Dark Cloud

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Interesting Blend

With Dark Could you are looking at an interesting and affordable grab at the local Superstore these days, being one of the Action RPG milestones of the early PS2 aera. It becomes obvious that it was clearly set out to compete with Nintendo's Zelda offerings, by delivering a similar playing experience, however falls simply short of the Nintendo series in many ways. It, however, stands well on his own, blending in action RPG with new ideas such as mainly upgrading your weapons instead your character, use of simulation and strategy components to rebuild villages, defeating your average foes in real time combat as well as cooperate with allies in certain situations. Admittingly, in 2006 there's much better RPG material out there, however I believe for the more serious RPG fan this is a must play, simply to experience a different flavor of the genre. Finally, it is also fairly easy to beat, if you can tolerate the occasional boss fight set back.

Boring!!!

Dark Cloud is totally boring! Don't buy it! The gameplay is so boring! Everything in Dark Cloud sucks!!!

World building = fun. Dungeons = crap. Weapon system = UGH!

Dark Cloud is a Zelda/Actraiser hybrid that seems to try too hard to be perfect on the town buidling part and neglects some things in the dungeon battles. For one, having to throw powder on your weapon to keep it from breaking is stupid. What idiot thought that idea up? Plus the weapon building system is long and complex and not really explained well enough. They should just have better weapons lying in treasure chests as you go along.

Good Game

This game is allot like Zelda, just better. Its hard, but fun. It has very good graphics. One of the best games I have played.

( tip) Buy this Game!!!!! ( tip) Dont assemble gaffers buggy until you beat theis dungeon.

Dark Cloud, Better than the Second

Dark Cloud 1 is better than Dark Cloud 2 for obvious reasons. However, there are problems with it as any other video game. I'll begin by stating the problems.

When you start out the game, after the video informer, you will immedietly notice the horrible camera angles. For example, the camera will try to focus on your back. If you run into an object and turn around, the camera will run into the wall and won't be able to focus on you. Then you have to manually spin the camera around, while running forward, as to not hit the wall. This is a big problem when you're in the dungeon and fighting an enemy.

Another problem is the weapon system. You have "WHP" (weapon hit points.) As you fight enemies your WHP will lower. If the bar reads 1, and you hit an enemy one more time, the weapon will disappear. The only way to raise WHP is to repair it using repair power. The item is slightly rare and each bag can only be used once. The only weapons that will not break are those your characters start out with.

In the first few levels the scenery isn't excactly awe-inspiring, and each dungeon level has the same details as the previouis.

The enemies don't look like harmfull beings, especially when you consider the type of game this is: Hack and Slash. And they do less damage than they should. Some enemies also require special weapons to harm, let alone kill.

Another major problem is the water system. In this game you have a thirst meter that can be upgraded over time. When the drops of water representing bottles runs out, your health begins to deteriorate. And the only way to revive you from your thirst is two either drink water that you've obtained along your quest, or go to one of the designated fountains (located only on dungeon floors.)

Your health starts out as 70 HP, but can be, of course, upgraded by eating a special fruit. Personally, I think 70 HP is a little low for a game this big, but what do I know? You also have a defense mode, which can be activated when you've locked on to an enemy. You block, basically.

There are sections in the game where you "duel" a stronger enemy. This kind of battle is the traditional 2-D fighting style, where your character is on one side, and the enemy is on the other. In a duel, you're in a movie and there's a blue bar on the bottom of the screen. There is also a small white bar that's in the middle of the blue bar. As the movie progresses, button commands will start moving across the blue bar. When the button command hits the white bar, you have to press it. Duels are a little too easy and too short.

If you're still interested in reading my review after all the donwnsides to the game, than I'll tell you the good attributes.

The weapons are very life-like and can there for be used life-like. Your weapon has ABS which, when full, can upgrade your weapon to a bigger, more powerfull form. Rarer than repair power, is power-up powder. This instantly upgrades your weapon. After you've upgraded your weapon five times, on the "weapons" menu, you will have the option to turn that weapon into a synth-sphere. A synth-sphere incases your weapon, and 60 percent of it's stats, into the sphere. You can then place the synth sphere on one of your other weapons and it suddenly is a lot better!

The graphics in the game are so much better than those of Dark Cloud 2. In Dark Cloud 2, the graphics are more like Paper-Mario, however the buildings are 3-D. In Dark Cloud, the graphics are like the PS2 version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocaraina of Time.

There are also "Georama Parts" that are actually people, houses, and accesories sealed in "Atlas". When your character cracks them open you obtain these parts. You then place them in a barren village, making it a thriving one. When you complete a house, there will be a movie and you will get an item.

"Allies" are people that want to help you on your quest. When the character you are currently being is weak, change to an ally. Each ally has his or her special weapons and talents.

The movies are of very good quality, and for the first time, I enjoyed watching them. Some are funny. Some contain battles. And some are just out of the ordinary.

It has an entertaining storyline: You start out by naming your character and then a magician comes out and tells you that all the homes, and people were put into "Atlas". He tells you that you are the only one that can touch the Atla due to the stone he gives you. He then opens the door to the first dungeon and you're off.

The bosses in the game are a lot of fun, but it's the kind of boss battle where you do the same thing over and over again until he's dead. Bosses also use up a lot of WHP and can damage you, badly, in one blow.

All in all, if you're looking into the Dark Cloud series, the first is the way to go.