Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten

I honestly can't say enough good things about Disgaea 4. The game is a fantastic RPG that can be as deep as any other, yet as simple as the player wants it to be. You can easily sink 50 hours into the main story itself. It never gets too difficult, and with the visceral combat in place, there is always more than one way to take on a battle.

It's trite but true: if you liked earlier Disgaea games, you'll like this one, but if you didn't like the rest, this one won't change your mind. If, however, you've never played the series, Disgaea 4 is a great place to start.

A must-have for genre followers, that again puts NIS as the leader in strategic RPG games. We miss more options, like the possibility to save the game in the middle of a battle, and a more comprehensive online mode. The best Disgaea game to date.

In the end, Disgaea 4 is simply the finest expression of everything that the Disgaea series is.

Disgaea 4 brings a kid-like excitement to the table, with its energetic presentation to go along with extremely deep gameplay.

If you feel like the best games are those that involve combing though menus, analyzing stats, and carefully plotting out hour-long battles, then Disgaea 4 is quite simply a can't-miss title.

Exactly what it should be: an upgrade of a recognizable game that plenty of fans have adored. It's very pretty, the audio is borderline amazing, the captivating, addicting gameplay is back in full force (with even a little extra force), and player choice and customization immediately gives us a sense of purpose.

Disgaea 4 is still Disgaea, but better, improved and with a very welcomed graphical update. Tons of systems and subsystems focused on creating a crazy sandbox where the rules exist to be broken. Add a really good story, charming characters and the, as usual, excellent soundtrack and you have a fantastic entry into the series.

In other words, Disgaea 4 continues the tradition of letting us play our own ways while rewarding us for doing the same thing over and over again. As "hardcore" as these games are, developer Nippon Ichi makes them playable in lots of different ways. Perseverance, ingenuity and even failure are all rewarded.

Disgaea 4 is everything we expected out of Disgaea 3. Finally upgraded to the next generation, it's a pleasure to see the HD shine resonate throughout the Netherworld.

This is a game for those who like taking their time and being methodical. If you've got the patience, there are hundreds of hours of brilliant strategy gameplay waiting inside Disgaea 4.

Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten could be considered, by a new player, a traditional RPG, without any innovation; however, the older fans will appreciate the new setting and characters, and also the interesting storyline. Not a masterpiece so, but neverthless could be a good purchase for all the fans.

Disgaea 4 is everything a Disgaea fan could want, which is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing in that it's an enjoyable game, a curse in that you probably won't finish it until after the holiday season.

The network is the only place Disgaea 4 breaks much in the way of new ground, but it's a wonderful complement to yet another iteration of an already slick design. Absent a major rework of Disgaea's foundation, this is about the best that we could ask for – even if you have to remind yourself that you're not playing the same PlayStation 2 game from 2003 once in a while.

There's a serious case to be made that Disgaea has never been better. [Issue#117, p.124]

This a game aimed towards fans: if you've never played a Disgaea before you'll find it dense and difficult, as it lacks an explanation for many of its concepts.

Many gamers will be let down by the game's high difficulty level, but if you dare to test your tactical skills Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten will keep you busy for a very long time.

This fourth game gets, at last, the series in the HD era. But let's keep cool: the end result remains dated in terms of animations and presentation, despite the visual overhaul. Following the opposite trend from this shortcoming, the game system offers a richness and modern tactical genius like no other. Its odd and funny story tone, mature jokes and satirical atmosphere are even cooler than before. If you like the TRPG genre, or want to try it, don't hesitate. Beware though : this game is quite the time sinker, you may very well get lost into it.

The funniest and best-looking entry in the series so far, but also the least innovative and accessible in terms of gameplay.

This is without doubt the most comprehensive entry in Nippon Ichi's once-trailblazing series, packaging its accumulated ideas alongside a clutch of innovations of its own. And yet repetition has dulled the appeal, with the complexities acting as a tall barrier to newcomers while the innovations are simultaneously too meagre to sate any but the most eager devotee.

Disgaea 4 A Promise Unforgotten is a good step forward for the Disgaea saga. Humour is great as always, and turn-based strategy goes as it should.

For the committed few, though, time with Disgaea 4 should pleasantly relieve the terrible pressures produced by the voices inside their heads. [Nov 2011, p.85]

Disgaea 4 has a clear sense of self and it embraces all of its absurdities, presenting them in a surprisingly palatable package, whether you choose just to get your feet wet or dive all the way into the brimming time sink.

That said, Disgaea continues to define the pinnacle of the TRPG mechanics and Nippon Ichi is clearly the master of this genre; just don't go expecting anything shiny and brand new from this latest outing. It remains though, a must buy for any fan of the series.

A taste for micromanagement, high difficulty and a tactical way of battling is essential to enjoy Disgaea 4.

What it comes down to is this: if you have any interest at all in the strategy/RPG genre, Disgaea 4 is bound to please. It's less of a revolution than a (much-needed) evolution for the series, and it's still got a few dents in its armor, but there's just so much being offered here that you're bound to find something -- if not several things -- to explore and enjoy. And as a final note: if you see foreign minister Vanetha in your Dark Assembly, please bribe her nicely, okay?

Fans will love it for everything it is, while detractors will ignore it for all that it isn't. This is a game, and series, that isn't out to win over gamers by changing its stripes -- though its fans probably wouldn't have it any other way.

There's a lot to love here, but gamers with hatred for Laharl and company won't find anything to change their minds. At the very least, those who appreciate the series for all that it is will find this entry more than satisfying, as it does everything better than before.

The odd-ball humour is as feisty as ever. [Feb 2012, p.107]

Same old rock hard Disgaea gameplay that's still as inaccessible as ever. [Feb 2012, p.100]

The absorbing tactical battles haven't evolved much, but a great cast of characters and consistently funny writing keep Disgaea 4 entertaining.

Disgaea's bizarre story and ridiculous characters are difficult to tolerate, but it's the grueling challenge that'll ultimately make many cower away. However, underneath all the style and flash is an intricate RPG that forces you to dig in deep and puts your brains to the test.

If you were already in, you'll stay in. But if you want to join the club, it's only worth it if you're going to put in the hard yards to get your member's card.

But there were times within Disgaea 4, more than ever before, when the grind seemed more prominent than the obsession. Disgaea always does unexpected things with numbers, and 4 feels like its most polished and feature-packed entry yet - and it also feels like the point of diminishing returns.

Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten is definitely a step up from Disgaea 3, at least as far as appearances go. It captures the beloved gameplay elements from previous entries and provides an astounding amount of content. Disgaea 4 can be a little cumbersome at times, and it hasn't streamlined its presentation much since the original, but the fun combat mechanics and interesting cast of characters help differentiate it from its competitors. I wish the humor had resonated with me a tad more, but I definitely had fun with Disgaea 4.

It's kind of disappointing that a sequel that finally upgrades its character sprites would at the same time not move anything else up a level. And I would like more people to play and enjoy Disgaea games, because the fact is everyone is getting the best sequel until "Disgaea 5" comes out (probably). But it's a step forward that could have, for once, been a leap.

Politics and mythical creatures are unorthodox ingredients that make an old formula taste brand new.