Dark Cloud 2

"Fantastic But Not Quite Perfect"

Introduction
In this Dark Cloud installment, an attempt was made to improve on what most gamers thought of as a disappointment with tons of potential. Level 5 has listened to the cries of the fans, making the gaming experience a much more enjoyable, much less repetitive one. They have done such an overhaul on the Dark Cloud franchise that they have created a leading candidate for one of this years best games.

Gameplay
I have mixed feelings about the different aspects of the battle system, world building system (called ''Georama'' in game), and the challenge and/or fun regarding each of them. Let's start with the battle system. Each controllable character, Max and Monica, has two highly customizable, upgradeable weapons- one for each hand. Having two different weapons to choose from is nice, but the problem is that you really only need to utilize one from each character to get by in the game. The other problem is that the weapons gain levels and ''synth points'', used to upgrade your weapons, entirely too slowly. This means that most of the time you will find yourself doing earlier levels over and over again just to improve your weapons enough to efficiently clear the next level. That may be fine for the gamers that have to get everything to 100%, but to those gamers that just want to finish the game this can be a bit tedious.
Each floor per level is randomly generated and has four different goals to attain. You earn medals when achieving these goals, which you collect to gain special prizes. Some goals are relatively easy, some are extremely hard, but they are all worthy of your attention.
The actual challenge in staying alive starts getting easier as you progress through the game, but it is in the first two chapters that your sanity is tested. Specifically in the first half of chapter 2, the monsters are much too overpowering. Beyond that the challenge is just right.
World building is probably the most fun part of the game. Easy to learn, easy to use, and it is impossible to make a mistake or lose a building or object you created.
Finally, there is the all important ability to invent things to help you on your journey. You will spend probably half of the time taking pictures of everything you see. If one of your pictures happens to have a usable object (symbolized by a glowing light bulb), you can combine these pictures to think up an invention. This is absolute genius. Not only are there tons and tons of usable objects around the towns and dungeons, it is actually fun and beneficial to collect them. Combine this with the two side games, fishing and ''Spheda''(aka golfing), you can spend literally 100 hours on this game and still not be done with it.
Score: 7/10

Story
The story involves Max, a wealthy, genius inventor with a mysterious red jewel around his neck, and Monica, a girl from 100 years in the future sent back to accompany Max on his journey. Max is caught spying on an evil clown threatening the mayor during the circus and the story goes from there.

Sound
The music was done very well. It never gets annoyingly repetitive and responds to the situation you are in. The battle music chimes in before approaching a monster, not while, creating a sense of danger. The rest of the music is pleasant and I have no real complaints about it. There is nothing absolutely spectacular about it, but sometimes that is a good thing.
Score: 9/10

Graphics
This game is cel-shaded which may be a turn off for some older gamers, but don't just let the fact that it is cel-shaded determine whether or not you want to buy this game. I happen to be an older gamer and I see nothing ''kiddie'' about playing the game. I do not even think about it. Why? Cause the graphics are superbly done. The colors are very bright and vibrant, yet they are dark and murky where they need to be. The sun shines very brightly during the day and the moon gives off a perfect glow during the night. Weather effects such as rain are present and look as real as ever, yet they don't distort your vision. It is never too bright or too dark. Really, I have nothing to complain about.
Score: 10/10

Replay Value
There are literally hundreds of things to do and see in this game; so much that you will most likely have to replay the game a second or third time just to take every possible photo, achieve every possible medal, upgrade every weapon to it's ultimate form, catch the biggest fish, etc., etc. There is just so much to do, almost too much. Fortunately, this game is so good, that you will want to keep replaying the game.

Overall: 8/10

Buy or Rent
As much as I hate to say this, I suggest that you rent it first. If you can get past the absolute frustration of the first two chapters to experience the real meat and potatoes of the game, only then would I advise you to buy.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/05/03, Updated 03/05/03