Prinny and Proper
Disgaea has been going strong for 22 years now. The tactical RPG series has been massively successful in its native Japan, spawning manga, anime and countless different offshoots of merchandise. While it has been enjoying releases in the West for a long time now, it has yet to enter the mainstream in quite the way Fire Emblem or Persona have. With the release of Disgaea 7 Complete on Nintendo’s shiny new hardware, could this be the opportunity Disgaea has needed to become a household name?
Finding Netherworld
The most immediately striking aspect of Disgaea that will surprise newcomers is the strangely anarchic sense of humour. Set in a goofy world of battling demons, you’ll meet Fuji, an incredibly abrasive and narcissistic demon warrior. Played to an edgelord extreme with incredibly solid voice acting, the game lets you get into the action quickly. With so many anime-styled games taking their sweet time setting up their world and characters, it’s a breezy delight not to be trapped in interminable cutscenes. As a handheld experience, this is a godsend too, adding a real pick-up and play dimension to the title. Quickly teaming up with ditzy catgirl Pirilika following a restaurant faux pas, you discover the Netherworld hub area you’ll inhabit between battles. The chibi art style of the game is a perfect fit for a handheld too, easily legible and very colourful. The same can’t be said for the extensive stats you’ll be poring over as you dig into the strategic minutiae. Jumbled and using confusing fonts, if the Netherworld had SEO, the demons would be truly damned.
Demon Slayer
The battles take place in an isometric grid. This format will be instantly recognisable to fans of Fire Emblem or the recently resurrected Final Fantasy Tactics. You’ll select units, move them as far as their range will allow and attack enemies. Levelling up, equipping new weapons and armour, all the tactical RPG elements are here. With all previously released DLC now included, you’ll have no shortage of combat scenarios to explore. Seeing your units deal absurd damage to enemies never loses its appeal, and the level of complexity of customisation is in your hands. This flexibility is important to appeal to new Disgaea players and returning veterans alike. Even when you eventually clear the main campaign, there are still loads to do. Indeed, this slick package truly gets you bang for your buck.
In short, Disgaea 7 Complete lives up to its title. An all-encompassing collection of a game that runs like a dream on its new handheld home. With an easy learning curve, this could open a doorway for a new generation of fans. Plus, cute penguins! Should have led with that, really.
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