NEO: The World Ends with You

Our analysis

A worthy sequel that impresses in every category fans feared it might fail, romping through Shibuya with fresh beats and a lovable cast that stands tall on its own. The pin-driven real-time combat makes a successful leap to 3D and stays rewarding thanks to experimentation, restaurant stat-boosts, and 300-plus collectible pins, backed by an energetic soundtrack and a story that consumes about half the playtime. Repetitive rival-team battles and a few crashes are the only real blemishes on a world that begs you to return.

Our analysis

A stylish, long-awaited sequel set in Shibuya with a fun, intriguing story, likeable characters, and a striking anime-inspired aesthetic backed by an energizing soundtrack. The pin-based combat offers enormous build variety with over 300 unique attacks, and while it starts out feeling clunky and disorienting, it grows surprisingly intuitive once it clicks. Weaknesses include a fixed camera that hampers battles, occasional frame dips, and frequent load times and cutscenes that make the experience feel fragmented at times.

Our analysis

Captures original essence; stylish with strong cast and engaging combat.