Many games are too serious for their own good. Have you played Gears of War or Halo? It seems that only recently have games with a real sense of humor have been made, like Portal, Psychonauts, or Castle Crashers. Disgaea is an interesting strategy title in that vein that pokes a lot of fun at traditional games.

Disgaea was originally a PS2 tactical strategy game that has made its way across to the PSP and now the DS. While the DS version doesn’t look near as good as the PSP title, it can still hold its own for the touch-screen system. Part of what makes this game appealing for those choosing between the PSP and DS versions is the use of the touch screen. I’ve played the PSP version quite a bit already and while it looks so much better, it’s easier to control via stylus on the DS.

Disgaea is game about demons. Laharl, the main character, is the demon prince of the netherworld. He wakes up from a long sleep to find his father has died that he know has must protect his right to the throne. The story and dialogue is hilarious. The dialogue is light and charming and never gets in the way of the solid, tactical action.

Players control Laharl, along with a whole team of other characters (some that you will create their class and name). You outfit your team with equipment and spells and lead them in what looks like a chessboard. The tactical action allows you to move one character at a time at your own pace, figuring out the best moves. Nothing happens until you press “Execute” so no need to rush. Sit, think, and figure out a good strategy to take down your enemies.

Disgaea is also part RPG. After you create your characters, you can level them up and unlock new perks. There are also other interesting modes to play through, like the item world. It’s a dungeon of sorts that, if you complete the lengthy campaign, will upgrade the item that you select. After every 10 levels, you can save.

One interesting gameplay mechanic is the geocube. They are cubes that rest on the board and have certain attributes for the other players. Maybe it says “Defense +5” and it’s resting on a blue square. Anyone on a blue square across the battleground will gain that perk. There is a complex strategy involved with the cubes because you can either destroy them (sending explosions across the corresponding tiles) and opt out of their buffs, or use them to your advantage.

Gameplay: 9.0
A fantastic tactical RPG with very deep gameplay that will engross you for a long time. Solid touch-screen controls greatly enhance experience.

Graphics: 7.5
Solid, anime visuals that are good on the DS.

Sound: 7.0
Not as good of sound quality as on the PSP and PS2, but the score is still enjoyable.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
It will teach you the mechanics slowly, but expect it to get hard.

Concept: 8.5
Hilarious story and dialogue that make this game worth playing.

Multplayer: 8.5
A great wireless game to play with your friends.

Overall: 8.5
Solid tactical experience that will provide hours upon hours of a play time..