less reliable, like those requiring me to draw a cir??cle in an open space or hold my finger to the screen when I’m bombarded with Noise, but I didn’t have any issues defeating enemies and bosses alike on any of the available difficulty levels.

The touchscreen interface carries over in tabletop mode or on a television screen with the pointer controls of a single Joy-Con taking the place of my index finger. This is the first Switch game I’ve ??experienced using this control method and I’m impressed with how well it can recreate the feeling of playing with the Wii remote. In se??veral ways, this is a far more accurate way to play. Outside of battle, Neku can be controlled with the analog stick. When I am engaging Noise, his movement is still pointer controlled, but the buttons I use to control him and his attacks are separate. The Joy-Con also makes some of those less dependable pins more feasible to use in action with the precision of the reticule.

For as precise as the pointer controls are, they don’t make the game any more gratifying. I played the entirety of Shiki’s storyline with my Switch hooked up to my television and I can say, without a doubt, it was the dullest experience I’ve had on the console. The mobile version already jettisoned the elegant convolution of the DS original, turning the game into something a five-year-old could complete if they got their hands on their parent’s iPad. Pointer controls simplify the experience even more. For the entirety of Shiki’s arc, I was a zombie, sitting on my couch, barely wiggling my wrist as I slashed, shot, and set fire to every Noise and Reaper that stood in my way. My brain turned completely off as no critical thinking is required to win. I just decimated my enemies and occasionally found myself doing my best Jack Donaghy “This is boring” impression.?? Continuing the adventure in handheld mode was the only thing that made the rest of the experience palatable.

I hate describing this game as simply “palatable” because of my absolute love of the original, but I did really didn’t enjoy this second trek through the streets of Shibuya. I kept with it not ju?st because I had to for the review but because the promise of new story content was too sweet to pass up.

I will tell you right now you should probably temper your expectations of what the New Day scenario is. It’s probably not going to answer most of your questions, certainly didn’t answer any of mi??ne, and the role of the three-hour, three-chapter addenda is made obvious once you beat the final, underwhelming boss. New Day transports Neku and Beat back to the Reapers’ Game for one last challenge: get out of Shibuya. The task is easier said than done as this Shibuya is different than before. Living up to the name of the game, this version of the city has been remixed. Street locations have been moved around and the Noise you face now have different battle modifiers that attempt to make the game more difficult. When fighting frogs, these matches are a nightmare, but I drop the hammer on every other enemy pretty easily with the pins I picked up in the final days of the main campaign.

While some characters from the original storyline reappear, the chief addition to the cast for this episode is Coco, the annoying little Reaper introduced in the mobile ports. Her “lols&r??dquo; and “jfcs” wear thin pretty quickly and her role in the New Day scenario can be easily deduced. While it does add a decent amount of content to the final product, something to be completed in tandem with the returning Another Day scenario and all of the unlockable challenges, its inclusion isn't substantial enough to recommend this version of the game over the others.

My opinion of The World Ends with You: Final Remix is one of indifference. All the consideration that went into making the original a compound piece of craftsmanship, inseparable from the device on which you played it, is absent. In its place is a more user-friendly experience, and while I'm not against taking a traditionally difficult game and making it more accessible -- something Square Enix already did when it ported the title to mobile devices -- Final Remix's failure to ut??ilize the extent of the Switch hardware shows a lack of understanding as to why so many people consider t??he Nintendo DS original to be the masterpiece it is.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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It can be easy to miss

Back in 2012, Square Enix released the Nintendo DS classic The World Ends with You on mobile and included something special for players to find after completing the game. It was ??a tease for something new, and for fans of the franchise, it kept our hopes alive that we'd see a sequel to one of the best r?ole-playing games ever made.

Unfortunately, a sequel has yet to materialize, but Square Enix is still giving fans something new with A New Day, an original side-story found at the end of The World Ends with You: Final Remix. It's perhaps the biggest draw of this Switch port, but if you don't p?ay att??ention, there's a chance you'll completely miss it.

Final Remix gives a vague clue as to how to access the new storyline, telling you to find Reapers who didn’t appear in the original game. If you’ve never played the DS or mobile versions of the title, it might not be so easy to spot these new guys. After all, they don’t loo?k much different for the standard Reapers seen throughout the campaign. To help you access A New Day as quickly as possible, we’ve created this quick guide that will point out exactly where and when you can fin??d them all.

Reaper #1

The first Reaper is one that’s impossible to miss. He is near the Statue of Hachiko, which you’ll be forced to visit on the seventh day of the Shiki campaign. When you engage him, a battle modifier will be applied to the match. It's called Curse and it will slowly drain your energy over?? time. You can’t dawdle with this match. Speed is key here, but as long as you have made an effort to level up Neku and his pins, you should have no issue completing this challenge.

Reaper #2

For the second Reaper, you’re g?oing to have to go off the beaten path to find him. He’s in the very upper-right corner of the Shibukyu Main Store district during Joshua’s seventh day. Most of Shibuya is blocked off during this time as you’re driven towards Pork City, so finding him is just a matter of going right at the 104 Building instead of left.

