Dark Cloud

"A Magnificent Piece Of Art"

As I saw my first peek at Dark Cloud I expected a lot. It was unveiled at E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)and it just blew me. Everything about the game impressed me. The game is an RPG (role playing game) and if you like these types of long games then go for it. It takes about 50+ hours to beat if you want to enjoy everything it has to offer.

Gameplay: Rating 7
The benefit of the game play is that it is very easy to get the hang of. You simply just slash and slash your way through. As you progress through the game you will be able to carry more people in your party. Each are very similar to one another but they have some little benefits that you will need in order to fight a boss or solve a puzzle in a cave. The only downfall about the gameplay is that it is very tedious and simple. You would like to do some fancy moves but you do the same fighting format. Also the weapon system. Everytime I'm in a dungeon my freaken weapon breaks about a half dozen times or more. There was this one instance where i had an extremely powerful sword and it broke on me during a boss. I was playing for several hours and I forgot to save. I learned my lesson the hard way.

Story: Rating 10
The story is very detailed and interesting. It has its many twists and turns. It's more typically of a hero that has been chosen and has to save the world like every other RPG. The way they tell the story and the events that happen is what makes this game stand out from all the rest. I don't want to give out any spoilers but the way they tell the story is just remarkably beautiful.

Audio/Video: Rating 9
The graphics are beautifully done. The characters are all drawn with great art. The people stand out and draw onto you. The only thing that would make this game better is if they actually had dialogue instead of text. As for the Audio it is exceptional. Most of the music in the game are happy melodies. They tend to cheer you up but the only problem is that the songs are limited. For example, every dungeon or cave you go to has the same music but it won't really irritate you. You probably wouldn't even realize that it is the same music because the gameplay will keep you occupied.

Replay: Rating 5
The game doesn't really have much to offer when you play it again. If you played the game fully and completed all the side quests and have seen everything the game has to offer then there is no point for you to buy the game. Also, the game is quite long and you probably wouldn't want to spend a lot of time on it again. It's best you let it get dusty and play it again a couple of months later.

Overall: Rating 9
This game has a lot to offer and it will take months of enjoyment to beat. It's a must buy for people who love RPG's. Don't think of this as a cheap imitation of a Zelda game. It is much longer than that. For those who aren't RPG players I suggest you rent it and give it a try. You probably might get drawn and hooked on it. There's nothing specific that makes Dark Cloud incredibly outstanding. It's the collaboration of everything it has to offer. The story, gameplay, and graphics are all well done to make this game worth the $50 to buy this game.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/01/01, Updated 06/01/01