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Rogue Galaxy or Dark Cloud 2?

F

Fleet_of_Foot

Member
I played most of the big PS2 heavy hitters back in the day but I missed both of these games. I'm trying to decide which to buy on PS4.

I'm not sure they're even comparable? I see the same developer and the same art style (more or less) and I know they're both RPGs. I have a feeling Rogue Galaxy is a little more modern, but Dark Cloud 2 seems to get more reverence.

I want a classic RPG. Which is closest to FF12 (which is probably my favorite FF but that's not what this thread is about)? Which is longer? Deeper? Which has aged better?

I have watched some streams of both and they both look good so I just don't know. The only thing I notice is that the photo-taking element of Dark Cloud 2 is a bit of a turn-off, especially since I saw a dude having to take photos of a boss as he was fighting it, which seemed obnoxious.
 
I'd say Dark Cloud 2, not just cause it's awesome but it's 25% off if you're PS+.

(Never played Rogue Galaxy, need to pick it up some time)
 
Rogue Galaxy is my favorite game from Level-5. I haven't played Dark Cloud 2 despite owning an unopened black label copy of it. The first game was terrible, but I was dumb and bought both games at once.
 
I think DC2 is the better game. Not to say Rogue Galaxy is bad, DC2 just has a much more unique premise with its photos, georama system, time travel element, and overall atmosphere.

Rogue Galaxy looks nicer and has a "cooler" setting, but, speaking from personal experience, it didn't resonate with me the way DC2's whimsical charm did.
 
Dark Cloud 2 is superior in every way. Rogue Galaxy's setting maybe more interesting depending on your taste though.
 
Both for sure but seeing as Dark Cloud 2 is on sale now get that.
Although neither game are anything like Final Fantasy 12.
I finished Dark Cloud 2 back in the day but only made it about 10 hours into Rogue Galaxy so that should be a guide into which one is more fun but I do want to pick up both again and eventually finish Rogue Galaxy.
 
DC2 seems to be the answer. One last question. Do you think coming to it now, without any memories of how great it was when it came out, will still be okay for me?

I don't have any nostalgia for it is what I'm saying.
 
Dark Cloud 2 is Level-5's best game and one of the best games on the PS2 (and a top 10 best game of all time for me). The game is crazy replayable too.
 
Fleet_of_Foot said:
DC2 seems to be the answer. One last question. Do you think coming to it now, without any memories of how great it was when it came out, will still be okay for me?

I don't have any nostalgia for it is what I'm saying.
Click to expand...

It's probably even better that you're going into it blind than out of nostalgia.
 
I loved Dark Cloud 2 back in the day. I didn't play Rogue Galaxy much back in 2006. But I bought the PS4 copy last month.

My vote goes towards Rogue Galaxy. Maybe it's because I don't have as much time as I once did, but Rogue Galaxy is just more fun to play. Less tedious stuff to worry about in RG than DC2 (weapon breakage, customizing towns to progress, etc.).

RG is known to be grindy, but I can testify that I made it to the final boss of the game incredibly under-leveled. The way I was able to do this was because I realized save points healed you, so all I did was run from one save point to the next while fighting minimal battles to avoid fatigue.

Healing is done only by items, so as long as you can keep purchasing healing items, you'll be fine. No need to grind a ton unless you're doing it for weapon fusion.
 
Dc2 is a hot mess and rogue Galaxy aged better but warning they both have tedious segments
If you want a game more like ff12 get rogue
-flow out
 
family_guy said:
DC2 has terrible dungeon design. Worse than Persona 4.
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Dont listen to this guy.

Dark Cloud 2 has one of the greatest, most overlooked soundtracks, which alone is great enough reason to play it. It also has a lot of fun minigames. Combat/leveling is neat, and I just damn well love that it's a straight up RPG story where you're on an adventure.
 
Dark Cloud 2 is one of the most perfect action RPGs ever created. The one caveat being it's very lighthearted. Love prevails over all and shit, but it's beautiful.

Play that and then Grandia II next. And then Grandia I.

fuck Grandia 3
 
TimeEffect said:
Dont listen to this guy.

