Back when the original Nintendo Switch launched, one of the better sleeper pick-ups was the port of Disgaea 5. It ran well on the console and turned out to be the perfect kind of game to both spend TV time with and take on the road. Well, the stars didn’t quite line up perfectly for the Switch 2’s launch, but close enough. Just like before, we’ve got a Disgaea installment that released a couple of years before on other platforms, now in a complete form with much of the previous DLC included. The big difference this time is that Disgaea 7 was already available on the previous Nintendo console and can still be played on the new console via backwards compatibility. With no upgrade path available, does this release do enough to justify a whole new purchase?
If you already own Disgaea 7 on the original Switch, the answer is probably, frustratingly, no. There are certainly enough improvements here that it would make sense to charge a reasonable price for Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack. Even a slightly unreasonably priced upgrade pack would be acceptable. But that’s not the deal on the table, unfortunately. It’s a full-priced Switch 2 game, and that can be a little hard to swallow if you’ve already spent some money on the perfectly acceptable original Switch version. Very hard, depending on how much of the DLC you bought. You can carry over your save, albeit via a one-way trip, but that’s a small favor at best. Ultimately, it’s up to you if what has been added here is enough for you to shell out, but it’s quite the ask.
I say it’s frustrating because this is actually a really terrific version of Disgaea 7. It’s the one you want to own, really. If you somehow haven’t picked it up yet and have an interest in doing so, this is the one you’ll want. It includes all of the non-consumable DLC that was released for the original game, though if you want to partake of that consumable stuff you’ll need to open your wallet all the same. There’s some new content here as well, along with a removal of the stat caps for grinding sickos out there. You know who you are. Naturally, there are also a lot of graphical improvements here. Generally faster loading times, which are very welcome indeed, along with more stable performance. You’ll notice these changes a lot more in handheld play, but however you play it Disgaea 7 is a lot easier on the eyes on Switch 2 than it was on the original Switch.
Anyway, that’s that business dealt with. You can make your own call on whether it’s a good value to buy the new version or not. Let’s talk about the game a little, since I’m sure there are some out there who are wholly new to this one. Disgaea 7 Complete follows the story of a quirky rich young lady named Pirilika and her hired hand Fuji. Pirilika has a fascination with the netherworld realm of Hinomoto, a loose analogue to Meiji-era Japan. After a chance encounter, she ends up bringing a down-on-his-luck demon warrior named Fuji along with her. They’re an odd pair, but they might be just the team needed to overthrow an oppressive government filled with its own bizarre characters.
Gameplay-wise, you’ll know what to expect here if you’ve played any Disgaea game before. If you haven’t, this is a tactical turn-based RPG that embraces that urge many of us carry to make those numbers go bigger and bigger. You’ll do some story stuff, mess around at your home base, then head into whatever battle is waiting next. What makes Disgaea work so well is that if you don’t feel like engaging too hard with its various systems, you can still probably muddle your way through, but if you go all in you’ll find more depth here than most any other game in the genre. Between the series staple Geo Panels and new features like Hell Mode and Jumbification, you’ve got lots of toys to play with. This Complete version allows you to use Hell Mode with every character, not just the main cast. You’ll need that and the newly uncapped stats if you want to beat down everything Disgaea 7 Complete throws at you.
The potential for completely busting things wide open is off the charts in any Disgaea game, and Disgaea 7 is no exception. That manifests both in battles and character development, and the latter in particular is very strong here. There are more than forty character classes to tinker with, backed with a wide array of systems you can use to power-level them to an absurd degree. The Cheat Shop, Dark Assembly, Squad Formation, and new-to-Disgaea 7 Item Reincarnation systems can all be used to create a squad of tiny gods, and that’s at least half of the fun of the game. If that’s something that you get into, you can’t go wrong with Disgaea 7 Complete.
Even if you aren’t into min-maxing and power-leveling, Disgaea 7 Complete is a good time. The story is more than a little silly but it can get serious when it wants to, and no one can accuse it of lacking heart. The two leads especially have really satisfying character arcs, both separately and as a duo. The humor can be hit or miss, and some of the jokes feel a bit long in the tooth if you’ve been with this series for a while. Still, this is a genre that tends to attract overwrought stories so it’s nice to have something that takes pride in being goofy.
That affable nature is offset by the crunchy complexity, though. It’s not a bad combination once you get used to it, but the initial hours of the game will involve a lot of homework for newcomers. Most of the Disgaea games love to dump an avalanche of multipage tutorial texts on the player, and that’s still the case here. I’m not really sure of how this issue could be addressed, but there’s no doubt it presents something of a wall for some who may be lured in by the anime aesthetic.
Disgaea 7 Complete is a terrific version of a strong installment in the series. With a fun story, memorable characters, chunky mechanics, and tons of things to do, this is a tactical turn-based RPG that will keep you busy for dozens upon dozens of hours. That depth can work against it for those jumping into the series for the first time, but stick with it and you’ll find this well-worth the effort. It’s unfortunate that there’s no upgrade path for those who own the original Switch version of the game, though. For all its improvements, it’s hard to justify dropping the cash to buy the whole game all over again. If you don’t own it yet? Dive in, dood!
Version Tested: Nintendo Switch 2
Review Copy Provided by NIS America
