Disgaea is an amazing series. While there have been many turn based strategy RPGs over the years, the Disgaea games have managed to maintain their momentum and build well with each entry. NIS has now gone back to the series roots and have given us a remastered version of Disgaea 1 on Switch ( which I am playing) and PS4. But is it a worthy entry? Or was the first game simply not as good as modern entries?
It was hard to not compare this to Disgaea 5 complete when I played, considering how that game received a great port to Switch shortly after the system launched. The series has definitely come a very long way since Disgaea 1, but that does not mean this is a bad thing. NIS made some very good decisions here about what to change, and what to leave alone. The combat is mostly untouched, but there are some minor tweaks for refinement.
I noticed some bits taken from Disgaea 5 in terms of weapon management, but overall the game is all here as this is a remaster and not a remake. What is changed a great deal however, is the visuals. NIS has redone the graphics and sprites to look far better in HD. It doesn’t look as good as Disgaea 5 mind you, but that game was made in HD to begin with. It looks great but in some areas, it definitely shows its age.
Now comes the hard question. Is Disgaea 1 Complete worth playing for fans of the series and newcomers alike? Well its definitely good for newcomers to the series for the same reason that fans who have been playing for a while may have issues. It is nowhere near as deep as the later games and is thus far more beginner friendly. At the same time however, this means that fans who are used to the series may not see as much of a challenge here.
Personally I enjoyed my time with Disgaea 1 Complete. It was a nice way to revisit a classic and enjoy it all over again. I suggest checking it out, but be aware how it is different from the later entries.
Reviewed on Switch
Disclaimer: A review key was provided