This game is the cornerstone for any Strategy RPG. It will be a monument for all similar RPGs to look at crunch time.
User Rating: 9.5 | Makai Senki Disgaea PS2
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is one of the earliest games developed by Nipon-Ichi for the ps2. It attracted quite a bit of attention when it hit the markets, selling a very large quota in a relatively short time. Many reasons exist to put Disgaea on the map, and it was surprising when I found out that none of them had any previously-applied elements in their roles. The entire game as a whole varied immensly from any other S-RPG, and this showed in the verrry twisted storyline and ironic humor the Netherworld functioned on. Example: Etna tries to wake Lahal up by doing him harm, and, when she is caught red-handed, he tells her to use a stronger weapon =P This truly was the Netherworld, a community which honored the exact opposite of human morals and embraced deviousness all throughout the game. The impact of the story on the player is amplified even more when the world of Angels is introduced and controversy starts playing a major role in dictating the game's many endings. Don not forget the smexy Jennifer and her companions Gordon and the robot dude that add a certain flavor to the game's excitement =P We come to the graphics. I'll admit; any S-RPG should have similar graphics, but they weren't exactly the strong point of the game. Nipon Ichi, however, made up in color/attire design what it lacked in pure graphics. In addition, the player likes the simplicity more and more as he/she delves into the characters' personalities and probes their thoughts. The gameplay itself only shows when initiating fights, boss fights, or conversations of cutscenes. Instead of downgrading the game, this upgrades it/ its nice to watch a demonic 2D cell- shaded cinema once in awhile ,eh? Especially when its during a boss fight.
I have played this game for 197: 16 hrs, and I still have yet to defeat Baal, The Lord of Terror. I salute those who have.
Overall Equation:
-Storyline: 100/100
-Gameplay: 96/100
-Graphics: 84/100
-Content, Style, and Mechanics: 17.5/20 x4 +20
-Duration: Looooooooooong
-Playability Rate : cap it once, and don't try to again anytime soon =P
