Dark Cloud Hints XXXIV (PS2)

Dark Cloud is a videogame developed by Level 5 Inc. and published by Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated. Created exclusively for the PlayStation 2 console from Sony, it was released in December 2000. The title is classed as an action and role playing game, played from a third person perspective.

Over 400 years ago, as a war between the Eastern Continent and the Western Wizard Army raged on, the world was destroyed because a great evil power was unleashed. Now, the power-hungry and fiendish General Flag is getting ready to launch a ritual, with the purpose of awakening this evil once more, under the guise of the Dark Genie.

The peaceful village of Norune is the first victim of the embodiment of this evil. Toan, the son of the great hero Ada, is the only one to survive the attack, and the Spirit King tells him that Atla spheres hold all his loved ones. In order to set them free, the boy must learn to wield a glove, called the Atlamillia, and defeat the dark powers.

Toan will fight his way through randomly-generated dungeons, and will have to battle against monsters, while trying to get his hands on the Atla spheres. As the game progresses, other characters will offer their help to Toan, and will join his party. All of them can equip items, and they will also get various objects and power-ups that can enhance their fighting abilities. The final aim of the game is to recover all the Atla spheres in order to rebuild the village of Norune.

GAMEPLAY HINTS

Red boxes in towns

After you "complete" a level in a dungeon, you will see red boxes in different places in a town. These red boxes contain items that are hard to buy or find (for example, Fruit of Eden). The red boxes are sometimes on the walls of the village, or around each house. They also can be found in houses. When looking in houses, search every corner and place where the camera does not view. Note: The red boxes only show up on the village or town you are trying to restore from the Evil Genie. Additionally, do not repeat the same level in a dungeon thinking that you will get red boxes. They will appear only after you complete levels you have done earlier.

Periodically, check along the dock (Queens) for red treasure boxes scattered around. The same goes for the Sun And Moon Temple. Upon leaving the dungeon, (before proceeding through the "tusk" entrance way to Muska Lacka) do an about-face. Turn around and check the entrance of the temple for any red box.

Wise Owl Forest token

Use the following trick when in Wise Owl Forest. When you enter the forest, on almost any level, the second token you pick up (for example, the pointy acorn, "red berry" or shiny stone) will be the token that the owl at the exit will want. If you have to play a single character limited zone with a weak character, throw items until you find the second token, then get out of there.

Here's a video: