Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness

NIS shows us tradition can easily hang with the Hollywood blockbusters of the video game world. The best game in the series, Disgaea D2 has humor, depth and story that will keep players entertained for weeks on end.

The question you should be asking yourself isn’t “should I play Disgaea D2” but rather, “do I have the balls and time to play such a crazy game?”. The answer may surprise you.

The new additions won't show up after a few hours, and they are not groundbreaking, but it has, indeed, evolved in the right direction. Another great game that should be a priority for fans of the genre.

The story is the usual weak point while the visuals are as outdated as ever. But that shouldn’t keep you from playing this gem.

There may not be another game out this year that can provide as much limitless fun as Disgaea D2. Many fans of the original still play it religiously 10 years after it’s release. With the triumphant work done by Nippon Ichi America, Disgaea D2 is well on it’s way to still being as fun and as rewarding as it is today at it’s ten year anniversary mark.

It’s intricate, complex, rewarding, and always addictive. It keeps you coming back for more because you simply must power up just a little more. It’s the hook that makes it dangerous for me to play any Disgaea game, damnit.

At $60, newcomers might want to wait until a price drop, while series fans can buy this ASAP without worrying about whether or not they’ll get their money’s worth out of it.

A specific game for a specific subgroup of hard core gamers. [03/2014, p.73]

This is one of the safest Disgaea games I've played, which isn't a bad thing -- it's a ton of fun. But after ten years of this stuff maybe the subtitle for Disgaea D2 should have been "Now That's What I Call Disgaea!"

Newcomers to the franchise may want to delve back into Disgaea's archives before trying their hand at D2 in order to better acquaint themselves with the three main characters, but after a few hours eliminating demons on the battlefield, you'll soon be up to speed with all of the tactical gameplay delights that the series has to offer.

If your dying for more hardcore strategy RPGs, then you certainly can’t do wrong with Disgaea D2, it’s great, but just remember, you might have a feeling that you’ve been here before.

While the game may be behind the curve when it comes to its graphics, it's miles ahead in terms of indefectible SRPG goodness.

Still, fans of the series will buy it (as well they should, it's still pretty friggin' awesome), and it's worth the cash to plunk down… unless you're still playing an earlier version, then consider borrowing it from a friend. Or continue playing your current copies.

Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness is one of the funniest and freshest role-playing games of the year.

It's a tad easier than previous games, but it also unmistakeably requires a good amount of series knowledge to really get into it and appreciate the characters. But I do have good news -- if you want more Disgaea, this delivers.

Few games in recent years offer the immeasurable amount of content offered in Disgaea D2. With a 35 hour campaign, multiple endings to complete, side-missions, an expansive and randomly generated item world, thousands of character customization options and endlessly replyable levels, the series didn’t really need to make many improvements or changes to remain a true value.

Even Disgaea fans who didn't enjoy the original game will find plenty to like here. It may not quite reach the lofty heights of Disgaea 4, but Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness still manages to be one of the brightest entries in the series.

A remarkable sequel to one of the most unique and weird tactical JRPGs out there.

Disgaea D2 is a silly game, but it’s a surprisingly smart one, too. A little grind-y it may be, but it’s still impossible to deny that it remains entertaining in its story scenes and engaging in its combat.

While a sequel to the first game in the series, A Brighter Darkness does more than doff its cap to the original, bringing tweaks to the gameplay that offer fresh ways to play with the best loved characters making a welcome return.

If you aren't already a fan of this franchise Disgaea D2 won't draw you in to its weird world. Series fans will find the familiar here and NIS went out of their way to provide plenty of jokes just for the real fans.

A Brighter Darkness is more than passable, but it’s not my favorite. Compared to Disgaea 4’s ambition and heart, it is a letdown. Disgaea 4 took the series to new places, opening up multiplayer and community, but A Brighter Darkness doesn’t do anything as impressive. This is even more disappointing if you are a fan anticipating a reunion with beloved characters.

Disgaea D2 is a good game whose content extends over the top, based on a frighteningly deep and layered combat system. This game is in no way suitable for newcomers to the genre.

Disgaea D2 remains exactly where Disgaea 4 stands. With a few innovations and some missing elements, D2 delivers the hundreds of hours you can expect from the franchise, but a forgettable story and well known but old mechanics can't fully satisfy.

It’s a shame Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness is a direct sequel. Despite niggling issues and a lackluster story compared to the original, it’s the most forgiving Disgaea to date. I woudn’t say it welcomes new players, but it streamlines things that took a long time without good reason and, in general, is the easiest Disgaea to play.

Disgaea D2 is still a great Disgaea game, but it's a very safe one. It feels like Nippon Ichi software has retreated to a safe corner to heal up for a bit before heading back out to fight. Disgaea fans will slip right into it, but they may also tire of it a bit.

Despite playing the nostalgia card it’s newer players that will get the most from this streamlined sequel, although even they will be disappointed by the workmanlike script.

A compulsive SRPG fan’s dream come true, perhaps to a greater extent than ever before. If you can accept lackluster narrative in exchange for a fresh excuse to lose hundreds of hours wandering the Netherworld, you won’t do better.

Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness is by no means a bad game; it just happens to be an uninteresting one. Five games into the series, it's become far too predictable.

Disgaea D2 retrieves the elements of classic gameplay of the series by offering a very tight chapter: the most inaccessible. The result is a fitting title almost exclusively to fans.

A noticeable decrease in hilarity turns Brighter Darkness into the series' first sin in a long time. Only the most dedicated will forgive it. [December 2013, p83]

Although its core elements of tactical strategy jibe well together, Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness is dragged down by its ad nauseam execution.

Solid RPG with a classic feel and a combat system that puts the player in control of the action.

Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness is an excellent tactical RPG for those who like old-fashion-and-damn-difficult traditional Japanese games. If you're not one of them, then you will probably hate it.

The potential from a reunion of the original three Disgaea protagonists is betrayed by the lackluster execution here. The core strategy is still enjoyable—though several holes are evident even in that aspect—but the disappointingly subpar story, packaging, and writing aren’t worthy of the Disgaea name.