Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: Disgaea: Hour of Darkness

Written by Chris Reiter on August 07, 2003

First Impressions: Maybe Atlus will find a flashlight so the game can last a lot longer than one hour.

Strategy games have never been amongst the more popular ranks with console gamers. It's not that there aren't any strategy games on this side of the platform, it's that not many titles of the genre have been able to stand up to the challenge of what the PC had to offer in comparison to the less expansive, harder to play titles. But out of the few notable strategy games on consoles, the one that always gets nodded at the most is Squaresoft's PlayStation classic, Final Fantasy Tactics. Introducing an RPG element into the mix of strategy, Final Fantasy Tactics amassed a fan base that's still standing strong today. Realizing Squaresoft's success in that regard, Atlus is now going to attempt to step into the same direction later this summer that Square took five years ago by blending these two cult genres into one story churning strategic game called Disgaea: Hour of Darkness.

Your throne is in danger young one. Or at least it will be. After awakening from an extensive slumber, Prince Laharl peels his eyes to the Netherworld -- his home -- only to discover that his father, King Krichevskoy, has been slain by a demon rival. The Netherworld is unlike the regular one. Here it is the demons populating the Netherworld's inside that make humans fear to even ponder its existence. But now that Laharl's kingdom is about to be overthrown with the bickering demons of this wasteland, it's up to this self-centered heir with the help of his underling Etna to defend the royal family title of what is now rightfully his.

Entering into a genre that's not all that welcomed in console form, Disgaea is looking to try and prove that even on consoles you can have a good time using your brain for a change. So first of all, you have to wonder how Disgaea will be any different from the strategy games on consoles that act no where near the performance on the PC half. What's different for one thing is that RPG elements will be a common practice for Disgaea in its ability to choose amongst several character classes (up to 60 in all) like ninja, fighter, or archer and even summon forth beasts to do to your bidding into the mix -- whether it's something of a wolf or a dragon type.

But as for strategy elements, this part of Disgaea will rear its face into the battle arena. Like any standard fare of RPG/strategy titles, Disgaea will operate atop an isometric, 3D perspective grid, letting you move forth across selectable square panels to ward off any foe's advance. Once you and your three other teammates on the field (which will be made up of four) reach the enemy's position, a list of options will appear such as to attack, to use magic, to defend, or to use an item. Part of this system will also stockpile an array of up to seven weapons choices your characters can wield; consisting of axes, swords, staffs, spears, bows, guns, and even your own handy, dandy fists. Each weapon will specifically handle better for certain characters, or end up hampering their prosperity with the tool based on their job description.

While the game will be limited to strictly 3D square planes, the small measure of this strategy adventure will pursue an anime-inspired interface that should show off for the game both a cute story in its character designs and nicely molded battle grids in which to engage into the heart of warfare. Through its cut scenes, uniquely designed anime characters will fill the story for a gameplay system that, while it won't be much to look at, should be decent enough to fit into a chunk of genre console gamers are devoid without.