Gamers love to tout the adage, "it's not about the graphics, it's all about the gameplay." Consider Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice a test, then. Every sprite hints at layers of character development, each isometric battlefield housing a near limitless range of tactical possibilities. What it fails to capture visually, it embodies fully in gameplay. Improvements could certainly be made to polish the experience and bring it more fully into this generation, but as it stands it's the finest example of the genre since Final Fantasy Tactics.

Much of what makes Disgaea 3 so entertaining is in how it successfully combines complex tactical role-playing with a quirky, likable cast of characters. Across the game's half-dozen chapters, you direct Mao in his quest to become a hero. Reading comic books and playing video games have twisted Mao's mind into lusting after heroic power. That's rather controversial, mind you, seeing as how Mao is the son of the demonic Overlord not to mention top of his class at the Netherworld Evil Academy. The unorthodox adventure ropes in classmates and other figures along the way, everyone banding together for intense tactical battles that put their abilities to the test.

Turn-based combat is the foundation of the Disgaea 3 experience, sandwiched by story scenes that set up each scripted battle. There's no exploration to be done here; instead, each battle occurs sequentially, with new stages becoming available as you progress further into the game. You're allowed to revisit certain battlefields to accumulate extra experience, but for the most part it's a linear game. That's fine because the core battle mechanics are so incredibly deep that the linearity of the campaign becomes an asset instead of a liability, slowly acquainting you to each distinctive element.

Fundamentally, the battle system has been inherited from the last two iterations of the series, albeit in highly polished form. Disgaea 3 utilizes a straightforward turn-based system that has you moving and acting with each member of your party before calling the end of your turn. Experience is rewarded at the end of each battle, with bonuses awarded for engaging in lengthy confrontations or executing special attacks. Naturally, leveraging the special skills associated with each character class is vital to emerging victorious. Like any tactical role-playing game, a majority of battles can be won by simply using your characters wisely. Special attacks and powers certainly help, but the basis of any successful campaign comes from smart utilization of your allies.

It definitely helps that the game offers a wide range of customization features that enable you to expand characters' skills, increase their attributes, and equip them with various weapons and armor. Every character can wield a single weapon and wear three pieces of armor, which can either be bought from the Evil Academy store or picked up as a reward following battle. The return of the item world allows you to increase the strength of these pieces by completing optional battles. Considering the linear nature of the campaign, the item world is an excellent way of extending the game several hours. Since it isn't mandatory, you won't be at a loss for skipping it entirely; however, it's balanced in such a way that you're rewarded for time sunk into its depths.