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Shut up and read this!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 36 / 42
Date: May 06, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Whatever the people who gave this game 3 stars or less, TOTALLY IGNORE THEM! It's not necessarily their fault,though, for they have only read the Japanese reviews. The people who made this game didn't have time to include all of the details that they wanted to, in the Japanese version, because they had to make a deadline. But since the U.S. release wasn't for 6 more months, they added a lot more to this game. Such as: 35 additional weapons, nine new items, 18 new monsters, two new bosses, an additional form for the last boss, one new duel/event battle, 11 new fish for the fishing minigame, a revised lock-on targeting system, a new chest quiz character that offers you a choice between items, mystery circles that can help or harm your character, new expanded combo attacks for Toan and Ungaga, enhanced enemy AI, an enhanced weapon system, a bonus 100 floor dungeon called Demon Shaft, and lots of other minor changes. How do i know all this? Cause i have a subscription to the sweeeeetest PS2 mag out there, O.P.M.(Official U.S. Playstation Magazine)! Anyway, what's not to like about fighting through dungeons to collect Atla pieces which you use to build villages any way you want to? And who cares if the main character has a hat that looks like a turban with tube socks stapled to the back? There are 5 other playable characters in the game. I don't know about you, but I AM SO BUYING THIS GAME!

Fun gameplay and a variety of mini-games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 18 / 18
Date: August 04, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I'm a huge Zelda fan, and was looking for something similar on the PS2. Dark Cloud combines a very Link-like character with dungeon crawl combat, quest solving, and mini games too.

The main thrust of the game is that you're trying to rebuild a series of homes destroyed by the Evil Enemy. To do so, you go slogging through nearby dungeons, finding home-bits like beds, lamps and so on, on your adventures. When you bring them back to town, you have to figure out which items to where to please the people. In addition, the houses themselves have to be placed so that the people are happy. Some people want to live near a stream, some want to have morning sun in certain windows, and so on.

Your weapons can be customized as you go, and need to be maintained. This gives you a bit of RPG-like control over your life, more in fact than most Zelda games provide to you.

In addition, there are some fun mini-games which help break up the dungeon crawling, and give you a bit of variety.

The game's provides much longer gameplay time (usually several weeks) than many other PS games on the market, meaning it's a good value for the price. Perhaps the only downsides are the graphics, which aren't top-notch, and the dungeon crawling being a bit tedious after several hours. Still, it's a good, fun game to play. Grab one for your PS library!

SITTING ON DARK CLOUD NINE

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 26
Date: May 18, 2001
Author: Amazon User

No video game you've ever played will prepare you for the joy you will experience when playing Dark Cloud. I mean, if you've never controled an elf for nearly two weeks of your life, and experienced the struggle one would feel if you were an elf living in a magical land and trying to save the world from being destroyed by an evil villain, well then my friends, you just haven't lived yet. This game captures that scenario with percision. It is the most realistic "I'm and elf and have to save the world" game ever produced. To prove my point, I allowed a real elf who had lived in a magical land before moving to Pasadena, and saved it from an evil mongrul years ago, and the game brought him to tears with it's realism. In fact, after defeating the game, he was so choked up he could barely speak to me about it, just like the WWII survivors who refuse to speak about the horrifying ordeals they've endured. But when he finally spoke, he went on and on about how the game reminded him of his home land, and how the action was so realistic that they must have hired a consultant from a magical land to get the authenticity so dead on. He even mentioned a specific battle that was so realistic he had a flashback of a battle in which his best friend, an ogre named Ulf, was killed. It pained me to see my friend brought to tears in recollection. But he did it for you, so you could finally know how elves all over the universe have been struggling to free their worlds from evil warlords. And that is what this game does best, it helps us to understand other cultures and thier differnces, so that we may be more tolerant of others. So buy this game, for the good of hummanity. We need it. All of us.

Why Rate Something You Haven't Even Played?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 17
Date: April 27, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Personally, I am looking forward to Dark Cloud. The prior reviews state things in the Japanese version, but fail to mention that the reason the game has been delayed here is so that Konami can make improvements to the game. I have seen a few different movies of the game, and they look absolutely fantastic, especially compared to the likes of Summoner and Orphen. Websites such as Ign.com have various movies of the game, and are worth checking out. The gameplay supposedly makes use of the Zelda-esque lock-on system, to make battling in 3D more feasible. The clips of the fight scenes were quite impressive. As for the earlier review downing the main character, he or she failed to note that you actually control various characters throughout the game, and they all have different abilities that you can use to your advantage. Also, Dark Cloud brings back the old "World Building" schematic found in games such as Soulblazer and Actraiser for the SNES. This involves placing houses, and even individual pieces of furniture as you progress through the game. As the subject states, however, do not judge the game until you have played it. I am placing five stars not as a rating, but rather because it is a required field. This is Konami bringing out the game, and from Metal Gear Solid to Suikoden I & II, to Ring Of Red, and even the stunning Castlevania series, they have held a bar of excellence in their games. The name Konami alone is, in my opinion, enough to warrant buying the game the day it is released.

