[PSP] First Glance Review: DISGAEA: Afternoon of Darkness
- 28th January , 2008 by KNDY in Video Game Reviews: PSP
- 0 comments
TITLE: DISGAEA: Afternoon of Darkness
PLATFORM: PSP
BY: NIPPON ICHI SOFTWARE, INC.
DISTRIBUTED BY: NIS America
GAME INFO: 1 player, Memory Stick Duo 408KB, PSP Headset Compatible, Wi-Fi Compatibnle (Ad Hoc) (2 players)
RATING: TEEN (Mild Blood, Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes)
A few years ago “Disgaea” from Atlus came out for the PlayStation 2 and because there were so many other games coming out, I passed it up. Then next thing you know, the game had the buzz online of being one of the games that are difficult to get and the cost for a new copy shot to like over $50 and used prices weren’t any cheaper.
So, I figured I’d wait… and wait I did. I bought #1 and #2 when it went down to like $24.99 and was going to spend one of the holiday weekends to sit down and play.
That was until I heard the game was coming out for the Sony PSP and would come with extra levels, characters and other cool things. But the selling point was mainly portability and not having to hold the TV hostage.
So, after beating “Final Fantasy Tactics” on the PSP, I started playing the game and it took me a while to get into it because I was so hooked on “Final Fantasy Tactics” that I had to get used to the overall system and the characters.
It has been nearly two months now since I started playing and what do you know, I have put in dozen of hours playing “DISGAEA: Afternoon of Darkness” and loving it!
The main storyline of the game features the character of Prince Lahari who has waken after many years of sleeping. Lahari wakes up to find out that this kingdom of demons have gone array since his father’s passing and people are fighting to become the overlord and leader. Lahari, who is a brash young demon and his friend/vassal/rival Etna go on missions as the storyline unfolds to show how Lahari comes to take control of his kingdom and become the overlord. The other character focuses on Flonne who is an Angel Trainee who comes to the Netherworld to assassinate the overlord but her belief in love changes her mission.
What I like about the game is the fact that you can choose Japanese or English dialogue (and I love that NIS America has continued to give us this option), the animation is anime-like stills but the storyline is hilarious, engaging and very good.
The game is turn-based strategy where you control each character, send them out on the map and place them on a square and use an attack, a special move, an item, etc.
In these missions are orbs which can alter the playing field. Some orbs will allow characters to do two attacks, another will make a person standing on a certain panel called Geo Panels with a certain color invincible or fairly weak and more. So, some areas you will need to destroy a Geo Symbol to eliminate the Geo Panels.
The game is literally hardcore on level grinding (that is playing and fighting enemies over and over again to build up your level and to earn money to purchase better weapons and armor). I have been playing many hours by using creating a variety of new characters (you can select monsters, demons, archers, fighters, gunner, ninja’s, magicians, etc.) and building them and literally just increasing my army for missions.
Before and after each mission, in the overlord’s castle you are offered a store that sells weapons, another that sells items. A Netherworld Hospital that allows you to replenish health and SP (magic) but costs money and then there is the Dark Assembly.
The Dark Assembly is like the Board who decides if you can get more funding, more expensive weapons or items, etc. But most of the time, this board of high level monsters pretty much loathe everything you request, so you either have to bribe them with gifts or trying to beat them. Through the Dark Assembly, you must earn “mana” which is the energy required to bring together the Dark Assembly to session. So, this adds hours to gameplay, you can take a promotional exam and try to beat monsters to earn mana and level up your ranking. Level up and more bills can be earned and brought up to the board. For example, level 2 allows you to ask for more expensive weapons. Level 3 allows you to request for better eyewear or footwear, etc.
Also, the Dark Assembly is important and it allows you to create a disciple (an ally) such as an archer, warrior, demon, monster, ninja, mage, etc. The more you level them, the more you open up more classes or by defeating a certain enemy in battle.
Also, there is an “item world” which allows you to build a weak weapon or item and level it up. This alone will add hours to the gameplay because you need to go through ten levels of fighting and beat everyone on the map for each level, to go up a level. Also, by getting and killing off a certain demon, you can earn something special for that weapon. Some levels require thinking because you can be on one area of the map and then the enemy on another side and between you, nothing. So, you have the option to lift an ally and throw them to the other side.
Another thing about “item world” is that it’s not easy. In fact, you may beat the first ten levels but continuing on and beating more and more levels, it gets more difficult but the more you play to level up, the more things specialized things you can earn. Also, once you get into the “Item World”, you will need to earn an exit, otherwise if you don’t, you will need to continue fighting until you earn it.
There are also several other saves in the castle such as the Collection and Dark Record (records your stats), a music shop to purchase BGM and Longinus who gives you details about weapons.
As for multi-player mode, there is multi-player mode which you can host a new game or play against a friend or buy/sell items. Multi-player battle allows you to battle another player and host it. Dealing allows you to shopping items from another person’s warehouse and vice versa.
All in all, because there are so many factors of building. Your army, your funds to get better weapons and armor, item world to level up your items, better ranking to confront the assembly but fortunately, what could have been a boring game, fortunately is enhanced by interesting characters and a very fun storyline.
For the storyline, it’s played out almost like a trailer for an anime with Etna (and sometimes Flonne) doing a trailer introducing each chapter.
As for the differences from the console version, there are extra characters from “Disgaea 2″ and “Makai Kingdom” in the game. Extra levels and also a way to play through Etna’s levels and give an alternate storyline. Awesome!
I’m now at Episode 11 and in this mission, a Buck Rogers (or Flash Gordon) style of character has made it into the Netherworld with his robot and beautiful female partner to assassinate the overlord and for Lahari. I’ve been playing the same level over and over again for hours in the past week or two, to build my character. I usually grow tired of repetitiveness but for some reason, not for this game. I think because the fact, you can grow your army and just building them and leveling them up, it’s a little bit more interesting than the grinding missions for like an RPG.
I’m really loving this game right now and I know some people have a hard time finding it, though I have seen it up and down California, I feel it’s a bit more plentiful and easier to find than the PS2 game when it first came out.
There’s so much going for this game for gameplay that it’s just worth recommending. I loved “Final Fantasy Tactics” for the PSP and highly recommend it but for “DISGAEA: Afternoon of Darkness”, you’re getting your money’s worth with this game with so much to it and the fact that this intense, enjoyable game is now portable.
I’ll update this review after completing it but for now, so far, I can tell you that this game is highly recommended!
Tags: DISGAEA: Afternoon of Darkness, Sony PSP