This is a column by Kat Bailey dedicated to the analysis of the once beloved Japanese RPG sub-genre. Tune in every Wednesday for thoughts on white-haired villains, giant robots, Infinity+1 swords, and everything else the wonderful world of JRPGs has to offer.
Well, that was a little anti-climactic, wasn't it? For a second there, I really thought that we were going to get an actual sequel to The World Ends With You. But no, we're getting a port instead - an iOS port at that.

As always, the backlash was predictable, and Square Enix didn't help themselves with their countdown or the price point ($20 or $18 depending on iOS device - yikes). But I'm sure Square Enix had its reasons; those reasons being:

• It's a relatively easy way for Square Enix to continue gauging popular interest in the series.
• The World Ends With You was originally designed with touchscreen support in mind, which translates nicely to mobile devices (the lack of a second screen for Neku's partner is another matter).
• It will probably turn a profit. I hear businesses like money.

Basically, it's a way for Square Enix to exhume the series after shoveling dirt on it and moving on four years ago. This isn't Square Enix dashing hopes of a sequel; it's Square Enix raising those hopes up a notch. At a guess, it's hoping to raise The World Ends With You's profile with mainstream gamers in such a way that the sequel will be a bona fide success, and not just a cult hit. Right now, there's no better way to reach the masses than to put something out on iOS, which might answer why the game hasn't found life on the Vita.