Disgaea: Hour of Darkness

30.01.2003
Critic 90/100
Users 84/100
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is a tactical role-playing video game and the first game in the Disgaea series. Battle gameplay takes place on a map divided into a square grid. The player controls a squad of humanoid units and monsters, which each occupy a single square of the grid and do combat with a group of enemies. Depending on the character and attack selected, the player will be able to deal damage to a specific enemy unit or a designated region of the map. Combat ends when all enemy units or all of the player's units are destroyed.
The story of Disgaea opens with Laharl rising out of an open coffin in his room. Etna, one of the castle vassals, is standing next to him, surrounded by various weapons. She explains that he has been sleeping for two years, far longer than he intended, and his father, King Krichevskoy, has died. Laharl vows to reclaim the throne, and, after consulting with Etna and his other vassals, goes to Vyers' castle. After defeating the demon Vyers, who refers to himself as the "Dark Adonis" and is renamed "Mid-Boss" by Laharl, he meets Angel Trainee Flonne. Flonne had been sent to the Netherworld by Seraph Lamington, the ruler of Celestia, to assassinate King Krichevskoy (who was already dead). Shocked by Laharl's lack of grief at his father's death, the eternally optimistic Flonne joins Laharl's party to determine if demons are capable of feeling love. Observing them in secret is the paranoid Archangel Vulcanus, who interprets Flonne's actions as treason and is convinced that she is plotting against him. After Etna demands that Laharl pay the salary of the Prinnies that she has hired, he decides to attack the demon with the most money in the vicinity. This is Hoggmeiser at Dinero Palace. After defeating Hoggmeiser, Laharl is about to kill him, until Hoggmeiser's son rushes out and gets in the way. Flonne convinces Laharl to spare them, and Laharl lets them keep some of the money. In response to this act, Hoggmeiser joins the party. At one point, Flonne and Etna discover a photograph of Laharl in an embarrassing situation. Laharl refers to this as a "paparazzi shot", however, the actual contents of the photo are never actually revealed. A threat on the back of the photograph states that copies of it would be distributed if Laharl did not accept a challenge to fight for the overlordship; thus Laharl was blackmailed. Responding to this challenge, Laharl meets Maderas, a vampire. He was banished by King Krichevskoy, for stealing the King's favorite snack, black pretzels. Maderas takes advantage of Laharl's two biggest weaknesses – optimism and women with sexy bodies. Maderas was also controlling Etna by holding her memory. He had instructed her to kill the prince, but she had put him to sleep for two years by poisoning him instead. Etna eventually betrays Maderas, and along with Laharl, Flonne, and Mid-Boss, defeats him. Waking up later at night, Flonne discovers that several Prinnies are chanting and leaving the castle. Laharl, worried that his reputation will be tarnished if it is discovered that he let his vassals escape, chases after them the next morning. Eventually, he runs into Death, and the player learns that Big Sis Prinny is actually Laharl's mother; she became a Prinny because she gave her life to save him.

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Expanded games

30.11.2006

Disgaea is a tactical role playing game. Battle gameplay takes place on a map divided into a square grid. The player controls a squad of humanoid units and monsters, which each occupy a single square of the grid and do combat with a group of enemies. Depending on the character and attack selected, the player will be able to deal damage to a specific enemy unit or a designated region of the map. Combat ends when all enemy units or all of the player's units are destroyed. Humanoid characters may lift and throw other units across the map in order to allow allies to move further or force enemies to keep their distance. This even allows the player to capture enemies by throwing them into the base panel; these enemies then become allies, and can be used on subsequent maps. The chance of capturing an enemy in this manner depends on several factors. Failure to capture the enemy will result in the death of all characters inside the base panel, and the enemy will survive.

Part of collection:
Disgaea (last 3 games)

03.10.2023

The Limited Edition of Disgaea 7 includes: - The Deluxe Edition of Disgaea 7 - "The Art of War" hardcover art book - "The Songs of Honor" 2-disc original soundtrack - Steelbook - Mini Byoubu Art Display - "Netherworld Warriors" Yunomi Tea Cup - Collector's Box

03.10.2023

Includes the following: - Disgaea 7 game - Cosmetic Set - Special Weapons Set - Starter Support Set - Season Pass

03.10.2023

The next chapter in the Disgaea saga. In Disgaea 7, the story is set in a world called "Hinomoto Netherworld Cluster," which is inspired by Japanese culture. The Deluxe Editions includes: - The physical game - Digital soundtrack - Mini art book

Part of franchise:
Disgaea (last 3 games)

03.10.2023

The Limited Edition of Disgaea 7 includes: - The Deluxe Edition of Disgaea 7 - "The Art of War" hardcover art book - "The Songs of Honor" 2-disc original soundtrack - Steelbook - Mini Byoubu Art Display - "Netherworld Warriors" Yunomi Tea Cup - Collector's Box

03.10.2023

Includes the following: - Disgaea 7 game - Cosmetic Set - Special Weapons Set - Starter Support Set - Season Pass

