If you’ve never browsed the Classics Catalog on PlayStation Plus, then do yourself a favor and check it out. There are some great games to choose from, especially if you grew up on them the way I did. In fact, one of my favorite RPGs of the PS2 era is a part of that catalog, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

I’m talking about Dark Cloud, the first ever game from Level-5, the studio behind Yo-Kai Watch, Ni No Kuni, and Professor Layton. It’s an action RPG with town-building mechanics. And although it got a lot of critical praise at launch, I rarely hear too many people talking about it now. That’s a shame, because Dark Cloud, though dated, is still a masterpiece from a bygone era of gaming.

Dark Cloud Is Free Via PlayStation Plus

If you’ve got a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription, you can play Dark Cloud at no additional cost. It’s part of the Classics Catalog, and this version has upscaled visuals from the original (although it still very much looks like a PS2 game). If you missed Dark Cloud when it was new, it’s definitely worth checking out.

I often see Dark Cloud listed as an obscure game on PS2, and maybe that’s true. Between it, its sequel, and Rogue Galaxy, I developed quite the fondness for Level-5 during the PlayStation 2 era, and that’s continued into today, where I’m still chipping away at Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time.

Dark Cloud Is An Overlooked Classic

So, yes, I’m a sucker for Level-5 games already, and admittedly loved Dark Cloud when it first came out, but I’ve also replayed it with PS Plus recently, and it still holds up fairly well despite feeling dated at times. Excellent RPGs like Xenosaga, Final Fantasy 10 and Dragon Quest 8 get a lot of attention on PS2, which is perhaps why Dark Cloud often gets overlooked, but it deserves to be considered one of the best PS2 RPGs along with those others.

But Dark Cloud is truly fantastic. Its gameplay loop can get repetitive at times, but the town-building mechanics and cast of characters are a lot of fun. The combat system is also enjoyable, and if you like to blend life sims with RPGs, then you should definitely give Dark Cloud a shot. You can purchase it on the PS Store, but if you have a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription, you can also check it out at no additional cost.

Brand

Sony

Original Release Date

June 29, 2010

Original MSRP (USD)

$59.99 (Essential), $99.99 (Extra), $119.99 (Premium) – Per Year

App Store

PlayStation Store