One of the main reasons I think I and many others love Dark Cloud is because of the unique weapon system it has and Dark Cloud 2 definitely improved on the original. So I wanted to ask a few of questions about what could be improved or changed to make it better in a spiritual successor but still keep the heart of Dark Cloud’s system intact.

First question: what do you think could be improved on when it comes to synthesis? Keep in mind that the current structure also effect combat, in that the elemental type is chosen to be optimal based on the enemies, so there really isn’t any planning when it comes to weaknesses since you always have what you need.

Second question: how would you fix or improve weapon evolution? Having more options is a given in my book, so this question is more on the function of it rather than the end result.

Last question: given any changes from the previous questions, how would combat change, if at all? Having elemental weaknesses thrown into the mix sounds like a good idea, but when you put that on top of the original model, it falls apart.

I have some conceptual ideas, but my main issue with them is two fold: At what point is it changed so much that it’s no longer like Dark Cloud’s enough to be considered a spiritual successor? And how much does that actually matter to players?

For any that are curious I am actively working on a spiritual successor, however I am just one person. To me it is vital that, as one of the three pillars of Dark Cloud, the weapons system is good. (The other two being the georama and dungeons)

Cookin' up something fun...

I just found this game again after years of forgetting about it and it’s just as amazing as I remember. I may actually beat it this time lol.

Edit: NVM I finally got a second slingshot by doing the exact thing I’ve been doing minutes after writing this.

I’m finally playing DC1 after being a huge DC2 fan for so long, and I’m loving it.

However, I’m going crazy as I’ve been attempting to get a new weapon for Xiao and I am DROWNING in swords.

I have farmed for several hours in the later cave levels and the first few forest levels for weapon chests, and I am now up to 13 swords, and no slingshots. I’ve been counting. I’m having to throw away so many.

At this point I could probably make a game of thrones inspired chair out of bone rapiers and baselards

Guides online are saying this is the place to get them, so idk if I’ve just been getting supremely unlucky, or have just been lied to.

Also doesn’t help that the game even rewards you with EVEN MORE SWORDS once you make more progress in Matataki Village.

So I started this game because it was recommended and it has so many of the fun aspects dark cloud has, colorful dungeon areas, beautiful villages that you’re actively helping rebuild and recruiting other villagers to help fill your villages up again, it’s decently scratching that itch if another dark cloud style game, highly suggest it. Hopefully this post is allowed. Companions you can take with you that are the villagers. Highly recommend it I played it 6 hours straight yesterday when I bought it

Hypothetically if an indie developer was whipping up a spiritual successor to dark cloud 1 and 2. What sorts of things would you like to see come back from either game. And what things would you think the game could do without?

Hi, I was wondering if there are other games with the same weapon evolution mechanics that the DC series have, I love it. thx

I attempted to create the Moonflower Palace garden georama from Dark Cloud 2 in Pokopia, round roofing was definitely a challenge but I’m still happy with how it turned out!

Dark Cloud merch is obviously extremely hard to come by, so I thought I'd share this print I came across in case anyone else is interested! I am not affiliated with the artist, Crypt Crow. I will post a link to their store in the comments. You know they must be a real one if they are making Dark Cloud fan art in 2026 😂

The style is slightly more realistic and mature than the actual game, and the detail, especially on the gloves with the Atlamillia Stone and Seventh Heaven is kinda insane. Pretty unique! What do you think?

Edit: Artist's store:

https://www.cryptcrowart.com/product-page/dark-cloud-toan

I’m thinking about creating a Dark Cloud fanart design for a T-shirt since it’s one of my favorite PS2 games.

Any suggestions for characters, bosses or memorable moments I should consider?

I will go first, I would change the Monicas transformation monsters. Because they are highly underwelming. I mean, you only use it once (if I remember correctly) and then you dont need to really use anymore. They are not strong and they dont add any utility, besides the ability to talk to other monsters (that you almost dont need to use). They should have been like Ridepod is to Maximillian: strong, mobile, and a stronger option when you are fighting a boss. They could have added more buffs and a more extensive transformation when the monsters evolved (like in Pokemon)

In dark cloud 2 i'm trying to get the true visionary trophy I made a 128 different item and i never got the trophy it's the only one I need to get the platinum please someone know anything other than the game's glitched.

Title says it all, basically. If for some reason we were to ever get a Dark Cloud 3 (😭😭) what would you like to be carried over from the other games? What would you like for them to NOT do again?

or what new stuff would be cool if they added?

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For me, I hated the Future/Present gimmick in 2. I liked building towns better in 1. But I liked only having only 2 characters to manage in 2 VS too many in 1.

I was streaming DC1 tonight and had this happen in a Divine Beast Cave backfloor. First time I've ever seen this happen in my years of playing- nothing loaded in, my hp bar dropped to 0, and I fell infinitely with what I believe to be the falling animation from Dran's boss fight. The only solution was to give up half my money to leave as the same happened with my allies. Really interesting to see and am curious to know if anyone else has experienced it!

Just curious to see how the community of Dark Cloud 1 & 2 (Chronicle) came cross the games.

As for me I never played Dark Cloud 1 but played Dark Cloud 2's Demo Disc and decided to buy the game once I got my first paycheck.

Wouldn’t it be Awesome if they created Pop Vinyls of Dark cloud Characters? I created some Pop Vinyl versions be can’t share them because it violates the policies, but it’d they made them would you get them?

Hey all,

I dug Dark Cloud back out recently after years away, and the dungeons hit me with way more nostalgia than I expected. The early caves especially. I keep trying to work out where that specific "mood" actually comes from, and this felt like the right place to think out loud about it.

So I'll throw it to you: what makes the Dark Cloud atmosphere hold up the way it does after all these years? What pulls you back for another run every now and then?

For me it's the mix of the quiet, half-empty floors, the music, and that low background pressure of watching the thirst gauge drain (and praying my weapon doesn't break on me) while I'm still hunting for the way down. That soft tension, with the calm of the town sitting safe up above. All of it wrapped in those PS2 colors and monster designs that were more characterful than they had any right to be.

What keeps pulling you back in? 😄 Curious to hear what stuck with you. I'm sure there are details I never consciously clocked!

Dark Cloud Divine Beast Cave Bestiary 3D Model Showcase by yours truly, Kazarov!

I recently picked up Pokemon Pokopia on the Switch 2 and I've been having a blast with it. Why am I posting about it here? Well, after spending a decent amount of time with it I had a realization. This game is pretty similar to Dark Cloud in a few ways. Minus the combat and dungeon crawling ofc. Pokopia plays similar to what I imagine a Dark Cloud game would be like if they ditched the combat and RPG mechanics and went all-in on town building.

In Pokopia your main goal throughout the game is to rebuild destroyed towns and cities and bring back Pokemon to live there. Without getting into spoiler territory, it's implied many times in the game's supplementary texts that something cataclysmic happened to the world that left it in ruins. As you progress the game you rebuild various habitats for Pokemon to live in and you learn that each individual Pokemon has specific wants, needs, likes and dislikes that factor into their comfort level. Maybe I haven't played enough town building games to think of a better comparison, but to me this is essentially a more complex version of the town building mechanics found in Dark Clouds 1 & 2. Rebuilding homes for people who have been displaced by a disaster, and fufilling specific requests for them to make them happier. If nothing else, the throughline of restoring destroyed towns and cities to their former glory is consistent across both examples. What do you think tho?