Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is Coming to PC!

The dramatic rise of PC gaming has led to various niche console focused genres including horizontal shooters, and JRPGS coming to the platform. The latest entry is by Japanese developer, Nippon Ichi, creator of unusual titles such as The Guided Fate Paradox and A Witch’s Tale. Nippon Ichi is finally entering the PC market, and releasing Disgaea: Hour of Darkness on Steam. This is a surprising move, and a treat for simulation RPG aficionados. Here is a brief overview of the game’s plot in the developer’s own words:

“Two years after the death of his father, Overlord Krichevskoy, the demon prince Laharl awakens to discover that the Netherworld is in turmoil. With unlikely allies, his devious vassal Etna and the angel trainee Flonne, he must battle his way to supremacy to retake the throne and become the next Overlord. Experience the SRPG classic, now on PC!”

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness contains 40 unique character types, lavish animations, Geo Panels, the ability to throw allies onto ledges and more! Furthermore, the unique storyline set in the Netherworld, reverses the roles of good and evil commonly seen in modern entertainment. Each character has a maximum level of 9999 and utilizes Transmigration to add longevity and make your character stronger during a second play through.

Rightfully, there are some concerns regarding the PC versions as Japanese developers have struggled to create polished versions in the past. However, Nippon Ichi is promising an updated user-interface, refined textures, keyboard and mouse/controller support as well as Steam Achievements, Cloud Saves, Badges and Trading Cards. Even better, the PC edition includes all the content from Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness.

As a huge fan of Japanese games and culture, I’ve traditionally been forced to purchase a console to play quirky games. As time progresses, it seems Japanese publishers are more open to mobile and PC development, which means PC gamers can enjoy a whole host of unusual hidden gems. While exclusives are still part of the gaming industry, they are slowly becoming less common.