Kotaku
Another day, another Disgaea it seems. NIS America is readying another port of its PlayStation 2 strategy RPG Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, this time on the Nintendo DS. Sure, it's a fine game, but it looks like there's some wasted potential in the DS port—or at least wasted screen real estate. What may ultimately ship as Disgaea DS is planned for Summer and may appeal to folks who've never played the PlayStation 2 or PSP versions. It's not much to look at, but if you're somehow psyched for another go and find a handful of new features appealing, read the press release for maximum information.
NIS America Reveals Disgaea: Hour of Darkness for the Nintendo DSSanta Ana, CA - 2008 March 7 - NIS America announced today that a new edition of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness will be released for the Nintendo DS. In order to fully utilize Nintendo DS's capabilities several key improvements will be made to the user interface and game system. Disgaea for the Nintendo DS will arrive in North America in the summer of 2008.
About Disgaea DS Disgaea's game system is simple yet addictive. It has the same basic concept as other strategy RPGs, but uses many unique features and enhancements that make this game unprecedented. The following are some of the special features of Disgaea DS:
* Geo Panels - A group of stat altering elemental properties that are placed upon certain parts of the battlefield. When there are one or more colored panels on the battle grid, it means an element can affect that area. The effect can boost or reduce your unit's stats.
* Geo Cubes - A new addition to the PSP version, Geo Cubes are magic items that add more depth to multiand#8208;player battles. You can use the various Geo Cubes to enhance your abilities, summon monsters, or even attack your enemies with them.
* Demon Gadgets - Randomly generated items that appear on the battlefield. By acquiring these gadgets, you can powerand#8208;up your units. Some demon gadgets can level your unit up by 30 levels at once.
* Transmigration - A form of reincarnation that allows you to start over from level 1, but your unit will grow stronger than before.
Comments
You just know that pic was for Witz.
Well I guess Disgaea never was a graphical breakthrough. I'm pretty sure any system would be capable of running it. Only thing, the game is known for its amazing voice acting, so I hope they can fit it on the DS cartridges.
Damn! Witzbold is looking sexier than ever... Man I want that beak!
@HigglyPiggly:
No. I prefer thinking it was for me :)
That prinny needs a hat and a beard...Like me.
Ok I'm guessing I'm not the only one wondering why Witzbold has his own game so anyone want to fess up and explain why Disgaea is based on Kotaku's Banhammer weilder? Surely he is the ultimate Demon Gadget? ;-)
Do you have a map, Witzbold?
I'm getting lost in your eyes.
Well this certainly isn't the thread to fuck around on.
Witz just kind of draws you in...
*shakes head*
Must focus on game!
I feel as though my soul is being pierced...
In related news, I finally got a copy of the PS2 Disgaea, with manual and mini-art book (I had had Disgaea 2 since launch, but was holding off on playing it until I got the first).
Is there any reason I should get the PSP or DS remakes? Just asking.
Every time I see a post about Disgaea I imagine Witzbold seeing a giant Prinny spotlight signal projected against the clouds.
Oh looks like I answered my own question via Wikipedia (I hate when that happens) as the game is filled with penguin-like creatures that explode when thrown. Also they are clearly seen in the screenshots shown above. Rambunctiousness ignorance thy name is NunianVonFuch. :-(
Witzbold you are now my pseudo-nemesis since your sig has puzzled me for months/years and yet the game in question you are taken from has always been known (in name only) to me.
I thought you just liked penguins, but I guess its only when there's explosive results.
I want to see what the guy who said that Disgaea 3 for PS3 could easily be put on the DS without any contraints says when he sees this.
@The BPM Scrolls IV - Knights of the Nine: The PSP one has some good extras, like Etna mode and appearances from characters from Disgaea 2. And it's portable. Portable is always good.
Actually, seeing this does make me wonder all over again why Disgaea 3 has to be a PS3 exclusive. I'm not saying it can run as-is elsewhere, but you could run a pretty faithful port on a Wii even.
will it feature ban-hammer wielding with the DS's stylus?
Hmm, I've NEVER played a Disgaea game...Sacrilege?
@ThisCharmingMan:
yep
@ThisCharmingMan: *breaks out the pitchforks and torches*
@darkreaper00: I have'nt played the game but from what i understand its a real grindfest and well the Wii doesnt really have too many "hardcore gamers" who would really enjoy the grinding and such.
Not to say that ALL Wii owners are casual but that is the misconception.
@ThisCharmingMan: No. It's definitely not for everyone, as it features an absurd amount of numbers juggling and roundabout grinding. The inventory interface is obtuse and the humor isn't for everyone. Music makes you want to jam pencils in your ears.
That said, for people that like the genre it is especially rewarding and allows for an obscene amount of customization with almost no limits on leveling or character crafting.
is there really any other game to play? -.0
Transmigration sounds like what happens when Witz bans you. After an hour of Darkness a form of reincarnation allows you to start over from level 1, but your unit will grow stronger than before.
Could this be the fabled Kotaku game? ;-)
@NunianVonFuch:GOD SO VERY TRUE, you win at life man
witzbold allmighty watching over us...
Where's my pet seal. I can't see the game because of that penguin -_-
This may very well cause me to bring my DS phat out of its semi retirement.
Awesome, this game is going into my "but ASAP" list.
