GAME CHANGERS Vol. 1

It's here! The thing I promised I'd do a few weeks ago and haven't got around to doing is finally here! My segment that nobody asked for, but you're all going to get it! Hooray!

So today on Kevin L Neff and His Random Rants, I present GAME CHANGERS Vol. 1, where I will be showcasing the game (and more importantly the lessons learned from such), "The World Ends With You" by Square Enix.

Top: Beat. Left to Right: Joshua, Neku, Shiki, Rhyme

The World Ends With You is one fantastic game. Of course it would be, or I wouldn't be talking about it. Let me give you a spoiler-free rundown of the plot.

Shibuya, Japan, is the hot-spot for pop-culture in Japan. Popular Japanese artists, fashion designers, actors and youth all seem to flock to this postmodern metropolitan mecca. In the middle of the most crowded area, known as "The Scramble", a young boy named Neku Sakuraba wakes up without remembering anything about how he got there, what happened the day before, why anyone can't seem to hear him, and why all of a sudden he can read people's minds. Shortly after waking up, Neku's phone goes off with this message:

"REACH 104. YOU HAVE 60 MINUTES. FAIL, AND FACE ERASURE. -THE REAPERS".

So begins Neku's quest to unravel the secrets of his new-found situation. Who is he? Why can't anyone seem to see him? Who are the reapers? And just what are these monsters --the Noise-- that seem to be attacking him, and why?

Pretty gripping intro. Had me hooked right from the get-go. After finishing the game, though, I was profoundly touched, inspired, and changed forever. So here are five of the most important lessons I learned from the game. (Update: This got long after just two, so I'll be breaking it into manageable chunks over a few days)

He also says charming things like "Shut up" and "Outta My Face." D'awwww!

Lesson 1) "Trust Your Ally, Baby." The first words you hear the protagonist speak are... well, not super friendly or protagonist-like. It is very well established at the beginning of the game that Neku hates people. He is antisocial, spiteful, rude, and impudent. He would sooner crank his headphones up to the max and live a million miles away from anyone than, say, go to a party. So it's quite a shock that Neku is forced into the Reaper's Game, where the only way to survive is to make a pact with another person and partner up. During his quest, he teams up with three different allies over three in-game "weeks": Shiki, a bubbly, fashion-obsessed seamstress, Joshua, a snotty, stuck-up know-it-all brat-face, and Beat, a cocky, jive-talking soul brutha with some serious attitude problems. The game first pairs you up with Shiki, who is exactly the opposite of everything Neku represents. As one might expect, Neku starts out as nothing less than hostile towards each of him companions, but grows to trust them and eventually care for them all.

SEE?!

What this taught me is that there are people in this life that I'm going to meet who I'm not going to get along with. We live in a world where we hear of identity theft every other minute (it seems), corrupt politicians, shady businesses, and what all else. We are essentially conditioned to not trust anyone. However, that's not the way things should be. When people are different from us, in terms of thinking or actions, that doesn't make them bad people or untrustworthy. Neku learned to trust his partners, and so can I, even if it's hard. Even if they hurt you. Trust those who care about you. Let others trust you. Nobody can get through this life alone. So, as one of the songs from its eclectic soundtrack state, "Trust your ally, baby!"

And more!

Lesson 2) Tune Out the Noise. Noise is the name given to the great variety of monsters that Neku and his partners have to fight against throughout the game. Some take the shapes of frogs, penguins, wolves, and others the form of giant bats, nine-tailed foxes, and other mythical beasts. Noise in MY life, however, comes in the form of grudges, mistakes, criticism, trials, and any number of distractions and temptations that keep me from becoming the best person I can be. Interestingly, if Neku chose not to ever partner up with Shiki, he would have been swallowed by the Noise and erased right at the beginning of the game.

While the "Noise" in my life doesn't have the ability literally erase me, it can have a profound effect on my spirituality, and ultimately my very salvation. Yeah, yeah, we've all heard it before; eliminate distractions, focus on what's important, etc. etc. etc. But what really sticks out to me is that truly eliminating the Noise isn't possible unless someone is there by your side. This life was never designed as a solo experience. Now, someone somewhere is probably thinking, "Oh sweet, naive Kevin. When you partner up with someone, you also take upon yourself their burdens, problems, and baggage. Seeing as how you've got your own issues, is that added investment really worth it?"

While you raise a valid point, hypothetical naysayer, I ask you... have you ever been close to someone? Like, really close? I'm not talking just hanging out with friends and partying every once in a while. I'm talking making a deep, meaningful, and lasting connection with another human being. Have you ever gotten to the point where someone trusts you enough to confide in you their problems, pasts, and concerns, knowing full well you have issues, trials and temptations of your own? In my experience, an amazing thing happens. Your problems don't, in fact, double. What happens is that what I previously perceived as "MY problems" and "THEIR problems" becomes "OUR problems." And that three letter word makes all the difference. When you believe in someone else, and they believe in you, there is a real power there... I mean, when I'm with the right person, I feel like I can do anything.

Golly, I want to play this again. Sheesh.

There is so much good in the world and in people and with it set to what can only be described as music; the soulful serenades of the wounded of heart, the dirges of the downtrodden, and the languid lyrics of the lonely. Tune out the noise, "open up your senses", and listen.

Part Two coming soon.