Originally Posted by Kaewan
Which game do you guys think is the most fun out of these two? And would last me the longest?
Comparing Disgaea and Dragon Quest VIII is likened to comparing Final Fantasy and Zelda. Both games are lengthy, lasting hours on end, and both games have their own sets of sidequests. Top that off with some very entertaining, yet simple storylines and you'll have a near stalemate.
Disgaea vs
Dragon Quest VIII
In Disgaea, you're a demon trying to take over the Netherworld (Phantom World in the Jap. version). Basically, you've been sleeping for two years and have awoken to find demons vying for the throne. Where's your dad? He's dead, choked on a pretzel, literally.
Aside from the fairly simple plot, there's a ton of humor lining the pockets of this giant of a game. In fact, the game's humor is one of its draws. From penguins prone to exploding to the latest incarnation of the Power Rangers, humor runs abound in the game. There's even one part in the game where Laharl, the main character, actually renames one of the running villains. The new name? Mid-Boss.
As for the gameplay, there's so much packed into the game that it's no wonder they had to use FF Tactics-styled graphics for the majority of the game. You could take a nigh infinite amount of time on the Dark Assembly, Item World, or leveling up everyone to LV 9999.
In Dragon Quest VIII, you play the role of a strapping young lad named Hero (basically the no-name of main protagonists). He doesn't talk much, just says 'Yes' and 'No'. Basically, he was a guard in the kingdom of Trodain, which was attacked by this jester named Dhoulmagus. For the first half of the game, you're tracking him down until the game surprises you with the mandatory plot twist (you know, true villain). Been there, simple, but it works for this.
As with Disgaea, a large emphasis is on gameplay. The difference here is that the game is dramatically shorter, only lasting about 60 hours. But the graphical overhaul makes that easy to overlook. I dare say that the game looks better visually than some of the Final Fantasy games I've played on the PS2. This is despite the cell-graphics, which are hardly noticeable anyway.
As with just about every DQ game, there are minigames, such as the casino and a monster arena, that can easily eat up time. Also, the Medal Palace makes a return, so expect to spend time returning there to be rewarded for finding the medals scattered throughout the world.
Overall, Both games have the same quality as far as I'm concerned. One of them emphasizes more on graphics, while the other goes toward gameplay and length. In the end, it's enough to give them a tie score.