Disgaea -Hour of Darkness

[Che Musashi]

If anybody has a chance to get or find this game I highly recommend it. Currently they are on back order here, like all Atlus games I guess.
Anyway you play as this prince Laharl and its all about your quest to reclaim you throne.

This game does things that most Strategy RPGs don't. You can pass laws with a dark congress that affect gameplay, and you can go into the item world -of items you possess- in your inventory and level them up. Its a novel concept.

Graphically it isn't all that and a bag of chips, but it works for me. What is great is all the character classes you can use, and also this game features multiple endings. Plus it has an English or Japanese voice option.

I never played Persona, Nippon Ichi's similar style game for PSone, so I don't know how it compares but from what I read its better. I highly recommend it to you RPG nerds out there, once you pass a dark congress resolution or level up an item its quite satisfying.

I'm about 8hrs into it, I had a lot of leveling up to do, and I'm in the 2nd chapter of the story. There is so much more, but I'm at work, so I'm at a loss.

Official Site

[Siri]

I heard only good things about this game, I can't wait for it to come through the post (ordered through Tronix for the first time to get hold of it, too.).

FFTA + Disgaea = 'Sorry, I can't go outside for the next few months or so'

[Che Musashi]

Yeah it's one of the best RPG's PS2 has to offer. At first it can be tough, but in time the more you play the better and easier things become. I was so intimidated by the item world. Now I pwn it!

The prinnies are the shiz!

[Razz]

This looks amazing, can't wait to get it. Maybe the best Strat game since FF tactics on PSone....?

[Leynos]

Mine's in the post from DVD Box Office. I can't wait for it to arrive.

[John Beaulieu]

been playing it a few days and all i can say is WOW

story sucks you in and the depth to the gameplay is astonishing

will post more on friday

camps

[Flabio]

Picked it up from game focus last week, but been too busy with work to find time to play it much. I love the art style tho, and the American voice acting seems pretty decent so far.

Unfortunately, my FFTA turns up in a day or two, so its likely to be even longer before I find the time to play this properly.

[Melon_bread]

Been playing this since friday, it's excellent and annoyingly addictive. One of those 'oh I'll just do half an hour leveling up' then you look at the clock and a few hours have gone by games.

[Leynos]

Yay. It arrived. Played the first few battles before stopping for lunch, and I'm impressed. I'm happy to see that the geo panels and such like aren't as impenetrable as I at first feared when hearing about them. And now I see them in action, I'm quite pleased with the way in which it all fits together.

[Che Musashi]

One thing of note that I didn't notice is that Transmigration occurs after you get your character promoted to level 3. I've got a mean brawler I'd like to switch over, but I guess I'm not ready to yet.

It's such a compulsory play too, because when you start the item world you can't quit until you've hit the tenth floor. Though it is better to go in there prepared.

Also the practice map is good for leveling up characters. This game is so good I want to milk every minute of its RPG goodness.

[Leynos]

'Tell you what else. It's great being able to play an SRPG in English for once, but with all the crazy cool OTT Japanese voice acting preserved. All hail to Atlus USA, the greatest localization company in history.

[Che Musashi]

Found a cool movie!

On Nippon Ichi's site, there are few differences from what i played between this and the localized game, mainly the camera position when you are at the shop in the castle. I'm not far enough to pick out the rest.

[Leynos]

40 housr on the clock now, but I'm not actually that far into the game. Just halfway through chapter 8 I think. Instead, I've become seriously obsessed with Item World. I levelled up everyones' weapons to at least level 10, and I keep going through smaller items to steal all their specialists. I kept wondering why chewing gum would have the ability to raise stats, then it twigged.

I've done a bit of transmigration, but not much. Took a Miller the Skull through the three different types of magic, and now he's the most powerful character in my party. (Higher level than Laharl.) Also, I had a brawler named Kage who's now a ninja. The next project I think should be to get some decent monsters on my team.

On the other hand, I never seem to have any luck getting propositions passed in the Senate.

So, how are you lot getting on with it? Your coppies all arrived I assume?

Later.

[JetBlack]

I got this a week ago and it's still in shrinkwrap. I've been busy with so many other games and reviews for imports that the domestic releases are sitting on the sidelines!

Glad to hear all the great news - and no spoilers, THANKS!

Can I hear more feedback about the learning curve? What's the opinion of others here......too much to ask of the "average" consumer? Would this title be considered something for only seasoned gamers?

Duh.....perhaps I should crack open my copy that's sitting here collecting dust!

[Che Musashi]

The trick with the Dark Assembly at least from what ones I have passed, is:
1) don't bribe them with expensive stuff just use your junk.
2) level up your character's rank so that they have more influence
3) don't bribe people who loathe your proposition, just the neutral, either way and strongly for.
4) after you've got as many people for your proposition as you can call for a vote.

I'm being cheap with the mana, but I think I'm going to try to raise Laharl's counter. I need more characters. I haven't used monsters much either. I think with the item world, it helps to do like you said clear out the residents out the gum/ candy and transfer them to items.

I can't say enough good stuff about this game.

Prinnies Rock!