Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless is the most recent from the infamously grindy Disgaea franchise. The components for Disgaea video games has barely modified over the previous 20 years (are you able to consider it’s been that lengthy?) and the seventh installment continues that custom.
Traditionally, video games within the franchise have had extra gothic and horror aesthetics. Vampires, fairly boy demons, pig demons, angels. However the entire time there have been hints of Japanese taste just like the Samurai and Ninja characters. Now we’re headed to a Netherworld that’s principally not-Japan, full with parody names of historic figures. With a slight shift in theme, is it nonetheless the identical Disgaea that followers know and love?
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless
Developer: Nippon Ichi Software
Publisher: NIS America
Platforms: Windows PC (Reviewed), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Release Date: October third, 2023
Price: $59.99 USD
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless feels prefer it does extra to acclimate informal gamers to the grind; and by acclimate I imply create a sheer cliff of issue within the type of the tip of Chapter 2. I’m cruising via phases and immediately I’m launched to “Jumbification” within the type of an enormous playboy slamming his fist on my whole celebration for 300+ injury.
Following this sound defeat, I went again, unlocked the “cheat store” and raised the issue so I can grind. I inevitably discovered myself preventing stage 20 enemies on the tutorial stage simply so I had a preventing likelihood of defeating stage 10s in a later mission. You is perhaps stunned to study that in Disgaea, that is most likely intentional sport design.
In a way, the principle story of Disgaea 7 is each the precise sport, and in addition a glorified tutorial. You’re nonetheless unlocking new options via Chapter 5. You’re slowly drip-fed new mechanics, Cheat Shop, Item World, Dark Assembly, Squadrons, Skill Shop, Juice Bar as a result of if you got them abruptly new gamers could be overwhelmed. Heck, even for somebody who’s been enjoying for the reason that first sport it’s nonetheless overwhelming and complex.
The franchise treads a high quality line between typical SRPG and one thing extra akin to a spreadsheet simulator. Casual gamers can grind a bit and clear the principle story, in the meantime anybody on the lookout for one thing deeper will rapidly discover layers upon layers of mechanics to work together with to chase that top stage.
Our most important characters are Fuji, a warrior from the Hinomoto Netherworld and mercenary samurai. Fuji joins up with Pirilika, a rich pancake heiress {and professional} weeaboo. To reclaim the Hinomoto Pirilika fell in love with via motion pictures and anime, she hires Fuji to assist her reclaim the 7 Infernal Treasures and convey “Bushido” again to Hinomoto.
The story is a parody of the opening of Japan, lampooning names like Commodore Perry (Demmodore Opener) as grasping demons stepping on the cultural traditions of Hinomoto. Pirilika acts as a distinction to the Commodore whereas on the identical time representing a overseas fetishization of Hinomoto’s previous. I’m positive somebody goes to write down some bigheaded think-piece in regards to the message the sport is making an attempt to ship, however that may be a very completely different article.
The precise gameplay and technique of the sport is there should you select to take honest fights; however you’re enjoying as demons, honest is a 4 letter phrase. Most of the enjoyable in Disgaea comes from utilizing all of those techniques accessible to scale exponentially, the satisfying little chime everytime you stage up is supposed to elicit a Pavlovian response in gamers after only a few hours of gameplay.
The actual technique takes place within the hub space the place you intend your subsequent transfer. Are you reincarnating for higher development ratios? Are you going to stage up an merchandise so you may steal the entire Specialists/Innocents to buff up your strongest sword? The grind by no means ends in Disgaea 7, not many single-player video games provide dozens (if not lots of) of hours of gameplay anymore however Disgaea by no means disappoints on this matter.
Artwork hasn’t modified a lot for a number of video games, every capacity has a neat little cinematic and a few of them are enjoyable to observe. Thankfully the sport presents a setting to show animations on and off at your leisure. The artstyle stays as cute as ever and whereas I want the previous sprites to the brand new cel-shaded 3D fashions, they haven’t compromised the general aesthetic of the sport.
The intercourse attraction stays intact additionally, regardless of the present developments in localization. The succubi are nonetheless bouncy, the nekomata are nonetheless exhibitionists, and even a number of the splash artwork presents loads of fanservice. Similarly, Disgaea depends closely on puns and silliness and whereas I’m sure the localization isn’t a real 1:1 translation, I’m going to present NIS America the advantage of the doubt that it was carried out in good religion.
There are two sorts of Disgaea gamers and each of them are equally legitimate. There’s regular SRPG gamers who will play the principle story, return and grind some previous missions to stage up, and perhaps dip their toes into Item World and different aspect mechanics. Then there’s Disgaea gamers, individuals acquainted with earlier entries within the franchise and are nicely conscious that success is a matter of understanding each completely different strategy to scale up your stats as a result of the actual sport is after the principle story.
Ultimately, Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless is a sport made for… nicely it’s made for Disgaea gamers. There’s nothing fairly like this franchise and over time Nippon Ichi has refined what it does nicely, and targeted on what the fanbase loves.
Also NIS America, should you’re studying this. I’m as soon as once more asking for Disgaea 3 on PC.
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless was reviewed on Windows PC utilizing a evaluation code supplied by Nippon Ichi Software. You can discover extra details about Niche Gamer’s evaluation/ethics coverage right here.
