Prinny: Is it Okay if I'm the Main Character? awesomeness

Fans of Disgaea and platforming genre ought to rejoice. Prinny: Is it Okay if I'm the Main Character?, spin-off of the Disgaea franchise, looks bloody awesome. The game which based on the trailer is a 2.5D platforming game with (hopefully) some RPG elements and may or may not star Laharl (the red scarf is a dead giveaway) as everyone's favourite demon slave penguin. Best of all, Prinny's signature suicide blast is included (don't worry you will have 1000 lives!). Oh I can't wait, dood!

NIS, please localise this!

More screens here, via PSPfanboy

Prinny mocks me to learn to cross stitch, dood!

If this and Etna of Disgaea doesn't get me to learn how to cross stitch I don't know what will. But I do know that I would pay good money for one based on Flonne, dood! Check out Jenni Lada's blog for more video gaming cross stitches including the Samba Pig from It's a Wonderful World.

Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness review

PSP owners should consider themselves lucky. No matter how much DS sales 'kills' it, developers are still making games for it. Three Strategy RPG games has recently been released for it - all from major developers and publishers. Sure two are ports, but who cares? Final Fantasy Tactics and Disgaea: Hour of Darkness are both so rare that re-releasing them makes so much sense (the other is Level-5's original IP Jeanne D'Arc). The fact that Disgaea in particular, fits in the portable mould so perfectly proves just how much justification this port of Nippon Ichi's flagship title is.

Did I say perfect port? Yes I did. There is absolutely zero slow downs, even during complex combos and special effects scenes. Load times are very minimal (1-2 seconds at most). It is more than just a port though. For one, as a bonus to PAL gamers, the previously deleted PS2 Japanese voice acting with English subtitles is now selectable. The English voice acting has also been re-recorded with Etna played by the voice actress who portrayed her in Disgaea 2. Afternoon of Darkness also features 16:9 aspect ratio giving a wide view over the battle field (no stretching fortunately). The port also contains a local multiplayer Ad-hoc mode, but I have not tested this. Bonus PSP exclusive characters such as Adell and Rozalin of Disgaea 2 are also included as bonus bosses in extra stages. The soundtrack is the more or less same (bar a few Atlus exclusive tracks) as the PS2 version with added clarity (probably due to me playing with headphones)


The game retains the same irreverent plot with excellent funny dialogues that made the PS2 game a cult favourite. Rather than adopting a similar serious storyline that the then-genre leaders Final Fantasy Tactics, part of the appeal to Disgaea was its childish concept within both storyline and gameplay. The story begins with Etna attempting to wake demon prince Laharl up through various weapons. Laharl rusing from his coffin learns that he has been sleeping for two years and that his father King Krichevskoy of the Netherworld has died. Because he was asleep, Laharl missed his chance to be heir to his father's throne. Recruiting his vassal Etna and defeating the demon Vyers whom Laharl disparaged as 'Mid-Boss', the dark prince vow to reclaim his father's throne for himself. The game follows Laharl and his companions which includes Angel-trainee Flonne, who was originally sent to assassinate King Krichevskoy, through 14 chapters.

Battle is grid-based with enemies strewed across the environment similar to any strategy RPG titles and turn based strategy titles like Advance Wars. Characters gain experience points through defeating enemies. New characters can be created but they start out at Level-1. This here is why Afternoon of Darkness is the definitive version.In the PS2 version I found the level difference to be a chore as I try to level-up newly created characters to reach the main party's average level. There is only so much time you can find to commit yourself to stare at the telly, but here as portable version I am able to put in 2 hours of grinding everyday on the Tube. So don't complain that commuting is an unproductive waste of time. Battles are short giving any seasoned RPG fan a chance to quickly play a few rounds while waiting for the girlfriend in a Selfridges's changing room.


Like the PS2 version, Afternoon of Darkness is a washed with tactical options that grows as the game progress. Winning battles are easy, but the tactical approach is highly important to beating the game proper. Tactics such as creating a chain by lifting characters after characters and throwing them across the screen one after another that can save the player crucial time isn't apparent at first until the player start taking understanding the gameplay rules and bending the mechanics to suit their needs. Casual gamers can easily enjoy the game while ignoring the vast gameplay opportunity available while hardcores will find the in-depth customisation an additional layer of addictiveness. Skills can be gained through creating new specific job characters and having them fight with your existing main characters.

The only issue I found with the game is the same issue that was in Hour of Darkness (and almost every other grid/isometric-based game) is the camera. Because the camera is at a fixed angle with four viewing points (rotatable through the shoulder buttons), at times players will be presented with a rude low-visibility of their characters. This is a problem in environments with varying vertical levels as well as those which contains plenty of walls and columns. Rotating tends to present the player with a better view but there is that small chance when it would be impossible to view your hidden character. Cut scenes are presented with cut out sprites with minimal animation. I was slightly disappointed by the lack of cutscenes from Makai Senki Disgaea but it isn't a huge loss.