Dark Cloud 2 has one of the greatest, most overlooked soundtracks, which alone is great enough reason to play it. It also has a lot of fun minigames. Combat/leveling is neat, and I just damn well love that it's a straight up RPG story where you're on an adventure.
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+1 for the Soundtrack. Great vocal song, too, actually.
 
DC2 has an incredible soundtrack, a surprisingly good storyline and sooooo many things to do (note: they may be overwhelming).

Rogue Galaxy is basically watered down DC2. (note: never overwhelming)
 
Having beaten both games back in the day I can say that while Rogue Galaxy is fun, Dark Cloud 2 is one of my favorite PS2 games ever.
 
Dark Cloud 2 is better mechanically and is probably a game that you'd get more hours out of, but Rogue Galaxy has aged better. The graphics, combat, and world design feel more modern, but damn if DC2 isn't one of the most iconic PS2 JRPGs. Really depends on what you're in the mood for.
 
Disaster Nebraska said:
Dark Cloud 2 is better mechanically and is probably a game that you'd get more hours out of, but Rogue Galaxy has aged better. The graphics, combat, and world design feel more modern, but damn if DC2 isn't one of the most iconic PS2 JRPGs. Really depends on what you're in the mood for.
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everyone keeps saying DC hasnt aged as well.. can anyone post screenshots comparing or at least screens for PS4 DC... i have RG and was hoping DC looked similar.
 
TimeEffect said:
Dont listen to this guy.
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I must have imagined the very basic random dungeon floors. If the volume of them were smaller than it would be easier to bare, but when you get to a certain point in the game and you have 40+ floors to go through then the game's other strengths didn't make it worth it to me.
 
DARK CLOUD 2 IS THE ONE OF THE BEST GAMES OF THE 6TH GENERATION

Rogue Galaxy is a slightly below average to mediocre linear story game which only gets points because of the art style and gameplay mechanics it directly got from the previous level five 5 game, Dark Cloud 2. But the plot and story really go nowhere and fall into disrepair by the end of the game

Dark Cloud 2 is the second best Level 5 console game ever made(first is DQ8, third is NinoKuni)
 
As someone who, having played both doesn't have a special love for either of them, I'd say Dark Chronicle is the better game. My brother who really like both seemed to prefer Rogue Galaxy though.
If you prefer a standard JRPG adventure you'll definitely enjoy Rogue Galaxy more too.
 
Dark Cloud 2 is easily one of my favorite PS2 games ever made. Sure it can get grindy but it's a product of its time and it's great.
 
Having played both I'd say Dark chronicle is more complete, a lot of very interesting side stuff to do, heavier story, better and more complex gameplay.

Rogue galaxy is easier, setting is cool, space opera, and it's a very good game against stress, the fights are fast and fun, it's just the game to play if you want to follow a nice and light story with fun but kinda shallow fights.

I personally love both very much and couldn't tell you which one I like more.
 
KiraXD said:
yeah from a few shots ive seen... DC looks better... it has a more super anime style to it... like Kingdom Hearts (big hands, big feet) and overall looked a little better... but iono.
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Definitely

TeOfC6C.jpg
 
Seems like some people skipped OP.

Between the two, Dark Cloud 2 is arguably the better game, but Rogue Galaxy is more likely to your interest, since it's actually closer to a traditional RPG whereas DC2 is more of a dungeon crawling, city building, mini games galore RPG.
 
Dark Cloud 2. It was an established IP at the time and they took the original Dark Cloud formula and improved it in everyway. It comes off as a much more polished game because of it, even today. I would check out Rogue Galaxy too, just know that the story is ridiculous. Dark Cloud 2s story was much more endearing.

Inuhanyou said:
Dark Cloud 2 is the second best Level 5 console game ever made(first is DQ8, third is NinoKuni)
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I think you got it down right there.
 
notaskwid said:
Wow the character model look great in HD!
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Yeah definately, the art style of the environmental assets and characters are just simplistic enough to make the game not feel that dated at all. And the semi open world where you can move from area to area freely in the town and other places, really shows off the great enviorments
 
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