"A game so good I want to own a backup copy...just in case."

Introduction:

With the introduction of the series (Dark Cloud 1), many gamers found themselves disappointed with Dark Cloud 1. They didn’t like the dungeon system, and the game just wasn’t solid enough to be considered a great game by most anyone I can think of. With the release of Dark Cloud 2, many people who played Dark Cloud 1 should be able to come back and see what an improvement this game is upon the first, and many new players should be able to play only Dark Cloud 2 and fall in love immediately.

Dark Cloud 2 has done away with anything players found annoying or absurd. The dungeons are very well done (no more thirst feature preventing you from continuing), and this is a prime example of how the golden rule of sequels never living up to their predecessors is a blatant lie…at least in this case.

Story line: 7

This game has a pretty decent story line. Overall, it can be considered cliché, but the game is definitely not meant to be a deep serious epic to compare to the likes of a Final Fantasy, or the like, so this story fits right with the game it is set in.

The story is about a boy named Max, and a princess from the future, named Monica. In the future, a being known only as Emperor Griffon has made it his cause, as most villains do, to take control of the world. Monica travels back in time to find Max so that together they can fix time in the present so that Emperor Griffon of the future will be gone.

A simple plot? Yes, but filled with many twists and turns to keep you entertained start to finish. You meet a lot of interesting characters along the way, too, and they come in all sorts of very rich and detailed costumes, colors, and even species!

Game play: 9

This game is so rich in game play that it downright scares me.

The battle system is fairly simple and easy to learn. Its, on the most basic level, a dungeon crawler, but for me was entertaining enough to make me keep wanting to play, and keep wanting to return to a particular dungeon. And don’t be confused…I am in no way a power gamer who likes to spend hours in one spot leveling up or anything of the sort. The game system was just that fun that an extra trip or two through a dungeon getting some extra stuff was still a blast, time after time.

You get two types of weapons: ranged and melee. You can easily switch between attacks, dodges, and use some awesome tricks while you’re at it. The weapons have durability that (when used) will continue to reduce until the wear effectively becomes broken. This might sound like a frustrating or annoying thing, but it really wasn’t too much of a hassle to just carry around some repair items in your inventory.

The weapon system is also quite interesting…the weapons themselves level up, not the character. Leveling up your weapons gives you points, which you can use to power them up to higher stats, as well as take them down different technological trees to achieve different types of weapons including maces, swords, hammers, wrenches, bracelets, machine guns, laser, and….you get the point.

All mannerisms of the weapon system are very customizable and fun. The really give you a lot of options as to what you want to see your character with, not only in terms of weapons, but also clothes can be swapped out for all sorts of different outfits. Not in the mood for the regular suits you have your characters in? Why not put Max in a clown suit, or Monica in a Wedding Gown?

You can also use the Georama system, which is a way of reconstructing the past by placing down buildings, plants, and all sorts of other items down in a spot in the world. Its really cool, as you can make your towns however you like, and put characters you’ve met throughout the game into houses you build, and etc. You also have to use the georama system as part of the story line, and by fulfilling requirements to restore the past you gain all sorts of items that help you manage along the way. Very well done!

This game has all the things you’d want to see in a game of its genre…a good size list of recruitable characters; lots of customization in every aspect of the game, both in and out of battle; A LOT of very, very fun side quests and mini games that will keep you entertained for crazy amounts of time, a fun battle system, and much, much more.

There are lots more things to do…so many that I don’t think I can list them all in this review…

Graphics: 8

Before playing this game, seeing other games with cell shading, such as Wild Arms 3, I really had utter disdain for cell shading. After playing Dark Cloud 2, I really liked them. Maybe it was just this game, but the graphics are wonderful. The characters are very well done, with no gaping flaws that I could see. The landscapes and surroundings in all the areas are very detailed and well done.

The 3d landscapes, lighting, special effects, cut scenes…all great.

Sound: 9

The sound in this game is simply breathtaking…every nook and cranny of the game bursts with wonderful and catchy music. You’ll even want to save a lot just to hear the little save theme. All the sound effects for the characters and enemies are very well done, nothing too repetitive or annoying enough to get on your nerves or bother your ears. The music in dungeons is also very well done. Very fitting, very full of detail, and rich with feeling. The voice acting is VERY well done. Lips move in sync with the sound, and characters for the most part have voices that are very suited to each individual character.

In short, the sound in this game really leaves nothing to be desired. It is all very well done and I wouldn’t have this game any other way sound-wise. The one thing I do have to laugh about though is how much Max sounded like Piglet from Winnie the Pooh the first time I heard him. Is it just me?

Replay Value: 8

This game has LOADS of things to do! There are hundred of different things to photograph for your picture album. Hundreds of things to invent with all sorts of combinations on the Idea Board, and three to four medals to collect on every level of the game. You can also play many of the various side quests or mini games, which will also keep you playing the game for hours on end. When I had finally finished doing what I wanted to do in the game, I had 210 hours logged and still hadn’t even completed half of the side material or bonus features.

Buy/Rent:

If you are not sure you like games of this style (Action/RPG), then this might be a better candidate for a rental than a buy. If you are a fan of Action/RPG, games like Kingdom Hearts, this is definitely a game you will enjoy and will be worth every penny you spend on it. The game is also less than normal games by about ten United States dollars, at forty instead of fifty. (At least where I purchased it that’s how it was.)

Conclusion:

A great game, and one of the rare few that defies the law of the sequel to a game being worse than the original. Fans of Action/RPGs will fall in love with this game, no questions about it. The more you play the more you wonder how much better the game is going to get, and Dark Cloud 2 never ceased to astound me at every twist and turn the game had to offer. Kept itself fresh both in terms of the story, and the sheer amount of awesome things there was to do in the game kept me entertained and satisfied from start to finish.

The game has come very, very far from Dark Cloud 1, and I hope to see a Dark Cloud 3 that is even BETTER than this sometime in the foreseeable future.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 01/25/04