Dark Cloud 2

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 41
  3. Negative: 0 out of 41
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. Four Fat Chicks
    100
    Dark Cloud 2 has a great story, lots of adventure, unique characters and monsters and Spehda! What's not to love? This one is a keeper!
  2. Gaming Age
    100
    Not only does this version of Dark Cloud look beautiful, but it has a little something for everyone, action and exploration, character customization and development, magic and technology, city building, and a wonderful captivating story... [and] it does them all exceptionally well.
  3. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    100
    Pure fun... With so much variety, the game has more than enough absurdly addictive elements to keep you busy for untold hours. [Mar 2003, p.108]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Into Liquid Sky
    100
    Dwarfs the first game in every single aspect including those tiny little details only microscopes can see. [Grade = A+]
  6. Yahoo!
    100
    One of the best console RPGs you'll ever play... The sort of masterpiece that could only be made by people with a preternatural insight into what makes gamers tick.
  7. GameShark
    100
    No matter how you look at it this game rocks. It offers the action-style of "Wind Waker" with light character & weapon building, world building and a handful of mini-games and quests that make it an RPG experience that PS2 owners shouldn't pass up.
  8. GameNow
    100
    The game throws a seemingly endless array of activities at you - all of them fun. [Apr 2003, p.49]
    All this publication's reviews
  9. netjak
    97
    Don't let Dark Cloud 2's mediocre predecessor deter you from experiencing this masterpiece which is about as close to a genuine work of art you can get from a video game... Easily one of the most addictive, most fun games available for the PlayStation 2.
    All this publication's reviews
  10. Gamers' Temple
    96
    Simply a terrific RPG that is so well polished you might need sunglasses to play.
  11. Game Over Online
    94
    An amazing game. I mean, seriously, wow. Expect to invest an absurd amount of time getting to the end of the game.
  12. Gamer's Pulse
    94
    The most amazing thing about Dark Cloud 2 is the fact that so much can be fit into one game like this, all of which is used effectively, and still have room left over for awe-inspiring graphics.
  13. Game Informer
    93
    The complete package for RPG enthusiasts. The exhilarating heights of the story are equaled by great gameplay depth. [Mar 2003, p.80]
    All this publication's reviews
  14. TotalGames.net
    92
    If you’re even remotely interested in RPGs, you have to bury yourself in this – it takes a bit of time to grow on you, but once Dark Cloud 2 has you, it won’t let go for a very long time.
  15. GamingTrend
    91
    The storyline and acting is superb. I would call Dark Cloud 2 a classic.
  16. Games Radar
    91
    We've marvelled at the luscious visuals, wept at a tragic twist in the plot (true), slaughtered untold numbers of evil minions and after 60 hours of adventuring, still haven't tired of it. [GamesMaster]
  17. Eurogamer
    90
    A bitch of a game to review. But for the same reasons it's a joy of a game to play. There's just so much to it. It's a town-builder, a compelling dungeon-crawler, a fishing game, a golf game and, in short, a great RPG.
  18. GamePro
    90
    Most importantly—and this will make Dark Cloud fans very happy—Level-5 has fixed nearly everything wrong with the first game.
  19. GMR Magazine
    90
    The invention-building feature, which lets you create new weapons by combining photos of different found objects is nothing short of genius. [Mar 2003, p.68]
    All this publication's reviews
  20. PSX Nation
    90
    It’s no "Wind Waker" (then again, what is?) but, in its own quiet and subtle way, developer Level-5’s dungeon-clearing RPG is as amusing and polished an entry into the genre as anything Miyamoto has designed for the past two generations of Nintendo consoles.
  21. Electric Playground
    90
    A game for people who want a nice, long haul game, not a game that lasts a few bowls of chips. Such games risk repetitiveness and boredom, but Dark Cloud 2 stared these dragons down.
  22. GameSpot
    90
    Every element of the game, from the georama system to the weapon upgrading to the interaction with a large cast of characters, displays a polish and attention to quality that you find only in real classics... DC2 could very well be the PlayStation 2's Zelda.
  23. eToychest
    90
    This sequel magnifies everything the original did right, and corrects nearly everything it did wrong.
  24. IGN
    90
    From the incredible graphics, to the great sound, to the refined gameplay, Dark Cloud 2 just oozes of quality and polish.
  25. GamerWeb Sony
    90
    Takes the ideas presented in the original game and expands and improves upon its predecessor in every imaginable way, and by leaps and bounds at that.
  26. GamingWorld X
    90
    You will be busy for months fooling with the invention system, building newfound lands with the Georama system, arming your characters to the teeth, with the best upgrades and equipment money can buy.
  27. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    85
    You can call an RPG a lot of things - compelling, cinematic, thought-provoking - but rarely addictive. Dark Cloud 2 is completely, utterly addictive. [Mar 2003, p.111]
    All this publication's reviews
  28. GameZone
    84
    I am more surprised by Dark Cloud 2's disappointments than I am its achievements. I expected it to be great. I assumed I would enjoy it a lot. But I never once dreamed that its story would be so annoying!
  29. GameSpy
    82
    It's a lot like going to your favorite restaurant, ordering your favorite dish, taking a bite and finding a hair in it.
  30. Cincinnati Enquirer
    80
    Just be sure not to make any plans until the summer - it may very well take you that long to finish this elaborate role-playing game.
  31. Armchair Empire
    80
    Visually the game is absolutely stunning with its use of cel shading in comparison to the presentation used in the first game.
  32. PSM Magazine
    80
    Immensely more satisfying, deep, and involving than its predecessor. [Mar 2003, p.40]
    All this publication's reviews
  33. G4 TV
    80
    Just about everything good about the original has improved. The repetitive dungeon crawling, however, will not appeal to everyone.
  34. TotalPlayStation
    80
    Sure, the game is infinitely more impressive when each piece is broken down, but with an experience that begs to be played ad infinitum, yet quickly screams to be over long before it finally ends, the whole experience can feel a little flat.
  35. Gamestyle
    80
    Problems aside though, Dark Chronicle is a truly captivating game. A great story coupled with decent controls, features and more extra bits than anyone could ever think of.
  36. GameCritics
    80
    The definition of what a perfect sequel should be, and an excellent game in its own right.
  37. Gamezilla!
    79
    I thought the real time battles and weapons upgrade system was pretty good, but didn’t like the fact that you need to repair your weapons so often.
  38. Game Revolution
    75
    Filled with innumerable challenges, likable characters and a high production value. But beneath the surface, the lightweight story and characters combined with the almost rigidly episodic game flow still hold it back.
  39. Cheat Code Central
    70
    This is the game that "Dark Cloud" should have been. Dark Cloud 2 is truly a fantastic RPG though it really should have been entitled Dark Cloud One-and-a-half.
    All this publication's reviews
  40. Play Magazine
    70
    A game like Dark Cloud 2 would, I argue, be much more effective if the emphasis was placed on a more flowing, cohesive world structure, but for what it sets out to accomplish, it deserves minor criticism. [Mar 2003, p.48]
    All this publication's reviews
  41. Edge Magazine
    60
    When the game eventually gets going, it's almost as much fun as it's predecessor. It's just that it takes several hours to kick off. Dark Cloud 2 still has merit, but it's simply not as enjoyable as the first game. [May 2003, p.95]
    All this publication's reviews
  42. NTSC-uk
    50
    Sadly, Dark Cloud 2’s shining moments are outweighed by the mediocre inclusion of the random dungeon, and the tragic design decisions the developers chose to implement.

