Prinny tested, Dood approved!
Every once and awhile, a game comes around that revitalizes the gaming pool and reinvents what was once original and fresh. For console strategy RPGs (or S-RPGs), the first that comes to my mind, especially as the game that brought the genre to the forefront of gaming minds during the last generation was %%Final Fantasy Tactics%% for the PS1. Without a doubt, it was a genre defining game. For the PS2, that game was, and still is, NIS and Atlus' %%Disgaea%%. There is a reason other than short print run as to why this game goes regularly for $70-$80 for complete copies on eBay.
Within the first 30 minutes of game time, you'll be thinking at least one thing: dang this game is demented, through and through! The game opens in the Netherworld (essentially Hell, ruled by demons) with Etna, vassal to the recently deceased Overlord, King Krischivskoy, attempting to wake his son, the prince Laharl, from his 2 years' deep sleep. What's weird about that? Well, she is using just about every weapon known to man with little to no initial success. After the fighting tutorial, Laharl, Etna and a group of fanny-pack equipped, exploding when thrown penguins named Prinnies are off to rob neighboring demons and squash out any opposition to Laharl. Not how RPGs normally start the day and it couldn't feel better.
Over 2/3 of the story text is voiced (why it wasn't all voiced is beyond me - though I imagine it was budget-related), which is the only way I am forgiving the slide-show and in-game story-telling. I played through with the English voice actors (you can switch between the English and Japanese voice actors) and they more than adequately hold their own against their Japanese counterparts. The work put into the voice acting, and therefore the story-telling, really shows how much Atlus U.S.A. put into this game.
Though, with game play that I can only explain as obscenely deep, Atlus U.S.A. didn't need to put as much into this game as they did to make it a classic...nor does the addition of a crappy song by defunct pop-punk band, Tsunami Bomb, hurt it. %%Disgaea%% takes the standard concepts in S-RPGs, being grid-based, turn-based, weapons and magic battles and mixes in some not so new though well-executed ideas (such as the Formation Attack System: a tag-team, simulatious attack that can quadruple the damage), some fresh ideas (such as the Dark Assembly: a congress that, for example, gives out tests to improve your rank and allows you to try and pass beneficiary proposals) and some genre-altering elements (such as the Item World, which allows you to enter any item in the game to level it up, gain experience and effectively extends the playing time of the game to nearly infinite) to create a well-oiled, just familiar enough battle system.
%%Disgaea%% is an amazing game for fans of console S-RPGs, and if you enjoy anime and/or Japanese humor, then hot damn you are in luck! If you have a distaste for either of those, then don't let the hype bandwagon pull you in. Chances are very high you won't like this game, as there is nothing here to change your opinion of either. I know there are some of you out there that buy into hype even if it is something you don't normally like. This is a niche title, it pulls no punches in that regard, so save yourself the hassle and cost. For those who fall into the niche, if you haven't taken the ride, get on it now. You'll tell everyone at $70 that you underpaid.Read full review
