Fascinating RPG that covers every element about the genre
Let me say this first of all if you just want to skim this review.This game has almost EVERYTHING the RPG genre had in them at the time of it's release. Every major style and minor mini-game that some rpg's had both others lacked THIS GAME HAD IT.
The game has a fricking GOLF game that actually beats out a lot of the japanese arcade style golf games already out there.
The first thing you realise when you've been playing this game for a few hours is the sheer scale it puts forward. Like an onion, you uncover a certain level of detail to the game thinking you've encountered the core game-play it has to offer then it whacks in a whole new mode of play and the game suddenly explodes exponentially in it's scope. You have everything from fishing, to hunting to the game's own little monster hunter puzzle. Value for money is something this game definitely promotes. The sims style building mode themselves whilst great do still feel a little TOO tightly packed leaving you with the feeling that you only REALLY had 2-3 combinations of completing them.
Dark Cloud is an experience WORTH finding the time for.
Pros:
One of the best looking PS2 games PERIOD! The cell shading technique allowed a massive improvement for the application of a 3D RPG.
Epic scope.
Great engine, allows for some interesting tactics during fighting.
Scale, Like Just Cause you 2 you fight your way through the game only to realise you've just completed the isle of man and have the world left to uncover, and it never feels like you're grinding through the same modes with the story.
FISHING!!!
Cons: Flat grinding curve on weapons means you need to go to the toughest dungeons over and over just to level up your kit making you feel like your progress is one step forward two steps back all the time.
Some of the story elements become repetitive and some of the secret achievements are impossible to go back and redo when you have no indication as to what they are early on.
Protip? Photograph EVERYTHING!!!
