On the verge of finishing Dark Cloud, what does 2 change?

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Current Events » On the verge of finishing Dark Cloud, what does 2 change?
Garioshi
07/17/2025
12:14 AM
#1
I've got 2 on my shelf, but I am NOT playing it any time soon if it's just more of the original. Don't get me wrong, it's very charming, but it also melts my brain.
"I play with myself" - Darklit_Minuet, 2018
MagiMarthKoopa
07/17/2025
12:18 AM
#2
Never played 1 but 2 is one of the best PS2 games
MC_BatCommander
07/17/2025
12:20 AM
#3
2 improves on the first in like every way. Fewer characters to grind, item upgrading isn't as tedious, some actual plot, and the art style is great.

It is still very much Dark Cloud though
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LinkDaLunatic
07/17/2025
12:22 AM
#4
It is "more of the same" in terms of the gameplay loop. You're gonna be clearing floors, collecting stuff to build, all that good stuff.
But it's just so much better that I can't really say it's going to feel like more of the same at all.
Way better story, way better characters, way better world, multiple areas to build in, metric fucktons of weapon upgrades, the camera system, gathering allies, doing sidequests, customizing your Ridepod.

Dark Cloud 2 just kicks so much ass. Max and Monica are great protags and the game just has so much to offer. Makes the first feel completely barebones imo.
There's a time and place for everything... but not now.
ssb_yunglink2
07/17/2025
12:23 AM
#5
2 will also melt your brain but in different ways. For one, and most importantly for me, weapons breaking doesnt permanently delete them, you can just repair them and lose some exp on it.

There are only 2 main playable characters, each with rideable mech, however support characters can be recruited

The insane amount of city building and weapon upgrades is still there. For me, it was to a point where it got kind of overwhelming, but if you enjoy that then youll probably like it a lot more than 1, because any element you can think of has likely been expanded, streamlined, and increased in number.

If I played the game as a kid itd probably be my favorite game ever. Nowadays it just felt like I didnt have the time to engage in the absurd amount of content the game has, much of it which felt kind of like a slog after a while
Hee Ho
_____Cait
07/17/2025
12:24 AM
#6
Its super anime, has very convoluted crafting systems, and some of the worst characters I have ever seen in any medium.

Might wanna check some videos.
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Garioshi
07/17/2025
12:47 AM
#7
LinkDaLunatic posted...
It is "more of the same" in terms of the gameplay loop. You're gonna be clearing floors, collecting stuff to build, all that good stuff.
But it's just so much better that I can't really say it's going to feel like more of the same at all.
Way better story, way better characters, way better world, multiple areas to build in, metric fucktons of weapon upgrades, the camera system, gathering allies, doing sidequests, customizing your Ridepod.

Dark Cloud 2 just kicks so much ass. Max and Monica are great protags and the game just has so much to offer. Makes the first feel completely barebones imo.
Is the dungeon crawling as repetitive and fruitless as 1? I'm definitely playing at some point, but I will need a nice, long break if it's just more of 1.
"I play with myself" - Darklit_Minuet, 2018
Senta
07/17/2025
12:56 AM
#8
I prefer 1 over 2, but two isnt bad. Its a lot more of the same, woth tiny bits of polished up stuff. Has a much more interested world, though.
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buddah86
07/17/2025
01:08 AM
#9
I tried 2 a month or so ago. Bought it many years ago as a rainy day game.

I was struggling to get through the intro....I think im becoming a frame rate snob. I couldn't get far into it because of it
Stand out, fit in
Mormaurd
07/17/2025
01:27 AM
#10
Recruiting some of the npcs for other towns infuriated me, especially that goddamn race for the sheriff.
Kanaya413
07/17/2025
01:28 AM
#11
buddah86 posted...
I tried 2 a month or so ago. Bought it many years ago as a rainy day game.

I was struggling to get through the intro....I think im becoming a frame rate snob. I couldn't get far into it because of it
I loved dark cloud but couldnt get into dc2 at all
LinkDaLunatic
07/17/2025
06:33 AM
#12
Garioshi posted...
Is the dungeon crawling as repetitive and fruitless as 1? I'm definitely playing at some point, but I will need a nice, long break if it's just more of 1.
Oh, absolutely. The first few dungeons aren't that bad but the longer you play, the more and more floors you wind up having to clear per dungeon. It's a total grind. If each dungeon had been limited to 10-15 floors I think I would replay the game more than I do.
There are people who live for the dungeon crawl, and I can respect that. But I'm not one of them, for me it's the worst thing about the game and just gets in the way of the things I actually love about it.
There's a time and place for everything... but not now.
ConfusedTorchic
07/17/2025
06:39 AM
#13
1 >>>>>> 2

like it's not even close, 2 is fucking garbage. 2 is the temu.com version, it gets every single thing wrong.
DodogamaRayBrst
07/17/2025
06:44 AM
#14
Dark Chronicle/Dark Cloud 2 has the best fishing minigame of any JRPG ever made. I dunno why they all try to make their own garbage fishing minigame instead of just taking the one from Dark Chronicle.

