Random rant: video games.....and more video games

I actually considered doing a review, but simply couldn't find the time (too lazy in other words)

I recently started playing Disgaea 2 for PS2. After hearing from various people and sites that Disgaea is a decent game and realizing how popular it is in Japan, I decided to give it a shot. Not having played the first Disgaea I was a bit worried if I'll have trouble understanding the story line. Luckily the story of Disgaea 1 and 2 are seperate. Though some characters from the first game does show up.

After going through the tutorial and playing a few hours of the actual game, I realized I might never finish this game as it consumes way too much time. For most rpg games, the highest level your characters can go is 99. This damn game goes way beyond that number. It is possible to go into the hundreds or even THOUSANDS!. Thats right folks, you can level up your character all the way to say lv 1500.

The game itself is a turn base strategy game which works very similar to the liks of FF Tactics. The character and maps are mostly hand drawn (meaning 2d). Like other games, you go through stages/maps defeating enemies and going through the story. Seeing how characters can go up to lv 1000, its obvious that players can revisit previous stages to lv up.

Other then the normal maps, they added this thing known as item world. Each item (weapons and armours) has its own world which consists of 30 maps. What makes it harder is the fact that you can not leave nor save while going through those 3o maps unless you have a certain item.

Another thing I really like is you actually have to work for better items. In most games, you get better items as the story progresses. But in disgaea you have to propose this to the demon senate. If they approve then you'll get to purchase better items. There are many other weird suggestions you can propose to them. Since they are all demons and monsters, theres no such thing as illegal or playing dirty. Bribe them, beat them up, do whatever you want to get the senate on your side.

I'll save my thought and impression on the character design for next month when the anime version comes out in April.

hmm.....felt like I could've just copy and paste the reviews from some video game sites.......


Atlus has become one of my fav video game company ever since they announced they are releasing Super Robot Wars OG 1 &2 in NA. If you like turn base strategy or mechs or both, please give this game a try.