Perhaps more significantly and as an added incentive to Disgaea: Hour of Darkness owners, is the inclusion of the bonus Etna mode. Etna mode is a hypothetical what-if mode where Etna murders Laharl. Here we follow Etna's quest to become the Beauty Queen Ultimate Overlord Etna of the Netherworld. As thus coupled with multiple endings, bonus features, stages and bosses replayability is far higher with this definitive version. RPG fans who missed out on the initial release of Hour of Darkness should take note of Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness and play it. I invested around 80 hours in the original game and there is no doubt that I would surpass that in the months to come with this, especially with the new features and Etna mode.

Rarely does a port of a not so old game deserves a rousing thumbs-up, but Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness certainly earned it.

9/10


Buy Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness from Play-Asia or Amazon UK.

House cleaning dood!

After much internal debating I finally halved my games and DVD film collection. As many collectors would attest, it is nice having a huge collection but sometimes these can get out of hand. I just thought that there ought to be a boundary somewhere on whether one should keep their collection for the sake of keeping. Kudos to people with huge dens where they have thousands of games and films but unfortunately I do not have the space, nor the money and patience to keep up. So I learn to let go.

It is nice having the extra space for other shits. You know, like more games and DVDs... ;)

Been replaying Disgaea much lately thanks to the Etna mode on the PSP version. Wonderful port BTW with Japanese voice acting FTW. Expect a glowing review in the near future. Speaking of Disgaea, check out the intro from Disgaea 3:



Sweet Laharl, Etna and Flonne making cameos here. I feel so justified clearing out the games that I hardly ever touched anyway, making way for a future copy of Disgaea 3. Come on SCEE, with the dollar getting hammered do you still think it is okay we pay near double the Americans do???

Six fictional female RPG characters

So here is another blog filler for December! Why six? I honestly have no clue. Probably just got too lazy to continue typing after six and I had to make time to write my review for Devil Summoner as well as other useless December fillers. But any who here is my personal list of the top six fictional female characters in role playing video games.

Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca
Appearances: Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Until her boy husband gets himself killed in battle, Ashe was the princess of Dalmasca. Thought dead she founded an underground resistance group aimed at liberating her nation from the Archadian empire. At first seeking revenge, she ultimately rejected vengeance and the lure of power of the Nethicite and instead aligned herself with Larsa, the younger brother of the leader of the Archadian empire to seek peace between the warring nations of Ivalice. Personally I find Ashe, not only the most beautiful of all fictional female characters, but also the most powerful. Why else did I make her the party leader of my all-female main party? She wields a powerful sword, is agile, a good healer and her stats are well rounded. Basically a good all rounder and makes for a good tank mage hybrid. The fact that she has the miniest of all mini skirts makes her even more adorable, but beyond that never once did the developers attempted to sexualised her. All hail Queen Ashe.

Etna
Appearances: Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories, Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness
Etna is a super skinny flat chested 1400 year old cute demon class female. She becomes immediately likeable after the first scene where we are treated with her gross method of waking up the slumbering prince of darkness, Laharl. Untrustworthy, Etna is a devious vassal who reveres the late king and her schemes brings much humour to the game. In one of the endings she murders Laharl and snatch the seat to become the new overlord or the Netherworld. Because there are various endings this may not be true for some, but I like to think of this as canonical. The beauty queen also leads the Prinny squad, an army of penguins with bat like wings, whose jobs includes being used as suicide bombers and slaves. A bonus mode based on what if Etna killed Laharl instead of waking him scenario is present in the PSP port of Disgaea, so make sure you buy Afternoon of Darkness.

Hrist Valkyrie
Appearances: Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria

One of the three Valkyries chooser of the slain, Hrist is the elder sister of Lenneth and Silmeria. She isn't a playable character in both games, but she is ruthless and therefore memorable. Her hatred for humans is matched by her demented actions. Loyal to Odin, part of her deeds includes destroying Dipan at Midgard after the events of Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria and before Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth. Her schemes in trapping the fugitive Silmeria is downright cunning. Hrist also happens to appear in both games as a boss, and while not the strongest her appearances are both important to the mythology and storyline. It would be interesting if tri-Ace and Square Enix would eventually develop a third Valkyrie Profile game which allows us to play as the most mysterious of the goddess of fate.

