Disgaea 7 Returns to the Roots of What Makes This Series So Great

It’s no secret that Disgaea 6 didn’t receive as positive a response as previous entries. Luckily, Nippon Ichi Software, Inc. took note of this and looked into the roots of what made Disgaea an enjoyable franchise to begin with. In fact, it was one of the core development tenets as Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless was in progress.

Aside from adopting features from past titles, such as reintroducing weapon skills, Disgaea 7 focuses on a single Netherworld themed on feudal-era Japan instead of relying on multiple worlds. The roster of classes has also been upgraded by introducing four new character classes, totaling the number to 45 allies overall. The new classes are:

• Maiko – The dancer who embodies Hinamoto. Using her enchanting dance moves deals extra damage to male enemies.
• Bandit – A thief who loves his treasure. Using this character allows for even normal treasure chests to yield rare items, and he can steal equipment from enemies.
• The Big Eye – A creature with a massive pupil that can warp around the battlefield. Utilizing the Big Eye means you can change the enemies’ defense statuses at will.
• Zombie Maiden – A character that draws power from death. With their strong offensive capabilities, they are great attackers. In addition, they can revive themselves or utilize the death of their teammates to boost their attack.

The fun of having so many characters doesn’t end there, as it is possible to repeatedly reincarnate characters to create your own special boosted character. Even though reincarnation restarts the character at level 1, much of their stats and abilities remain from their previous lives. This isn’t limited to characters either, as weapons and items can also be reincarnated into different forms while carrying over any characteristics or bonuses. A neat feature is that the bonuses can continuously stack as more reincarnations occur.

Though there is a lot to utilize and battle with, Disgaea 7 will also have a new and revised auto-battle system, so you don’t have to sit through the entirety of grinding out, easing the experience for many players. It’s an excellent strategy to go with as the gaming world continues to modernize.

New battle mechanics are also introduced in this entry. One primary battle mechanic added for variety to the game is Jumbofication. You can increase your units to be the size of a kaiju as they deal large attacks to enemies on the field. However, this mechanic is not limited to your party, as the enemy can go through Jumbofication, too. Each Jumbo-fied character also has abilities known as Jumbilities. Somewhat reminiscent of Dynamaxing in Pokémon, the Jumbo allies and enemies can really change up the pacing of the battle while still adding quirkiness to the overall atmosphere.

Finally, a specific mechanic known as Hell Mode allows certain characters to get even further boosts. This massive enhancement can only be used by consuming energy from a meter known as the Hell Gauge. This mode can significantly alter the tempo of a battle as it creates impactful effects and unlocks unique skills.

I think it’s impressive to see just how many alterations are being made by the team to ensure a great experience for both returning players and newcomers to the Disgaea franchise. Based on the feedback, Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless looks to be a promising new entry to the series as the series celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on October 3, 2023. The publisher confirmed the game will also release on October 5 in Europe and October 13 in Oceania.