History YMMV / DarkCloud

* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: Arguably Seda in the first game.

* ThatOneBoss: LA SAIA, YOU BITCH!

* AlasPoorVillain: Gaspard and Griffon from the second game.
* CharacterTiers: In the first game, Toan and Ruby are obviously the best characters in the game. Toan has the most weapon selection, a really good glitch, and Ruby has the best range ''and'' damage to boot. Xiao is...okay but it takes a bit of time before she gets really good. It's easy to let her fall behind because Ruby can just be ''that much better'' with ''less effort''. Ungaga and Osmond can also be pretty good too, but by the time they join, Toan and Ruby can pretty much be destroying all the enemies with little need for them. Goro...forget it. Slow attacker, has some powerful weapons but having a powerful weapon doesn't help if you can't combo at melee range or you have an ''incredibly'' inaccurate attack. He is useful for a boss fight, but you don't even need him for ''that''...
** Nevertheless, the other characters in the first game ''do'' have their strengths. What Xiao has over Ruby is that her shots move faster and she can take off her elemental attributes, which Ruby can't. Osmond hits with a machine gun and is able to move while attacking, and Ungaga has a wide attack range.
** You have to build them all up regardless, as when you start going [[spoiler: back in time, a point comes where you are restricted to ''one'' specific character, each level.]] Which can really suck.
* CompleteMonster: The EvilClown Flotsam in ''Dark Cloud 2'', despite being LaughablyEvil. He doesn't need any influence from Emperor Griffin to be evil, he's rotten on his own.
* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: [[HumongousMecha Paznos]] [[WaveMotionGun shooting down]] [[OminousFloatingCastle the Moon Flower Palace,]] and then ''catching it'' before it [[ColonyDrop falls on Palm Brinks.]]
* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: Occasionally in the first game, and [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel frequently]] in the second.
** The [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nsfOU9zmMk&hd=1 Opening/Main Theme]] of the first game.
** The theme that plays when you're in the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5WELqSwxXw Flower Garden]] in Dark Cloud 2.
* CultClassic: ''Chronicle''
* DemonicSpiders: Any enemy in ''Cloud'' with unblockable attacks that knocked you down. Arthurs, Crescent Barons, the Golem's [[PaletteSwap model swaps]]...
* DisappointingLastLevel: That stupid dream stairway that comes between the second-to-last final boss and the final boss in ''Dark Chronicle''. Fortunately, with properly leveled up weapons, it shouldn't take long. Still, it pretty much stalls what was up until then a ''very'' intense climax in the game.
* FanDumb: When the first game was being advertised, PS2 fans took the "Zelda Killer" angle and milked it for all it was worth in several [[TakeThat take thats]] directed at the Nintendo's rival series, Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda. They ate crow when ''VideoGame/DarkCloud'' only did mildly well and Zelda retained its crown.
* GoddamnedBats: The dragon enemies that shoot fireballs from a distance, and tackle you when close, causing Stop status. Also, in 2, the ''literal'' goddamned bats...at least when you are required to use your melee weapon on them or Item attacks.
* LesYay: In ''Chronicle'', if Monica talks to Claire before she joins the party, Claire sort of crushes on her.
* [[SidetrackedByTheGoldSaucer Sidetracked By City-Building]]
** ''Dark Cloud'' is only a minor example with the city building (and there's not really much to do with it after you get 100% for that town) and fishing.
** ''Dark Chronicle'' takes it UpToEleven by adding more freedom to the city building (you can make tons of items to decorate the houses or the areas around them, you can move in more people even after getting 100% completion if you want, etc.), adding more depth to the fishing (leveling up your fishing poles, and a fishing contest that gives prizes for the largest fish), an aquarium where you can feed and breed your fish to prepare them for the Fish Race, a golf-like mini-game (Spheda) that can net you some awesome prizes on some floors, medal collecting, photography, and ItemCrafting.
** ''Chronicle'' also has three different types of guns for Max (regular gun, grenade launcher, ray gun) for compulsive completionists to build up.
* {{Squick}}: In ''Cloud'', "Pumpkin Panty Fortune Telling". There are no words to describe it. Monica's default costume has a piece called Pumpkin Shorts. Is she related to Yaya? In ''Cloud'', they actually drew Dran's butthole and the game has graphic deaths scene when fighting the Killer Snake. Both yours and the snake's.
* SurprisinglyImprovedSequel: Obviously, ''Dark Chronicle''.

* TierInducedScrappy: Goro in the first game. He's slow, has a terrible attack range, only hits ''once'', and is most likely knocked back if you try to use charged attacks. He's more or less why you need bombs in the game.
** Monica can become this in the second game. Max may be much slower than Monica, but he can take enemies out in three hits, whereas Monica can take them out in one or two combos. Did we also mention that Max gets a weapon that can carry him through the game with its evolutions, and is strong to start out with, whereas Monica's ranged attack is CherryTapping unless you have the patience of a saint and build it up? Plus, MAx has access to the ridepod which is much better than Monster Transformation, and you're required to use the Ridepod way more than Monster Transformation.
* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: Arguably Seda in the first game; very, ''very'' specifically Sirus and Gaspard in the second.

