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NIS (Nippon Ichi Software) America has quickly made a name for itself in the Strategy RPG market. While most titles have been a little out of reach for the casual gamer, they’ve still managed to build a strong and loyal following. One of the games that helped make this possible was Disgaea, a quirky, long and amazingly deep Strategy RPG. Building on the success of the original, NIS is readying a sequel, Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories, for release later this summer.
Cursed Memories focuses on a new hero named Adell, a human stuck in a world controlled by the Overlord Zenon. Just to make things a little more interesting for Adell, everyone else has been turned into monsters except Adell – something he is looking to change. And, in another strange twist of fate, he finds that his closest ally in the fight is the Overlord’s daughter. While the game stars a completely new cast, a few old faces will also show up, including Etna and her demon penguins, the prinnies.
Gameplay remains virtually identical in Cursed Memories, which should make fans of the original extremely happen. Battles involve slowly advancing a small army around a grid-based level. Each of your soldiers has their own moves and attacks that can be used to take down opposing forces. You can also perform non-conventional tactics like throwing enemies onto different spots on the map, hopefully into the middle of an army ready for battle.
Some panels, called geo-panels, are colored spaces that will grant special bonuses to whoever is standing on them. At the same time, these panels can also become weapons if you are able to destroy a like-colored pyramid. When combined with the throwing mechanic, it is possible to create massive chains, dealing insane amounts of damage to large parts of the opposing army (provided, of course, they are standing on geo-panels.
The first to defeat the opposing army wins with surviving members living to fight another day and earning a healthy experience point boost, eventually increasing their strength and abilities. Your soldiers can earn bonus points by becoming a character’s master. The master/student relationship also translates into powerful combos if the two can attack together.
One of the game’s more noteworthy additions is the Dark Court system that will judge you for your crimes in the game. Crimes are as illogical as anything else in the game and include anything from using too many of a certain attack to using inappropriate weapons. After you’re found guilty, you’re rewarded for your crimes. Of course, it is possible to be found innocent, in which case one of your soldiers will have to serve jail time. Yeah, it doesn’t make much sense to me either, but when it comes to all things Disgaea you just have to take it as it is.
Also making a return is the Dark Assembly, a collection of demons who act as the Underworld’s Senate. In order to gain new troops (or really anything) you must first get their approval. And, like real world politics, maneuvering around the Dark Assembly isn’t easy and involves things like bribes, booze and if worse comes to worse, bomb threats. Anyone still doubting that Cursed Memories won’t be as off the wall as the first can stop now.
So far it looks like Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories is shaping up to be everything fans of the original could have hoped for. Best of all the game isn’t that far from release, so fans won’t have long to wait. |
