Square Enix has today announced that It’s A Wonderful World for the NIntendo DS will be heading to Europe and other PAL territories in Spring 2008 under the guise of The World Ends With You. Known as Sabaruashiki Kono Sekai in Japan, the title takes influence from modern day Japanese popular culture in an adventure to save the game’s protagonist, Neku, from ceasing to exist after seven fraught filled days.

The World Ends With You centres on Neku, who wakes up dazed and confused in the middle of Tokyo. On coming to, he receives a message on his mobile phone that delivers the terrible news that he will cease to exist unless he completes a series of challenges. With death staring him in the face, Neku wastes no time in saving trying to save his own skin.

Key Features

• Experience the urban grit and neon of the coolest district in Tokyo with a distinctive, high quality style of in-game artwork
• Meet an achingly hip cast of characters each with an interesting personality and stylish sense in fashion, music and culture
• Highly innovative and intuitive combat system that makes full use of the Nintendo DS Touch Screen, Dual Screens and Microphone like no other game before it!
• Use fantastic psychic powers to read the thoughts of the population, put words into people’s minds, and move objects to help you progress in your adventure!
• Immerse yourself in an amazing audio soundtrack featuring a diverse fusion of bleeding-edge hip-hop, rock, and techno
• A tale of friendship, hope and overcoming your challenges, creatively told with a modern edge
• Shop till you drop! Keep abreast of the latest Trends to stay one step ahead of the fashion scene and your enemies. Trade items with friends using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection too
• Action-packed minigame fun that can be enjoyed by up to four players via DS Wireless Play!
• Engage the Chance Encounter mode via DS Wireless Play to share data with fellow game users you bump into in the real world

Most of the gameplay focuses on finding clues and battling Noise. Players can use Neku’s mindreading abilities to hear people’s thoughts by using the touch screen of the Nintendo DS. The game’s combat system, called the “Stride Cross Battle System”, uses both screens of the Nintendo DS. Neku has three partners, one in each and specific chapter of the game. The touch screen is used to move and attack with Neku, whose abilities depend on the badges equipped. On the top screen, movement can be controlled with the D-Pad, which is tapped for specific techniques.

Strangely enough, no release date other than TBA 2008 has been announced for a North American release of The World Ends with You, but no doubt we’ll hear about that in the months to come.