Dark Cloud Review
My name is Heth, welcome to the PGN Arcade and today i am reviewing the classic Jrpg Dark Cloud.
Released in 2000 in Japan and then in 2001 in both the USA and Europe. Dark cloud is a unique game blending action rpg and city building together for quite a special experience.
The plot is arguably the weakest part of the game and won’t wow you with deep emotional story like other Jrpg’s usually do, basically an evil genie is summoned by a guy and is ordered to destroy the world. The fairy king steps in and uses a spell around the land sealing buildings and the people into orbs scattering them around the world. You are tasked to restore all the villages. It is a pretty weak story and it isn’t helped that cutscenes don’t really happen often.
You spend a lot of your time exploring randomized dungeons, fighting enemies and opening spheres that hold parts of towns. The combat can feel pretty rough compared to other action based rpg’s. The lack of a dodge button can be really bothersome. So it makes the combat take a little longer than it should do to get used to. While navigating each floor of the dungeon you have to make sure to pay attention to a few things. Like your thirst meter which you keep filled with water and your weapon durability which you can help from getting broken with repair powder. Some floors of the dungeon switch things up like requiring you to only use one of the party members or having your thirst metre draining faster.
The other half of the game is you rebuilding the towns in a fairly large open area. And you are free to rebuild it however you want. Whenever you put a resident in their house you are able to talk to them and they will express certain things they want. Such as a certain piece in the house or even where in the town they want their house to be. Doing these things can even lead to the player getting some unique items. When you finish a residents house you get a little cutscene where they thank the player and end up giving you an item, these cutscenes don’t offer much deep character interaction but it is still nice to see. I can’t express just how great this part of the game is, there is something truly relaxing this is.
Conclusion
The combat may be janky in some ways but there is something relaxing about it that not many games can replicate. If you have a PS4 or PS5 you can get the game on those since it was re-relased on those and is the best way ot play the game now.