cliffbo
06-07-2008, 06:59 PM
IGN: What is the story behind Disgaea 3?
Souhei Niikawa: I planned to make the story of Disgaea 3 as stupid as Disgaea 1 was, since Disgaea 2 was comparatively serious. I chose the school setting this time to get a different kind of story out of the game. By using a school setting, which is familiar to everyone, and adding a little taste of the Netherworld, I thought that I would be able to create funny and interesting events and game systems that will draw laughter. I was able to put in many factors that are only found in a school setting, and I am very satisfied with how it turned out.
IGN: Who are the main characters within Disgaea 3?
Souhei Niikawa: The four main characters are Mao, Raspberyl, Almaz, and Sapphire.
Mao is the son of the Overlord, Dean of The Nether Institute, Evil Academy. Raspberyl is Mao's nemesis, and the biggest delinquent (A student that does good things) in the history of the Academy. Almaz is a self-proclaimed hero and Sapphire is a princess with a fighter's spirit, and both of them came to the Netherworld to defeat the Overlord. The story carries on with different stories between every character. I struggled in wrapping up the story in the end, since they all have very strong personalities. (Laugh)
Characters other than the main characters are also very strange. I don't think there is one normal character in the game.
IGN: Will there be any cameos from previous Disgaea titles? If so, can you tell us if favorites like Etna, Laharl, Adell or Rozalin will be included in the game?
Souhei Niikawa: Yes, there will be one in the game, but let's keep that a surprise…
You can actually tell which one it will be by watching the opening animation. (Laugh) There will be more characters in the additional downloadable content, which you will not see in the packaged version. So please keep yourself interested.
IGN: What changes have been made to the battle system? Are there any new super attacks that can be launched by stacking characters and monsters on top of each other?
Masahiro Yamamoto: To begin, new systems relating to monster units were added.
Those include: "Magichange System", where a monster transforms into a weapon and unites with a humanoid unit, and "Monster Receive", which a monster will knock a unit that is thrown at them further along.
Another one to name would be the "Skill Merging System". When you use two special skills against the same enemy in a row, the two skills will unite to inflict more damage.
The very familiar system throughout the Disgaea series, Lift and Throw, has also evolved in its own way. You can now do a "Stack Attack", where you can throw units from anywhere in the tower, and use special skills while in a tower formation.
You can also designate the tower to a unit's destination, and climb the tower.
IGN: Can you tell us what the Geo Block is and how it will affect gameplay?
Masahrio Yamamoto: Geo Blocks are the 3D form of the traditional Geo Symbols.
Stacking the Geo Blocks to get multiple effects and Standing on top of the Blocks are possible.
Also, you can get rid of the blocks by adjoining more than two Geo Blocks of the same color.
It is possible to create chain reactions, like in puzzle games, by using the disappearing Blocks.
This system added a concept of having heights on a battle map, and being able to move around to higher locations.
IGN: Have you changed Geo Panels, Geo Symbols or Geo Monsters in any way? Are there new effects or elements related to these mechanics?
Souhei Niikawa: The controls relating to Geo Panels are basically the same as the prior version of the game. However, I can say that the system has changed drastically, considering the prior question on the new Geo Block system, since they are a part of the Geo System and work with the Geo Panels.
IGN: How has the Dark Assembly changed within Disgaea 3? Are there any other changes made to the standard hub system?
Masahiro Yamamoto: The "Classroom System" was brought in as a very significant system for Disgaea 3. The team members have their own seats to create a classroom. They may join clubs that will provide various special effects, and the growth of the characters will depend on the homeroom teacher. You may increase the chance of the characters performing a Team Attack during battle by seating them together. This system has a significant role in making an efficient battle plan.
The options for the Dark Assembly are included in this "Classroom System". The assembly will be held during homeroom in this game, and other options are uniquely re-named into something that has to do with school. For example, new characters are introduced as transfer students (Back door admissions), and deleted characters are considered to be expelled students.
IGN: How has the Item World changed in Disgaea 3? Are there worse threats than Item World Pirates this time around?
Masahiro Yamamoto: Various new factors have been added, such as:
An "Event Floor", where an event will randomly occur when you use a specified number of members on the floor.
A "Level Sphere", where a bonus gets added when an item levels up after clearing or skipping a stage while a character is lifting another character.
An "Enemy Base Panel", where the enemies keep appearing.
