Very rarely
do strategy/RPGs possess the power to entrance players from the moment they
begin. Only once a generation is an RPG so hilarious that it makes having a
specific award necessary to reward its accomplishment. Disgaea 2: Cursed
Memories will come out looking like another anime-based adventure attempting
to cash in on the legacy set more than a decade ago by Lunar: The Silver Star
Story.
In reality
it is a unique masterpiece that achieves instant entrancement. Players will be
overwhelmed with laughter, fall in love with the cast, and be extremely
anxious to find out what happens next. Meanwhile, in between the scenes of
hilarity, you’ll be captivated by the game’s strategic battle system and its
wonderful grid-based arenas.
Rolling
on the Floor
“What
does he want with our kids? He won’t get much money by selling them, so what’s
the point?”—Adell’s
mother.
There’s
nothing like a family who cares. Adell’s family cares a little too much…about
their own well-being! If you’ve been following
our coverage of the game, then you already know that Adell is the aspiring
hero of the adventure. A vengeful curse turns his family into demons. Next
thing he knows Mom is making ridiculous requests, hoping that if Adell listens
he can remove the curse. Dad, on the other hand, is busy trying to cope with
the talking pimple sticking out of his chest. It’s growing daily and, like all
things in this world, is very evil.
Much
hilarity ensues by the strange turn of events, with laugh-out-loud dialogue in
almost every scene. These characters are different, likable, and very well
voiced. There are a few annoyances here and there, but that’s something no RPG
has been able to escape. Even so, they can’t detract from what the game pulls
off – a great, fictitious tale with villains that are as important (and as
hilarious) as the heroes.
The
Disgaea Difference
Disgaea 2 is
a turn-based strategy RPG with a grid-based movement system. If you’ve been
consumed by Fire Emblem, Advance Wars, or another one of Nippon Ichi’s
strategy/RPGs (such as Makai Kingdom), this is the perfect game to ensure you
don’t leave the house for the next few weeks. You’ll get a solid 25 – 30 hours
out of it just by rushing through to the end. Should you choose to participate
in the side quests and explore the depths of the Dark Assembly (and you most
certainly should), the game easily exceeds the 50-hour mark.
Fifty hours
is an awfully long time to spend with a game. However, you won’t notice the
hours when you’re deep in a battle. You won’t realize how much time has gone
by as you contemplate the creation of a new character. Five hours feels like
30 minutes, which is precisely why the game falls into that “scarily
addictive” category that Fire Emblem belongs to.
Battles are
lengthy and clever but rarely feel slow. While most RPGs have a town
exploration element, Disagea 2 allows you to pick a location and instantly
jump into combat. Story segments are shown before and after, and while I do
not recommend skipping these segments, that option is available for those who
wish to do so.
In battle,
each square on the grid counts as one space. Hand-to-hand warriors tend to
have a much greater moving distance (more squares) than spell-casters. Strong
characters can lift and throw anyone, including enemies. This enables you to
push your allies deeper into the battlefield than they could on their own – a
key strategic element that must be utilized often.
Prinnies, a
frequently encountered penguin-like enemy, explode on impact after being
thrown. Throwing them can be quite advantageous, so long as you don’t mind
losing a ton of EXP (easy kills are not rewarded). On the other hand, if you
choose to throw an ally, it’ll push his or her reach even further.
Spell-casters can do their job and take out large droves of enemies in one
swift blast. Prior to being thrown, a Blue Mage may not have been close enough
for her spell to reach the enemy.
While she’s
taking out enemies from afar, the sword-, axe-, and spear-wielders take on
something else (such as an enemy that’s impervious to a particular magic
spell).
Allies may
also be thrown over gaps and on different terrain. This is an element the Fire
Emblem series has not explored. The purpose is to once again increase your
reach – enemies might be cowering in fear, keeping you from winning the
battle. You may also have to cross a gap to take out one of the Geo pieces, a
gem-shaped device that turns colored spaces into a deadly and/or beneficial
environment. Its effects, good or bad, will affect the color of the space
where it resides. The geo could be placed on a red square all the way in the
back of the area. Land on a red space and you’ll be affected.
Geo effects
include: attack +/-, defense +/-, no lifting, no entry (cannot cross or enter
space), silence (no spells), 50% EXP (more experience for killing enemies
while standing on that space), and so on.
Disgaea is a
little puzzling when you encounter Geos like no entry and no lifting.
Both can prevent you from killing every enemy on the battlefield. Likewise,
invincibility is only beneficial when you’re the one standing on the
space. If that same space has no lifting applied, you won’t be able to
throw the enemy to a more vulnerable location.
Thus, you
have to figure out which Geos to take out, and how to lure an enemy away from
its safety zone when that’s not possible. Geos have a life meter (HP) just
like everything else in the game, starting low and growing as the game
progresses. Most can be taken out in one strike. Before executing your finest
move, take a good look at the board. Are all the Geos placed on the same
color? Or are has each one been placed on a different color?
