World End Syndrome is a 2018 Japanese visual novel developed by Toybox Games. The game was published by Arc System Works in Japan and North America, and by PQube games in Europe, and was released on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 platforms. A sequel, World End Phenomenon, has been announced, though no details have been revealed yet.
| World End Syndrome | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Toybox Games |
| Publisher(s) | Arc System Works, PQube (Europe) |
| Artist(s) | Yuki Kato |
| Writer(s) | Tomio Kanazawa |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Visual novel |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
editThe game largely plays as a traditional visual novel, with most of the game consisting of reading text and selecting different dialogue choices that divert the path of the story.[1] The game features a similar game structure to modern Persona video games, where progression is tied to a calendar system, where players may choose to move to different locations see various events across different days and times of day including morning, afternoon, and evening.[2]
Story
editThe story takes place in the small fictional Japanese town of Mihate.[3][4] The game follows an unnamed male high school student who moves to the town and joins his school's "Mystery Club".[5] In it, he investigates the urban legend of the "Yomibito", an event occurring every 100 years where corpses rise from the dead and rampage across the land.[5] Investigation is spurred upon the realization that it has been 100 years since the supposedly last occurrence, and the unexplained recent deaths of students of the school.[6] The game delves into a number of different genre as the story unfolds, including horror, mystery, romance, and "slice of life".[4]
Development
editThe game's Japanese release was initially scheduled for April 2018, before being delayed into mid-2018.[7] The game was later translated into English and released in North America on May 2, 2019, and Europe on June 14, 2019.[8] All regions of the game were released on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 video game consoles. The game was developed by Toybox Games, and outside of Europe, where it was published by PQube, the game was published by Arc System Works, publisher of the BlazBlue and Xblaze video games.[6][5] World End Syndrome features the art and character designer from the two titles, from artist Yuki Kato.[5] The game's scenario was written by Tomio Kanazawa, who had previously produced Deadly Premonition.[3] Toybox and Arc System Works had previously collaborated on the title Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters.[1]
Reception
editThe game was generally well received by critics. Multiple reviewers praised the character development of the characters in the game, with characters evolving out of their original appearance of a standard anime tropes.[3][5][4][9] Critics generally praised the story,[5][3][4] but conceded that the game didn't particularly break any new ground for the genre,[3][4] and that there were a fair amount of typos in the script.[3] Some reviewers also had mixed feelings about the developer's decision to force the player to receive the "bad ending" the first time through the game, without the ability to avoid it, or any indication that another outcome becomes available upon subsequent playthroughs of the game.[4][10][6] Hardcore Gamer praised the game for what it was, concluding that the game "isn't going to change anyone's mind about visual novels. That's not the developer's goals. This is a title aimed squarely at existing fans. For the forgiving segment of the audience, this is a must-play".[3] Nintendo World Report echoed these sentiments.[6] Pocket Gamer compared its juxtaposition of cheerful graphics and story with dark undertones to Doki Doki Literature Club.[10]
Nintendo Life named it one of the stand-out visual novels for the Nintendo Switch, praising the depth of the characters.[9]
Potential sequel
editIn December 2019, in a segment where Japanese developer hint about what they will be working on in the upcoming year, Toybox Games developer Tomio Kanazawa announced that the title would receive a sequel titled World End Phenomenon. However, as of 2022, no further developments have been announced regarding the title.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b Fuller, Alex (17 June 2019). "Adventure Corner: World End Syndrome". Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Review: World End Syndrome - A High School Summer Holiday Murder Mystery Love-In". Nintendo Life. June 29, 2019. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Review: Worldend Syndrome - Hardcore Gamer". May 13, 2019. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f S, Matt (14 May 2019). "Review: World End Syndrome (Nintendo Switch)". Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Worldend Syndrome Offers A Slow Burn With An Incredible Payoff". May 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "World End Syndrome Review - Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 2021-04-23. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ^ "World End Syndrome Delayed By A Few Months To Summer 2018 In Japan". Siliconera. March 20, 2018. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
- ^ "World End Syndrome launches May 2 in North America". Gematsu. March 20, 2019. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
- ^ a b "Feature: Best Visual Novels For Nintendo Switch". Nintendo Life. April 4, 2021. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
- ^ a b Cowley, Ric (17 June 2019). "World End Syndrome Switch review - "Gorgeous visuals don't entirely save this visual novel"". www.pocketgamer.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Famitsu and 4Gamer interview Japanese creators on 2020 ambitions". Gematsu. December 27, 2019. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.