With entries like Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Ogre under my belt along with past Disgaea games, I will that tactical RPG games (TRPG, SRPG) are my Forte. Disgaea 4 was one of my games I been waiting for this year and it does not disappoint. The game brings elements of its predecessors and expands on them. The senate system is gets a nice boost and customization is even more in depth. Although the story is still not the greatest story ever, it does have its moments. The game even utilizes online capabilities to add new twist and excitement.
The Senate system allows customization of game difficulty by allowing the player to upgrade or downgrade everything from available items to levels of the enemies you fight. This system has been made even more extraordinary with the addition of the foreign minister (other player created NPC that enter your Senates and can vote as well as do crazy things to disrupt your bill). This adds a new dimension to the senate.
Network access allows to not only setting up the previous mentioned foreign minister but also allows you to create a pirate ship that can invade other people’s games. This encounter occurs in the Item World, which is a RMG map made when entering an item (for all who never played Disgaea games). Pirating also comes in reverse pirating (which is in a sense you going back into the world to steal more stuff).
Battle game play is similar to old entries with not as much additions other than a couple classes. Story wise, as with other Disgaea games, is quirky and sometimes downright ridiculous. There is little character depth or development but past characters do get some more background information, (accessible after beating the game). Even the main story characters are does not have the depth of other games in this genre (such as Vandal hearts and Final Fantasy Tactics). What little information you learn is from what your sidekick spits out during in game scenes and in between episodes. The little extra tidbits for past game heroes are a nice addition if you played past games.
Overall this game shines in replay value and customization. As with past games, the ability to play endlessly to upgrade your character to 9999 is very addicting with plenty of paths. One sad thing is that although the graphics is upgraded, in game is in no way as beautiful as it could be. The graphics looks like Odin’s sphere quality (which is still VERY nice looking… on a PS2 game). New players will enjoy it if you like tactical RPG games. I do wish for more depth and the characters to be fleshed out more but I will still play 5. PS. Took me this long to post this because I was playing it still….
Alucart (WoW:Demon Soul server /others) / Psyco333 (battle.net/League of Legends) Alucartez(PSN)
