History VideoGame / TheWorldEndsWithYou

* EscapistCharacter: Arguably Hanekoma. He's always two steps ahead of everyone and [[spoiler:both God ''and'' Satan]] but, mostly because of keeping in the background of things, he manages to keep a sense of mystique and interest to keep from being obnoxious about it.

('''Note:''' It's A Wonderful World'' [[SimilarlyNamedWorks is also the title of]] a 1939 live-action ScrewballComedy starring Jimmy Stewart and Claudette Colbert.)

('''Note:''' {{Its A Wonderful World}} [[SimilarlyNamedWorks is also the title of]] a 1939 live-action ScrewballComedy starring Jimmy Stewart and Claudette Colbert.)

('''Note:''' {{It's A Wonderful World}} [[SimilarlyNamedWorks is also the title of]] a 1939 live-action ScrewballComedy starring Jimmy Stewart and Claudette Colbert.)

* ImprobableAge: You'd expect the Reapers to be fairly old, considering the supernatural powers, the complicated hierarchy of the organization, and the fact that they're in charge of a continuous [[HumanityOnTrial trial on humanity]], but the game's oldest character with a known age is 26. ([[spoiler:Hanekoma is from a higher plane]]; we don't know his age, but he looks to be in his late 30s at most.)
** However, it is hinted a few times that Reapers enjoy a longer lifespan than civilians. In a conversation between Kariya and Uzuki, Uzuki speculates that Kariya must have been a Reaper for a very long time, and Kariya responds with a secretive grunting sound. It is also stated plainly in the Secret Reports that the Composer would appear much younger than he really is when he visits lower planes.
** Justified, as it's never stated Reapers actually age after they die. There's a good chance many of them have been dead for years and simply look the age they did at death.
** Another way to look at it: most reapers are young simply because being a Reaper is a high-risk job. Their lifespans depend on the "points" they rack up, as explained by Konishi, so Reapers are theoretically immortal, but a lot of them will be killed by Players along the way. Also, while Uzuki does speculate that Kariya has been working as a Harrier for a long time, she also states that she has been at it for 2 years, and implies that it is already a pretty long time, so maybe a lot of reapers don't even last that long.
** Minamimoto is an Officer Reaper at 18 years old, with an impressive track record. So either Reapers don't age (or they do but very slowly) or Minamimoto was a very efficient {{Tykebomb}}.

* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: The entire cast, though, admittedly, some more than others. Justified in some cases, as Neku and his partner are usually never formally introduced to the GM or other reapers, and thus actually don't know their names.

[-('''Note:''' {{It's A Wonderful World}} [[SimilarlyNamedWorks is also the title of]] a 1939 live-action ScrewballComedy starring Jimmy Stewart and Claudette Colbert.)-]

[-('''Note:''' ''ItsAWonderfulWorld'' [[SimilarlyNamedWorks is also the title of]] a 1939 live-action ScrewballComedy starring Jimmy Stewart and Claudette Colbert.)-]

[-('''Note:''' ''{{It's A Wonderful World}}'' [[SimilarlyNamedWorks is also the title of]] a 1939 live-action ScrewballComedy starring Jimmy Stewart and Claudette Colbert.)-]

[-('''Note:''' ''It's A Wonderful World'' [[SimilarlyNamedWorks is also the title of]] a 1939 live-action ScrewballComedy starring Jimmy Stewart and Claudette Colbert.)-]

** While we're on the topic of DeathByIrony, a [[SubvertedTrope Subversion]] would be [[spoiler:Shiki. She gets her right to come back to life, only to become Neku's second entry-fee. You see her again at the end of week three.]]

** Shiki forgives Neku quite quickly for [[spoiler:trying to kill her]] on Day 2. She later apologizes to him for being harsh when scolding him for seeming uncaring about [[spoiler:Rhyme being erased]] on Day 4.

* RunningSequence: The opening cinematic.

* ItGotWorse: At the end of the game things are spiraling out of control [[:spoilerRhyme is gone, the pin her noise is in the hands of a person who will destroy it if you don't win the game, the third week Joshua is "dead" and shiki is your entry fee, and now after you get everyone back you find out that Joshua is really the composer and then the conductor in one last resort absorbs every one of you partners and turns into a dragon!]]

* ItGotWorse: At the end of the game things are spiraling out of control Rhyme is gone, the pin her noise is in the hands of a person who will destroy it if you don't win the game, the third week Joshua is "dead" and shiki is your entry fee, and now after you get everyone back you find out that Joshua is really the composer and then the conductor in one last resort absorbs every one of you partners and turns into a dragon!

* {{Meido}}: One NPC mistakes an actual maid for a waitress at a maid cafe. You can also get a maid costume in the game.

** The Irregular Note set [[PaintingTheFourthWall float around the screen and shoot bullets according their position]]. ''You'' can break the forth wall by pausing the game, ''shifting said pins to a more desirable position'', and '''repeat''' when the pins start drifting away again.

** The shopkeeper of Molco's Tigre Punks is a [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Manga/Nana punk-rocker named Nana.]]

* ProfessionalButtKisser

* BigBad: [[spoiler:[[YourMilageMayVary Kitaniji and/or Joshua]].]] One was a god-like figure who wanted to destroy Shibuya because of its dire problems, and the other was trying to start an AssimilationPlot to convince him otherwise.

* BigBad: [[spoiler:[[YourMilageMayVary Kitaniji and/or Joshua]].]] One was a god-like figure who wanted to destroy Shibuya because of its dire problems, and the other was trying to start an AssimilationPlot to convince him otherwise.]]

* BigBad: [[spoiler:[[YourMilageMayVary Kitaniji and/or Joshua]].]] One was trying to start an AssimilationPlot, while the other was an OmnicidalManiac [[GodIsEvil God]] who [[spoiler:killed Neku in the first place]]. They, while working against each other, are responsible for every single bad thing that happens in this game.

* CharacterDevelopment: A major theme of the story is Neku's growth as a person, as well as his partners.
** The most notable example of this trope is Neku himself. He starts out as an antisocial prick who just wants to be left alone. [[spoiler: Over the course of the next three weeks, Neku gradually shifts from this to a much more likeable young man who has friends by the time he returns to the RG ]]
*** Shiki gets her's during Week 1. As it turns out, [[spoiler: The Shiki Neku sees is not the real Shiki. her entry fee was her real appearance and it was that because Shiki was always envious of her friend Eri. After some encouraging words from Neku, She learns to love herself for who she truely is.]]
**** Beat also gets his time to shine. After[[spoiler: Rhyme's death halfway through Week 1, Beat is determined to bring her back no matter what the cost. He even goes as far as to join the Reapers to see his goal all the way through and spends some of his time antagonizing Neku and Joshua during Week 2. However, Beat manages to redeem himself by saving Neku's ass at the start of Week 3 by making a pact with him, thus shedding his status as a Reaper...]]
***** Finally, [[spoiler: Joshua AKA "The Composer" undergoes a little character development himself. Before neku's time in the UG, Joshua was disatisfied with the way Shibuya was going and decided to destroy it in a months time unless it somehow managed to turn itself around. This is the reason why Joshua killed Neku. If he could change, then perhaps Shibuya could too. Thanks to Neku, Joshua decides to leave Shibuya untouched.]]