I didn’t realize before E3 that I’d have a chance to take a look at another Disgaea title… until I realized that it was actually The Guided Fate Paradox. This latest NIS release should appeal to fans of Z.H.P.: Unlosing Ranger Vs. Darkdeath Evilman on the PSP as it is roguelike in the same vein as that title. I was told multiple times that I will die in this game. A lot. Sign me up!
The Guided Fate Paradox is about a character named Renya who wins the lottery at a mall. Sounds pretty normal, you think. Until you realize that his prize for winning is to become a god who can change the fates of people. He does so by navigating a world that is tied to a particular individual and modifying it. It sounds like the brand of humor that you’d find in a Disgaea game. Turns out there’s a reason for that.
The game runs on the same engine as the Disgaea titles, with the same kind of grid-based setup as you’re exploring (which is why I drew comparisons when I saw the screenshots). The artwork for the game is being done by Noizi Ito, best known for her work on The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya anime. The visuals are fantastic as the artistry fits in perfectly with a sprite based title.You also have the same kind of ridiculous special attacks at your disposal. But rather than a turn-based strategy RPG, you must navigate randomly generated dungeons where every step you take is a step for your enemies as well. Each enemy has an aggro radius that will trigger them to come towards you if your find yourself within it. Your characters are fully customizable with such random parts as tank treads or race car legs.
The Guided Fate Paradox seems like the kind that challenges to the point where it will beat you down, but in such a way that you will feel compelled to continue rather than give up (I’m looking at you, Dark Souls). Each dungeon has multiple floors for you to conquer, and of course, failure will get you sent back to the beginning, plus you’ll lose any money and items collected. You will at least get to maintain your levels, so the next go-round will be a tad easier. We’ll see if The Guided Fate Paradox really does bring the pain when it releases this Fall of 2013 exclusively for PlayStation 3.
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