DSgaea

[Brazillian Cara]

I've heard that a DS port for the first Disgaea game was just recently released, and that it had received a few good reviews. Even tough I've never touched any SRPGs, I've been seriously interested in the series for some time, if only for the supposely good writing and gameplay... and this might be the chance to actually get into it.

But before I think about buying it, I'd like to hear you guys first. Any opinions about this game? Is it beginner-friendly? Does it lose much from the PS2 version (aside from graphics)? Do penguins feel pain?

[Zeta]

It's fan fucking-tastic. There's a little more pixellation and a lot of dubbed dialogue cut form the came, but that's not really a big deal for me. As a bonus, the game adds playable characters that aren't available in other versions, like Adell and Rozalin from Disgea 2. Also, it's got a ton of re playability, since it has 10 endings. And I'm really having fun with the Reincarnation System - essentially, get your character up to a certain level and have them beat a string of bosses and you can reincarnate them as any other class, and they get to keep their spells. Every time you do it, their max stats increase and requirements for experience points decrease.

Also, it's funny as hell.

[Cuckooguy]

If you've never touched an SRPG before, I'd suggest something more simple and beginner-friendly before trying to sink your teeth into a game like Disgaea. Have you ever tried Shining Force?

I myself thought Disgaea was okay (I only played the PS2 version). At the time I digged the art and I mildly chuckled at its sense of humor, but the problem I had with it was when I realized it was going to shave ten years of my life if I wanted to do everything there is to do in the game (most of the time spent grinding). I just didn't care for things like item world (randomly generated dungeons that help make your items stronger) or repeating the same levels over and over to level up, but I might've been playing it with the wrong mindset (the impression I got from it was that it was less about tactical positions and party management and more about focusing on powering up units to decimate the opposition). You see, I'm a have-to-have-one-of-every-class-and-all-about-the-same-level kind of guy so I kept bringing underleveled units even if they don't work well together (I think my frontliners were on the bench because their levels were higher) so I kept getting killed. If I ever have an inkling to check a Nippon Ichi game again I'll probably just screw that train of thought and focus all energy into leveling up the main character.

[Zeta]

Eh, you just have to really reincarnate a lot to bring up the other characters well.

[Baba O'Riley]

Oh, Disgaea. Wonderful game. I've got the PS2 version and the DS port. On a surface level, it works like your standard, Ogre Battle-esque RPG. But it's got enough replay to last a looooooong time.

Haven't picked up 3. Anyone tried it yet?

[Green Gibbon!]

I only played the PS2 original. I like it and respect it, but I don't have the patience for it (and for me, that's something). There's alot of shit going on - if you don't like micro-managing, or if you've never played a strat RPG before, I would recommend starting somewhere else.

[Baba O'Riley]

I only played the PS2 original. I like it and respect it, but I don't have the patience for it (and for me, that's something). There's alot of shit going on - if you don't like micro-managing, or if you've never played a strat RPG before, I would recommend starting somewhere else.

Yeah, that's probably true. The game is a gigantic time sink and the learning curve is about as steep as most cliff sides.

[Zeta]

It's nice if you want a game to play while watching tv or listening to music.

[Tsuyoshi-kun]

Disgaea was actually my first strategy RPG funny enough. I like the sequel more, but the characters and story aren't nearly as good.

I guess I'm in the minority when it comes to the DS version. It's so much slower and clunkier than the original for me to play it.

[Brazillian Cara]

Considering how it will take a while before I manage to buy another DS game (and even then, Apollo Justice is the main priority), I guess I'll have time to think this well - maybe even play a hour or two of the original in the local "game station" (or whatever it's supposed to be called). Thanks, folks!

Also, it's just a hunch... but I'm guessing Disgaea is nothing like Fire Emblem in the gameplay department, is it?

[Tsuyoshi-kun]

About the only similarities Disgaea and Fire Emblem have is that both games restrict your movement to a series of panels. The two are otherwise completely different.