Hmm very interesting, though the texture detail looks like it took a bit of a hit, though it's been forever since I played the game, got to steal that back from my friend and beat it, here's hoping that if they can't fit the english and japanese voice acting on the cart that they op to use the japanese one as it's several times better than the english one.
That picture SCARES me.
At the same time, I love it.
Those textures are guh-ross....why'd they have to go for the not-so-good 3D maps when they could've just made it pretty and 2D?
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS, finally.
So gonna buy this game as I no longer have access to the PS2 version since I graduated.
WHY DID YOU TAKE SO LONG DISGAEA, WHY?!
I have the PS2 version now. I waited and waited for it to come out on DS. I believed in it. It came out on PSP and then no news forever. So I finally buckled and bought it (or maybe I stole it from a friend) and now look, if I had just waited another year or two I could've had it on DS.
WHY HAS PRINNY BAAL FORSAKEN ME?
I. Wait.
They JUST released it on the PSP six months ago. Methinks NIS is getting a little of the Square-Enix disease.
This appeals to me to a massive degree, even though I do still have access to the PS2 version. This game is ideal for the DS -- turn based is a good match, and it's the kind of game that you can put THOUSANDS of endless hours into. Which I would never do on the PS2, but...if I'm carrying it around with me, I might.
@GUNDAM-RX-78-2: So not perfectly parallel to the Fire Emblem crowd, but far from orthogonal to it?
a Witzbold thread without Witzbold? This thread is losing 10+ sexy points without mad penguin lurve!
@Torgen thinks AAA means "Costs $60": Exactly.
(What the hell does orthogonal mean?)
@GUNDAM-RX-78-2: Of orthogons.
Also see Orthagonos the ancient greek god of multi faceted surfaces. The romans renamed him to Dodecahedryoncle I believe.
Witz is so SEXIEEEEEE!!!
Looks like Witz is to busy polishing the ban hammer to comment here but when he does by god the goggles will do nothing.
Why isn't this post tagged "Giant Witzbold Face"?
GOD WHY?
I KEEP TRYING TO AVOID THIS POST, BUT THEN MY SUBCONSCIOUS GOES "OOH, PENGUIN" AND CLICKS ON IT ANYWAY.
...damn you, subconscious! btw, that penguin pic is now my desktop wallpaper, and I still have no clue what Disgaea is.
Couldnt they have put more of the status bars up top? Everything looks a little cramped...
Waiting for our friend the Witz to make a comment on one of his favorite games. Will you get it? Do I need to ask? :)
Damn, even as a fanatic I'm gonna have to pass on this one. My heart is crushed. :/
To anyone without a PSP, I'd recommend this anyway.
@HigglyPiggly:
That's not his Prinny, though. It's mine...
@acceptablerisk: Indeed, the Disgaea 1 and Disgaea 2 Prinnies are quite different. I personally like the Disgaea 2 prinnies better, however they both have qualities I like. I'd love to read comments about Disgaea rather than "HOMG WITZ" whenever theres a Disgaea post, but alas, such is never the case.
Looks like Witz is to busy polishing the ban hammer to comment here
Now there's a euphimism...
@GUNDAM-RX-78-2: Perpendicular.
@boxofthegods: GORDON!
@Furious_Liver: I hear that -.-
Not that Whtz ain't a good guy *suck up powers activate!*
ahhhhhhhHHH. Prinny!!; /asplode.
Great news for those that missed out. A great game if you got the timesinker, I can't afford the reruns but enjoyed it immensely.
The graphics look fine, but I'll probably never look at the top screen. I think there should be info on the top, like statistics when not selecting a character, and info on a character when you're hovering over them.
Well anyway, I've bought Disgaea twice already, might as well make it three times.
I also wondered why it wasn't tagged "GIANT PRINNY FACE".
I miss the lengthy and absurd tags of yesteryear...
@gamadaya: I found that highly amusing.
If anyone thinks the graphics look fine, they aren't looking hard enough.
I'm sure NIS did the best they could with the hardware, it's certainly not their fault.
Disgaea definitely benefited from the PSPs higher res screen and superior hardware.
This one just doesn't look so good.
This just makes me wonder what the previously announced DSgaea game is, seeing as it can't be a port now~
@Datalock: I`m always hovering about above, always watching. ;D
---
I was really hoping for more a side story or something than an actual port. Now the real question is will they be able to fit all the dialogue in that made the original so great?
One thing I wonder though is if this is the same title that was talked about before or if its a different one?
Since its odd that this was not announced in the famitsu before the US knew about it.
Ill still keep the faith that they are working on another "new" disgaea game for the DS also, along with this one.
Regardless I already have the PS2 and PSP version I guess Ill get the DS one also. I do hope they release a special first print edition too like how they did with the PS2 and PSP versions.
@Witzbold: Also forgot to mention Im the Disgaea 2 prinny.
Just checked the J website and yep its the same game it seems...
Now Im sad. :x
At least its good news for folks who have a DS and have not played the Disgaea series yet!
I just woke up hangover and hey, life is beautiful now!
I was planning on spending a few hours grinding on psp today. By the way, why everyone has a disgaea related avatar on Kotaku?
A new Disgaea should be set in the Kotaku Tower, Disgaea 3: Prinnies in Kotakuland.
Hour of Darkness? With daylight savings I can never remember, is that just before or just after the hour of victory?
Everybody, let's write our petition to NIS to ask them the following:
- online multiplayer, not just the useless local
- The Banhammer as demon Gadget
- A prinny named Witzbold