Disgaea - Afternoon of Darkness
Disgaea - Afternoon of Darkness is a PSP role-playing game released in 2006 developed by Nippon Ichi Software. It centers on combat encounters, collection and development goals, and character or equipment growth, with controls and information arranged around the directional pad, single analog nub, shoulder and face buttons, with a camera or another accessory only where required.
- AI score · out of 10
- 8.6 / 10
About this game
Disgaea - Afternoon of Darkness is a PSP role-playing game centered on combat encounters, collection and development goals, and character or equipment growth. Story beats, exploration, and progression resources support a longer campaign, with progress divided into stages, tasks, matches, or growth milestones that make immediate goals understandable. Its value depends on whether these rules continue to create judgment and room for mastery rather than on length, sales, or series recognition. Short campaigns are judged by repeat-challenge value, while longer ones are judged by variety, pacing, and recovery after failure. Characters, world building, environments, and music carry most of the atmosphere, while the portable widescreen, UMD streaming, compressed audio, and handheld-scale interface need to preserve targets, text, and action readability. The genre-specific limitation is that dense text, menu layers, repeated battles, loading, or language dependence can slow progress. Platform conditions also include single-nub camera control, UMD loading and noise, Memory Stick saves, battery life, regional language, ad hoc requirements, and retired online services affect present-day use. This description covers only this platform release and does not import features or conveniences from remasters, emulators, or other console editions.
Collected in series
Disgaea turns the Netherworld into a stage for comic demon stories and squad-based strategy RPG battles. Positioning allies, combining attacks and developing characters and equipment all matter, with lifting and throwing opening up playful ways to rearrange the battlefield.
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PlayStation Portable
AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
Rich tactical systems and exaggerated growth reward sustained experimentation.
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness goes well beyond exchanging attacks on a grid. Lifting, throwing, party development and equipment growth interact, encouraging players to find efficient and surprising solutions. Those willing to study the systems can treat battles as experiments, with substantial optional goals beyond simply finishing the story. Comic characters and lively performances give this numerical depth a distinctive personality, and the PSP edition adds another story. The costs are a demanding learning curve and considerable repetition when pursuing advanced development. Quarter-turn camera movement can also leave units hidden by terrain. This version suits players who enjoy building and refining a squad. Its local ad-hoc mode should not be confused with internet multiplayer, and later ports are outside this assessment.
Strengths
- Positioning and growth systems interact deeply
- Comic characters and added story provide personality
Weaknesses
- Learning and advanced growth take time
- Terrain can obstruct the camera
Who it is for: Strategy RPG players who enjoy experimenting with team development.
Play notes: Learn positioning and throwing first, rotate obstructed views, and check local multiplayer requirements.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension Optional mastery goals are extensive, but their appeal depends on tolerance for repeated development. | Reviewed | 8.6 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Interacting tactical and growth systems create substantial room for experimentation. | Reviewed | 9.0 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Distinctive comic performances give the extensive systems an engaging personality. | Reviewed | 8.4 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension A strong handheld conversion retains camera obstruction and a demanding learning curve. | Reviewed | 8.0 / 10 | Not provided |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Developer
- Nippon Ichi Software
- Publisher
- Nippon Ichi Software
- Release date
- 2006
- Platforms
- PlayStation Portable
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- Not provided
- Offline minimum players
- Not provided
- Offline maximum players
- Not provided
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Tags
- FantasyStory-drivenSolo-friendlyHumorousReplayableTop-downLong-term ProgressionTurn-based CombatCommand-based CombatTurn-based TacticsCollection-richLevel Progression
- Supported game languages
- Not provided
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- Not provided
- Play modes
- Single player
- Perspectives
- Top-down
Release editions
- PlayStation PortableWorldwide2006
Game gallery
Sources
Not provided