The game takes place in a Netherworld, common in Disgaea titles, and similar to Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice, focuses itself on a specific theme. Nippon Ichi, apparently feeling that it had exhausted all the game systems a school setting can provide, made the story one of a more political nature. While aspects of Netherworld politics existed in previous games, it is the central focus of the story and the gameplay in Disgaea 4.