Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice Review

By Simon Parkin Published 16 September, 2008

And Justice For None.

Version tested: PlayStation 3

Mao, the 1578-year-old schoolboy star of Disgaea is super cross. His father, the Overlord of the Netherworld, accidentally stepped on his SlayStation Portable console and, in doing so, destroyed 4 million hours worth of save data for Mao's favourite videogame.

It is, without doubt, the worst thing that's ever happened to the heir to the Netherworld throne, who decides that the best way to teach his clumsy father a lesson is by killing him.

It's a narrative premise that should resonate with the series' audience. As players of the first two games can testify, should a Disgaea manage to get its hooks in you'll lose your mind to it - all other games becoming temporarily obsolete as every moment of free time is ploughed into your new Strategy RPG obsession. The idea of save-game corruption 200 hours into creating a perfectly balanced team of thieves, ninjas, star mages and Majin is, in this universe at least, legitimate grounds for patricide.

So it is that Disgaea's inimitable humour makes its debut on the PlayStation 3, a migration from the PS2 that's brought with it scant technological progression. The jagged, untidy character sprites are indistinguishable from those in the previous games. The outrageous team-up battle animations and ground-shaking magical effects are no less creative, but no more impressive, than they've ever been.

Menu screens and 2D character portraits benefit from pin-sharp HD treatment, but players hoping the jump to the current generation might have evened a balance that has always favoured function over form will be disappointed.

Not that this is a genre anybody really plays for aesthetic wow. The option to turn off animations, turning movements on the chessboard-style maps into darting hops and reducing attacks to mere numerical readouts are all present. The developer knows that for most serious Disgaea players, graphical frippery is a barrier to the game's true first fruits: intelligent levelling, long-view planning and red hot XXX stat porn.

The third game is set in the Netherworld of the previous titles except this time you're stationed within a high school. The series' basic elements have all been re-skinned to fit the metaphor. So the hospital where you restore characters' health and magic points after a battle becomes the school nurse; you organise your team's internal alliances in a classroom; one chapter takes place in the midst of a Home Economics class and, rather than supplicating the Dark Assembly should you want to up the quality of items in the shop or create a new character, you'll now be addressing the Student Council. The metaphor serves the game well, helping to define and channel the story in a way that remains fresh throughout.

Nippon Ichi's translation work (which has always struggled to match the high standard Atlus laid down in the original title) is assured and the voice acting, if hyperactive in a Ren and Stimpy-meets-Excel Saga kind of way, fun. The supporting cast is entertaining but the cut-scenes that precede and follow each battle are too long and think they're funnier than they are.

The basic story elements follow the formula of the original with worrying exactness. Mao's characteristics closely mimic those of the first game's protagonist Laharl; his companion Almaz, also trying to kill Mao's father but for ostensibly heroic reasons, is (initially) similar to the angel Flonne. The lead girl of the group, Raspberyl, is every inch the Etna.

The sense that Nippon Ichi is sticking close to the original game's successful template carries over into the game mechanics. These take the best improvements of the second game and crowbar them back into the more robust framework of the first. That's not to say there aren't innovations. Disgaea 3's changes are, on paper, significant, and they do smooth over some of the series' quirks, but they have mixed results.

The most obvious change is in the introduction of Evilties, special augmentation abilities that improve a character's performance in battle. These must be purchased with Mana points (a kind of experience currency earned by defeating enemies). Each character has two Evilties, one which is auto-assigned based on their job class, and one which can be customised. Additionally, you can now use Mana points to purchase and upgrade new battle skills sooner than if you simply leveled your character and let them grow naturally.

This new layer of economy certainly increases the fussiness of maintaining your team but it also grants a pleasing amount of freedom - allowing you to focus all of a character's Mana in a chosen area (e.g. a White Mage's heal ability) right from the off.

'Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice' Screenshot 3

The game now defines which are low and high-class reps in the StudentCouncil so it's easier to know where to apply your bribes when trying to pass a new school rule

The mechanical interrelationships between team members are also now much more complex than before. The likelihood that two characters will join up for a team attack is no longer random but manually set in the classroom area of the hub. The introduction of 'After Schools Clubs' bestows further benefits to those members you assign to a club's limited places (e.g. members of the 'God of Cookery' club will see the effectiveness of items they use doubled).

Monsters, previously a little redundant as team members, are now more effective due to the 'Magi change' command. This allows the monster to turn into a special weapon that can be used by a humanoid character if they're both members of the same club. Technically you lose a character by transforming one of your monsters into an inanimate object, but this loss is offset by the power of the new weapon's attacks.

Finally, the Geo Block system has undergone a massive overhaul. No longer just status-effecting panels on the play grid, the idea has been translated into 3D, with blocks stacking to form temporary towers and blockades which must be toppled and turned against enemies using planning and ingenuity. The complexity this adds to what is already a multi-layered system is, to begin with, dizzying - even for those familiar with the Geo Panels of the previous games.

'Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice' Screenshot 4

Prinnies make another welcome return, and are now useful for more than just easy laughs thanks to their helpful magi change ability.

These additions and evolutions will challenge series veterans but for newcomers Disgaea 3 presents an almost insurmountable learning curve; the game's rewards may seem too far off and hard won to warrant the effort. However, get to grips with the intricacies and, once again, Nippon Ichi has created a delicious statistical sandbox to play in.

There are those who will want simply to follow the story and uncover one of the game's eight endings, without diverting into the extra-curricular depths. For these players the game is well worth the effort.

But for series veterans who want to drill down to the bottom, upgrading weapons by slogging through 100-level grinds in the item world, balancing Evilties, managing clubs and alliances to create a squadron that is literally the gigantic sum of its creator's decisions, a blanket recommendation is harder to make. For these players Disgaea 3 is in many ways more of the same - a sequel that makes some interesting changes to the way the journey plays out, but too few to the ultimate destination.

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Simon.

About Simon Parkin

Simon Parkin is an author and journalist on video games. A regular contributor to Eurogamer since 2005, his work has also appeared in Edge, The Telegraph, Gamasutra and Boing Boing.

Read more articles from Simon by visiting the Simon Parkin archive page.

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Comments (55) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Apologie #1 3 years ago

    another good game for the PS3... things are getting fantastic for all PS owners with Wipeout HD, Resistance 2, MotorStorm Pacific Rift , Litlle Big Planet, SOCOM, SIREN: Blood Curse, Īnfamous, Killzone 2, GT5, God of War, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Silent Hill V etc... all badass games, and i'm not including multiplatform titles like FarCry 2.

    But back to these game, i'm gonna buy it for sure.
    Edited by 1 at 16/09/08 @ 14:18

  • Widge #2 3 years ago

    This is the kind of thing I prefer taking portable... so will give the PSP version a go someday.

  • DjFlex52 #3 3 years ago

    If this is an 8 game, then ToV better be a 9, at the least.

    I am loving ToV and it restores my faith in JRPGs again :)

  • MrChuckles #4 3 years ago

    If it was the PS3 that had just had a price cut to £170 i'd buy it for this. I think for now i'll still hold off, but i miss Disgaea..... Roll on the DS version!

  • Beano #5 3 years ago

    When will Eurogamer's gallery code work ?

  • TafKas #6 3 years ago

    Im loving this, its batshit mental, didnt expect an 8 though!

  • Venkman90 #7 3 years ago

    Bring on Disgaea DS plx

  • CannonAnBall #8 3 years ago

    ...I thought there were no games on the PS3?

  • morriss #9 3 years ago

    apololollolololololol didn't even read the review.

  • Steroyd #10 3 years ago

    Urge to import... rising.

  • Apologie #11 3 years ago

    morriss

    Stop being a sad little person, at least try mate...

  • menage #12 3 years ago

    Is it really necessary to pull out a list of good PS3 games everytime a good PS3 title hits. I mean, most of the gamers here know them by now right.

    Played both D's, loved them both (2 even more than 1). Can't really see why we would have to freaking wait for this. Oh yes, Europe hay.

  • Chrono-Kun #13 3 years ago

    @Apologie

    Silent Hill V is out for the 360 as well :-)

  • Monkey_Puncher #14 3 years ago

    Apologie seems to be trying to convince himself with his stupid posts...

  • Waffleaber #15 3 years ago

    I thought the tone of the review was quite downbeat for an 8. Quite happily slogging my way through Disgaea 2 at the moment but after the praise the first one still gets I think i'll tackle that before worrying about this.

  • Apologie #16 3 years ago

    Chrono-Kun

    i didn't knew that... that's great, ill see wich one is the best version then (yes i have a 360 too).

    And for all x360 bitchess/fanboys/fanatics that cannot bear to see good games or reviews for the Ps3... all i can say is get a life.

  • figgis #17 3 years ago

    The Prisim Rangers are in the game. The Indigo one is my current teacher.

  • systems #18 3 years ago

    I imported on the US release day. Yes, the prism rangers are in. I would also add that I reckon the strategy guide is essential for this game. Without it I'd be lost as there are so many possibilities.

  • smurphs #19 3 years ago

    Must.....resist......PS3.

    Am totally in love with the PSP version, the first SRPG I've found where grinding is a pleasure. Not that's there's too much of it thankfully.

  • MasterNameless #20 3 years ago

    Very interesting, didn't realise this was on the horizon. Huge RPG - and J-RPG - fan, and possibly this will be my first imported PS3 game! I have never played any previous Disgaea games as I never owned a PS2, and although the reviewer talks about it being more of the same - which I certainly don't see as a bad thing, as it will all be new to me.