Excellent Game from SONY

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 15
Date: June 01, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Most of the reviews before me are based on speculation before the game was released. It didn't receive so well in Japan, but they've changed it for America. And what a job they did! This game is so fun! It's not a Zelda a rip-off in anyway. It only looks slightly like Zelda. It's actually pretty different than Zelda. It has some GREAT features to it. The Geo-Rama thing is so much fun to use! This is game is MUCH deeper than Zelda too. The weapons, magic, and fighting system all are more complex than Zelda for the N64. The only problem is that the graphics could have been a bit better, but it in no way hinders the fun of the game

This is just a great game and I think you should buy it for your PS2. Luckily it lasts a long time too! 30+ hours! Unfortunately most of the reviews below are based on people who haven't played it. Well I have! and it is AWESOME!

Perfect!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: June 05, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I awaited this game for months! When I finally got it, I tore it open read the instruction book and was devistated! The magic system looked very complicated and other elements--like needing water, food and keeping weapons repaired--made me think that this game would be too complicated to be really enjoyed. I WAS WRONG! Once you start to play, you are lost in a three dimensional world of your own making. The graphics make you wish that Zelda had lived up to it's potential. This game is suited to all ages and playable for hours, especially if you have kids like myself. Dark Cloud is a cross between games. Like SimCity in that you can build your own world, that is, arrange elements (houses and rivers and trees and such) and collect items that affect the outcome of the story. This is well combined with the combat style found in Onimusha and magic systems as intuative as those in the better Final Fantasy installments. The camera angles can be tricky at first, but soon become second nature. The same with keeping your weapons upgraded and repaired. Everything blends with breathtaking imagery and FULL and CONTROLLABLE panoramic view.

Why are you doing this??

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 12
Date: May 21, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I can't believe some people. They just take what they read and think that is the truth. The reason the game is as it is is because Sony is COMPETING with The Legend of Zelda series for the Nintendo 64. And why is everyone complaining about graphics? The graphics are well suited for this game. Also, this game had a low budget, so why would anyone expect graphics like Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty? The game is meant for ages six to adult, so that is why a lot of you complain it is "kiddy". The game puts together strategy elements along with RPG elements. You must rebuild your town and then explore dungeons and other things. I hope this will be a good game; I have played the import and loved it, even though I couldn't understand Japanese. As always, rent first, then buy. Because if this game is bad, which I doubt, at least you wouldn't have spent the money.

This is a very good game- I suggest you buy it.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: June 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This is a great game, and is one of the best on Playstation 2 (which isn't saying much but is still impressive). Theb graphics are not the best of any game ever made, but Sony didn't claim they were either. It is an excellent hybrid of the Adventure, RPG, and Simulation Genres and is the most original game I have played since The Sims. You go through dungeons of increasing difficulty fighting a large variety of monsters well collecting pieces to rebuild your destroyed city. You have to get little balls called atla that are strewn across the dungeons. They contain houses and buildings, items for houses or buildings, people, roads, rivrs, and trees, then you place them in the town wherever you want. It's very addictive and will keep you busy for a good 50 hours of play. It is very deep and although it is said to be for 6+ anybody below the of 12 would probably get confused at some point or another, but it all depends on the person. If you liked Zelda, Sim City, or enjoy original game ideas as much as I do then I highly suggest buying it, it's worth your money.

Zelda + SimCity = Dark Cloud

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: May 30, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I've been out on the loop when it comes to console gaming for nearly a decade. When I finally got back into the swing of things with the purchase of a PS2, this game was among the first dozen or so I've thrown into my library.

It was a launch release when the PS2 first came out, so I wasn't expecting much in terms of graphics, but who cares. This is a suprisingly fun little dungeon romp. Dark Cloud reminds me a bit of the old SNES games like "ActRaiser" I used to rent and play a lot. Not unlike "ActRaiser", the thing that sets this game apart from most other PS2 adventure and RPG games, and just other action / RPG games in general, is that this is sort of like two games in one. You must first dive head-first into the dungeon, clearing away monsters and gathering parts of the town that were sealed in spheres called "Atla" which are scatterd throughout the dungeon's floors. Battles are in real-time, making this more of an action-RPG or adventure akin to the popular 'Zelda' series. Upon exiting the dungeon then, you can switch to the so-called 'Georama' mode, where you can get as creative as you wish, placing down buildings, trees, bodies of water, and roads (a-la 'SimCity"), so long as you meet NPCs' requests. Example: In Norune Village, your (Toan's) mother wants you to place your house in such a way that the rising sun can be seen through the window. Meet requests such as this, and you'll aquire needed items to continue your journey.

