Richard Hobbes
09-06-2003, 07:37 PM
All,
Folken, Slade, and a few others have been asking about Disgaea: Hour of Darkness (the new strategy RPG on PS2). I've been playing Disgaea for the last week now. The game is indeed a strategy RPG similar to FF Tactics, Tactics Ogre, and others. While KOTOR (on Xbox) takes the cinematic approach, Disgaea takes a more chess-board-like approach but is equally compelling in its own right. Fans of both games may like to read my thoughts about Disgaea thus far. I personally feel that Disgaea is as much a Game Of The Year title as KOTOR, however, it is likely that the majority gamers raised on North American titles will not agree.
What separates Disgaea from other titles in the SRPG genre is that the game contains quite a few unusual systems and gameplay mechanics. For example, GeoStones litter the battlefield and they light up various areas. When an area is affected by a GeoStone it provides benefits or hindrances. For example, one stone may provide 40% healing on each turn while another may provide x6 power to enemies only. One of the keys in Disgaea is figuring out how to use the stones to your advantage. (i.e. how to move enemies around them, when to destroy them - which you can do, and when to pick them up and throw them.)
Throwing objects (GeoStones, allies, enemies, etc.) forms a big part of the game. To move your troops around the battlefield more quickly, you can have one character pick up another and throw him/her to a new position. You can also throw enemies which can work for or against you. In one case I threw an enemy and it caused the enemy to level up instead of taking damage.
There is a complex system of training characters which involves completing test battles and making propositions to scholars. I've not quite figured this out yet, but it appears that any character you chose can be powered up to super-mondo proportions. Characters are not cut off at level 20 (as they are in KOTOR) or at some other lower level (as they are in many RPGs). Characters in Disgaea can liteally be powered up hundreds of levels which provides a great feeling of longevity for each character. You really do care about every character because you may have spent a lot of time leveling them up. Even the lowliest Primmy foot soldier can be powered up to epic proportions. Each type of troop has different native and specialty abilities so it is an obvious choice to power up some troops over others. Still, it is nice that you have the freedom to turn any character into a super power within that character's set of abilities.
Once thing I really like is that when a character dies, they can be resurrected at a hospital. This makes the game very fun and combats the fact that there is no in-battle save system. (Note, you can only save in a town.) While the battles usually feature multiple stages, you can go back to town between each stage to save, heal, buy equipment, etc.
There are only two things that I don't like about the game so far: recursive counter moves and the camera.
Similar to Saiyuki: Journey West, specific characters in Disgaea have automatic counter moves when attacked. This is fine until two characters with automatic counter moves attack each other. When this happens, one hits the other, the other hits back, and so on. Eventually one dies (of course) but during the proceedings you have no control over the outcome. This isn't that big of a deal because it does not happen that often.
Most battle maps in Disgaea have high and low geometry. (i.e. hills, ponds, ledges, etc.) When you move the selection rectangle around the battlefield, the camera dips and swoops continuously as it follows. I find this quite distracting as the camera will often swoop the position of the map you are trying to get to off the screen. If you keep moving the selection rectangle the screen will pop back, but I still find it very distracting.
What do I think of Disgaea as a whole? Well, firstly you have to accept the fact that Disgaea is a throwback to similar games on the PS1, NES, and SNES systems. While the graphics are certainly improved and feature some acceptable particle effects, we're still talking about primitively animated sprites on primitive (but extremely functional) blocky 3D maps. With that precursor out of the way, I think Disgaea is one of the best games to be released for the PS2 to date. Disgaea is insanely fun and insanely deep. Honestly, I put down KOTOR to play Disgaea and I haven't gone back to KOTOR since. This is not to say that KOTOR isn't good, rather, Disgaea is just that addictive.
Like KOTOR, Disgaea is not a game for everyone. You have to enjoy strategy RPGs and you also have to like organizing battle parties that can contain up to twelve characters at once. KOTOR features a battle system that is only pseudo turn-based. While you can queue up battle commands, battles play out in real time. Disgaea is quite the opposite. You arrange your troops on the battlefield and give each one their commands for a given turn. Once you've organized the strategy of your troops, you give the execute command and that single turn plays out with each of your troops doing what you commanded. The enemy's' turn pays out the same way except that enemy turns play out at about twice the speed of your turns. (This means you don't have to wait long periods while each enemy member performs the commands given by the AI.) In Disgaea you really feel that you are in command of every one of your troops. Strategy is the name of the day. KOTOR is a much more sit back and watch kind of experience with you stepping in every now and then to give a specific party member a healing item. For my tastes, I much prefer the battle system in Disgaea.
So what does this all amount to? I think Disgaea is one of the best PS2 games released this year. The game is an addictive strategy RPG with a wonderfully complex and entertaining battle system. Disgaea isn't the cinematic masterpiece that KOTOR is, but in its own way Disgaea is just as fun and in some ways a whole lot more fun. The story (so far) is light hearted with some interesting plot shifts so it doesn't disappoint in this area either. PS2 owners should pick this title up if they see it. Being an obscure Atlus release with little promotion, you just know that Disgaea won't be in stores for long. Thus, if you see it, I say buy it. Don't wait on this one or you'll be searching eBay and paying twice the price.
