Kotaku: Disgaea

Prinny Asks "Can I Really Be the Hero?" In English This February

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:40:00 MST

NIS America has confirmed today, officially, that the Prinny-starring PSP side-scroller known in Japan as Prinny: Ore ga Shujinko de Iinsuka? will be getting a North American release early next year. Sure, it was all over but for the press release weeks ago, with said press release for the Disgaea spin-off landing in our inbox earlier today.

Now known as Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?, expect to see it on or around Feb. 17, 2009 at a game retailer near you. The PlayStation Portable game will see you taking command of 1,000 Prinnies, stealing tanks, UFOs and penguin-butt slamming your foes. We're excited! Are you?

NIS America announces Prinny™: Can I Really Be the Hero? on PlayStation®Portable! [NIS America]

Prinnies Get A Chance To Shine

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:30:00 MDT

Witz! You there? Course you're not there. You're unconscious, lying dangerously face-down amidst a pool of your own fluids. As no doubt thousands of other Prinny fans are at the news that Disgaea's iconic penguin doods are set to star in their own game. Called Prinny: Ore ga Shujinko de Iinsuka?, it'll see you take control of a "1,000-Prinny squadron on their quest to help an extremely pissed-off Etna recover her stolen sweets", and is due for release on the PSN on November 20. That's in Japan, at least, as your guess is as good as ours as to whether this'll see a US release or not.

Disgaea's Prinnies Getting Their Own Game [1UP]

Odin Sphere, Disgaea To Go Greatest Hits

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:00:00 MDT

Two of Atlus' best publishing efforts from the PlayStation 2 era are getting the Greatest Hits treatment, with Odin Sphere and Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. The latter of those two took an impressive five years and change to receive the coveted $19.99 price drop and dreaded red bar. We're not complaining, as all PlayStation 2 owners should give these titles a whirl at these low, low prices. We're just sort of shocked that someone at SCEA remembered Disgaea existed.

Both titles will have their box arts slightly shrunk and their street value hit rock bottom this September in North America. Congrats to both.

Some Disgaea DS Details revealed

fdemarco — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:20:00 MDT

The folks at CrispyGamer got a chance to corner NIS America's PR Manager Jack Niida to talk a bit about the much anticipated release of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness on the DS. It's a short interview, but there is some interesting information in there including some talk of the game appearing on other consoles. Since the game will probably mostly be purchased by fans of the franchise, the obvious question would be, what's new?

The main feature of Disgaea DS is the multi-player mode. Fans that are tired of the original can still get a kick out of this game by destroying their buddy's Laharl and Etna...

The intuitive stylus controls and dual screen is a huge plus, but there are newly added features and characters from our past titles, so there is still a lot of oomph left in this game.

Niida goes on to mention that this version of the game will include everything from the PSP version plus extra content. For Digaea fans this should prove to quite interesting news.

Disgaea DS Interview [CrispyGamer]

Get Your Very Own Crocheted Prinny/Witzbold

Maggie Greene — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 10:00:06 MDT

Kotakuite BrynnFlynn let us know that there's an eBay auction going on currently for a Disagea Prinny ... or is that a Witzbold?:

I was looking for something new and unique to crochet, and so I thought "Hey, why not make a little Prinny?" A few hours of mad crocheting and accidents later, I had a Prinny from the popular video game series Disgaea. Then I thought, "Hey, why not make it into a Witzbold?" Another hour of messing around with different yarns later, and I had a little replica of the infamous "Banhammer Wielder" from Kotaku.com, the most popular gaming website on the internet.

And there's even a crocheted ban hammer to go with it. Awwww. It can be yours for the current low low bid of $5.99, which is way, way cheaper than most of the crocheted curiosities we post.

Crocheted Prinny/Witzbold - HANDMADE!

Disgaea Gets Another Port

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:20:00 MST

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 DS
Santa 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.

Disgaea 3 Hitting PS3

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 02:30:25 MDT

Gifu, Japan-based developer Nippon Ichi has announced its bringing role-playing-game Makai Senki Disgaea 3 to the PLAYSTATION 3. The two previous entries in the series appeared on the PlayStation 2 — with Disgaea: Hour of Darkness also getting a PSP airing. The Nippon Ichi press release contains two screenshots of Disgaea 3, a work in-progress. Oddly, they are dated 2008. The release mentions that the "simulation RPG" will be out "this winter" in Japan for ¥7,140 (US $59). Hit the jump for another screenie.