Other reviewers have probably already elaborated on the story end of the game, so I'm just going to run down technical bits:

- Graphics -

Again, as stated, this was a launch release, so these are first-generation PS2 models here. Nothing spectacular to write home about, but for what it is, and when it was released, Dark Cloud does offer a fair amount of detail. Toan's (your main character in the game, I'm using default names) clothes move as you move...little details like that, along with the (to my eyes), realistic-looking water and waterfalls that go with them. Because the dungeons are randomly generated maps that use the same graphic sets, things can get a little redundant here, especially for longer dungeons, but at least they keep to the themes presented. Caves look like caves, castles look like castles, and so on.

- Play Control -

Controlling your character is fluid. Tilt the stick a little, Toan walks. Tilt it all the way, and he runs. it took me a bit of time to get used to the fighting mechanics, but after a few battles, it comes easier to you. The annoying part is the camera, which I wish had a little more control especially when locked onto an enemy. When I lock onto an enemy and I am attacking, sometims the view swings around to where I can't even see my playable character, forcing me to 'unlock' from the enemy, and swing the view back around. This can make boss battles insanely difficult. "Georama" mode is explained in the game itself, though it's just simple 'point, pick up and drop' simplicity here.

- Sound -

There's no voiceover work here, but then again, not many PS2 games that came out in the first wave of releases at least up until Final Fantasy 10, had voiceacting in them. The only things hinting at a characters 'voice' would be the grunts or squeals you hear when attacking enemies, or being hit. Ambient noises sound like they should....running waterfalls, torches along the walls, and out in the towns you hear the wind, the birds, and (at night) crickets chirping. Other sounds (the clashing of swords, bombs blowing up, etc) are your standard fare.

- Music -

A few early PS2 games brought over MIDI sequencing techniques used in older (pre- Year 2000) PC games, the SNES, and PSOne. Most, if not all games today use CD (also known as "RedBook") audio, or in the case of most PS2 games now, DVD-Audio. Dark Cloud is one of the few that used an 'old-school' approach to the music, which while the indidual songs can get a little repetitive, there are some enjoyable tracks in here.

- FMV's -

This is sort of a new category for me. Old-school RPGs didn't have the technology avaliable until the PSOne, to go beyond just various sprite movements and LOTS of text to lay out the story. Final Fantasy VII, as we all know, broke that barrier and brought some of the first use of Full-Motion Video (FMV) intertwined into the overall game story. It seems no RPG developers have looked back since.

The same here is true for Dark Cloud. The minute I booted up the game, chose my options, and hit "Start", I was Wow'ed by what I saw. Though voice acting would have made things flow better like how they do in FF 10 or other-like games, for a first-gen PS2 release, this isn't bad at all. Fluid movements, cel-shading, and not in Dark Cloud, but rather in other games, bits of anime cutscenes. Technology for FMVs has really taken leaps and bounds in advancement since the mid/late 1990s and it shows even in an older game like this.

- Overall -

Dark Cloud, taking into account when it was released, is a title worth having. It's not the longest of RPGs out there.....you can probably clean house in under 30 hours if you just blaze straight through without getting any extra items other than those you need to complete the game, but length doesn't always make a great game. Shorter games are more concise and quicker paced. The battles and dungeons can get repetitive for some, and they did for me, so that may diminish the 'fun factor' a bit, depending on tastes. Otherwise, this is an overall, very good, and very underrated PS2 title. I recommend it to those getting a (late) head start with the PS2 RPGing experience, or those looking for a little break away from the redundancy of the Final Fantasies and Kingdom Hearts of the RPG world.

This game is gonna be awesome

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 13
Date: May 23, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This is goin to be the best game!!!!!! You can build your own town and fight in one game. In it you find Alta to build the town by goin in deep dark dungeons and fighting evil bosses. There were also a lot of differences from the Japenese version too:35 additional weapons18 new monsters, nine new items, two new bosses, an additional form for the last boss, one new duel battle, 11 new fish for the fishing minigame, a revised lock-on targeting system, a new chest quiz character that offers you a choice between items, new expanded combo attacks for Toan and Ungaga, enhanced enemy AI, an enhanced weapon system, a bonus 100 floor dungeon called Demon Shaft, and lots of other minor changes. There is also different story lines and lots of cool graphics. There are 5 other playable characters in the game. I even know you can add attributes to your weapons. (And to all you dimwits out there I will give you an example. You can make your sword on fire or have ice elements, or land ect.) I dont know exactly if they show it on the screen but it is there and does different damage to certain monsters. Ex. A water element on your sword works good against fire monsters... The game also has cool music and special effects. As far as I'm concerned it's the best rpg out there and I say screw to anyone who gives it a three because It is the best. Besides they only reviewed the Japenese version. I am definetly gettin the game and I think if rpgs are your type this is a must get game for you

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