03.10.2023

The next chapter in the Disgaea saga. In Disgaea 7, the story is set in a world called "Hinomoto Netherworld Cluster," which is inspired by Japanese culture. The Deluxe Editions includes: - The physical game - Digital soundtrack - Mini art book

Could be interesting

23.02.2006

Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories is a tactical role-playing game and the sequel to Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. It was re-released for the PlayStation Portable as Disgaea 2 Portable in Japan and as Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days in North America and Europe. Fifteen years ago, a powerful Overlord by the name of Zenon appeared in Veldime and cursed its human population. Since then, all its inhabitants have become demons and are to remain that way if the curse was not broken. However, a young man named Adell was the only human unaffected by the curse. Wanting to save his family and return them back to their true form, Adell decides to seek out Overlord Zenon and defeat him. The gameplay in Disgaea 2 builds directly upon that of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness; players control a party of characters to do battle on a 3D isometric grid map.

31.01.2008

Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice is the third video game in the Disgaea series by Nippon Ichi. The game takes place in a Netherworld school called the Evil Academy. In this demon school, a good student is one who engages in evil activities such as truancy, never showing up to class, and getting in fights with others. Disgaea 3 is a tactical RPG; most of the game involves battles on isometric maps upon which the player controls a group of characters. Maps often feature "geo blocks" with statistical effects on the battlefield, that, unlike in previous games, can be stacked or stood upon. Many objects in the environment, including these blocks, and characters themselves, can be lifted, thrown, or destroyed.

24.02.2011

Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten is a tactical role-playing game and the fourth in the Disgaea series by Nippon Ichi Software. The game tells the story of Valvatorez, a former tyrant leading a party to rebel against the president of the Netherworld. The game was ported to the Playstation Vita and released under the name Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited in the west.

21.06.2001

"Highlights and Key Features: - Over 40 hours of gameplay and multiple endings! - Discover powerful character classes with the new Emblem System! - Cast a wide assortment of magic spells to defeat the enemy! - Go head-to-head against a friend by using the Game Boy® Advance Game Link® cable! - All new Quest Mode enables you to discover hidden items and weapons not available in the main game. - Utilize the Exchange Mode to trade items, spell books and characters with a friend. - Save up to 3 games!"

20.03.2013

Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness is a tactical RPG in the Disgaea series. The game is a sequel to 2003's Disgaea: Hour of Darkness for the PlayStation 2, where the respective main characters of that game will again be the focus. Gameplay in Disgaea D2 remains the same as other core Disgaea games in the series. Monster Mounting is a new feature that replaces Magichange from Disgaea 3 and Disgaea 4. Characters can also build relationships with each other and their compatibility is determined by a heart scale of 1 to 5. Another feature is the Cheat Shop, which allows the player to modify certain attributes such as lowering the gain rate of something like experience, to raise the gain rate of something else, like Hell.

19.04.2012

Armies clash as the world burns. As an inevitable war draws ever closer, you must stand with Chrom and his forces--knights, mages, archers, and more--commanding them against the armies of kingdoms, empires, and the dead themselves. Plan your strategery. Move your troops on the battlefield, then choose their weapon and attack. Using the new Pair Up and Dual systems, support your attacks with the help of nearby allies and watch their skills and relationships grow.

07.10.2004

In Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, you must help protect the nation of Renais from the invading Grado Empire. Plan your strategy, choose your units, and then lead your soldiers in to battle. The more experience your soldiers gain, the more you can upgrade their abilities. This time, your soldiers can gain experience by fighting new monsters in the Tower of Valni.

20.04.2005

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is a tactical role-playing video game developed by Intelligent Systems and Nintendo SPD, and published by Nintendo for the GameCube home console in 2005. It is the ninth main installment in the Fire Emblem series,[c] and the third to be released in the west. As with previous installments, gameplay revolves around positioning characters on a battlefield to defeat an opposing force. If characters are defeated in battle, they are removed from the rest of the game.

25.10.1996

You assume the role of Ash Lambert, a hero torn between saving his country and restoring honor to the disgraced Lambert dynasty. As he struggles with his inner demons and personal problems, he will meet various companions throughout his journey. They will help your character fight to overthrow the oppressive regime and ward off an ancient being that threatens the world. Vandal-Hearts is a 3D turn-based strategy game. Unlike many games of the genre, the various battlefields have sloped surfaces that will either work to your advantage or against you. It will be up to you to accommodate your strategy and amount an appropriate offensive assault against your foes as well as set up defensive measures.

22.09.2005

Breaking from its traditional role-playing roots, Suikoden Tactics incorporates simulation and strategy elements to take players on an adventure never seen before in the franchise. Told through the eyes of Kyril, a young adventurer investigating the sudden appearance of hideous creatures in the island nations, Suikoden Tactics unfolds another perspective to the events of Suikoden IV and the legendary "Rune Cannons." In all, there are more than 25 different battle scenarios, the ability to modify and customize your character as the game progresses, and a unique "Combination Attack system" that allows players to combine the powers of numerous characters in combat as they build friendships.