Surprisingly, this game has improved from Dark Cloud in almost every way.
While Dark Cloud 2 has a repetitive dungeon battling system, its weapons can upgrade, build-up stats, and has a more easier-to-understand layout than the first Dark Cloud. Dark Cloud 2 has a large inventory space, with a vast variety of items to obtain. Leveling weapons to a higher class is interesting, because you never know what weapon is next, until you reach the final weapon, that is. The management of the items is very easy to use, and there is a little time you need to spend to get used to managing items of sorts. I can definitely say that the inventory, weapons, and items are very solid.
Meanwhile, the story is a very nice, emotional story. Many cutscenes have, music of course, great acting, and emotions. While some cutscenes may render mixed emotions, the plot is nice, and the climax near the end of Dark Cloud 2 leaves you a lot of emotions. I find the story amazing.
You begin with Maximillian, an inventor who works with Cedric. His mother just disappeared, and Max is left with his father, which renders Maximillian bored. Max wants adventure, but he never gets it. Until one day, Max gets a ticket to a circus carnival. A red-haired boy snatches his ticket as Max is giving it to the clown. The red-haired boy is really Monica, which is a playable character later on. Max doesn't know this boy is Monica yet, and Max never knew who Monica is at this point. Max then goes through the Underground Water Channel to go to the Outside World. After Max leaves the channel, he boards a train. this train stops at Sindain due to a roadblock. While the trip, Flotsam, an evil clown who threatened the mayor of Palm Brinks (Max's hometown) appears in a car and is trying to destroy the train, Monica appears and helps Max. At Sindain a lot of things happen. Monica tells Max about how changing the past changes the future. After Sindain, they depart to Balance Valley to find a sage who can help them find Griffon. After all the challenges and paths in Balance Valley, they head on to Veniccio. Veniccio is a beach-place that contains the Luna Lab, a Lab with scientists of incredible knowledge. However, the Lab was destroyed by Griffon's evil forces, so Max and Monica, like in the previous Sindain and Balance Valley, must rebuild Veniccio in order for the Luna Lab to appear in the future. After they find out that the Moon Flower Palace (Griffon's castle) is located 10,000 years in the past, they need Ixion to time travel. While the scientists are building Ixion in the Luna Lab, Max and Monica go to Heim Rada to activate the Kazarov Stonehenge. This stonehenge will bring the Moon Flower Palace into the future. After Max and Monica work their way through Gundorada Workshop (Heim Rada present), they build the Paznos, and are looking to destroy the palace, but they can't due to a magic forcefield. So, later, the Paznos turns into a Colossus, and deflects the palace when it falls. It was going to fall onto Palm Brinks, but the colossus threw it onto safe land. Then Max and Monica proceed into the palace. Then after certain events, they reach Griffon. In cutscenes, you learn that Griffon's real name is Sirus, and he's actually a very kind child. The atlamillia stones make Sirus into an evil emperor. The Dark Element, which turned kind Sirus into an evil child, escapes Sirus after the transformed Sirus remembers memories that force the dark element out of him. Then, you are teleported into a twisted place and you must defeat the dark element. After you defeat the Dark Element, there are several cutscenes, and then the end. If you have the NTSC version, you will unlock "Zelmite Mines", which is a special 100-level mines level with a surprise from Dark Cloud 1 at level 100.
Graphics: The graphics for Dark Cloud 2 are great! They improved from Dark Cloud 1, but aren't the best graphics. Also, they made characters appear more childish.
Soundtrack: Great sounds, and great voice acting.
I also enjoyed the minigames and all the fun things. The picture-taking was very interesting, and it was fun trying to figure out inventions.
The gameplay may have been repetitive, but the weapons, variety of enemies and floors made it seem more interesting. However, most of the dungeons did not have anything to do with the story.
Overall, Dark Cloud 2 is an amazing game that you won't forget. It's definitely a pleaser!
-Utrexx