Year of release: 2006
Development House: Nippon Ichi Software
Publisher: NIS American
Website: www.nisamerica.com/games/d2


Game score: 96


Graphics: 4
Sound: 4
Gameplay: 5

Concept: 5
Execution: 5
Controls: 3
Enjoyment: 5
Replay ability: 5
Difficulty: 4
Learning Curve: 3


Patch version: FINAL
Bugs: 0

Modability / Community support: 0


Review:

Anime. Turn based strategy. Power leveling paradise. This is Disgaea, a game that dares you to exploit, cheat, and steal to win. Back again with a new cast, new world, but the same system that made the first a joy to play.

For those that don’t know the game, Disgaea 2 a turn based strategy based on a grid system (i.e Advanced War, Final Fantasy Tactics) that allows your character to level up. The twist is your character can level up into the stratosphere and unleash attacks that look like they could take out a small city.



The story is not related to the first so newcomers are welcome but some old favorites make cameos. The story is humorous and the dialogue delivered with great voice acting. At about 40 hours it seemed a bit short but there is plenty to do after the game is done.

Graphics are 2D sprites in a 3D world, which fit well in the anime theme of the game. The effects are a step up from the first game but don’t expect anything cutting edge.



The battles are more interesting this time thanks to cleaver puzzles created by geo symbols. These geo symbols will grant certain color panels effects like increasing attack by 50% or preventing range attacks. Studying the layout and planning accordingly is one of keys to winning. Of course the alternative is to power level and crush your enemies under you vast level difference.



The game gives you plenty of opportunities for fighting apart from the story. You can enter the Item World and fight in random dungeons. Each item in the game has one of these worlds and progressing through their levels will make the item more powerful. There alternate worlds and bonus stages to explore. The replay value on this game is huge, as you’ll be fighting enemies and exploring new places even when you are over level 1000.



So if anime, power leveling, and blatant exploitation of game system sound like a good time. Then give Disgaea 2 a try and beware of losing a few hundred hours of your life in the process.

Good stuff: Funny, fun, and can entertain long after the main story is completed.

Bad stuff: The story while great doesn’t seem that long.


Reviewer System Specs: PS2

Other Reviews: Gamespot Gamespy