Thanks, Byron!

Nippon Ichi Loves on Nintendo

Mike Fahey — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:27:24 MDT

Disgaea DS is looking like more of a possibility every day. Nippon Ichi Software, traditionally a developer of Sony PS2 and PSP games, has begun expanding their focus to include the Nintendo Wii and DS. A financial report out of Japan reveals that the company will be releasing their first DS-based title this fiscal year as a US exclusive, though it doesn't indicate what that title will be.

I've been curious as to what NIS would wind up doing as far as the next generation platforms were concerned, and throwing in with Nintendo seems to make perfect sense for a company with a definite focus on gameplay over flash graphics. Developing a 2D strategy RPG on the PS3 or 360 would be like swatting a fly with a Buick. Michael Fahey

NIS Announces Dirty Dozen [RPGFan via Siliconera]

A Truckload of Disgaea Merchandise Heads to Anime Expo 07

fdemarco — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 17:00:00 MDT

Disgaea fans rejoice! NIS America is bringing you a whole slew of new merchandise to be premiered at Anime Expo 2007. The variety of merchandise covers several NIS franchises but are mostly concentrated on Disgaea and Disgaea 2. Besides the hilariously awesome Prinny Helmet shown above (I dare you to wear it in public), the long list of goodies includes:

Mugs

GrimGrimoire™ Clock

NISA Buttons

Mousepads

Disgaea® Etna's Skull Earrings

Big Sis Prinny and Prinny Plushie

Disgaea® 2 Etna and Flonne figures

Izumi Sawatari ~He is my Master~ Figure

Bat Wii

Kimono Cover for DS Lite

NISA Wallpapers for PC and PSP

All the items, with photos and descriptions, are available for a look on the NIS America website. As I mentioned earlier, most of these items will show up first at the Anime Fest, but if you're not going, never fear, they will be available to the general public later this summer. Start saving your pennies now. Flynn De Marco

New Items from NIS America! [NIS America - Thanks Ninrac]

Disgaea Heading To The DS?

fdemarco — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 12:00:00 MDT

If a recent interview by RPGamer with NIS America is accurate, it will be. The interview, which consisted of reader and interviewer questions posed to Nao Zook, a NIS America rep, went over many points, manygeared toward what popular Japanese franchises might get localized. When asked what franchises NIS themselves would like to see brought stateside, Zook responded with the personal picks of some of NISs localization team with titles like Super Robot Wars, Suikoden 1+2 and Popolocrois. One clever reader, however, got straight to the point.

(Reader Question) Any chance of Disgaea on the Nintendo DS? Nao: Let me just say this... you can look forward to it!

It's rare we hear such a straight answer like that coming from a rep. So, if you're a Disgaea fan and a DS owner, it looks like you'll have something to look forward to. Flynn De Marco

Run to the Sun - NIS America Interview [RPGamer]
[via GoNintendo]

PSP Core Drops To $169 Tomorrow

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:20:06 MDT

The PlayStation Portable Core Pack will shed $30 from its current retail price to sell for $169.99 starting tomorrow April 3rd, according to our friends at Gamestop. The Core Pack comes with only an AC adapter and battery.

Sony's multi-function handheld got a pseudo price drop when the Core Pack was introduced at $199.99 last year, but this marks the first substantial price adjustment for North American gamers. It was recently rumored that retailers had given Sony an ultimatum to drop the price, but we are unsure whether this is a result of that or something else.

With the recent release of Puzzle Quest and the promise of Disgaea PSP and Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII, the new price point is just one more incentive to pick one up. Anyone going to bite?

Thanks to Adam for the tip. Michael McWhertor

NIS Brings Quattro Stateside, Including Disgaea PSP

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 18:40:03 MDT

We posted earlier in the day of suspicious reports that NIS America would bring the lovely SRPG Disgaea to the PSP later this summer, but didn't want to believe. It was too good to be true! But word from the American branch of Nippon-Ichi Software is that the game originally released on the PS2—and a perfect addition to the PSP library—has been approved for a North American release.

Just as exciting was the official announcement that NIS would be localizing three more titles in the company's vein. For the PS2 we get VanillaWare's real-time strategy game GrimGrimoire and Nippon Ichi's strategy RPG Soul Nomad & the World Eaters (nee Soul Cradle). For the PSP, Dragoneer's Aria. It's the kind of Japanese grinding fun that will keep us from seeing daylight for weeks at a time.

