Dark Cloud is an action role-playing video game developed by Level-5 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. Originally intended as a launch title for the system in March 2000, the game was eventually released in Japan in December 2000, in North America in May 2001, and in Europe in September. A spiritual sequel, Dark Chronicle (Dark Cloud 2 in North America), was released in Japan in 2002 and worldwide the following year.

Uniquely combining the mechanisms of action role-playing games with elements of city-building games, Dark Cloud tells the story of a group of adventurers who band together to fight against the Dark Genie, who has attacked and destroyed many villages. The main protagonist and player character is Toan, a boy who is given a magical stone called the Atlamillia by the fairy king Simba, granting him the power to rebuild the destroyed lands.

Dark Cloud was met with mainly positive reviews by critics, who praised its blend of gameplay types, although some criticized its repetitive combat. The game sold over a million copies worldwide by 2014. It was later released via emulation for the PlayStation 4 through the PlayStation Network in December 2015.

Reviews

Mark Robbins