The rewards for battling are great, and change depending on what difficulty the game is being played on, and what level your character is – both of which can be adjusted at any time on the pause menu. In fact, the game has seemingly infinite re-playability, since you can start a New Game + once the game is over and change your settings as you see fit. However, if you always play on an easy difficulty at a high level, you’ll never make much money or get good items. The game encourages you to take risks, and they usually make it worth your while.

Somewhat early into the game, a minigame also becomes available to distract you even more from the main plot. Tin Pin Slammer is basically an advanced version of marbles that you play with your collected pins. It isn’t nearly as engrossing as the rest of the game, though it can be played via wireless multiplayer.

Another source of innovation comes from the items and various shops in Shibuya. Every area of the city has its own trends and so-five-minutes-ago fashions, which appear to change every day. You get bonus attack points for wearing what’s currently in style, and penalized for being unhip. The stores where you purchase your attire (and stat-boosting food that you actually have to digest) level up along with everything else in the game. Make friends with the shopkeep and you’ll be privy to new items and new abilities unlocked in stuff you already have.