It’s a Wonderful World gets a new name, release date for Europe

Well color us excited. The quirky, high-energy Square Enix DS project previously known as It’s a Wonderful World has been renamed and will be released in Europe this spring. The new title, “The World Ends With You” ain’t half bad, either. There is no word on whether the game can be expected to ship to North America, but since the DS is multi-region, importing this one shouldn’t be a problem.

The World Ends With You will put players in the unlucky shoes of “Neck”, a Tokyo punk who is forced to play a macabre game for the God of Death in various locales around Shibuya District. Luckily, Neck has been granted psychic powers and the ability to delve into the minds of passersby in the city, in order to look for clues about his condition. The game manages to pack so many sprites on-screen at one time that it has the look and feel of an authentic downtown street scene, albeit one infested with crazed animals. Action is carried out using a combination of touch and beat-matching mechanics, making this one of the most bizarre gaming mash-ups we have seen. Check out some screenshots from the Japanese version of the game to get an idea of just how visually impressive and creative this game is shaping up to be.