You can hit up the NISA site for more screenshots, trailers and press release fun! Michael McWhertor

NIS America Press Event 2007

Disgaea PSP In August?

Mike Fahey — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 10:20:53 MDT

While I've certainly not heard anything official from NIS America, IGN seems to think that the hotly anticipated PSP version of Disgaea will be getting a US release this August, as indicated in a hands-on posted this morning by Jeff Haynes over at IGN PSP. While he doesn't mention where and how he got his hands on the title, I'm assumming it was at the NIS America press party last night which unvieled several new titles coming this year from the Japanese RPG publiishers.

Though I would have been happy with a straight port, NIS has gone all out, adding in a new Etna-focused story, multiplayer battles, and customizaion options out the wazoo- custom maps, custom soundtracks, etc.

Hit up the link and see if you're as jealous of Haynes as I am. Michael Fahey

Disgaea PSP Hands-on [IGN PSP via Evil Avatar]

Disgaea DVD Preorders from NIS America

Mike Fahey — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 11:40:04 MST

NIS America is now accepting preorders for the first volume of the Disgaea anime, coming out on the 9th of January with an amazing new "understandable by non-Japanese speakers" feature! Of course I like my anime like I like my women. Subtitled. Aww yeah.

In honor of the upcoming release, I present the trailer for the series, presented in crystal-clear English-o-rama sound.

Mmmm, Etna. Hot, evil, in control of a horde of undead penguin creatures - everything a guy could ask for. Flonne is adorable and all, but Etna is the one I want my girlfriend dressed up as when we roleplay "The Naughtiest Prinny".

Preorders are an excellent way of explaining why your Christmas present won't arrive on time, so hop on over to NIS America's page and order me a copy, or the disturbing mental imagery will only get worse. Michael Fahey

Preorder page for Disgaea Anime DVD [NIS America]

Games of the Week: It Begins!!!

Michael McWhertor — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 22:26:48 MDT

This is it, kids. The crush of fourth quarter releases is on it's way. This week sees some big name titles and tons of other stuff that just didn't make the list (I mean you, 50 Cent Bulletproof for PSP!). Anyway, here's what's new and notable for the last week of August.

Star Fox Command (DS)
Nintendo gives Fox McCloud and company another go round, this time with a return to 3D space combat.

Enchanted Arms (Xbox 360)
From Software hits us with some sci-fi RPG goodness.

Saints Row (Xbox 360)
Surely THQ is tired of hearing their free-roaming gangster game called a GTA clone, so I'll refrain.

Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins (PSP)
Capcom's old-school 2D platformer (with 3D graphics) isn't for noobs.

Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories (PS2)
A few more dozen hours of big-headed strategy RPG fun from Nippon Ichi.

Def Jam: Fight for NY: The Takeover (PSP)
EA's hip hop fighting franchise makes its bow on PSP.

I'm holding my wallet hostage until next week, when both Okami and Yakuza hit for the PS2. What are y'all pickin' up this week?

What Will You Be Playing This Weekend?

brownlee — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 13:40:42 MST

It's the weekend. For some, weekends involve getting drunk, or skydiving face-first into the bosoms of strippers, or jumping flaming monster trucks over the grand canyon. But we're gamers. For us, it means two blissful days of cathode irradiation — fighting monsters and demons in imaginary worlds while our pale blue skin shimmers and crackles.

So what will you be playing this weekend, Kotakuites? On my part, I finally managed to secure a copy of Disgaea, the PS2 strategy RPG. Yes, it's old, but I could never find it before. Initial impressions are pretty dang positive — I'm a sucker for Final Fantasy Tactics and the Fire Emblem games and even annoying underworld hydrocephalics with X's for eyes can't turn me off a shiny SRPG. I've also heard whispers that this is one of those games that is a dream for power-levelers, allowing me to level my characters not into the teens, nay, not into the hundreds, but into the thousands. Forums are filled with people talking about 400+ hour save games. Which means I may very well be playing this game for a longer period of time than I actually attended high school, and for almost as much time as I've spent having intercourse in my life. Counting up hours spent on things like that really puts one's life in perspective.

What about you? Brag about your recent purchases or hell, just talk about what you're most looking forward to kicking back with this weekend in the comment section.