Jessica Albert
Appearances: Dragon Quest VIII: The Journey of the Cursed King
She may not be the best female character from the Dragon Quest series, but Jessica certainly is the most memorable. Part of this is no doubt due to the 3D nature of the game which allows more creative freedom for character development. While short tempered and have a lot of deal with after the death of her brother, Jessica proves very valuable to core gameplay and plot of Dragon Quest VIII, especially when she was briefly possessed. She is primarily a sorcerer although her whip does come in handy. Players can also change the clothings which includes 'Bunny's Costume' and 'Dangerous Bustier'. Her charm attack such as 'Puff Puff' and 'Hip Drop' also works well in lightening the mood as well as proving that the 360 is not the only console that can uhm, render jiggles.

Rydia
Appearances: Final Fantasy IV
As a child Rydia was made an orphaned when Kain and Cecil of Baron gallivanted around and destroyed her village Mist and killed her mother (indirectly). Even at such a young age she has already shown potential by summoning Titan in anger, causing an earthquake that separates Cecil and Kain. She eventually agrees to join a repented Cecil to fight Baron. For a child she has the maturity of an adult as seen in her conversation with a wimpy Gilbert, the spoony bard. However it wasn't long until she was separated from the party when the group was attacked by Leviathan. Fortunately for her she was taken in to the land of summons where due to the different in time flow she aged differently, eventually re-emerging as a healthy, happy and hot adult Rydia. Though she lost her abilities to conjure white magic she has learnt to become the greatest summoner in Final Fantasy lore. The new render of her for Final Fantasy IV DS is hawt!

Princess Nadia
Appearances: Chrono Trigger
Marle is a tomboy princess of the Kingdom of Guardia, whose bored life was the catalyst for the event surrounding Chrono Trigger when she uses Lucca's teleporting machine and accidentally herself back in time to 600 A.D., creating a ripple in the space time continuum. Marle is pretty independent and strong for a princess as proven by her weapon of choice: the crossbow (yeah!). In one of the many alternate ending she eventually marries Chrono, the hero and main protagonist of the game. I like her because her character reminds me so much of Bulma (Dragon Ball), whose penchant for adventure is similar to that of Marle's. Obviously Marle is far more independent than the technology reliant and whiny Bulma.

So which female (or male) RPG characters rock your boat? Please no Tifa or Aerith.

A Disgaea 3 trailer to make you smile (PS3)

So what if the visuals are more PS2 than PS3? It is a new Disgaea. Which means 150 hours of gameplay excitement.

The game's hero is Mao (the demon in glasses with the red cape), an honour student at Maritsu Evil Academy in the Netherworld because he skips classes and does experiments on humans through video games and mangas. He decides to become a hero (a definition he gained from mangas) by defeating his father the overlord and taking the throne for himself, despite hating heroes. His childhood friend, Raspberyl (the female demon with pink hair) a delinquent (because who she does her homework and other good deeds that goes against the rules), is threatened by this because if Mao is to become a hero he would take the title of delinquent from her.

Some new gameplay mechanism are shown in the trailer including Mao's demon change where demons can morph into weapons (in his case, the uber massive sword seen at the end). Some of the new attacks are crazy. You can trust Nippon Ichi to deliver the goods.

Speaking of Nippon Ichi, I am having so much fun with GrimGrimoire right now. Much more than Phantom Hourglass (which is a huge disappointment). So many RPGs to play and Persona 3 isn't even out here yet...

via GAF

Disgaea 3 announced! (PS3)

Haters be damned. Judging by previous Disgaeas hopefully this will be a 300 hour game. Only need an announcement of Atelier Iris and Makai Kingdom next-gen to make me crack.

I love you Nippon Ichi! *hugz*

Atlus, Konami: announce Shin Megami Tensei and Suikoden next-gen already.

via GAF

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness mini-review

A staff at GameStation recommended me this game and I am absolutely hooked. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is a strategy RPG (also known as tactical RPG) game by Nippon Ichi, a console developer who specialised in this genre. Apart from great gameplay, Disgaea also provides a great funny storyline which differs from the serious plotlines most often associated with other RPG titles.

Disgaea centres on a demon known as Laharl who is awaken by Etna after a long slumber of two years. He finds that his father the King Krichevskoy of the Netherworld has died. Not only that his throne and therefore possessions has been plundered. He swears to reclaim the throne and together with Etna he attempts to achieve that.

The gameplay is similar to Final Fantasy Tactics (PS1) and if you've played that you will find yourself right at home. Unlike Tactics's political plot and serious undertone, Disgaea eschews all those for outrageous humour and ridiculous plotline.

I was told that the game provides over 100 hours of gameplay and if this is true then wicked. I look forward to playing the recently released Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories and future Nippon Ichi titles.

9/10

Update: A port/remake of Disgaea will be released on the PSP titled Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness (Amazon UK)