Simple but a good game.
The adventure tells the story of Laharl, the son of a powerful king of the underworld, a sort of hell. He has just awakened from a sleep of two years, discovering that his father was dead and the underworld has been taken by different demons. With the help of a vassal Etna, he intends to return to her kingdom. The confusion ends up reaching the sky in one of the best war comic ever seen on PlayStation 2.
Anyone who has played "Final Fantasy Tactics" and "Tactics Ogre will feel at home with the proceeds from Nippon Ichi. Each battle takes place in a self-contained arena, with a team of up to 10 warriors and with the action unfolding in shifts. But unlike "Tactics", commands can be executed at any time during the player's turn. That would not be so great immediately, but two of the strangest of "Disgaea" make it an excellent tool: throws and joint attacks.
The three spaces adjacent to the attacking character may be occupied by allies, creating the chance of joint attacks. The affinity between the warriors influence this probability. The difference is that the secondary characters do not spend your action in this attack, allowing repeated attacks per turn. Training becomes an extremely important element of the strategy.
Furthermore, any humanoid character has the power to charge and throw other characters - be they friends or enemies. The possibilities for this are enormous: they can be defended allies, enemies can be excluded from the scenario, the scope of the units increases ... and experience will also reveal other surprises. Try to throw an enemy against the other and see for yourself.
"Disgaea" is the typical game for players who like to spend hours gaining levels and increasing the power of the characters. In addition to allowing any stage to be played over again, the level of the characters can fall into four digits. The difficulty of the game anchors this option, challenging the player with many hard battles.
If all this were not enough, the adventure has some very unique surprises: ALL-game items, including consumables, can receive upgrades through the system "Item World". Each item brings literally a world within itself. Players can explore these worlds not just to improve the skills of the object, but also to release living offering new powers. Once released, these residents may even be migrated to new items.
Other interesting aspect is the Dark Assembly. Despite being the son of the king, the poor Laharl is subject to the decisions of a council of devils unpleasant. Purchase certain items, ask for more resources and other functions are processes that require the approval of the assembly. Laharl can not just bribe them with items earned during the missions, but to leave the arm to ensure your desire. It is these small details that make the daunting experience of "Disgaea" so interesting.
The game literally opens like an onion, continually revealing new classes, levels, optional missions ... Finally, a game full of surprises.
Fans of "Final Fantasy" may be a little surprised with the overall presentation of the game. "Disgaea" could easily have been released for the PSOne with its 3D graphics and abuse in simple 2D illustrations. The soundtrack is equally simple, but mix with the events in a competent manner.
But perhaps the biggest surprise even get the general craziness of the plot. During the first chapter is an angel sent from heaven to assassinate Laharl's father. The young girl with wings just having a hilarious speech of apology to Laharl - do not expect the same drama or seriousness of "Final Fantasy" or philosophical considerations "Kingdom Hearts".
Still, "Disgaea" is the most refreshing options for PlayStation 2 owners who want a deep game, full of nuances, but without drowning in unnecessary elements - but, above all, without great pretensions. But if you prefer something with a lot of action and little planning, however, it is better to wait for something more traditional.