With growing anticipation and unique gameplay elements, Sony’s first-party offering Dark Cloud was set to illuminate the rather weak selection of RPGs for the PlayStation 2. Unfortunately, a spotty story and monotonous gameplay keep Dark Cloud from rising to new heights. This adventure scores points for originality in gameplay elements, but it doesn’t do the basics right. And with this disappointing showing, it still leaves PS2 owners without a killer RPG—but there are a few strong candidates on the way before Final Fantasy X, whose U.S. release date is still uncertain. Gamers really hungry for a Zelda-style adventure would be better off with Link’s two new adventures on the Game Boy Color than getting stuck in the muck of Dark Cloud.