    Would it detract a lot from the game if I haven't played any of the others? Will the learning curve still be insurmountable, even if I have fairly good knowledge of other J-RPG's?

    Is it worth watching the anime series to brush up on the characters/plot? Although I heard the anime wasn't that great, and maybe I'd get more out if the anime if I were to play the game first?

    Hmmm... so many questions.


    @Apologie

    Go away Aplogie, you can't talk - I mean generally, to ciritise others for being fanboys is just a complete joke! - and you know it. And we know it.

    Especially if you have to completely plagiarise what somebody else has written, and then massacre it so it wasn't quite so obvious, just to have a bash at a popular 360 game you never played.

  • mingster #21 3 years ago

    I'd buy a PS3 just for this game wouldn't need any other games for months then.

  • Krelle #22 3 years ago

    Instead of complaining about Apologie, why not just hit the Ignore button?
    Since I did, it saves me about 10min / day!

  • Apologie #23 3 years ago

    MasterNameless

    I have bioshok for the PC , i played the game with 1900x1200, 16x antialising / 16x anisotropic, everything max... i didn't finished the game because i got tired of it, but i played it for a reasonable amout of time, suficient time to see how overrated he is... but that's not even the point here.

    what i dont understand is why do you guy's feel uncomfortable every time i show my apreciation for the system (PS3), when almost all of you do the same.
    Edited by 2 at 16/09/08 @ 15:49

  • MasterNameless #24 3 years ago

    @Krelle

    You're right, I know, I feel a little dirty for complaining about him anyway.... I'm normally very good at ignoring his posts, but after spotting his blantant 'copy and paste', then trying to pass it off as his own words the other day, I just couldn't resist rubbing his nose in it!

    But yes, it was wrong, we shouldn't feed the trolls. I don't really want to put him on ignore though as he's good for a laugh every now and again, he's just such an extreme example. I did have a valid point though, and would be nice if any Disgaea aficionado can answer my questions! The Apologie thing was just an aside. ^_^

    edit: spelling, and final line.
    Edited by 1 at 16/09/08 @ 15:52

  • bonker #25 3 years ago

    "When will Eurogamer's gallery code work ? "

    Tell me about it - I've been bitching about that shite for weeks - how hard can it be for fuck's sake??!!

  • mingster #26 3 years ago

    If you haven't played it before then its not really that hard to fathom out but i should think the new Geoblock puzzling will have you well confused. As well as things like what characters you need to level to what point as to gain new ones.
    Gamefaqs should sort out any questions you have though.
    Disgaea is one of those games that can take 200hours of your life up easily.

  • mingster #27 3 years ago

    Screenshots/gallery section works for me whats broken about it?

  • MasterNameless #28 3 years ago

    @mingster

    Thanks for that, I normally avoid walkthroughs and faqs for games, but in this case I think I'll definitely need to follow your gamefaqs advice!

  • Dizzy #29 3 years ago

    Disgaea is awesome... seriously recommended for all fans of turn based action.

  • GrumpyLlama #30 3 years ago

    Great game. I improted it throgh VG+. US version runs fine on UK PS3 even on SD TV. Be warned though it will eat all your spare time if your not careful. Should be easy to get to grips with if you have played any other SRPGs. All the extra stuff like item world and reincarnation can be ignored if it doesn't interest you

  • Cappy #31 3 years ago

    A 'huge' JRPG fan that never owned a PS2. A case of admiring the games from afar perhaps.

  • MasterNameless #32 3 years ago

    @Cappy

    Haha. Good point, I did miss out on an awful lot I know! But had a Dreamcast until it should have been more than dead, then moved to the Xbox1... I am also a big fan of many other genres too, not exclusively RPG's. The larger chunk of J-RPG's were indeed on the PS2 yes, but there was still an awful lot on PS1, DC, Xbox(less so, admittedly), and have been playing lots more again on 360 recently. So I think I've played enough to call myself a huge fan. I do love em, honest!

  • mischief #33 3 years ago

    any news on a Euro release?
    can't be doing with imports.

  • mingster #34 3 years ago

    EU release just says sometime in 2009 at the moment

  • mischief #35 3 years ago

    thanks Mingster
    think i'll wait.

  • jonsaan #36 3 years ago

    Masternameless. I had never played Disgaea but had no issues with Disgaea2 on psp. An utterly brilliant game. This looks like more of the same. It's a must buy for me. Go ahead and import it, it'll keep you busy for months on end.

    EAT ITDUUDE~!
    Edited by 1 at 16/09/08 @ 16:50

  • Dizzy #37 3 years ago

    "A 'huge' JRPG fan that never owned a PS2. A case of admiring the games from afar perhaps."

    PC. Case closed.

