NEO: The World Ends with You is a sequel to the 2007 action-RPG on the Nintendo DS that incorporates a 3D visual style. It’s set to release on July 27th for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, with a PC version coming this summer on the Epic Games Store.

Staff members include series director Tatsuya Kando, director Hiroyuki Ito (not to be confused with another Hiroyuki Ito), producer Tomohiko Hirano, composer Takeharu Ishimoto of THRILL inc., character design by Gen Kobayashi and Miki Yamashita. Tetsuya Nomura serves as creative producer and character designer.

Today, Square Enix shared more details about the story, cast of characters and battle abilities.

Rindo & Fret Play The Reapers’ Game

Things kick off in Shibuya, the same setting as the first game, but this time we follow a new protagonist named Rindo (VA: Paul Castro Jr.) who finds himself caught up in the “Reapers’ Game” and summoned to another dimension of Shibuya: the Undergound. Rindo is a phone-savvy high-school kid that won’t go out of his way to talk to other people, but won’t turn them away either. In the “Reapers’ Game”, he’s been appointed the leader of the Wicked Twisters team.

Rindo is caught in a battle transpiring in Shibuya’s famous Scramble Crossing, where he meats a mysterious girl with an ominous aura that introduces him to the Game. Along for the ride is Rindo’s friend and classmate Fret (VA: Griffin Burns). Fret is natural at conversation and can get along with just about everyone, going out of his way to avoid serious subjects. He affectionately calls Rindo “Rindude”.

The two learn the rules of the Reapers’ Game: if you don’t win, you cease to exist. In order to make it out of the “UG” an alternate-dimension Shibuya where the game takes place, they must compete against other “Players” summoned from the real world.

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The Cast of NEO

While in the Shibuya Underground, Rindo will meet Nagi (VA: Miranda Parkin) who is a college student constantly mistaken for a tween. A passionate gamer, she spends a lot of her time and energy playing games. She’s also highly tuned into those around her, easily aware of their emotional state, and dislikes those who pass off as superficial and disingenuous.

Minamimoto (VA: Andy Hirsch) , returning in this game as a Player, saves Rindo and company early on in the game with his psychic powers. He brute forces his way into the Wicked Twisters team, but seems to have ulterior motive. Well known for his mathematical vocabulary, Minamimoto calculates every possible future using his own unique formulas.

Shiba (VA: Shaun Conde) is the number one Reaper in the Shibuya Undgerground. He worked his way to the top within a year and serves as the current Game Master, which arbitrates its rules and motivates the Players to spice it up. His psychic powers are unmatched amongst his fellow Reapers.

Shoka (VA: Bailey Gambertoglio) is another Reaper managing the Game. However, she’s not as enthused as Shiba about her role monitoring the Players. In fact, she’s become bored of the Game in its current state — so much so that she shows distain towards Players who can’t pick up the rules quickly. She dons a hoodie designed by Gatto Nero, a new brand that’s become a hot topic in Shibuya.

Kariya (VA: Andrew Kishino) returns in the sequel, and despite being a veteran Reaper, he doesn’t aspire for more than his current station — just fine working amongst the rank-and-file with this trademark lollipops. His partner Uzuki, who strove for getting ahead in the Game, seems to have given it up for some unknown reason. Despite this, her hot temper remains. While nearly inseparable in the first game, it seems Kariya and Uzuki now work independently.

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Replay & Pins

The Players belonging to the Wicked Twisters team all have special and unique abilities. Rindo can use Replay to roll back the clock for any given day and potentially change the outcome of his actions. It’s an ability that will be valuable to Rindo in order to survive.

Reaper pins are given to Players when they’ve been entered into the Reapers’ Game. They allow the user to telepathically scan their surroundings but develop a user’s own psychic abilities.

In combat, you can use certain pins to execute psychic abilities. Azmaru will let you use the “Shockwave” psych which will let you slash enemies with a flaming sword before delivering an airborne finisher. The Angelic Kick pin houses the “Massive Hit” psych which is an aerial kick that will knock back enemies. The Glacial Getaway pin will execute the “Piercing Pillar” psych, which creates large icicles beneath enemies and will knock them into the air.

Of course, the Noise return as as enemies that take the forms of all sorts of fauna of varying sizes. You’ll have no choice but to “erase” the Noise in the Game’s missions, so there’s no sense in avoiding them. Defeating them can also bestow new pins that you can add to your repertoire.

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The World Within Shibuya

NEO: The World Ends with You is set in Shibuya, Tokyo, and naturally features many of its iconic landmarks like the Scramble Crossing, Spain Hill, the “104” Building, and Hachiko’s statue. Takeharu Ishimoto returns to compose the sequel with new music and new arrangements of his previous work.

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Here’s a look at the first game, recently ported to Nintendo Switch: