Dark Cloud 2

THE BAD:
The game isn't as mature as the name suggest but improves on the older one considerably.

SUMMARY:
Well this is a very good game in many ways, the battling makes it very constant and fast moving, and unlike Dark Cloud you have an easy long range and close range swap pattern as in the first you had to change character to do long range and close range. However, in this one you can easily change as you have your melee weapon and your projectile weapon in each hand. For example Max has his wrench/hammer in his right hand and his gun in his left. And there isn't as many characters you use in this one because the last one felt a bit cramped and it was hard to share you waepon experiance for each character. So the game has improved on the sequal.

The sim elements (also know in the game as georma) is very easy as all you have to do find a special object in the dungeon and you dowload objects and tasks to do so you can progress through the game, but the enoying thing is you have to keep going back to a seller just to get the materials to make the objects.

There is also other side quests to do like spheda, a golf like game where you have to fix the time distortion to earn prizes and get medals which can be used to buy items of a special seller. There is the inventing side quest which lets you invent items to help you along your quest. You invent, buy, take pictures, you find. There's also a few more side quests as well so the game does keep you entertained for a good amount of time.

THE BAD:
-Kiddish Attitude Of Charaters
-Long and/or Annoying Loading Times
-Synthesis Points


3.4

SUMMARY:
Personally, I thought that Dark Cloud 1 was an excellent game. But, compared to Dark Cloud 2, its like Pong Vs Grand Turismo 3. If you didn't catch that, this Dark Cloud is even better then the 1st. Again the Town Building is almost just as fun as the last one earning 1.8 Points. The storyline is even better then the first. This one leads of in numerous different places while being in depth as well adding another point. The graphics for this game aren't actually the best but for a few inside things it earns another 0.6 Points. Also, the mini-games are interesting so I'll give them another 0.6. Lastly the music. The music in this Dark Cloud is a bit too calm in some places but it still earns a point. If you can add that equals 5. Now lets hope you can subtract. I majorly dislike the attitudes of the characters at times. Allow me to give you an example, someones best friend dies, the guy goes over to him, yells out his name, tries to get him to open his eyes then cries. Thats basically whats going on here. The main character cries at least 4 times in the game and he's supposed to be what. . .13? That drops it 0.2 Points. Now, for the loading time. Who in their right mind would say their all fast and sleek and stuff? This is completely wrong. I'm agreeing with the guy a few posts down on this one, the loading times are horrible. Every few footsteps you get one and it gets a tad annoying. This drops the score another 0.2. Lastly the Synthesis points. This just plain sucks. There aren't enough Synthesis points given out for each level up. This drops the score 0.1. That equals up to 5.4. I would recommend buying this game to anyone who liked the first and/or who likes simulation and/or Adventure games.

THE BAD:
The Georama development kinda pissed me off quite a bit, the fact that weapons broke was stupid, hard to play sometimes especially if you dont have certain items (to restore your health and weapon health), every single dungeon SUCKED because it was pretty much the same thing, and boring.

SUMMARY:
Okay, DC2 was a pretty good game. I liked it a bit more than Dark Cloud, but as soon as I beat it, I tossed it in a corner and never picked it up again. It was a great game. It was a fun game. But the thing is, it got boring quick. If you've played some of a dungeons up until the ones in the forest, then you will quickly get bored of it. Actually, it kinda reminds me of the dungeons in .hack, which may I add were boring as hell. But thats my only gripe against the game, along with the weapon breaking every damn 7 minutes. The graphics were excellent, even though most people bash it for being cel-shaded. But actually, I thought that it went with the game itself and proved to make the environments really beautiful with that graphics engine. If I havent mentioned it already, then the weapon development system was phenomenal! There are many different ways to customize your wrench (could have came up with a better weapon though ¬_¬) into many other stronger weapons, so that was another plus.

I recommend it again, to anyone who's played DC and liked it. But honestly, the dungeons might get you sick of the game after a handful of hours.. but don't let that stop you from trying it out, unless you dont have much patience. Then you should rent it, because you would be missing out on a great game.

THE BAD:
-Absolutely nothing

SUMMARY:
Let me start by saying that this game is very fun and addicting. If you tend to neglet school or work when you have an addicting game, don't buy this one. For the rest of you still with me, let's get on with this review.

Anyway, DC2 was a huge improvement over its prequel. The graphics were improvement, and werve very colorful and vibrant. Also, the characters actually TALKED in this game. Unlike in Dark Cloud, where the characters never actually spoke. The music was also a lot of fun, and actually suited its environment. The battle music is also very addicting and got stuck in my head a lot.

Storyline was also pretty good in this game. I'm not through with the game yet, but so far I like the storyline. It doesn't compare to Final Fantasy X or Xenosaga, but it's pretty good. Also, the characters were a big improvement in this game. Your two main characters, Max and Monica (don't you love the way that sounds?), were very interesting and had unique personalities. There were also other sub-characters that never actually fought, but helped you out by doing things like repairing your weapons if they were in the sub-character slot.

Now, let's talk a little bit about the battle system in this game. It was similar to Dark Cloud in actual battle. Now, however, you have two weapons equipped to a character at a time: a melee weapon, and a long range weapon (such as a gun). Each weapon has its own unique Repair Powder to fix it. Once a weapon's ABS meter was filled (you get ABS when enemies are defeated with that weapon), it levels up and gains a level and 3 synthesis points. With synthesis points, items in your inventory could be broken down into SynthSpheres and attached to the weapon to improve certain attributes, such as Attack or Durable. Once a weapon meets certain requirements for each attribute, it is Built Up into a more powerful weapon with higher parameters (limits). You can also buy or find new weapons to equip. Most items can be Spectrumized (turned into SynthSpheres). Like in Dark Cloud, you go through dungeons. Once you reach the end of a dungeon, you eventually move on to another on. You travel through dungeons one "Floor" at a time. Between floors you can save and leave the dungeon to do whatever you need. You fight monsters and find items in dungeons. One monster holds the "Gate Key," the object you need to move on to the next floor. Each different dungeon has its own Gate Key. For example, the Rainbow Butterfly Forest's Gate Key is the "Fairy Saw."

A new feature to Dark Cloud 2 is the Invention System. Early in the game, you recieve a special camera from Cedric. When you take pictures of certain objects (such as trees, barrels, fountains, etc.), you can create new objects if you use the right combination of photographs. If a photo is actually usable, it will have a lightbulb beside it. Once you conceive a new idea, the game will tell you which items you will need to buy to actually make it. Throughout the game,t here are hundreds of items that can be made this way. It really makes you think and is a lot of fun.

The Georama, in my opinion, has also improved from the last game. Instead of just finding things in Atlamillia like in Dark Cloud, you find materials in dungeons and can buy them outside of dungeons. You use these materials to make everything, including houses, land, water, trees, and other things. You will also have certain requirements for each place involving the Georama. As you get closer to fulfilling the requirements to 100%, more things become available to you, in the present as well as the future. Whatever you restore in the present, has an effect onf the future of that particular location. This benefits you and keeps the people happy. Requirements include building certain things, finding things for people, and moving people in to the location. Sometimes restoring the Georama can be very expensive, but definitely worth it. At 100% completion, you get a prize. After you have restored a location to 100%, you can take everything off and rebuild the village according to your liking. Just make sure all the requirements are still met.

This is a great game, especially if you like RPG's. I reccomend it to anyone. If you like gory games with huge guns and body parts a-flyin', this game is probably not for you. I personally like all kinds of games. Anyway, both Dark Cloud and especially Dark Cloud 2 are extremely fun games and are both very cheap, so go get your ass out of your chair and go buy them!

THE BAD:
Awwwww, didn't really find anything wrong, which is a good thing. Though the Georama could use a little work. More explanation down below.