* FanDumb: When the first game was being advertised, PS2 fans took the "Zelda Killer" angle and milked it for all it was worth in several [[TakeThat take thats]] directed at the Nintendo's rival series, Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda. Needless to say, they ate crow when ''VideoGame/DarkCloud'' only did mildly well and Zelda retained its crown.

* {{Squick}}: In the first game, "Pumpkin Panty Fortune Telling". There are no words to describe it.
** And Monica's default costume has a piece called Pumpkin Shorts. Is she related?
** Also, in the first game, they actually drew Dran's butthole.
** The first game also had a graphic death scene when fighting the Killer Snake. Both your death and the snake's.

* FanDumb: When the first game was being advertised, PS2 fans took the "Zelda Killer" angle and milked it for all it was worth in several [[TakeThat take thats]] directed at the Nintendo's rival series, TheLegendofZelda. Needless to say, they ate crow when ''VideoGame/DarkCloud'' only did mildly well and TheLegendOfZelda retained its crown.

* FanDumb: When the first game was being advertised, PS2 fans took the "Zelda Killer" angle and milked it for all it was worth in several [[TakeThat take thats]] directed at the Nintendo's rival series, TheLegendofZelda. Needless to say, they ate crow when DarkCloud only did mildly well and TheLegendOfZelda retained its crown.

** The [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kBgJ7LQG9s&fmt=18 Opening/Main Theme]] of the first game.

* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: Arguably Seda in the first game; very, ''very'' specifically Sirus and Gaspard in the second.

* XenSyndrome: That stupid dream stairway that comes between the second-to-last final boss and the final boss in ''Dark Chronicle''. Fortunately, with properly leveled up weapons, it shouldn't take long. Still, it pretty much stalls what was up until then a ''very'' intense climax in the game.

** The [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kBgJ7LQG9s&fmt=18 Opening/Main Theme]] of the first game is one of this troper's favorite songs ever.

* MissedMomentOfAwesome: In the first game: when the Sun Giant mecha battles the Dark Genie, the entire sequence unfolds [[CutsceneBoss without player interaction]], in sharp contrast to several previous climactic encounters requiring the player to PressXToNotDie.
* [[{{SidetrackedByTheGoldSaucer}} Sidetracked By City-Building]]

* [[{{SidetrackedByTheGoldSaucer}} Sidetracked by city-building]]

* XenSyndrome: That stupid dream stairway that comes between the second-to-last final boss and the final boss in ''Dark Chronicle''.

* GameBreaker: The [[MiniMecha Ridepod]] in the sequel. It's comparatively easy to upgrade compared to your standard weapons and far more powerful, can be upgraded to be much faster than your characters' running speed, can attack from great distances using a variety of reliable ranged weapons, and it's fuel consumption problems can be circumvented by only activating it when you need it.

* GameBreaker: The [[MiniMecha Ridepod}} in the sequel. It's comparatively easy to upgrade compared to your standard weapons and far more powerful, can be upgraded to be much faster than your characters' running speed, can attack from great distances using a variety of reliable ranged weapons, and it's fuel consumption problems can be circumvented by only activating it when you need it.

* {{Narm}}: ''Dark Chronicle''. While YourMileageMayVary as to the {{Narm}}-factor of cutscene lines normally, if you go out of your way to finish enough dungeon challenges and use the medals to buy the specialty clothing from the mayor, try taking a TearJerker or epic sword fight scene seriously when Monica is wearing a {{Stripperific}} {{Fur Bikini}} with [[{{CatGirl}} cat ears]], and Maximillian is in a clown suit.

* {{Narm}}: ''Dark Chronicle''. While YourMileageMayVary as to the {{Narm}}-factor of cutscene lines normally, if you go out of your way to finish enough dungeon challenges and use the medals to buy the specialty clothing from the mayor, try taking a TearJerker or epic sword fight scene seriously when Monica is wearing a {{Stripperific}} {{Fur Bikini}} with [[{{CatGirl}} cat ears]], and Maximillian is in a clown suit.

* AlasPoorVillain: Gaspard
** Not to mention Griffon, aka Sirus.

** Nevertheless the other characters in the first game ''do'' have their strengths. What Xiao has over Ruby is that her shots move faster and she can take off her elemental attributes. (Ruby can't) Osmond hits with a machine gun and is able to move while attacking, and Ungaga has a wide attack range.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: [[HumongousMecha Paznos]] [[WaveMotionGun shooting down]] [[OminousFloatingCastle Moon Flower Palace]] and then ''catching'' it before it [[ColonyDrop falls on Palm Brinks.]]
* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: Occasionally in the first game; [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel frequently]] in the second.

* {{Narm}}: ''Dark Chronicle''; While YourMileageMayVary as to the {{Narm}}-factor of cutscene lines normally, if you go out of your way to finish enough dungeon challenges and use the medals to buy the specialty clothing from the mayor, well, try taking a tearjerker or epic sword fight scene seriously when Monica is wearing a {{Stripperific}} {{Fur Bikini}} with [[{{CatGirl}} cat ears]], and Maximillian is in a clown suit.

* SurprisinglyImprovedSequel: Obviously, Dark Cloud 2.