Despite featuring more difficult Noise, this match is actually quite easy as Curse is offset wi?th the modifier Restore, which refills Neku's energy gauge every time he defeats a foe. Again, you shouldn’t have any issue completing this during the campaign so long as you remember to expand your available pins by buying extra slots from Dragon Couture and Edoga the Shop. Be sure to equip a pin that has you slashing the Noise so Joshua will join in the assault.

Reaper #3

The seventh day of Beat’s arm of the campaign has a fully open Shibuya to explore. You’re pushed to head towards the underground to finish the story, but the final purple Reaper is found in the opposite direction. Travel to the Udagawa Back Streets, a location you should know quite well by this point in the game, to find him. This final bout uses features Curse and Restore, same as the second Reaper challenge, but with significantly stronger Noise. You can attempt it near the start of the chapter but because this challenge is so close to the boss encounter that will give you the vastl??y overpowered Lightning Rook pin, you might as well come back and attempt it after you bea?t the game.

That’s all there is to it. With those three Reapers defeated, you'll have access to A New Day once you wrap up the original campaign. If you accidentally skipped an encounter, don’t worry. Beating th?e game unlocks chapter select and, with the right pins, it’ll probably take you around 10 minutes to find and complete all three purple Reaper challenges.

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Bringing the beat back

This month sees the Japanese re-release of popular Nintendo DS title The World Ends With You on Switch. A final launch trailer has hit the airwaves to reintrodu??ce us to the adventure' cast of hip young thangs and stylish visuals and audio.

The World Ends With You: Final Remix takes the 2007 (I know, right?) release and jazzes it up for its Nintendo Switch port, implementing a new control system in keeping with the Joy-Con design, and allowing players to share their Joy-Con for local multiplayer action. Final Remix will also contain a funk-fresh new scenario for Neku, Shiki and t??he gang to ?explore.

Western fans won;t have too much longer to wait to get their hands on this re-release, as The World Ends With You: Final Remix w?ill be hitting North American and European shores on October 12, just a couple of weeks following its September 27 release in the East.

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Let out your inner emo

Square Enix's re-release of cult pin collector The World Ends with You will be hea??ding to Western Switch's on October 12, 2018.

Dubbed Final Remix, this version will come packed with a new scenario, a remixed soundtrack (with the option for the original), motion and gamepad controls and killer HD art assets. This is primed to be the definitive edition of the ?game, which sounds a-okay in my book.

Nintendo of America [Twitter]

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Need more candy cane

Siliconera has unleashed a bunch of new shots of The World Ends with You: Final Remix on Switch and it looks really promising. While I wouldn't call the DS version ugly by any means, the game running in crisp HD is a real treat. Since the style of the game was so heavily influenced by manga and Japanese street art, seeing tho?se awesome colors pop and getting more defined outlines looks like a big ?upgrade.

Along with ??all of that HD art, there are some new details about how the Switch version will work. In handheld mode, the game plays similarly to the DS original, albeit without two screens. You'll have the same slash attacks and "tap spaces," making ample use of the touchscreen. In TV and tabletop mode, controls will be relegated to the joy-con with pointer functionality. There is even a two-player co-op mode with split joy-cons available.

All music, sound effects, and voice samples have been updated with higher quality versions, including an arranged soundtrack by original composer Takeharu Ishimoto. If you don't want to listen to different tracks, the original OST will have a toggle option that can be selected at any moment. The last addition is a brand new scenario for the campaign, though that was already revealed back when the port was unveiled.

Here’s What’s New In The World Ends With You: Final Remix For Nintendo Switch [Siliconera]

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Calling

It has been quite some time since we last heard about The World Ends with You: Final Remix. The game was unveiled during a Nintendo direct earlier this year and made a super brief appearance during Nintendo's E3 stream. I actually wasn't expecting the title to even come out this year, but it looks like Japanese gamers will be in luck. Square Enix has announced that the Groundhog Day simulator will be heading to Japanese store shelves and the Japanese eShop on September 27, 2018, for ¥4,800 ($44).

Along with that news, Square Enix has unveiled an exclusive collector's edition for its website. Subtitled, "It's a Wonderful Bag," the package will come with a tote bag, a soundtrack (which is excellent, by the way), a stylus for the Switch, an art book, a small acrylic figure display and some stickers. It looks pretty nifty, though I'm not sure I would do anything with those stickers. This version will be going for ¥17,000 ($155).

The World Ends with You: Final Remix launches September 27 in Japan [Gematsu]

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Forever Fornever

Ten years after its initial release, a port of The World Ends With You, with the new subtitle -Final Remix- will now hit the Nintendo Switch.

The new Switch version will allow for both touch controls as well as Joy-Con controls. Biggest thing, however, is that it will include a new scenario that will flesh ou??t the story even mor??e. 

The World Ends With You -Final Remix- hits later this year. 

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