I am having a blast rediscovering the NDS system as a whole, and TWEWY is one of the games that makes fantastic use of the DS's capabilities as a hardware, making it stand out as more than just another handheld console.

it achieves this with the dual screen gameplay that isn't too distracting or demanding, and the creative usage of skills with different applications of your stylus. it's mechanically challenging but rewarding, and the gameplay is satisyfing even if it gets grindy. the real flaw here is that some skills don't mesh well and sometimes are even prejudicial as they clash with the usage of better-created and stronger skills.

in a non-deprecating way, this story has a quite pretentious/edgy beat that would've resonated with my 15 year old past self, but it takes that and spins it into something heartwarming and meaningful. we have our cynical misanthrope main character who closes himself off and erects barriers that do not allow others entry, but throw his trials and tribulations learns that The World Ends with Him, as in that it's only by interacting with others that your world can expand, as they allow you to be and find new versions of yourself.

shibuya is initially a fun city to explore, however as you keep playing the repetition of going through the same unmoving overworld turns it incredibly dull.

the ending feels like a bit inconclusive, like it could've developed more or delivered a stronger punch. all in all, it's a solid game, and some might say a must-play for the system.

the fact that you need to replay the game for "the best ending" which is one/two additional very small scenes is pretty insane.
good story if you don't find it implausible that everything just conveniently fits neatly together. I really liked how it utilized the DS system in creative ways, but the interactive point and click system was a bit obtuse, and disappointing in how it enforces its checkpoints; i.e. you can't do things out of order otherwise the game won't recognize it most of the time.

the game has a clear ending and satisfying revelations but it somehow feels it lacks a conclusion.

While it manages to avoid some of the prequel's biggest mistakes (repetition, fruitfulness in investigation, and bad humor) and there's good gameplay improvements, it does not manage to scale up to the original game. It keeps ruining serious moments with silliness or idol song performances, it's hard to get attached to any of the protagonists, not as much as Date.

The game tries to be epic at the end with some hard to swallow "EPIC TWIST" asspull, and yet, once again, fails to reach the impact levels of the original game.

Nonetheless, there's the usual heartfelt moments that do feel genuine, and a message that we are only complete when we meet our better half.