Every day is the "End of the Week"

     When Nipon Ichi software labeled Disgaea 4: a Promise Unforgotten, as the most hardcore strategy RPG out there, they weren't lying. Usually I hate the term "hardcore" when referring to games, or the people who play them, and only use the term to describe games that truly require your attention to enjoy. Disgaea 4 is debatably the most hardcore single player game available to gamers. Let me explain:

     I popped Disgaea 4 into my ps3 the second I got my hands on it. Forty seven hours later I managed to complete the main story. That might seem like a decent amount of time for an RPG. However there are multiple endings, each which warrant multiple playthroughs, thousands of unlockable characters, items, and events, limitless stages thanks to the random map generator, and online map creator. Not to mention there's the series staple of grinding all of your characters to level 9,999. That in mind, Disgaea a game you can sink a limitless amount of time into. Why would you want spend so much time on a single game? What is Disgaea 4? Let's start off with the story.

     Disgaea 4 tells the tale of a demon named Valvatorez, who was one a great tyrant. However now he spends his time as a prinny instrutor in a prison named Hades, having lost his great power. At his side is his loyal servant Fenrich who will do anything to bring his master back to his former glory as a tyrant. through a series of events, Valvatorez learn that the corrupternment - the government of the Netherworld, had become corrupt and that the Netherworld is slowly becoming weak and powerless. he vows (sort of) to overthrow the corrupternemt and reform the entire netherworld. Typical JRPG business. However what sets Disgaea 4 and it's predecessors apart is its blatant disregard for seriousness, cannon, plot twists, and the fourth wall. What this all adds up to is a great and touching story that is lined with humor and references. However, it is a JRPG, so the story and the semi-static cutscenes, tend to drag on for too long. Still, in a way Disgaea 4 is a game that is meant to be played for a very long time, so whether or not this is a draw back is ultimately decided by the player. 

     Disgaea 4 is a turn based strategy RPG. The battlefield is laid out on an invisible grid. You can place up to ten characters (which are beautiful hand drawn 2d sprites) onto the grid and have them move, attack, support, lift, throw, or any combination of the five. Enemies tend to have one track minds, whether attacking you straight out, or just staying perfectly still and supporting. However, it's the environments you play on that makes ever battle something new and exciting. In most maps you will find illuminated color panels called "geo panels". For every color of geo panel there is a destroyable geo cube. the geo cube endows the geo panel that it is touching a condition, like added attack strength or reverse damage. Once a character or enemy stands on that panel they are endowed with the effect as well. These panels can be erased or nulled from the map if the corresponding geo cube is destroyed. If the color of the cube does not match that of the panel, the panel will change to the color of the destroyed cube, and as a result giving damage to anything on the changed panel. Sounds complicated right? Disgaea 4 is an extremely complicated game. After the initial tutorial which doesn't cover much, you are left to find most of the information elsewhere. This could either be frustrating or fun, depending on how you look at it. Collecting the info and learning the ins and outs equal more game time. Disgaea will take a lot of time to complete. Beating the story alone took me about 47 hours. Then there are all the items, hidden events, and grinding, which could easily eat away an additional 50 hours. Disgaea is not a sit down and complete game, which is why it's hard to recommend renting it.

     Disgaea 4 is the latest in a series I hold very dear to my heart as a gamer. It's often difficult to convey why I love it so much. That said, Disgaea definitely has some flaws. The story, while easy to follow, can get a bit thick. Scenes that should be five minutes long can take up to ten minutes, thanks to reiteration and fluff. The game doesn't explain half of the several mechanics necessary to complete the game the right way. Though I find the game beautiful thanks to the HD sprites and gorgeous, colorful maps, it doesn't push the PS3 in anyway. If you can look pass these issues, Disgaea 4 is a stellar game, which any JRPG fan should be proud to finish.