SUMMARY:
Wow. This is one of PS2's best titles and its come a long way from the first game, Dark Cloud. (I would know I have both ^ ^. Took all my money though. I'm as poor as a ummm...teacher?) The plot is so enticing and epic, and even though its the "save the world from the powerful maniac who wants to destroy it for a stupid reason" plot, it goes well with the story. Its even funny at times, like when you see who Emperor Griffen is. (When I saw him, I had the funny feeling that if I gave him a carrot, he would stop his plans for world destruction. Too bad he was trying to shoot knife thingies at me, at the time.) As for the dungeons, well, they were actually fun. Not like the Zelda dungeons (which were even better ^^), but they were fun nevertheless, and they are even randomized. Ooooooo. (Is that supposed to be impressive?) What impressed me even more, was the fact that enemies were weak against certain weapons and strong against others. (like when Monica gets her ass raped by those giant robot thingies) Having enemies like this made me change characters once and a while, which was fun and also helped build a good round dependable team. (Of two that is ^^. Ridepod does count as a person right? And don't get me started about that stupid speaker that lets him talk ^^) But ooooooooooh, the Georoma is what made my score drop .2 points. (if that even matters) The Georama is fun to use, but the developers at Level 5 made it seem more of a chore than an amusing part of the quest. For example, sometimes they barely leave any room to build, and this ruins my fun of building a neat little town with the georama pieces I've collected. (like in Veniccio, there's barely any room on the Ocean!!) Or its the fact that you only have so much you can build before you reach your limit. And of course there are the guidelines for the future that force you to build certain buildings and objects. And lastly, and most importantly is the supplies you need to buy/find to build your town. Even building the minimum things you need to restore the future usually takes about 3/4 of your gold to buy the supplies needed. (I know that I've been fed up once or twice by having to go to Condo repeatedly to buy more supplies.) All these things wears away the fun, and makes this a very boring chore.(the only chore in fact in Dark Cloud 2, yaaaaaaaaaay!) But enough about that 1 small gripe, back to the comments ^ ^. Now I have to say, out of all the other games (or most of the RPG games I've played, which is the best recommended titles on the PS2, Dark Cloud, FFX, Xenosaga, Disgaea, La Pucelle... we all know XBox and Gamecube don't have any RPGs to save their lives ^^ heehee.), Dark Cloud 2 has the best, and most enjoyable minigames around. The main ones, Spheda and fishing are a blast. (who knew golf could be so cool? especially when you get nify prizes for winning ^ ^) There are no words for how fun fishing can be. You can level your rods (which is strangely weird, but hey! and you can use them as weaps!?! hey... this spheda club has a better attack rating than Max's hammer!!!1), you can catch fish all over the world (too bad you can't catch people in Palm Brinks too with these rods... hey, you think any of the girls would go for Premium Chicken??), and you can race those fish or put them in a battle tank and watch them fight!! (just don't put your hand in, yech*) oh yea, and you can breed them. (Why the hell would you spend your time watching them mate in a mating tank???. Ewww, some ppl in Level 5 went too far...) And Spheda, where would I be without you? If it weren't for you I wouldn't have all these Level up powders.. hehe. So instead of beating up monsters all afternoon, take a break and play some spheda. (though those damn out of bound parts are pieces of....sh..hey~) The only complaint I've got is that spheda can't be played in Palm Brinks. Wouldn't it be cool if they had Spheda competitions and you could face off against members of Palm Brinks for prizes?? That would have been better than playing it in dungeons, though the Extra feature is a little bit better, I would still prefere to be able to play against an AI and have unlimited shots instead of a set amount. (I know I'm prattling on, but dinner isn't ready ^^) Anyways, I've very impressed with the minigames which are really fun!! If you've even played other games like FFX, they try to switch quality for quantity, hoping you have nothing better to do than to play minigames that are dull and have no point, for.....an unlimate weapon with damage break?!? And of course, the example I'm talking about is FFX!! Like chocobo racing!! (with only one map against one person, while getting hit by birds that appear out of nowhere to collect ballons so you can get an uber weapon...well half of one anyway) Or Al Bhed language searching!!! (yay, you get to look for books so you can understand these ppl that sound like Russians. You already know that they're probably just swearing at you anyway.) Or ummmm... Aeon Recruiting!!! (yay, you get to find a samurai that requires money to fight... I thought samurais were honorable..?) Or ummmm... umm.... YES! Blitzball!! (yes! I found a minigame that is actually fun!!!) So there you have it, most games have lots of minigames but they usually end up being gay and a waste of time, well, that is the point of minigames right??! (lol, joking ^^. And just so I don't get hatemail, I'm not insulting FFX, I think it kicks ass, I just think the minigames suck balls, Wakkas balls...) And soo yata yata... the bosses kick ass and are fun to beat, though I wish they had as much health as Emperor Griffin (the wimpy one, not the cool one) and did less damage. The invention system is crazy, and whoever thought to allow us to make pictures is a genious. (I guess that was Max?!?..lol..that old inventing guy...my memory is slipping...to many minutes away from game......sigh*) And everything else is fine and dandy too, the battle system, the surroundings, the characters. (I swear I want to kill Pau, he's such a lazy basterd...anger rising....trying not to show him Barrel Cannon and blow his head off...instead of ... carrot...) My last gripe though would be the monster transformation for Monica (phew*...almost forgot). Unlike the Ridepod for Max (which is actually useful), the monster transformation/badge collection thingy is a load of crap unless you want to spend hours just trying to level one type of monster.(Unfortunately, the monsters level about as badly as the weapons.. and each monster transforms into a better monster every?? 21? 27 levels? yech*) Yup, and when you do aquire a monster badge and transform, you aquire the same health as Monica (but she dies as well if the monster does... >_<), but your stats suck ass, so you do about 7 damage when you start. So this ends up making you use another character...transform to monster and absorb abs...over and over again....for hours. And you end up finding that Monica and Max have higher stats anyway...haha. (actually I've never done this, I just ignored the monster transformation stuff...my friend did though... poor soul..never could get over it when his ultimate monster did 127 damage when Max did 300 with a Smash Wrench....) Next time though, it would be nice if the monsters you transformed into had their own health and stats... and actually had higher health and stats when you aquired them. Then you would actually have a reason to using them!! And it would also be nice if the majority of the badges you collected were found through the main storyline and only a few had to be looked for. So that maybe in a difficult part of the story, you aquire a powerful monster badge that actually helps to ease the difficulty? And maybe to aquire the badges you would have to face a boss and beat it before the badge would be yours? This would be a whole lot more entertaining than giving items to monsters and then killing it. Well thats my opinion. (Oh ya. And I wish we could travel around on that big pimp ass Warship. It kicks ass!! Its so much better than that weird Ixion train thats looks like it escaped from part of an amusement park located in Vegas. No offense Dr. Ossmond. I know Monica is with me ^^. Lol, just a dream... I was hoping to have some fun with the guns on the Warship and maybe....shoot a few rounds at the mayor's house???) Well its dinner time. Kudos!

