For Disgaea’s Creator, NIS Fans Come First

“I want to do something that only I can do.”

That was Sohei Niikawa’s objective when he took over NISA in 2012 after years of running NIS Japan. Where most CEOs would be overseeing, or steering their ship from the bridge, Niikawa-san feels that the best thing he has to offer his team is his development savvy. Seeing as he created the company’s most successful franchise, Disgaea, it’s hard to argue with that assertion. When he took the reins, much of NISA’s energy was going into publishing Japanese-made games in the West. But as the quality of other developer’s titles dropped, Niikawa realized it was time to focus on developing the best games he could internally.

The result was Disgaea D2, a true sequel to the title that put NIS on the map in the West. It was a strong return to form for a franchise that had in some ways begun to lose its way. The addition of mounted units, and the return of Laharl, Etna, and Flonne made it a great 10-year anniversary gift for the fans. As one of those fans, NIS’ steadfast adherence to their franchise’s style and formula has fascinated me over the years, especially since it flies in the face of how game companies have come to do business. In a world of focus groups and streamlined accessibility, where publishers insist that the games they fund must be “for everyone,” Niikawa’s stance is a bold one.

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