Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice

"An Unforgettable Experience"

Disgaea fans and RPG veterans alike will find it hard to dislike this newest entry into the series. With an entirely new cast (including cameos of veteran favorites), Disgaea 3 serves as not only the best entry into the series, but as a solid and enjoyable addition to the SRPG genre. The game is not without its' flaws, and will certainly not be a game for the mainstream, but it remains a game that makes you say "I remember when games were this good". Please keep in mind, that I did my best to keep this review spoiler-free.

Gameplay~10/10-

The strong point of any entry in the Disgaea series, this remains something NIS has never skimped on. The SRPG elements are plentiful, with almost a puzzle element to them. The introduction of Geoblocks is a welcome one, and the game still feels like a classic Disgaea. NIS has truly taken into heart "If it's not broken, don't fix it", and has perfected the gameplay in this entry to the series. If I could give the gameplay of Disgaea more than a 10, I would. The puzzle element is not terribly difficult to understand either, and once you get the hand of how everything works, it is enjoyable to work with and plan a strategy. Alternatively, you always could level grind more to make the task easier, rather than develop more strategy. The choice is yours.

Graphics/Presentation~ 8/10-

Arguably the weakest point of the game, and yes, it could be improved upon. Menus are clean and easily read on an HDTV, but sadly the graphics are sub-par. Now there is some argument against the use of HD sprites and environments. I personally feel it gives the game some of it's charm. However, Disgaea fans would *probably* not have disputed against using HD sprites, and it would have given the game more recognition for newcomers to the series. Lastly, and probably most important, is that the camera is not perfect. While it can be zoomed in and out, and rotated every 90 degrees, it is not enough. Objects tend to get in the way on a rare occasion, and it could have been fixed by transparent objects occurring when in the way of the action.

Sound~ 9/10-

A lovable soundtrack (though a select few can be irksome at times), and the best voice acting I have seen in any game. Battle music is appropriate for the circumstance. The select few tracks with an irritating sound can be annoying to listen to after a while. But the voice acting is so phenomenal, that it more than makes up for the occasionally annoying background music. Sound effects are excellent as well, and make the game have a classical feel.

Story~ 9/10-

Hilarious and at times thought provoking. The game can deliver some of the most clever one-liners, and the humor is an important element to acknowledge when going through the game. It is not a story like that of Final Fantasy, first of all. The story is driven by humor, and is successful overall. Some chapters are less interesting than others, but the game picks up at one point with a mysterious aspect of the main character. Despite the humor, the game does have its successful dramatic RPG points (in a very unique way), and is successful at delivering an overall memorable storyline.

Replayability~ 10/10-

The greatest part about this game, is you will get your money's worth. With Item Worlds, Class Worlds, the most insane level cap of any game I have played, you will have a great time playing this game after the game is over. The price is great too, being a game that will last you such a long time, and only costing about 50 bucks. The game features levels for your items as well, allowing for your ultimate weapons, to become even more ultimate. The item worlds in particular ensure you a good random dungeon from time to time, and are very challenging, forcing you to go through at least 10 floors with few, if any stops at the hospital (or in this case, the nurse's office).

Overall~ 9/10-

While imperfect, Disgaea 3 serves it's purpose as an enjoyable experience that will last RPG or strategy fans for months. If you own a PS3 and enjoy strategy and/or RPGs, this game is for you. It is easy to enter the series as a newcomer, and you won't miss out on any of the main story elements (though some jokes you may simply not *get it*). If you head to a store with nothing much to buy for your PS3 at the moment, give this game a chance, I am sure you won't regret it. This game is a forgotten gem in the world of RPGs, I only hope that with the recent lull in RPGs this generation will cause more to notice this addition to the series.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/04/08

Game Release: Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice (US, 08/26/08)