THE BAD:
I love Spheda, although sometimes it does get frustrating. Some levels had too many out of bounds areas (-coughrainbbowbutterflywoodscough-). Also, the characters hands were WAY to big for my liking. Ah well, the better to hold abnormally large weapons with.

SUMMARY:
This game, Dark Cloud 2, was GREAT! I loved it in every way, although the graphics were a little funky at times. I loved playing Spheda, no matter how annoying it was at times, and I loved taking pictures of things. The only thing I didn't like was the out of proportion hands. And the fact that I could never find any jewels to synthesize into my weapons. And that they didn't have enough outfits for Max, and that you could only get the outfits from the Mayor, only after collecting medals. Oh well, those are only minor things that take away from the almost perfect score of Dark Cloud 2. I hope to see more games this good in the future. That goes for all of you game making company thingies. -shifty eyes-

THE BAD:
This game didn't have too many faults, but I think that they could have made it a bit harder. It was somewhat easier, the battles that is, maybe they could have put more enemies? I honestly don't know.

SUMMARY:
Yup, this game was really good. I would spend some cash on it. Not too much mind you, but maybe around $35. I'm a cheap ass, I know. ^^;

The graphics were cool, and I liked the Cel Shading idea they put into play. Very stylish. The weapons were awesome, even though you fought with a wrench ... But that's Ok, because it was sweet. ^^b