Another significant new system is "Reverse Pirating". You can use a pirate ship that you get after defeating the pirates to conduct pirating operations yourself. It's an essential system for the hardcore gamers, since they may find Innocents that can only be found while pirating. Of course, the difficulty level is very high.
IGN: Are you augmenting the shop system in any way? Will there be any new ways to increase your favorable rating with shop keepers in Disgaea 3?
Masahrio Yamamoto: The biggest change that was made in this system is that of the "Evility Lab", a place to purchase Evilities and special skills. You may purchase a character's special evilities and skills, such as "Fire" and "Blade Rush", by using the Mana you acquire after defeating enemies. These changes will allow you to customize your characters even more than you used to before.
IGN: How many classes of characters will be available in the game?
Masahrio Yamamoto: There are 50 different jobs, including the general ones. If you count the classes within the jobs, there are about 300 general characters.
IGN: Disgaea has been well known as a niche title for the hardcore strategy user. Will Disgaea 3 be any easier for newcomers to the franchise to get into?
Souhei Niikawa: Well, I'm not very sure. This game includes many factors that make it an acquired taste, so the people who want to casually enjoy the game might stay away from it.
However, there are many that play the game just to enjoy the story and a few systems, rather than playing it thoroughly. I hope for the beginners to enjoy this game as well, since every system is very easy to follow from the beginning to end. Since there are not many PS3 titles, I would want those people who own a PS3 and have not experienced the Disgaea series to take this opportunity to enjoy the game. I'm sure that they definitely will be sucked into the world of Disgaea.
IGN: How are you using the disc space of the Blu-ray to bring Disgaea 3 to life? Are there any secrets that you'll include on the disc, such as the older titles or other bonuses?
Souhei Niikawa: We are using PS3 specifications to better the playing environment for Disgaea 3 players. It focuses on a stress-free environment (such as less loading time); since this title usually requires an extended amount of time to play. There are other, very trivial factors to the game that utilize the performance of the PS3, which are impossible to do with the PS2. There are no hidden tricks to the disc itself, but we are planning to issue additional options that can be played only by the people who have purchased Disgaea 3.This game is packed with new and added characters and systems that can also be enjoyed by the old fans and reckless, hardcore players. Please look forward to this title.
http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/879/879698p1.html
Souhei Niikawa: I planned to make the story of Disgaea 3 as stupid as Disgaea 1 was, since Disgaea 2 was comparatively serious. I chose the school setting this time to get a different kind of story out of the game. By using a school setting, which is familiar to everyone, and adding a little taste of the Netherworld, I thought that I would be able to create funny and interesting events and game systems that will draw laughter. I was able to put in many factors that are only found in a school setting, and I am very satisfied with how it turned out.
IGN: Who are the main characters within Disgaea 3?
Souhei Niikawa: The four main characters are Mao, Raspberyl, Almaz, and Sapphire.
Mao is the son of the Overlord, Dean of The Nether Institute, Evil Academy. Raspberyl is Mao's nemesis, and the biggest delinquent (A student that does good things) in the history of the Academy. Almaz is a self-proclaimed hero and Sapphire is a princess with a fighter's spirit, and both of them came to the Netherworld to defeat the Overlord. The story carries on with different stories between every character. I struggled in wrapping up the story in the end, since they all have very strong personalities. (Laugh)
Characters other than the main characters are also very strange. I don't think there is one normal character in the game.
IGN: Will there be any cameos from previous Disgaea titles? If so, can you tell us if favorites like Etna, Laharl, Adell or Rozalin will be included in the game?
Souhei Niikawa: Yes, there will be one in the game, but let's keep that a surprise…
You can actually tell which one it will be by watching the opening animation. (Laugh) There will be more characters in the additional downloadable content, which you will not see in the packaged version. So please keep yourself interested.
IGN: What changes have been made to the battle system? Are there any new super attacks that can be launched by stacking characters and monsters on top of each other?
Masahiro Yamamoto: To begin, new systems relating to monster units were added.
Those include: "Magichange System", where a monster transforms into a weapon and unites with a humanoid unit, and "Monster Receive", which a monster will knock a unit that is thrown at them further along.
Another one to name would be the "Skill Merging System". When you use two special skills against the same enemy in a row, the two skills will unite to inflict more damage.
The very familiar system throughout the Disgaea series, Lift and Throw, has also evolved in its own way. You can now do a "Stack Attack", where you can throw units from anywhere in the tower, and use special skills while in a tower formation.
