Disgaea 5

So here we are again, a new Disgaea game. Okay, so not really here, as it came out a while ago. It's just that my laptop died, and I forgot the password for this site. Anyway.... After last times disappointment, (I didn't like Disgaea 4 much.) I weren't sure how this one was going to plan out. However, I was happily surprised, and managed to complete the main story mode, which I usually play Disgaea for.

For those that don't know about Disgaea, it is a tactical RPG series made by Nippon Ichi Software (or NIS for short). Many of the games aren't directly related to each other, although, characters from previous games (and even from different games from NIS) make appearances. Each Disgaea game takes place in different netherworlds, and has a host of colourful characters to tell a vibrant, and imaginative, story. The story is told via still poses and voice acting (although, there is a script running under them, and I suggest you read it. As the voice acting in this one is bad.) After a short bit of story there's a fight. Fights are played out on kind of a chess grid, the player goes first, and moves his units and fights, then after his turn is ended the enemies get a turn. Usually, you have to wipe out the opposition team, but sometimes there's other winning situations.

Disgaea 5 is no exception to this trend. It's story starts with various netherworlds at war with a demon called "Void Dark" and his army called "The Lost". In one netherworld a Demon Overlord called Seraphina, is protecting her homeworld from attack. During a battle and lone wanderer called Killia, appears on the battlefield. He has a thrist for vengeance, and wants Void dead. He reluctantly agrees to help Seraphina take out Void. They go chasing after void hunting him down in different netherworlds. During the story you'll gain new allies, and abilities.

You'd think by the fifth time, this would get a bit repetitive. But there's more to the game than this. Like in most rpg's your character will level up. Disgaea has always taken this to the extreme, and from the first game, they made the level cap 9999. I've never gotten anywhere near it. I think the highest level I've ever had is 147, that was back on Disgaea 3. With this game however, I've got about 10 units so far over level 200, and another 7 more over level 100.

This seems ridiculous enough, but wait.... What about your armour and weapons? Surely, being at 100 or 200 won't be that much of a stat increase, if your sword is still the same. Well, they thought of that in the first game too. There's a person in the game called "Item Worlder", she unlocks a way to go into an item, and level it up by basically beating out it's faults (basically, there's baddies inside it, kill them and improve the weapons stats.)

You can also, go inside characters in a person called "Character Worlder" and similar improve things like base stats, and even learn new skills.

But these things have been in the game series for a long time. New things they've added are.
Quest Shop: Ranging from things like collecting certain items, getting certain levels in stats, even killing so many breeds of demons. All wins you money, items, or rare weapons and armour.
Interrogation room: Occasionally, when you clear a map. You'll capture an enemy unit. You can persuade them here to join your cause.
Netherworld exploration: Basically, send some of your characters out on a spaceship to find new worlds and find items. People you send out can't be used in future battles, until they return from their exploration.
Curry shop: Gives you stat boosts for next map.
Netherworld creation: Mostly just to change the lay out of the base that you move around in.

The game doesn't finish with the story, there's huge after story bit, plus tons of hidden characters and boss fights.

While I dislike the voice acting, the gameplay has kept me coming back every day to play it.If you're a fan of games like fire emblem, and Final Fantasy Tactics, then I highly suggest this gem.