Hmmm, if I had to rank my favorite NIS games?
1. Disgaea 3 (ahaha we're sorta opposite, chep...)
2. La Pucelle Ragnarok (favorite leveling system tbh.)
3. Soul Nomad
4. Phantom Brave
5. Disgaea D2
6. Disgaea 4
7. ZHP
8. Disgaea 2
9. Makai Kingdom (I really think this game needs a full-out remake someday.)
10. Disgaea 1 (really, it's only so low because it's system is just. so antiquated now. It's actually a little bit of a pain to go through anymore.)
11. Guided Fate Paradox (boy I gotta beat this game sometime.) / Witch and the Hundred Knight (GOTTA BEAT THIS TOO, it gets to be on the same level)
12. Rhapsody
13. The Prinny games
14. Disgaea Infinite
15. Rhapsody DS (this gets a special mention since they entirely changed the battle system. which is sad, I liked the mini-SRPG battles.)
Really, Makai/Phantom Kingdom being as it was? Was a real shame for the game, but it was the result of production. They were developing a different game entirely, but it got scrapped, so they had to cobble together what they had and make a new game. It's where Asagi ended up spawning from, as a result, since that was her first secret character appearance. But after just how stunning Phantom Brave's story scenes were and how bright and vibrant the environments were? Makai Kingdom coming after it was a real downer. At the least, the game is still interesting, and I look forward to what the Petta chapters bring for the game.
Aside from that though? I pretty much love all NIS games. It's one of my favorite RPG groups (next to Gust and their Atelier games), I'm just glad to see the games getting this kinda support! I look forward to PKP getting it's translation.