Dark Cloud is a series of console role-playing games with elements of action and simulation games. There are currently two entries in the series: Dark Cloud and Dark Chronicle (known as Dark Cloud 2 in the U.S.), both of which are exclusively available for the PlayStation 2. The series has been compared to the platform game/simulation hybrid ActRaiser. It is debatable whether Dark Cloud and Dark Chronicle could be considered part of the same "series". A third title, Dark Cloud 3 was announced at E3 2004, but its current status is unknown.

Gameplay

• Dark Cloud is a role-playing game in which you travel around in randomly-generated dungeons killing monsters, and collecting items. Inside dungeons, you also have the option to, providing you locate the correct item and transportation gate, enter a "back room", in which there are harder monsters, better items and even strange conditions you must battle under.

• A large part of Dark Cloud's gameplay comes from collecting certain items in dungeons that become pieces of geography that you can place on the overworld.

• A unique trait that separates it from most RPGs is that your characters don't level up; your weapons do. The more you use them, the stronger they become, however, you must not forget to repair them otherwise they will break and, in Dark Cloud, will be lost forever, while in Dark Chronicle you must repair them for them to do any damage. When one obtains a certain amount of absorption points, it can be upgraded; upgraded weapons absorb any attachments and will have a number next to their name (ex: Dagger+1). When a weapon reaches level 5, you can do a Status break. This turns the weapon into an attachment itself, and you can attach it to other weapons.

• In Dark Cloud you could choose from 6 different characters, 3 ranged and 3 melee. Melee characters could use many weapons, from swords and hammers to giant cactus staffs and frozen fish. Ranged characters can use magic bracelets, guns and even slingshots. One slingshot was called Steve and gave tips on how to defeat enemies. He also told stories about his life and father, and commented on characters dress and appearance. Dark Chronicle had only two playable characters but each carried both melee and ranged weapons. Max wielded his trusty wrench and a gun, while Monica fought with a sword and magic bracelet. Max could also pilot a customizable robot called Steve (a voice box could be attached giving him smart remarks similar to the slingshot of the previous game). Monica could turn into monsters after obtaining badges. She could talk to monsters of the same class to obtain information or key items.

Story

After western militants uncover a large ceremonial urn and release it's contents, the Dark Genie, for military applications, the Dark Genie makes an attack on Nolun/Norune village, completely destroying it. We soon discover that the Fairy King, thinking quickly, cast a protective spell around the village, causing the builings, objects and people only to be scattered by the Dark Genie's attack. As the main character, you must travel through dungeons searching for these things, in the form of Atla, using the aid of additional characters you discover along the way. Throughout the game you find out that the Dark Genie has destroyed three other villages known as Matataki Village, Queens and Muska Racka. You also find an ally in every town. You find Xiao in Norune (Nolun) Village, Goro in Matataki Village, Ruby in Queens, Ungaga in Muska Racka and Osmond in Yellow Drops. They all have their back story (refer to characters).

Characters

Playable Characters

All of the playable characters in Dark Cloud can be renamed.

Toan
Toan, a boy from Norune village (Nolun Village in the PAL version), is the hero of the Atlamillia. The Fairy King grants Toan the Atlamillia, a magical blue crystal with the power to restore the parts of the world that have been destroyed. Scattered throughout the dungeons are the Atla stones, which contain pieces of the world that Toan must reassemble to restore order to the world. Toan is the only character who can touch and open an Atla stone, and is the only character that can be controlled outside of dungeons. He fights with daggers, knives, and swords, and his default weapon is the Dagger.

Xiao
Xiao is a stray cat that Toan first encounters in the Divine Beast Cave. Shortly after he enters the floor she's on, she flees and is suddenly trapped in an Atla stone. Toan releases her from the stone and can then adopt and name her. Until Toan receives a Changing Potion as a reward from dueling Seda, Xiao will be kept at home and will not be included in the party. Using the Changing Potion on Xiao turns her into a young catgirl and she joins the party. In the dungeons, Xiao is the only one (aside from Osmond) who can cross large gaps and pitfalls in the floor, and she is needed to progress further. She fights with slingshots and can find a unique talking slingshot called Steve, who offers advice on defeating enemies, comments on their appearance, or talks about his past.

