(Image source: Atlus.)

Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness is a 2007 Playstation Portable port of a 2003 Playstation 2 game but plays like it was designed for the PSP. Unlike most PS2-to-PSP ports, there’s little to complain about from a technical perspective and with enhancements in the form of an exclusive scenario and an ad-hoc mode, the PSP version is arguably the superior version.

Graphically, the game doesn’t push the PSP’s hardware but aurally, the game is a treat. I love Sato Tenpei‘s themes (The Anthem of the Braves puts a smile on my face, Sorrowful Angel wipes it off and Galaxy Wars fills me with grim determination) and the English voice-acting is fantastic. The option to switch to the original Japanese voices should provide some variety when you replay the game.

And you will want to replay the game because there’s a lot to love in Disgaea. This is particularly true if you’re an old school gamer with a love for turn-based strategy games. It may not quite reach the heights of classics like the Gollop brothers’ UFO: Enemy Unknown but this Japanese turn-based strategy RPG title scratched itches that went unscratched for a long time for me. I suspect, however, most old school gamers will never get past the super deformed character sprites or the 2D Japanese art style. Their loss.
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