Disgaea 5 Review: Laharl’s Revenge Earns a 7.9

Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance arrives on PS4 as the latest entry in Nippon Ichi’s series of tactical games built around the idea that evil can still be funny. The premise is simple: a demon prince named Laharl is framed for murder, and he sets out to clear his name by recruiting a group of unlikely allies. The result is a game that rewards patience and punishes carelessness in equal measure.

Trailer, via 日本一チャンネル.

Laharl’s Revenge

Laharl is the kind of protagonist who gets what he wants through sheer force of personality. He is loud, self-centered, and often cruel, but the game leans into that cruelty rather than apologizing for it. His allies include a talking sword, a vampire maid, and a knight who is clearly not human. Together, they form an alliance of vengeance against the demons who wronged Laharl.

The story is told through a series of cutscenes that are genuinely funny. The writing is sharp, the jokes land, and the voice acting sells the absurdity. It is a rare case where the narrative is strong enough to carry the player through the grind of combat.

Combat That Demands Attention

The core of Disgaea 5 is its battle system, which borrows heavily from previous entries in the series. Players move a small party of characters across a grid-based battlefield, attacking enemies, moving through layers, and building up a chain of attacks that can explode into massive combos. Each character has a unique class, and leveling up opens new skills and stat boosts.

What separates Disgaea 5 from other games in the genre is its focus on overkill. Landing a hit that far exceeds an enemy’s health total grants bonus experience, currency, and a chance to summon powerful monsters. This creates a feedback loop that can consume hours of playtime, as players chase ever higher numbers just to see the explosion animation.

• The overkill system turns combat into a reward loop
• Character classes offer a wide range of builds
• The story is genuinely funny and well-paced
• The difficulty curve is steep for newcomers

The combat system is the heart of the game, and it is built on a few key elements:

1. Overkill: Landing hits far beyond an enemy’s health grants extra rewards.
2. Layer movement: Characters can move through multiple layers on the battlefield.
3. New skills and stat boosts: Leveling up unlocks new abilities for each character.
4. Class variety: Each character has a distinct set of skills and stats.

Where It Falls Short

Not everything lands. The pacing drags during the middle stretch of the campaign, and some side quests feel like filler rather than content. The game also lacks a strong tutorial for newcomers, leaving some mechanics unexplained until the player figures them out through trial and error.

The difficulty spikes are real. Some boss fights require precise positioning and a deep understanding of the game’s systems, which can frustrate players who want to jump right in.

A Solid Addition to the Series

Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance is a solid, if uneven, addition to a beloved series. The story is engaging, the humor is sharp, and the combat system offers a depth that few games in its genre can match. It is not for everyone, and the difficulty will push away casual players, but those willing to put in the time will find a rewarding experience.

The game earns a 7.9 out of 10.

Disgaea 5 · game review · Nippon Ichi · PS4 · tactical RPG