Disgaea 5
A tactical RPG about revenge against the demon emperor Void Dark.
Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance is a tactical role-playing game from 2015, created and released by Nippon Ichi Software as part of the Disgaea series. It first came out for PlayStation 4 in Japan in March 2015, then in North America and Europe in October 2015 via NIS America. A Nintendo Switch port, titled Disgaea 5 Complete, launched in Japan in March 2017 as a launch title for that system, and worldwide in May 2017; it includes all downloadable content from the original and adds a new playable character (Metallia) and a new scenario (The Final Weapon). This version reached Microsoft Windows via Steam in October 2018, though without network features.
The story revolves around revenge, taking a darker, more serious tone than earlier entries. The demon emperor Void Dark, after seizing power, devastates many Netherworlds with an army of over one million soldiers called The Lost. The Overlords of these conquered worlds then try to rise up and get their revenge.
The plot follows Killia, a wandering demon with a grudge against Void Dark. He joins Seraphina, a sheltered princess and Overlord of Gorgeous Underworld who believes all men should kneel to her; she fled an arranged marriage with a different demon lord and plans to kill Void Dark. Others include Usalia, heir of Toto Bunny, who hates fighting and rides a giant yellow Prinny; cursed by one of Void Dark's subordinates, she must constantly eat curry (which she once hated) or turn into a beast, and now actually likes it. Red Magnus, Overlord of Scorching Flame, is wild and believes strength is everything, aiming to beat Void Dark to become the strongest; his Netherworld has long feuded with Seraphina's. Christo, an Overlord from a giant Netherworld, is a gifted tactician who will do anything to win and sees Killia's magic potential as his best chance to assassinate Void Dark. Zeroken, a young Overlord who claims to be heir to the legendary Great Demon Fist Goldion, helps Killia and the others uninvited; he is stubborn but flexible, changing his attitude depending on who he deals with.
The game's universe contains many Netherworlds, each ruled by an Overlord with a unique Overload ability usable in battle. Before the story, Tyrant Overlord Killidia—a bloodthirsty demon who grew up in and ruled the ruthless Netherworld Cryo Blood—fought martial arts master Goldion, creator of the Ultimate Demon Technique. G
- Developer
- Nippon Ichi Software
- Publisher
- Nippon Ichi Software (Japan), NIS America (North America and Europe)
- Release Year
- 2015
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows
- Genre
- Tactical role-playing
- Notable Port
- Disgaea 5 Complete (Nintendo Switch, 2017; Windows, 2018)
Lore & Background
The central story of Disgaea 5 revolves around revenge, taking a darker and more serious direction than previous titles. The demon emperor Void Dark devastates numerous Netherworlds with his army of over one million soldiers known as The Lost. Overlords of the conquered Netherworlds rise up to take revenge. The protagonist Killia, a wandering demon with a vendetta against Void Dark, joins forces with other Overlords including Seraphina (who fled an arranged marriage with a different demon lord, not Void Dark), Usalia, Red Magnus, Christo, and Zeroken to form the Rebel Army.
Reader's Guide
Disgaea 5 is significant as a flagship title for the PlayStation 4 in the Disgaea series, showcasing enhanced graphical capabilities with up to 100 characters on screen. Its Nintendo Switch port, Disgaea 5 Complete, served as a launch title for the system in Japan and included all downloadable content. The game's legacy includes its darker narrative tone, new gameplay features such as Maougis and fusion skills, and the introduction of character classes like dark knights, maids, and fairies. The PC release faced notable delays and an accidental full-game demo leak on Steam, which was later distributed on piracy sites. The game remains a key entry in the series for its mechanical depth and story focus on revenge.
Did You Know?
- The Nintendo Switch port, Disgaea 5 Complete, was a launch title for the system in Japan on March 3, 2017.
- The PC release of Disgaea 5 Complete was delayed multiple times after a demo containing the full game was accidentally released on Steam.
- The game introduced a revenge system triggered when party members are fallen.
- The protagonist Killia was originally a bloodthirsty demon named Tyrant Overlord Killidia before being reformed by the martial arts master Goldion.
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