    PS2 had JRPGs and some of us hate those and are arguably not really RPGs.

  • jebus #38 3 years ago

    Yeah I rather think that this works better on a portable as well. It was the first game I had played on my PSP in about a year and was utterly fantastic. 40 hours in and still only on Chapter 3 or something stupid. I ended up spunking loads of time in the item worlds :¬)

    It's bonkers and design wise seems like they worked out a load of mathematical sytems and then designed the game around them. I am constanly coming up with new ways to do stuff and new tactics, it's an utter joy.

    I would urge everyone to get this on PSP. By far the best PSP game I have played.

    Crosses fingers that this one comes to PSP as I don't really want to have to buy a PS3 before it's £100

  • Krelle #39 3 years ago

    @jonsaan:

    The psp Disgaea is a port of the first game, isnt it? Might have got it wrong. Played both on the ps2.

  • Les #40 3 years ago

    Loved 1, still have to play 2 (it's on the "to play" pile, still in shrink-wrap) so I'll probably get this in a year or two.

  • Cappy #41 3 years ago

    Ah, Dizzy, living proof that even people lacking the correct number of chromosomes can post comments online if they try hard. Yes, JRPGs were definitely more plentiful on the PC than the PS2 weren't they?

    Sharing a name with my most loathed video game character of all time is the real reason why Mr. Ignore button gets clicked. Pity, I'll miss the imbecile.

  • MasterNameless #42 3 years ago

    @jonsaan

    Thanks for the info, or should I say reassurance? I think I'll give it a shot.

  • Chufty #43 3 years ago

    Who invited the fanboy kids? Play somewhere else while the grown-ups discuss the merits of the latest game in this great series.

    I lost so many hours to the last PSP Disgaea outing, I hope this one makes it across. Maybe even in Europe.

  • RedPanda #44 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • Les #45 3 years ago

    "I'm pretty sure this is right, but if I bought a UK PS3 tomorrow I could import this from the US and play it with no problems, yeah?"

    Yeah, it's right. You can get a copy for 25 pounds from [link url=http://www.movietyme.com.]http://www.movietyme.com.[/lin k] To continental Europe it usually takes around 7 days for a game to arrive (but of course sometimes it takes a little bit longer), I guess it wouldn't be much different for the UK.

  • Pedrolot #46 3 years ago

    SOLD!

  • RedPanda #47 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • NegativeZero #48 3 years ago

    Picked this up from NISA directly, their super-duper collector's pack. Couldn't be happier, I'm enjoying it far more than I enjoyed Disgaea 2. I think if you're a games or especially an anime nerd you'll find there's a lot more in-jokes and the like that will appeal to you.

    Don't know why it had to be on PS3 rather than PS2, but I'm not complaining. One less reason to fire my PS2 up.

    Also, are Atlus' translations really that much better than NISA's? Or is the review more talking about the quality of the dub? I've only ever really played the games with Japanese dialogue since the first one's dub set my teeth on edge (except for the Prinnies). Having played a fair number of games from both companies I can't really see a huge difference. It is nice that both of them tend to include a Japanese voice option when they can, it would be nice if some of the other, bigger JRPG publishers would take note of that.

  • Krelle #49 3 years ago

    @Cappy:
    "..reason why Mr. Ignore button gets clicked. Pity, I'll miss the imbecile."

    Baibai, Cappy!

    ..and then I actually read Dizzy's post! Wtf? Bai!
    Edited by 1 at 17/09/08 @ 06:10

  • saku_luk #50 3 years ago

    I imported my copy directly from NISA store Rosenqeen! 18h into the game and loving it! geo blocks are really great improvement, but i hate em when I accidently screw over ;p

    Anyway I feel like this will take me 300-400h total, since I plan on visiting item world often during my 2nd cycle ;p

    ps...I loled hard when in class room I made new char - female archer - and when I talked to her she said "enjoy my flatness!" oO

    EDIT:
    Oh and the dub is TOP here, old NISA dubs were bad, ie Mana Khemia, but in D3 they finally made it right.....also I like all the references to Gundams, Dragon Ball etc....oh and Mexican Ogres owns ;p "While you were busy, we lied, cheat and stole your heart ome" love the script ;p
    Edited by 1 at 17/09/08 @ 08:00

  • tnt_2008smum #51 3 years ago

    @Apologie

    Ha! you are such a freak!!

  • MJ #52 3 years ago

    Any chance of Makai Kingdom2?

    I preferred that to both Disgaea 1 and 2.

  • 7creature #53 3 years ago

    Is there dual audio choice?

  • goz #54 3 years ago

    Yup - both Japanese and English voice acting to choose between. The disc's region free too, obv.

  • tnt_2008smum #55 3 years ago

    @Zero_Cool

    oops have I upset you somehow?