Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless marks the newest addition to the popular Disgaea series, well-known for its witty and extravagant tactical role-playing games. Since its debut on the PS2, the Disgaea series has been a favorite among fans of tactical games. However, the release of Disgaea 6 encountered some hurdles. Players experienced technical problems on the Nintendo Switch, and the game featured a smaller roster of character classes compared to its predecessors. Despite these challenges, the Disgaea series continues to captivate players with its unique blend of humor and tactical gameplay.
With Disgaea 7, the series seems to be back on track, offering a new installment for fans to enjoy. The game’s title suggests a focus on morality and virtues, which may introduce new gameplay elements and themes to the series. Fans of the Disgaea series can look forward to diving back into the world of grid-based tactics and over-the-top characters with Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless.
Disgaea 7 Embraces Zany Samurai Setting and Classic Tactics Gameplay
In a series known for its diverse Netherworlds and quirky demon inhabitants, Disgaea 7 takes a unique approach by setting the stage in a singular Netherworld with a samurai theme. The game introduces players to two central characters: the dishonorable wandering samurai Fuji and the dedicated Bushido enthusiast Piririka. Fuji, sensing an opportunity to clear his debts with Piririka’s financial assistance, decides to join her quest to locate the seven legendary weapons. Together, this unlikely duo embarks on an adventure through the Netherworld, battling anyone who dares to obstruct their path. The characters in Disgaea 7 retain the series’ trademark zaniness, and the humorous escapades of the cast are classic Disgaea fare.
For those unfamiliar with the series, Disgaea is primarily a tactical role-playing game at its core. Players assemble a team of diverse warriors, mages, and demons to command during their turns, with the primary objective in most stages being to defeat all enemies before facing defeat themselves. As characters level up, they acquire new abilities that enhance their combat prowess, ranging from ranged area-of-effect attacks to party-wide healing spells. The wide array of character types and abilities ensures that every battle remains engaging, and this is only scratching the surface of the game’s intricate mechanics and features.
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Tactical Gameplay Mechanics in Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless
One of the hallmark features of Disgaea games, including Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless, is the ability to lift and throw characters, and this installment is no exception. In Disgaea 7, virtually any character can pick up and throw another character, leading to significant strategic implications in battles. Players can utilize this mechanic to achieve various objectives, such as moving a powerful unit deep into enemy territory by passing them along a chain of units or relocating an enemy away from its healing allies by hurling it across the map. Additionally, Disgaea 7 introduces monster throws, where specific monster-type units automatically launch anything thrown on top of them. This added layer of complexity enhances the depth of combat encounters, catering to the thoughtful and strategic gameplay that series enthusiasts appreciate.
Yet, one of the most intricate and thought-provoking features in Disgaea games is the return of Geo Panels in Disgaea 7. Geo Crystals strategically placed on these panels can trigger various effects on all panels of the same color. These effects range from beneficial, such as boosting ally defense, to potentially disastrous, like making enemies invincible. Luckily, players can interact with Geo Crystals by lifting, throwing, or destroying them, allowing them to neutralize unfavorable effects or exploit them to their advantage.
The puzzle-like gameplay introduced by Geo Panels continues to offer engaging challenges, even after more than two decades. The satisfaction of triggering a chain reaction by destroying multiple crystals and wiping out a screen full of enemies remains as gratifying as ever. Geo Panels add a layer of complexity and strategy to Disgaea 7, enhancing the overall depth and enjoyment of the game.
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New and Enhanced Gameplay
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless introduces several new gameplay mechanics, refreshing the experience for both newcomers and series veterans. One standout addition is the “Jumbify” ability, which allows one of your characters to grow to a massive size, larger than the entire stage, causing delightful havoc and destruction. Activating Jumbify isn’t a straightforward task, as it requires specific conditions to be met, but the sheer spectacle and damage potential it offers are well worth the effort. Witnessing your character towering over the battlefield is a satisfying and entertaining experience. However, players will also encounter giant enemies, providing a new challenge in dealing with these formidable foes.
Moreover, Disgaea 7 takes existing features and refines them to enhance the overall gameplay experience. For instance, the Dark Assembly, which serves as a governing body in the game, is portrayed in a unique and entertaining way through a Sumo wrestling match, adding a fresh thematic twist to this aspect of the game. Additionally, Demonic Intelligence, a system that previously leaned towards automating gameplay, has been adjusted to be less overpowered, ensuring that players have more agency and engagement in their gaming experience. These refinements address any previous issues and contribute to a more enjoyable and balanced gameplay environment in Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless.
Technical Improvements and Rich Class Variety in Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless demonstrates substantial technical improvements compared to its predecessor, especially on the Nintendo Switch platform. While the game’s framerate still doesn’t reach ideal levels, and certain special moves can cause temporary drops in performance, these issues are far less severe and disruptive than before. These improvements ensure that players can fully enjoy the game’s tactical battles without being deterred by technical shortcomings.
One notable enhancement is the game’s new 3D art style, which may take some getting used to, especially for fans accustomed to the previous installments. However, it has grown on players and adds a fresh visual element to the Disgaea series.
The game boasts an impressive roster of over 40 character classes, making Disgaea 7 one of the most content-rich entries in the series. Familiar classes from previous games return, and exciting newcomers like the Bandit and the Big Eye make their debut, leaving a strong first impression. With such a vast array of characters and abilities to explore and experiment with, Disgaea 7 offers players an unprecedented level of depth and variety in gameplay and strategy.
Conclusion
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless stands out as a new favorite in the Disgaea series, offering players a delightful blend of challenging tactics gameplay and trademark wackiness. However, it’s important to note that the game has raised its difficulty level significantly, necessitating more grinding in the early stages. New players may find the game somewhat punishing, given the increased costs for healing between battles and the complexity of its mechanics.
While the technical issues have seen improvement, they are not entirely resolved, and some players may still encounter occasional performance drops. Additionally, the game employs slightly blurred visuals to compensate for these technical limitations.
Despite these challenges, Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless shines with its rich variety of character classes, deep tactical gameplay, and the series’ trademark humor and absurdity. Once players dive into the game, it becomes an addictive experience that’s hard to put down.