It also has an amazingly fun golf minigame.
Cory898
07/17/2025
06:44 AM
#15
Majuulars retrospective video on the pair of games is very informative if you have a couple hours to spare. It is very spoilery though.
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Garioshi
07/17/2025
07:21 AM
#16
Cory898 posted...
Majuulars retrospective video on the pair of games is very informative if you have a couple hours to spare. It is very spoilery though.
I want to play the games!!!!!!!!!! I don't want someone talking at me about them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why would you ever recommend this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"I play with myself" - Darklit_Minuet, 2018
Cory898
07/17/2025
07:57 AM
#17
Garioshi posted...
I want to play the games!!!!!!!!!! I don't want someone talking at me about them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why would you ever recommend this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well then youre fucking welcome for warning you there were spoilers so you could make your own decision. I recommended the video because it answers your question by detailing the mountains of things the second game added. Unappreciative overreaction times a billion. FFS!!!!!
Probably the only Mario Maker 2 level I'll ever create worth sharing.
1RT-9RG-QKF
Cory898
07/17/2025
08:03 AM
#18
_____Cait posted...
Might wanna check some videos.
Dont recommend videos unless you want your face bitten off.
Probably the only Mario Maker 2 level I'll ever create worth sharing.
1RT-9RG-QKF
Voidgolem
07/17/2025
09:42 AM
#19
Off the top of my head...where dark cloud 1 is essentially a tech demo, 2 is fully realized.

but in terms of specific changes:
-Georama is vastly different (you build most of the stuff yourself as opposed to getting it from the dungeon attached to the town you're visiting), recruiting people works differently, the requirements for perfect placement/etc are laid out differently
-there's only two characters (this is fine actually)
-invention/photography system (this breaks the game harder than any amount of weapon crafting did in the first one
-fishing (for food or for fish races)
-golf (there's some nonsense items you can get from the golf minigame, in addition to the clubs being in the crafting system themselves)

Now, granted, depending on what you liked about 1, 2's excessive amount of Stuff and very slow opening chapter might turn you off, but it's pretty fondly remembered overall
Why not go all in?
Mad-Dogg
07/17/2025
09:52 AM
#20
Dark cloud 2 getting rid of the thirst mechanic from part 1 was something I very much appreciated.

All I would say about dark cloud 2's new ideas and invention system is that there is a good bit of missables with the ideas part.

The MC carries around a camera that you use to take snapshots of things for his ideas. Some of these ideas come from the enemies you fight in the dungeons. Sometimes said enemies are the mini-bosses or bosses you only fight once.

You might want to have a missable invention last handy so you don't accidentally miss out on these.
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MisterPengy
07/17/2025
10:02 AM
#21
Dark Cloud 2 is incredible, but I highly recommend taking a break from the series before diving in. It's very much a different game from the first, but the gameplay loop is similar enough that I don't think you can fully enjoy it directly after playing the original.
Bosses are immune to the eat command so it won't be possible to end the final boss fight of the game by eating it.
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Strider102
07/17/2025
10:05 AM
#22
You can play golf in Dark Cloud 2.

All that needs to be said really
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threetimes
07/17/2025
10:33 AM
#23
DodogamaRayBrst posted...
Dark Chronicle/Dark Cloud 2 has the best fishing minigame of any JRPG ever made. I dunno why they all try to make their own garbage fishing minigame instead of just taking the one from Dark Chronicle.

It also has an amazingly fun golf minigame.

I concur. I spent ages on the fishing and the fish competitions, and on spheda (golf). I love the game but it's seriously so packed with things to do that it could take over your life for a long time. The weapon upgrade system is very good too.

It was one of my favourite games but I couldn't play it today - I tried a couple of years ago and it was just too overwhelming.
The bells haven't stopped ringing yet.
LinkDaLunatic
07/17/2025
08:38 PM
#24
It's interesting to see the split in opinions. Was not expecting these two games to be at all divisive given how similar.
There's a time and place for everything... but not now.
Current Events » On the verge of finishing Dark Cloud, what does 2 change?