The original The World Ends With You told a deep and daring story about life and death set within Japan and those who played the game absolutely loved it. Now, many, MANY years after its release a sequel is coming this July via NEO The World Ends With You. New characters will take the reins this time around (with some familiar faces appearing as well…) and as such there is a lot to learn about this brand new Reaper’s Game.
Square Enix released some new details about the game and Gematsu spelled it out for those who were curious. First, a new snippet about the story:
It was just another seemingly ordinary day in Shibuya—but not for Rindo. He could tell something about the city felt different. He soon finds himself caught in the telekinetic crossfire of a psychic battle unfolding in the Scramble Crossing. And before he can catch his breath, a girl with an ominous aura appears before him and welcomes him to the so-called “Reapers’ Game.”
With some trepidation, Rindo and his friend Fret play along, convincing themselves that a “Game” couldn’t have any serious consequences. It isn’t long, however, until they start having second thoughts.
Rindo’s instinct was right: something about this Shibuya is different. The boys’ confusion is compounded by fear when they learn the first rule of this Game: if you don’t win, you cease to exist altogether.
So this is immediately different from what the original game was like when Neku Sakuraba found himself in the “UG” of Shibuya and was forced to play the game.
Square Enix also dropped some bios for key characters in the game.
Rindo-
One of the newest Players in the Reapers’ Game, Rindo is a high schooler to whom searching for info on his phone is second nature. He prefers to go with the flow, and although he doesn’t go out of his way to interact with others, he won’t turn them away if they come to him first.
Thrust into the Game without even realizing it, he now serves as the de facto leader of the Wicked Twisters.
Fret –
Rindo’s happy-go-lucky classmate and fellow Player in the Reapers’ Game, Fret boasts the ability to get along with just about anyone. While he styles himself as a natural conversationalist, he prefers to keep things light, subconsciously avoiding subjects that are too serious. He enjoys walking around town with his buddy “Rindude.”
Nagi –
Another Player in the Reapers’ Game, Nagi is a college student whose youthful appearance leads others to mistake her for a middle schooler. She is deeply passionate about her pastimes, devoting all of her time and energy to her favorite games. Highly perceptive, she is acutely aware of others’ emotions, and shows disdain toward those she deems superficial and disingenuous.
Minamimoto –
A fellow Player in the Reapers’ Game, Minamimoto puts his impressive psychic powers to use when he saves Rindo and the gang from a tight spot early on, then forces himself onto their team.
He calculates every possible future using his own unique formulas and acts in accordance with the values he discovers, but he remains a mystery to all around him. He seems to have his sights set on something greater than Rindo and the gang.
They also delved into some of the new Reapears you’ll meet and how certain new gameplay features will work. What this truly tells us though is that NEO The World Ends With You will be a truly deep RPG and story experience when it arrives on July 27th on the Nintendo Switch and PS4.
