Introduction

Greetings, mortals! Today, we embark on a grand journey to the netherworld of tactical RPGs with the latest installment from the Disgaea franchise, 'Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless.' If you've ever wondered what it’s like to manage a chaotic army made up of demons while trying to remember which button does what, then boy, do I have the game for you! Let’s dive into the maelstrom of puns, samurai catgirls, and incomprehensible stats.

Gameplay

In 'Disgaea 7,' we follow our protagonist, a demon warrior named Fuji, and his not-so-heroic companion, Pirilika. Together, they navigate the fun (read: extremely chaotic) realms of Hinomoto, where the laws of physics bend more than your average yoga instructor. This time, we get to experience 'Jumbability'! No, it’s not a gluten intolerance, it’s a special mechanic that allows your characters to inexplicably grow larger, thus allowing you to literally squash your enemies – it’s as delightful as it sounds. The game maintains the classic turn-based combat the franchise is known for, with a sprinkle of new moves and an online multiplayer mode. Now, you can torture your friends instead of just CPU enemies, so everyone can join the sadness! You'll need to strategize deeply during battles while also making sure your characters don’t pick their noses in the middle of a fight (trust me, it happens). The character customization is still as extensive as an over-caffeinated toddler’s crayon artwork. With thousands of build options, you’ll either want to max out every ability or just give everyone the most ridiculous names and see how long it takes your friends to realize you’ve just called a Demon Lord 'SassyPants'. Trust me, it's worth it. The narrative, as always, offers an unhealthy mix of comedy and drama, featuring unexpected plot twists that may or may not involve a talking cat with world-dominating ambitions. Because why not? The mission to increase your level cap from ‘mortal’ to ‘absolutely absurd’ is real, and the fairytale-like setting offers a brilliant backdrop for the anime-esque character designs and outrageous scenarios.

Graphics

Visually, 'Disgaea 7' continues the series' tradition of charming, vibrant graphics, showcasing a palette that hurts your eyes in all the right ways. The environments are colorful, particularly the netherworld locales, which seem to have been designed by someone who just discovered color theory and decided they wanted to paint their nightmares. Character animations are smooth enough, though occasionally, you might find the lip-syncing a bit... let's say, enthusiastic. But hey, we’re playing a game about demons and oversized heroes, so realism is not the priority here. Each character’s design is perfectly wacky, from the bewilderingly cute monsters to the absurd outfits (see: head accessories that beg the question: are we in a tactical RPG or a fashion show?). The art style is reminiscent of higher-end Saturday morning cartoons, and credit where credit's due: the team knows how to animate chaos and confuse players at the same time. If you're looking for serious graphical realism in your games, you might want to rethink your life choices. In terms of performance, the PS5 version runs smoothly, so you won't notice any hiccups while launching a barrage of attacks or watching your characters perform ludicrous moves that defy all laws of physics. Unfortunate if you were expecting a frame rate drop to remind you that gravity still exists.

Conclusion

Overall, 'Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless' is a wild ride through the underworld that proves once again why the series remains a staple for tactical RPG lovers. With its quirky humor, novel gameplay mechanics, and more grinding possibilities than a coffee shop, it’s a faithful sequel that’ll keep you chuckling—or facepalming—throughout your entire experience. As you stomp around as oversized demons and attempt to unleash combination attacks that also double as dramatic wrestling moves, you're bound to find a peculiar joy hidden within this zany adventure. So, if you’re a fan of the franchise, or if you want to experience the pure absurdity of watching a character named 'SassyPants' chances against the forces of darkness, this game deserves a spot on your shelf (or your digital library). Just don’t play it in public; people will start to judge you when they see you laughing at talking cat-people. But who cares? We've already decided we love chaos. Grab your controllers and get ready to harness the power of Jumbability, because 'Disgaea 7' is definitely worth your investment—both in time and in the sanity of your friends.

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