Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness

 PlayStation 3
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 37
  3. Negative: 0 out of 37
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  1. Multiplayer.it
    Sep 27, 2013
    72
    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.
  2. GameCritics
    Jan 14, 2014
    70
    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.
  3. USgamer
    Oct 7, 2013
    70
    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.
  5. Metro GameCentral
    Sep 27, 2013
    70
    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.
  6. GamesRadar+
    Sep 11, 2013
    70
    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.
  7. RPG Fan
    Oct 6, 2013
    68
    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.
  8. Everyeye.it
    Sep 9, 2013
    68
    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.
  9. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Nov 11, 2013
    65
    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]
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  10. Polygon
    Nov 4, 2013
    65
    Although its core elements of tactical strategy jibe well together, Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness is dragged down by its ad nauseam execution.
  11. Cheat Code Central
    Oct 9, 2013
    60
    Solid RPG with a classic feel and a combat system that puts the player in control of the action.
  12. Gameblog.fr
    Sep 25, 2013
    60
    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.
  13. EGM
    Oct 8, 2013
    55
    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.
  14. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Dec 3, 2013
    50
    Over-complicated. [Christmas 2013, p.94]
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Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Best PS3 Game of 2013
88
#88 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2013
76
#76 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2013

User Reviews

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 71 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 71
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 71
  3. Negative: 12 out of 71
  1. Lucky-Jinx
    Oct 10, 2013
    10
    This game is the reason that I own a Playstation 3 and the reason I will buy a Playstation 4. This tactical strategy game offers an infiniteThis game is the reason that I own a Playstation 3 and the reason I will buy a Playstation 4. This tactical strategy game offers an infinite gaming opportunity in the form of random dungeons and a reincarnation system that means that you can repeat the process as many times as you like. The difficulty is also completely malleable and tailored to your own personal level. It is easy enough for a child to learn and play, but hard enough for a chess master to strain their abilities to stay alive.

    Is this the perfect game? For some yes. The 2 dimensional manga style graphics will not appeal to some and the Manga style humor may not appeal to everyone (Luckily you can simply skip it all and focus entirely on the gameplay)

    D2 takes the very best from its predecessors and adds suggestions from the fan-base to fine tune the system. Simple things like the ability to separate your team into premade groups so that you don’t have to waste time searching for them in a list. Enjoyable fight cut-scenes that you can turn off in the main menu, or if you prefer just skip them with a simple push of a button as they are performing them. There is even a character in your home base that allows you to change the percentage of experience or money you will obtain as well as cranking up the difficulty by not allowing you to ‘cancel’ an attack order for a wonderfully hardcore experience.

    If you enjoy tactical strategy games you will not be disappointed.    … Full Review »
  2. SargeX
    Feb 20, 2021
    6
    This DlSGAEA title was born & died on the PS3, so l never played it at the time, but now that I have played it, l understand why; most of itThis DlSGAEA title was born & died on the PS3, so l never played it at the time, but now that I have played it, l understand why; most of it is basically filler content & fan-service; XEN0LlTH, the central villain of the plot is just the opposite of what a villain should be— by being heroic to the point of protecting strangers with nothing to gain in return, he is also humble, cordial, kind, well educated, & very polite despite being a demon, in fact, even Laharl is far more villain material than XEN0LlTH; the plot denotes how poorly written the same is, basically things happen just because, like Laharl temporarily turning into a girl without any explanation of why, & later after performing a concert as a girl, he returns to normal without any explanation— {100% fan-service}; all the exclusive characters of the title, with the exception of XEN0LlTH & SlClLY, are just copy-pastes of generic characters with a palette swap or the addition of simple things, such as— "a more mature body", glasses, a hat, etc— on them! So— yup; it was a very lazy title—!! ¯_(ツ)_/¯
    Although— at least the typical DlSGAEA humor & gameplay is also present in it— but updated regarding the ones of PS2.    … Full Review »
  3. sherindan
    Feb 25, 2018
    7
    My Rank for Disgaea PS3 is 1. Disgaea 4 , 2. Disgaea D2, 3. Disgaea 3
    Disgaea 4 interesting story and great skill lving, Disgaea D2 best    My Rank for Disgaea PS3 is 1. Disgaea 4 , 2. Disgaea D2, 3. Disgaea 3
    Disgaea 4 interesting story and great skill lving, Disgaea D2 best graphic and mechanical battle but meh story, Disgaea 3 for story and character but dull fight.    … Full Review »
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