Disgaea 6: Zed & Cerberus are fresh take on zombie genre

Disgaea 6 leads Zed & Cerberus represent a turning point for the zombie genre. For the first time, the undead are represented as a positive force, even antiheroes, rather than the stereotypical, plodding, brainless menace marching forward. Or as inhuman, borderline supernatural beasts.

This Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny character review contains spoilers for the first two chapters.

Remember how an animated Casper the Ghost changed the world’s lockstep view of ghosts as something to be inherently feared? Disgaea 6’s zombie boy Zed and zombie dog Cerberus also lend credence to the idea that there’s a thin line between good and bad perception of something.

It’s quite easily manipulated by our base associations. Not much different than A Clockwork Orange’s Alex DeLarge going from euphoria at hearing Beethoven’s 9th to feeling sick from the very first note.

Meet Zed: A zombie hero

Screenshot captured by Nir Regev on NIS America’s Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny on Nintendo Switch

In 2021, NIS America has managed to flip the script and let the audience play as the big bad zombie… All while maintaining the character’s humanity at the same time. Not an easy task. The Walking Dead’s Lizzie Samuels would be proud.

Zed is okay with the idea of dying, even comforted by it as a means of getting stronger. Each time Zed perishes, he’s able to super resurrect thanks to Cerberus, a former sage. Zed’s goal is to defeat the God of Destruction under any means necessary to protect his sister Bieko.

Screenshot captured by Nir Regev on NIS America’s Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny on Nintendo Switch

Thus, Nippon Ichi Software has taken the classic ‘zombie has risen’ concept and rebranded it with a positive spin. NIS has also given a new representation of the Cerberus hound from Greek Mythology.

Bringing Cerberus into Disgaea 6 seemingly as a mature overseer and teacher guide for Zed. You’ll find yourself looking forward to the phrase ‘A word, Zed…” back at the game’s base every time a new feature is introduced.

Screenshot captured by Nir Regev on NIS America’s Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny on Nintendo Switch

Throughout Disgaea 6 you’ll find Zed poking fun at his deteriorating ‘rotten’ mind and body without a care. We’ve come to expect an individual zombie’s death as mostly final outside of the rare respawning enemy now for a decade.

Super resurrection is reminiscent of Diablo II’s necromancers but with revived character carrying free will along with improved power.

Screenshot captured by Nir Regev on NIS America’s Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny on Nintendo Switch

There’s been parodies of the zombie genre before but this latest take is definitely original. A new twist on an old working formula that’s just as intriguing the cel shaded 3D graphics in the first Disgaea game in six years.

Screenshot captured by Nir Regev on NIS America’s Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny on Nintendo Switch

This early voice acting review is based on the (USA) Nintendo Switch edition of ‘Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny’ published by NIS America. The tactical RPG video game will officially release on June 29, 2021 by Nippon Ichi Software.

– You can pre-order Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny – Unrelenting Edition for Nintendo Switch now on Amazon!

– Be sure to read Disgaea 6 Misedor Dub voice acting by SungWon Cho Excellent!

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