RH.
Folken, Slade, and a few others have been asking about Disgaea: Hour of Darkness (the new strategy RPG on PS2). I've been playing Disgaea for the last week now. The game is indeed a strategy RPG similar to FF Tactics, Tactics Ogre, and others. While KOTOR (on Xbox) takes the cinematic approach, Disgaea takes a more chess-board-like approach but is equally compelling in its own right. Fans of both games may like to read my thoughts about Disgaea thus far. I personally feel that Disgaea is as much a Game Of The Year title as KOTOR, however, it is likely that the majority gamers raised on North American titles will not agree.
What separates Disgaea from other titles in the SRPG genre is that the game contains quite a few unusual systems and gameplay mechanics. For example, GeoStones litter the battlefield and they light up various areas. When an area is affected by a GeoStone it provides benefits or hindrances. For example, one stone may provide 40% healing on each turn while another may provide x6 power to enemies only. One of the keys in Disgaea is figuring out how to use the stones to your advantage. (i.e. how to move enemies around them, when to destroy them - which you can do, and when to pick them up and throw them.)
Throwing objects (GeoStones, allies, enemies, etc.) forms a big part of the game. To move your troops around the battlefield more quickly, you can have one character pick up another and throw him/her to a new position. You can also throw enemies which can work for or against you. In one case I threw an enemy and it caused the enemy to level up instead of taking damage.
There is a complex system of training characters which involves completing test battles and making propositions to scholars. I've not quite figured this out yet, but it appears that any character you chose can be powered up to super-mondo proportions. Characters are not cut off at level 20 (as they are in KOTOR) or at some other lower level (as they are in many RPGs). Characters in Disgaea can liteally be powered up hundreds of levels which provides a great feeling of longevity for each character. You really do care about every character because you may have spent a lot of time leveling them up. Even the lowliest Primmy foot soldier can be powered up to epic proportions. Each type of troop has different native and specialty abilities so it is an obvious choice to power up some troops over others. Still, it is nice that you have the freedom to turn any character into a super power within that character's set of abilities.
Once thing I really like is that when a character dies, they can be resurrected at a hospital. This makes the game very fun and combats the fact that there is no in-battle save system. (Note, you can only save in a town.) While the battles usually feature multiple stages, you can go back to town between each stage to save, heal, buy equipment, etc.
There are only two things that I don't like about the game so far: recursive counter moves and the camera.
Similar to Saiyuki: Journey West, specific characters in Disgaea have automatic counter moves when attacked. This is fine until two characters with automatic counter moves attack each other. When this happens, one hits the other, the other hits back, and so on. Eventually one dies (of course) but during the proceedings you have no control over the outcome. This isn't that big of a deal because it does not happen that often.
Most battle maps in Disgaea have high and low geometry. (i.e. hills, ponds, ledges, etc.) When you move the selection rectangle around the battlefield, the camera dips and swoops continuously as it follows. I find this quite distracting as the camera will often swoop the position of the map you are trying to get to off the screen. If you keep moving the selection rectangle the screen will pop back, but I still find it very distracting.
What do I think of Disgaea as a whole? Well, firstly you have to accept the fact that Disgaea is a throwback to similar games on the PS1, NES, and SNES systems. While the graphics are certainly improved and feature some acceptable particle effects, we're still talking about primitively animated sprites on primitive (but extremely functional) blocky 3D maps. With that precursor out of the way, I think Disgaea is one of the best games to be released for the PS2 to date. Disgaea is insanely fun and insanely deep. Honestly, I put down KOTOR to play Disgaea and I haven't gone back to KOTOR since. This is not to say that KOTOR isn't good, rather, Disgaea is just that addictive.
Like KOTOR, Disgaea is not a game for everyone. You have to enjoy strategy RPGs and you also have to like organizing battle parties that can contain up to twelve characters at once. KOTOR features a battle system that is only pseudo turn-based. While you can queue up battle commands, battles play out in real time. Disgaea is quite the opposite. You arrange your troops on the battlefield and give each one their commands for a given turn. Once you've organized the strategy of your troops, you give the execute command and that single turn plays out with each of your troops doing what you commanded. The enemy's' turn pays out the same way except that enemy turns play out at about twice the speed of your turns. (This means you don't have to wait long periods while each enemy member performs the commands given by the AI.) In Disgaea you really feel that you are in command of every one of your troops. Strategy is the name of the day. KOTOR is a much more sit back and watch kind of experience with you stepping in every now and then to give a specific party member a healing item. For my tastes, I much prefer the battle system in Disgaea.
So what does this all amount to? I think Disgaea is one of the best PS2 games released this year. The game is an addictive strategy RPG with a wonderfully complex and entertaining battle system. Disgaea isn't the cinematic masterpiece that KOTOR is, but in its own way Disgaea is just as fun and in some ways a whole lot more fun. The story (so far) is light hearted with some interesting plot shifts so it doesn't disappoint in this area either. PS2 owners should pick this title up if they see it. Being an obscure Atlus release with little promotion, you just know that Disgaea won't be in stores for long. Thus, if you see it, I say buy it. Don't wait on this one or you'll be searching eBay and paying twice the price.
RH.