Goro
Goro is a young boy from Matataki village, who initially doesn't trust Toan and will duel him the first time they meet. His father was the village's legendary warrior, but long ago he disappeared after having departed to fight the Killer Snake in the Wise Owl Forest. After Toan has restored enough of the village, he's granted a strange flute that attracts snakes, as well as the Serpent's Sword. Toan then duels the Killer Snake, and after defeating it he receives a Bone Pendant. Toan then shows the pendant to Goro, gains his trust, and he joins up with Toan. Goro fights using hammers, clubs, and similar weapons, including a large frozen tuna. His default weapon is a basic Hammer. His distinct attack (an overhead smash) allows him to hit switches on the ground and open doors for the others.

Ruby
Ruby is a female genie fresh from a bottle. Once Toan restored the King's house in Queens, the King gave Toan Ruby's bottle and Ruby joined the party. She fights using blasts of energy fired from rings, armbands and bracelets, which is what she uses to open doors locked by magic gems.

Ungaga
The Dark Genie also destroyed the town of Muska Racka and Ungaga was so upset that he started to diss himself only because he couldn't save the town and his girlfriend Mikara. But once Toan restored Mikara, Ungaga felt happy again and joined Toan so he could protect her. He uses different polearms, including spears, halberds, tridents and even a giant nail. He can control the wind, which he can use to damage enemies or dispel the black mist.

Osmond
Osmond is one of the Moon people of Yellow Drops. This town didn't get destroyed but their robot did. The moon people are building another robot to destroy the Dark Genie. He has a little helicopter-backpack which allows him to fly over gaps that even Xiao can't cross. He is different from the other characters, because while they use medieval weapons, he uses advanced weapons such as machine guns, laser blasters and flamethrowers. You eventually find Osmond at the Luna Lab, in the future on Dark Chronicle.

Non-playable Characters

Seda
The former ruler of a great kingdom, he made a contract with the devil to kill his enemies during a war. When his fiancé, Sophia, was murdered, his hatred gave birth to the Dark Genie. After the destruction of his kingdom, he travelled forth in time to seek out the bearer of the Atlamillia: Toan. When he found him in the Divine Beast Cave, the Dark Genie took control of Seda, leading to a duel between him and Toan. Later, he is found at Dark Heaven Castle where he gave Toan the task of travelling through the Gallery of Time and change the past so that the Dark Genie would never have been born. About to be possessed by the Dark Genie, he vows not to be controlled again and commits suicide.

Locations

Cities, Towns, and Villages

• Norune Village (Nolun Village in the PAL version.)
• Matataki Village
  • Goro's Hut
• Brownboo Village
• Queens
• Muska Racka
  • Sun and Moon Temple
• Yellow Drops
  • Moon Factory

Dungeons

• Divine Beast Cave
  • Dran's Nest
• Wise Owl Forest
  • Master Utan's Grove
• Shipwreck
  • Ice Chamber
• Sun and Moon Temple (Inside)
  • King's Chamber
    • Airship Chamber
• Moon Sea
  • Coliseum
• Gallery of Time
  • Memories
  • 400 Years Ago
• Demon Shaft
  • Black Knight's Room

Other Locations

• Dark Shrine
• Airship
• Giant Robot
• Dark Cloud
• Dark Heaven Castle
  • Dark Heaven Castle Main Room
    • King's Room
    • Dark Genie's Room
    • Final Dark Genie Battle
• Demon Shaft (Outside)
  • Demon Shaft Lobby

Trivia

• The supposed "main" antagonist of the game -- Flagg -- may be a reference to Randall Flagg, the "supervillain" of Stephen King's many stories.
• "Xiao" literally means "little" or "small" in Chinese (小).
• Every dungeon in the game has a back room that you can enter. The only exception being the Gallery of time, because programmers failed to put the item required to enter the back room in the code. This is one of two localization issues in Dark Cloud - the item in question appears in the Japanese version of the game.
• The other distinction between the Japanese and American versions of Dark Cloud is the Demon Shaft; this location does not appear in the Japanese version.

External links

• RPGClassics' Dark Cloud Shrine

Computer and video role-playing games | 2001 computer and video games | PlayStation 2 games

Dark Cloud | ダーククラウド