It's somewhat rare to find a good RPG gem from Square Enix not based on one of its more popular franchises (i.e. Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest). However, its latest original IP title for the Nintendo DS definitely classifies itself as a keeper. Read all about QJ.NET's review of The World Ends With You in our full article after the jump.

Most of us are heating up with the impending release of Grand Theft Auto 4, but there's no need to lose your cool. Just like last week, a modest batch of titles will hit shelves as prelude to April's main act. Square Enix is ready to make some noise in The World Ends With You, while Nintendo is letting the Pokemon loose with Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness and Explorers of Time. The rest are waiting at the full article.

* Article originally posted Apr 21, 2008 at 12:48AM

All set for Square Enix' upcoming action RPG for the DS, The World Ends With You? Well, the video game from the creators of Kingdom Hearts will be coming to North America on April 22, and will be sighted in Europe and PAL regions on April 18. Check out the full article for more info on the game.

Through press wire, Square Enix just announced that The World Ends With You is set for release on April 22 in North America. It's that stylish Nintendo DS title from famed game designer Tetsuya Nomura who created the Kingdom Hearts series and also has been Final Fantasy's consistent character designer. For more details, check out the full article.

Square Enix is off to an early start as they give us their 2008 games lineup for the US. One exciting entry in the list is the English version of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 (finally!). Check out Square Enix's line-up of games for 2008 in the full article.

It's official: Square Enix' stylish action RPG, The World Ends With You for the Nintendo DS, is set to reach western shores. Europe and other PAL territories are expected to get the game (originally planned to see release in the U.S. as It's a Wonderful World) by spring 2008. To celebrate, more details and screenshots are at the full article!

Entice your eyeballs with wonderful-flavored eye candy in this video update of Square Enix's It's a Wonderful World for the Nintendo DS. Featuring a unique art style and direction that's delightfully Tetsuya Nomura's, Square Enix may just have a new epic game franchise on their hands.

The first video shows the game's ingenious use of both screens, with your two characters duking it out with the monsters via the D-pad and the touchscreen. The upper screen seems to be for physical attacks, with a DDR-esque control mechanic that has you pressing directions to execute a damaging combo string. The touchscreen is where you dole out the magic attacks, with Neck disposing of the Noise with a neat-looking fire spell.

The second video shows off the game's manga-esque intro, and it's where we see Neck being given his 7-day time limit. Rather scary stuff, that - seeing that you have only one week left to live.

Fast and furious action, stylized visuals, a great soundtrack - definitely a classic for the DS. Enjoy the videos!

The other video at the jump!

Over at JeuxFrance, we found a ton of screenshots for the upcoming Square Enix game, It's a Wonderful World, amounting to over a whopping 100 screenshots. That's a lot to digest, but more screenshots means more happiness, yes? What got our attention, though, are the images of an It's a Wonderful World-themed DS (the goth touch looks nice against the silver sheen on the DS), and what looks like a key chain shaped in Tsuki's cat's likeness.

Also, one of the screens below has many characters who look like they're mingling with each other...could this be the multiplayer mode for It's a Wonderful World?

For those who (still) aren't in the know regarding Tetsuya Nomura's DS game in the making, It's a Wonderful World lets players control both Neku and Tsuki, who are struggling to fight their way to survival before a set deadline of seven days. The gameplay is a lot more strange than standard Nintendo DS fare: you control Neku with the stylus, and Tsuki along with her cat (that oh-so-weird cat) using the D-pad. Simultaneously. Quirky enough?

Stay with us as we get even more information about Square Enix's much awaited DS game. Don't worry, we have more than seven days to wait for this gem.

      

 
Click on the Via link to get hold of the screenshots!

We've got three scans of the upcoming Nintendo DS game It's a Wonderful World. These images appeared on the Japanese V-Jump magazine and they look pretty cool. Check them out:

  

The game was developed by Tetsuya Nomura and it tells the tale of Shibuya-born Neku Sakuraba. Near as we can figure, the poor lad has to complete a mission in seven days if he wants to stay alive. Information right now is pretty scarce, but we'll let you in on more details when news is forthcoming, so just keep it posted here.

 

Did you watch the horror movie "The Ring"? It's the one about a video that leaves you with seven days to live unless you accomplish the condition of showing it to somebody else. It's a Wonderful World shares the same one week deadline - forgive the pun.

It's a Wonderful World has a different condition though, as an empathic boy named Neku and outspoken Tsuki get forced to play Death's Game. If they lose, their existence will be erased completely. The mysterious game is arbitrated by the members of the Shinigami Corp and the death gods. Anyway, the screens show the protagonists of the game (Neku, Tsuki, Yoshiya - or Joshua, Bito, and Raimu) and Neku using his powers to detect the Noise.

This title is being developed by the same people who created Square Enix">Kingdom Hearts with Tetsuya Nomura of Square Enix. It's a Wonderful World is yet to be announced but we'll keep you posted. In the meantime, check out the screens.