Awards & Rankings

21
#21 Best PS2 Game of 2003
14
#14 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003
5
#5 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2003

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 239 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 195 out of 239
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 239
  3. Negative: 21 out of 239
  1. Unreal
    Nov 20, 2010
    10
    The joy of adventure, inventing, and saving the world are every kid's dream, by playing Dark Cloud 2, it felt as if those dreams came true forThe joy of adventure, inventing, and saving the world are every kid's dream, by playing Dark Cloud 2, it felt as if those dreams came true for me. I love Dark Cloud 2's storyline and originality, not to mention the believable graphics and extras, no other game contains such a broad scope of things to do. Many games either focus on the battles or focus on the skill. Dark Cloud 2 contains a mixture of battles and skills and somehow it intertwines everything to the main plot of the story in a very easy to understand way. I was very sad when the game ended but was overjoyed to see that there was a "epilogue" chapter for Dark Cloud 1 fans =P I'm worried about Dark Cloud 3 though, it may not be able to pass up its predescessor since Dark Cloud 2 is just so good, especially after this long way all of us have become way too anxious. Nevertheless, this game is for anyone who loves adventure and the feel of actually being in the story!… Full Review »
  2. Rox22
    Sep 11, 2013
    9
    An almost flawless game. Graphic are gorgeous, story is engaging and deep, main characters are well developed and very likable. Gameplay isAn almost flawless game. Graphic are gorgeous, story is engaging and deep, main characters are well developed and very likable. Gameplay is rich and varied.

    The pacing can get a little slow at some points and the levels suffer from similar repetitiveness that the first game had. But, while these flaws are noticable they are also easily overlooked as there is enough variety in the level designs and side activities to keep you distracted.

    Overall:
    Dark Cloud 2 (or Dark Chronicle) is perhaps one of my favorite PS2 games. It has everything I want in a game, if not more. For me this is a classic that I can replay over and over and every moment is a joy.    … Full Review »
  3. Fudman
    Mar 6, 2013
    9
    Dark Cloud 2 has an amazing world you can lose your self in and there's just so much to do you'll never get board.
    the RPG mechanics are a    Dark Cloud 2 has an amazing world you can lose your self in and there's just so much to do you'll never get board.
    the RPG mechanics are a little shallow and the UI is a little tricky to navigate near end game when you have hundreds of items, other than that i love this game    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »