E3 2014: Doctrine, Death, and Doods With NIS America

With Sony and Microsoft attempting to build market share in Japan, gamers were probably expecting to see a few exports during each company’s respective presser. Yet, save for a short showing of Platinum Games’ Scalebound, Japanese-developed offerings from the two companies were virtually non-existent. Fortunately, a journey to the exhibition floor remedied this omission, exposing a number of intriguing localized titles due for imminent release.

Best known for their Disgaea franchise, Gifu-based Nippon Ichi has repeatedly tried to initiate another successful strategy role-playing experience by publishing titles such as Phantom Brave and Mugen Souls. Kadokawa Games’ Natural Doctrine demonstrates a slightly different approach toward the genre, swapping the vibrant colors and moe-drenched charms of the aforementioned titles, for a healthy helping of no-nonsense tactical planning. Seemingly, Doctrine reaches Dark Souls’ levels of difficulty, repeatedly thrashing a veteran NISA tester on the game’s easiest setting, presumably substantiating the game’s Darwin-inspired moniker.

While the basic tenets of turn-based battles looked familiar, the complexity of battle was undoubtedly elevated. Beyond managing a large quantity of units, success was tied by capitalizing on a chain mechanic, where nearby units were able to link up in an effort to annihilate an unprepared enemy. Although Disgaea’s team attacks are functionally similar, Natural Doctrine escalates the level of intricacy exponentially. At one point we witnessed an elaborate spider web of stat bonuses and what appeared to be penalties- with a command synopsis which stretched across the entire top of the screen.

When asked about Natural Doctrine’s campaign, the NIS America team assured us that the plotline would provide a substantial impetus without being burdened by irrelevant character conversation. For those who’d prefer to ignore the narrative and jump right into combat, an online multiplayer component is promised. Visually, the PlayStation 4 iteration of Doctrine was component, with cutscenes that evoked Valkyria Chronicles’ aesthetic. Hopefully, the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita versions won’t take too much of a graphical hit when they are published alongside the PlayStation 4 iteration this fall.

Alongside Natural Doctrine, a pair of PS Vita titles were on display- Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited and Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. The former demonstrated NISA’s customary porting proficiency, extending a portable facsimile of 2011’s A Promise Unforgotten, while bundling all the previously available DLC. Naturally, there are a few additions and tweaks to seduce returning players, adding elements such as new scenarios for Valvatorez and Artina, cameos from a number of key Disgaea characters, as well a tier of magic borrowed from Dark Hero Days. The inclusion of Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness’ cheat shop is yet another reason for doods to double dip.

A brief hands-on with Goodbye Despair demonstrated a new setting, with new and returning pupils from Hope’s Peak Academy heading to a sunny island for some murderous mayhem mediated by Monokuma. Immediately noticeably was the game’s shift from first-person, point-and-click based navigation to a side view which demonstrated new protagonist Hajime Hinata’s speed and fluidity. Notably, this change looks to boost the pace of the game- along with a few, new interactive mini-games.

Although the environment might have been shifted to a much less despotic setting, that doesn’t mean your stay on the island of Jabberwock will be a celebratory frolic. As expected, students will start turning up dead, driving Hajime through the daily life sections where players build rapport with classmates, give gifts, and receive peices of narrative exposition. Like Trigger Happy Havoc, the Deadly Life sections return, where players scour each locale for clues and collect evidence to be used in the class trials. Fortunately, Goodbye Despair isn’t a carbon-copy of its predecessor, adding a new twist where your courtroom arguments can be countered. The NIS America team even mentioned the addition of a Rez-like mini-game during judicial proceedings.

From Natural Doctrine’s hardcore tactical planning, Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited’s time sink of absorbing combat, and Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair’s intriguing whodunits, NIS America has a diversified itinerary of releases which looks certain to please players looking for experiences which offer a refreshing reprieve from the customary staples of Western software.