Something interesting is happening in Holt Village. Adell, the only human who hasn’t become a demon, is working with his ‘mom’ to summon the demon Overlord Zenon. After filling their cauldron with Fairy Oil, The Shura Sword, Clown Shoes and a Wyrm Bone, something goes awry and they summon the Overlord’s daughter, Rozalin, instead.
Bound by the parameters of the summon, Rozalin reluctantly pledges to help Adell find her father so he can defeat him in battle. It’s a match made in hades – or is it?
Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories by developer Nippon Ichi Software is a 2D isometric role-playing game that was originally released on Playstation 2 in 2006. Unlike its predecessor and successors, the game doesn’t focus on the main character being a ‘mid-boss’ or offspring of the ‘Overlord’. Despite being seven years old, Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories looks and plays every bit as good now than it did on Playstation 2.
Gamers who remember the original PS2 classic will enjoy the in-game antics of Adell and his group as you battle Netherworld monsters while using the now popular isometric combat system. The flexible combo system, and the outrageous magic effects and large rocks that explode from the ground during a team combo, look every bit as compelling as they did back then. Even the Geo Symbol system – where destroying or even throwing a specific colored Geo Symbol on a Geo panel acts as a stat modifier – is a reminder of how unique this series is.
Moreover, exploring the random dungeons in Item World, creating new characters with the Dark Secretary, and listening to Adell and Rozalin argue back and forth is still appealing (and if I may say, very entertaining). There is one thing that can be said about Disgaea 2’s graphics – they have aged really well, which is the case for most 2D games from the Playstation 2 era.
Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories is a worthy addition to the PS2 Classic library. It offers a compelling story and some of the best voice acting in a role-playing game. Whether you’ve played it years ago or are new to the series, you owe it to yourself to play this classic; it’s worth the investment.
Mike Pittaro
Platform: Playstation 3 (Available on PSN)
Developer: Nippon Ichi Software
Publisher: NIS America
ESRB: T (Teen)
Price: $5.99
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |  |
| Classic 2D graphics that still look great today. | |
| Sound | |
| A memorable soundtrack and top-notch voice acting. | |
| Gameplay | |
| The combat system still manages to challenge to the player. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories is by far the best game in the series. | |
