26 Years Later, A 10/10 PlayStation 2 RPG Is Free Via PlayStation Plus

The PlayStation 2 era was one of the most memorable in gaming history. Quality titles were flowing like water from a hose, and so many franchises like Devil May Cry and God of War were born out of the PlayStation 2 generation. It also had the added bonus of existing in tandem with the Dreamcast, which had one of the most unique libraries of any console.

Still, the PlayStation 2 towers above it, primarily because of its quantity and a high degree of quality control. There were countless classics that came out for PlayStation 2, and you can play one now. Right on the PSN, you can grab a 26-year-old PlayStation 2 RPG that's a straight 10/10 for free.

A Classic PS2 RPG Is On PlayStation Plus Now

If you're a PlayStation Plus Premium member, you can play Dark Cloud, which originally released for the PlayStation 2 in 2000. The game's summary doesn't really do it justice, but it clues you in as to what you're in store for: "In a distant world, a great evil has been unleashed – and only you can destroy it. Combining intense fantasy combat with epic role-playing adventure, Dark Cloud lets you experience a magical world in all its glory, so download it today and let the story unfold."

Dark Cloud is considered a classic for a reason. As a very early Level-5 game, it was an early proponent of combining city-building simulators and dungeon crawling. Taking a cue from games like ActRaiser and building on it with the technical advancements of the PlayStation 2, it whisked players off to a wondrous world where you could explore and create.

This 2000's Game Is A Fan Favorite

It helps that the cast of characters is endearing, as with many Level-5 staples, and that Toan, the main character, adorns the iconic box art. If you were around for the PlayStation 2 era, odds are you've seen that PlayStation 2 artwork somewhere before.

Toan isn't the only playable character, though, as there are six party members in all, who each wield a unique gimmick. While dungeons could get tiring from time to time, there was a wide array of enemies to fight, including a secret intense Black Knight boss encounter at the end of a challenge tower.

If you're a fan of Dark Cloud, I suggest looking into Dark Cloud 2, also known as "Dark Chronicle" in some regions. It's not just a straight sequel; it offers a completely new setting and storyline, a dual-hero structure, and many new mechanics. It took the foundation of the original (invention and discovery) and further built on that in a really interesting way. It's a little more dense and tougher to get into, but absolutely worth playing.

For those of you with PlayStation Plus, however, jump on the first Dark Cloud for free. It's very easy to get sucked in early on, and clocking in at around 30 hours for story completion, it doesn't overstay its welcome. As Sony notes, the game has been converted from the PS2 to the PS4 (and by proxy, the PS5), and there might be some framerate or technical issues present.