That makes the Disgaea series a true gem to those who have discovered it. The first and second games drew big, game-and-anime-mocking laughs while engaging the player with a robust and addictive strategy engine that turned free time into a thing of the past. The joy and envelopment brought on by this franchise is unprecedented.

Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice aimed to continue the saga (or conclude the trilogy? I hope not) first by going back to the gameplay. Though you may think otherwise in the first minutes of play, Disgaea 3 does not leave any previous feature behind. The color-coded blocks and floor panels, the ability to create new allies using Mana, and the chain-based combos (where multiple allies attack one enemy simultaneously) return for another run of sleepless nights. But there is one noticeable difference: after the tutorial stages, the difficulty leaps forward much faster than in the first two Disgaeas.

Most of the tutorial consists of reiterated info – a must for newbies but is pretty useless to the returning fans. You will want to pay attention though, as there are bits of new info sprinkled throughout. One such tidbit details the altered Geo (colored block) system, which now includes stacked blocks and individual blocks or clusters for battles that are simply stellar. The Geo system, as many of you are likely aware, allows players to enhance the game – for better or worse – by marking part or all of a level with a special property. Properties range from awesome (50% more EXP) to horrible (50% more defense to enemies). Only the flashing part of the stage can have a property, and that property is only active once its block has been placed in the flashing area. Many stages start off with the blocks already in place – others require you to throw them in, if you wish.

Block eliminations work a little differently this time around, as it is done only by color; throw one yellow block at a cluster of yellows and they’ll disappear. But if a rule is applied – say, “no throwing” blocks that are attached, and there are several unconnected clusters but only one individual block to obtain and throw, there’s a significant challenge in deciding how to tackle that level. Most importantly you have to consider the block colors and their elements: are they useful or dangerous? Will they enhance the enemy, your own team, or both? The blocks that could help you win may also help you meet your doom.

Disgaea 3 introduces a new classroom setting that allows you to enhance (yes, another enhancement) combo attacks seating specific party members – that is, the “students” – next to each other in the virtual classroom. You’ll also have the ability to enhance special moves individually with Mana by purchasing upgrades like you would a new weapon. New skills are acquired the same way.

 
Is it hot in here? Or is it just me?

Stories Told

There’s a dispute among fans to which of the first two Disgaea games is the funniest. But there will be no such argument with Disgaea 3, a game that is not funny at all. Instead of playing on pop culture or mocking game and anime traits (or shall I say stereotypes?), Disgaea 3 relies on obnoxious voices – most lines sound like they were shouted into the microphone – uninteresting characters and a rehashed theme that lacks even the slightest hint of humor.

The main character, Mao, is obsessed with the idea of being evil. But unlike Etna and Laharl from Disgaea 1 and 2, Mao doesn’t have anything funny or remotely amusing to say. He knows how to scream, but in the world of comedy, few have been capable of getting a laugh in that manner. It’s the words that create hilarity – not the decibel level of the one reciting them.

The supporting cast is equally stale with lines that regurgitate the same old Disgaea theme, minus the comedy: that demons love being bad, hate being good and want to rule the world.

 
Class, be seated. Be seated already!

Disgaea 3’s story is further crushed by a lackluster soundtrack that adds nothing to the experience. When the characters speak the music is annoyingly jumpy; when battling or in between battles, the music is ridiculously repetitive. There’s one song for each chapter but not for every battle, which means you’ll hear the same tune several times before moving on. Few of them are worth hearing once, let alone a second (or 20th) time.

In any other RPG, this would be just another case of genre inefficiency – a game brought forth by common mistakes and weak development cycles. But this is no ordinary RPG: it’s the third chapter in the most hilarious RPG series available. This series is now somewhat broken, and though I do not believe the damage is irreversible, it is a permanent black mark that leans too closely to every other RPG franchise out there. Of the few that started out good, there aren’t any left that haven’t eventually led to disappointment.

 
Mao and Mr. Champloo. You can probably guess where the second name came from.

Battles Fought

While nowhere near the quality of the first two games, Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice is a great strategy/RPG – if you can accept the lackluster story and wish to play it solely for the gameplay. This may not sound like a big deal to the average player. "A lame story? Big surprise." But Disgaea fans are a different breed. We came to appreciate the series for all of its features. Now that great storytelling has been taken out of the mix, there's an unwavering feeling that something is missing. And no, justice isn't it.