I tend to enjoy job systems and games that let you play with your own setup of classes, so the variety available in Disgaea 5 was nice. The maps later in the game do get more interesting, but yes, in the end it’s a Disgaea game so it’s all about becoming as broken as you can be at level 999 doing 9 billion damage, that sort of thing. Once you’re in combat, it’s more about seeing how your decisions play out. It seems a little strange to me that the best and most interesting parts of Disgaea 5 are taking place in various menus, and have little to do with actually playing the game.ĭan: I mean, I think that’s fair to some extent - a lot of the really interesting decisions happen during customization and crafting. However, Disgaea 5’s characters and story are just awful I had to start skipping the cutscenes (which I have never done in any game before, ever) because they were so unbearable. Also, VC delivered a fantastic story, so it CAN be done in the genre. In comparison, I think back to when I played Valkyria Chronicles, which was a turn-based tactical RPG that put a compelling spin on conventions. I agree that the systems surrounding the battles have gotten more interesting and varied (and even a bit overwhelming), but I feel like I’m using the same tactics and mechanics on the battlefield. I haven’t really dug into this genre for several years, and I was surprised at how the similar the combat feels in Disgaea today compared to my favorite SRPGs of old. I played a lot of FF Tactics, Vandal Hearts, etc back in the PSone era. Joe: I guess I meant the sea of existing SRPGs, including old ones. And yes, the story is an abomination, just stock JRPG blather, but I mean, who plays these games for story anymore? Disgaea 5 stands out to me because it really provides an absurd amount of systems to explore for those that really want to get into the game, and is still accessible (for a turn-based strategy game, anyway) by largely making the campaign segment available to everyone through just the story characters. I’m curious: What do you think sets this one apart from the sea of similar turn-based tactics games?ĭan: Is there really a sea of turn-based tactics games this days? I feel like Disgaea has been filling that niche ever since the glory days of Shining Force and Final Fantasy Tactics have largely fallen off the grid.

The bottom line, for me, is that it feels like a solid grid-based strategy RPG. But! I’ve played plenty of SRPGs in my day, so I think I have a good grasp of the basics and how the progression continues. Even though I spent several hours playing, I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. Joe: My first impression was that it is a ridiculous game to attempt for this Top 50 challenge, given the number of different systems and the time it takes for the game’s intricacies to unfold. The unshakable Joe Juba tackles the task of diving in to this giant game for a fresh look.ĭan: Alright Joe, let’s get right down to business. My game this year is Disgaea 5, a tactical-RPG that may not have much in the way of compelling story, but has a lot going for it in terms of compelling features and systems that only get more interesting as you move from world to world. and there's always the challenge portion where someone's hot pick gets shopped around to other editors to get a second opinion. The deliberation process often involves blood, sweat. Every year, Game Informer distills things down to the absolute best of the best with its Top 50 list.

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