Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories
Don't even read this, just go buy the game. Now.
Published: August 29, 2006
It's a good thing that the game is so damned fun to play through, too, because it's definitely not a looker. Don't get me wrong, I like the style of the game, but this is a genre that was borne out of the 16-bit era and hasn't changed a whole lot since; the battles are still compact and the textures are often sliced up with the seams wildly apparent even on extended swatches of terrain. The thing is, it fits for a game like this, and whatever the visuals may lack in texture detail or consistency, they more than make up for in running at an absolutely creamy smooth 60fps at all times.
It sounds like a minor thing, but when you see a player jump 100 feet into the air and then rain down a massive screen-filling blast to the enemies below, or watch an enemy get kicked into the stratosphere only to have blows rained down upon them the entire time they're in free-fall, and to have it all running without a hint of slowdown, it makes a massive difference. This feels like a game that doesn't shirk the PS2's power, even if it isn't wowing all the time with visuals. And there are some pretty effects, too, like the aforementioned screen-filling explosions, so eye candy whores aren't completely out.
The audio is just as strong. Disgaea's music has always been (yeah, always since 2003) a funky mix of slightly campy horror overtones and something far more plucky, and this soundtrack does those themes proud. Tenpei Sato's tracks mix in elements of aristocracy, a little electric guitar, some swing swagger, and all of it melds with the on-screen action perfectly. Not all the tracks are memorable, and some are cycled a bit too much for their own good, but the ones that are good are really good.
The real star of the audio, though, is the voice acting, not only because it's pulled of quite well, or even because the game happily allows you to switch between the original Japanese voices or the English dub, but because the translation is so solid. Without treading too far into annoying territory, even kiddie characters maintain their charm, and there is some really nice variety in place. I was bummed that the Prinny voice had changed, but it they did grow on me as I made it through the game. It's more surfer stoner and less high-pitched bumpkin now, which is a fair trade off given the use of "dood" everywhere.
Disgaea 2 is a remarkable game, not just because it does indeed recapture the fun of that first game where other Nippon Ichi games just never quite got it right, but because it's so damned deep. There's just a stupid amount of time that can be spent doing the very thing I enjoy in RPGs: leveling crap up, and the differences are immediately apparent, which just encourages you to do it more.
It's the little things, though, that make the game really stand out for me; the game loads fast. Incredibly fast, and often is smart enough to go a couple of screens deep so you rarely have to see a loading screen. The game is set up for multiple playthroughs, so there's always an option to skip cutscenes if you've already seen them (in fact, the game defaults to skipping, though you have to confirm that you want it to), and things like secret endings and character classes that can only be unlocked after spending tons of time with the game give rewards all the way through the experience.
Disgaea 2 is, without a doubt, the single best strategy RPG I've ever played. It's funny, balanced to allow newcomers to get into it (and even provides tutorials and spoon feeds the different side quest-style additions to the player over time), deep as all hell, is a powerleveler's wet dream, the storyline is interesting, and it moves beautifully. The load times, ability to move characters around and menu cleanliness are all top notch.
If you've never played a SRPG before, this is your game. If you have, this is your game. And if you played the original game, you'd better be playing the sequel as you read this, because it's an absolute must-have for fans of the series. Seriously, this is a can't-miss game, and I can only hope the PSP conversion of the original turns out this well.