You can also designate the tower to a unit's destination, and climb the tower.
IGN: Can you tell us what the Geo Block is and how it will affect gameplay?
Masahrio Yamamoto: Geo Blocks are the 3D form of the traditional Geo Symbols.
Stacking the Geo Blocks to get multiple effects and Standing on top of the Blocks are possible.
Also, you can get rid of the blocks by adjoining more than two Geo Blocks of the same color.
It is possible to create chain reactions, like in puzzle games, by using the disappearing Blocks.
This system added a concept of having heights on a battle map, and being able to move around to higher locations.
IGN: Have you changed Geo Panels, Geo Symbols or Geo Monsters in any way? Are there new effects or elements related to these mechanics?
Souhei Niikawa: The controls relating to Geo Panels are basically the same as the prior version of the game. However, I can say that the system has changed drastically, considering the prior question on the new Geo Block system, since they are a part of the Geo System and work with the Geo Panels.
IGN: How has the Dark Assembly changed within Disgaea 3? Are there any other changes made to the standard hub system?
Masahiro Yamamoto: The "Classroom System" was brought in as a very significant system for Disgaea 3. The team members have their own seats to create a classroom. They may join clubs that will provide various special effects, and the growth of the characters will depend on the homeroom teacher. You may increase the chance of the characters performing a Team Attack during battle by seating them together. This system has a significant role in making an efficient battle plan.
The options for the Dark Assembly are included in this "Classroom System". The assembly will be held during homeroom in this game, and other options are uniquely re-named into something that has to do with school. For example, new characters are introduced as transfer students (Back door admissions), and deleted characters are considered to be expelled students.
IGN: How has the Item World changed in Disgaea 3? Are there worse threats than Item World Pirates this time around?
Masahiro Yamamoto: Various new factors have been added, such as:
An "Event Floor", where an event will randomly occur when you use a specified number of members on the floor.
A "Level Sphere", where a bonus gets added when an item levels up after clearing or skipping a stage while a character is lifting another character.
An "Enemy Base Panel", where the enemies keep appearing.
Another significant new system is "Reverse Pirating". You can use a pirate ship that you get after defeating the pirates to conduct pirating operations yourself. It's an essential system for the hardcore gamers, since they may find Innocents that can only be found while pirating. Of course, the difficulty level is very high.
IGN: Are you augmenting the shop system in any way? Will there be any new ways to increase your favorable rating with shop keepers in Disgaea 3?
Masahrio Yamamoto: The biggest change that was made in this system is that of the "Evility Lab", a place to purchase Evilities and special skills. You may purchase a character's special evilities and skills, such as "Fire" and "Blade Rush", by using the Mana you acquire after defeating enemies. These changes will allow you to customize your characters even more than you used to before.
IGN: How many classes of characters will be available in the game?
Masahrio Yamamoto: There are 50 different jobs, including the general ones. If you count the classes within the jobs, there are about 300 general characters.
IGN: Disgaea has been well known as a niche title for the hardcore strategy user. Will Disgaea 3 be any easier for newcomers to the franchise to get into?
Souhei Niikawa: Well, I'm not very sure. This game includes many factors that make it an acquired taste, so the people who want to casually enjoy the game might stay away from it.
However, there are many that play the game just to enjoy the story and a few systems, rather than playing it thoroughly. I hope for the beginners to enjoy this game as well, since every system is very easy to follow from the beginning to end. Since there are not many PS3 titles, I would want those people who own a PS3 and have not experienced the Disgaea series to take this opportunity to enjoy the game. I'm sure that they definitely will be sucked into the world of Disgaea.
IGN: How are you using the disc space of the Blu-ray to bring Disgaea 3 to life? Are there any secrets that you'll include on the disc, such as the older titles or other bonuses?
Souhei Niikawa: We are using PS3 specifications to better the playing environment for Disgaea 3 players. It focuses on a stress-free environment (such as less loading time); since this title usually requires an extended amount of time to play. There are other, very trivial factors to the game that utilize the performance of the PS3, which are impossible to do with the PS2. There are no hidden tricks to the disc itself, but we are planning to issue additional options that can be played only by the people who have purchased Disgaea 3.This game is packed with new and added characters and systems that can also be enjoyed by the old fans and reckless, hardcore players. Please look forward to this title.
http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/879/879698p1.html