If they’re
all on the same color, killing one kills them all. This triggers a chain
effect that depletes all the colored spaces. The chain goes around the area
several times to meet the maximum number of Geos destroyed. Every chain
inflicts damage on anyone who’s standing on the affected colors. This could
potentially mean more pain for your enemies as well as your allies. No matter
what, it most certainly means more EXP.
Every level
has an EXP scale of 1-9. The higher the number, the more bonuses you get at
the end of the battle (bonus EXP, extra cash, new weapons, etc.). You boost
the scale by killing enemies, destroying Geos, and triggering chains.
In addition
to EXP, killing enemies also boosts your Mana. Characters earn Mana
individually based on the number of enemies they’ve killed. Disgaea uses it
much differently from other RPGs. In this adventure, SP (special points) works
as traditional MP, letting you cast spells and unleash dozens of special
moves.
Some
Assembly Required
In Disgaea
2, Mana is another form of currency. By entering a place called the Dark
Assembly, players may exchange the Mana each character has earned for a number
of cool game-changing effects. Create new playable allies: mages (fire, ice,
wind, or star/lightning), thieves, ninjas, old warriors, and clones of almost
every monster encountered in battle. These are just a few of the dozens of
characters that can be created.
With the
goal of having your cake and eating it too, characters may be reincarnated as
something new. Reincarnation drops your HP, attack power, and other statistics
down to level 1. Why bother? If your inheritance rate is high enough, you may
be able to keep your old abilities. Abilities from different species do not
seem to be compatible. However, if you reincarnate within the same species,
perhaps as a character more powerful than when he or she was created, you
could inherit your old abilities and be able to learn the new abilities
of your new character. It sounds confusing but is actually one of the easiest
things you can do in the Dark Assembly.
The hardest
and most rewarding thing you can do is go before the senate with a bill you
wish to be passed. What it comes down to is this: if half or more of the
senators voting are not initially in your favor, chances are you will not win
the vote. There is a way to win, but it depends on the conscience of the
senators voting. Are they legit, or will they take bribes?
Senators are
chosen at random, and though “Senator Lawful” is a dead giveaway, it’s not
always easy to tell who will and who won’t take a bribe. Nonetheless, you have
to give it a shot. But before you start handing out your inventory’s finest
items (which is how you win their approval: by giving away swords, armor, and
other equipment), take several minutes to analyze each senator’s desires.
I grabbed a
notepad and made a chart – took about 15 minutes – noting what each senator
wanted, who wanted which item the most, etc. If an item was in great demand,
it went to the senator that hated my character the most. I thought that if I
gave those who “loathe” my characters the best items, their vote would
eventually turn to “love.” The latter pretty much guarantees they’ll vote in
my favor, so long as they aren’t drunk or fall asleep.
There are
dozens of reasons to go before the senate, including the opportunity to
improve your local equipment and item retailers’ selections. You could improve
your mobility in battle (increase the number of squares you can move along the
grid), add new characters to the creation list, or open up new battle
possibilities. Though very time-consuming and in need of extreme
concentration, this is one of the game’s most unique and most rewarding
features. No matter how much time it took to get what I wanted, it was always
worth going back a second (and third, fourth, fifth, etc.) time.
|
|
Gameplay: 9.0
The best
strategy/RPG since the last Fire Emblem, Disgaea 2 is a wonderful mix of
magic, combat-based puzzles, and brute force.
Graphics: 7.0
Standard (and not
too spectacular) 3D battlefields, 2D characters, and colorful magic spells.
Sound: 8.0
Disgaea 2’s
soundtrack is good but highly repetitive. Its quirky themes tend to tire after
a while. While other RPGs have succeeded in this area, very few have
demonstrated above-average voice acting. Disgaea 2 comes through with
appropriate, over-the-top acting that adds character to the characters.
Difficulty: Medium
A clever,
challenging RPG that uses its battle system to distribute puzzles. Very
original and enjoyable.
Concept: 8.7
Gameplay,
puzzles, characters, dialogue, voice acting – everything that matters is
top-notch. The Dark Assembly is an entirely original side feature that merges
hilarity with strategy and deep concentration.
Overall: 9.0
Anyone who’s
played Fire Emblem or the original Disgaea must know by now that this is a
must-own strategy/RPG. Those who are not so lucky and those who have not been
clearly informed must be told: at the dawn of the fall gaming season, there is
no other title that is more worthy of your time.
Even those
who dislike the genre shouldn’t hesitate to proceed. All it takes is one game
to change your mind. Disgaea 2 is that game. It’s more than a classic or a
collector’s item. It’s a role-playing masterpiece that you’ll want to have in
your collection for years to come. Unlike the rest, this one is entertaining
enough to play through more than once. You won’t come back just for the comedy
– the gameplay is filled with vigor and is equally as satisfying as the story.
