Sony Japan Studio: 28 Best Games They Helped Create
20. Dark Chronicle
Developed by: Level-5
Developer Level-5 is considered the premier creator of JRPGs for nigh on two decades, however, their humble beginings started in collaboration with Japan Studio, as they created Dark Cloud, an ambitious PS2 action RPG together.
The resulting game had impressive scope and gameplay, however, it was bogged down by padding, frustrating interface, and lots of grind. It sold badly in Japan, but good enough in the states to warrant a follow-up.
This led to Japan Studio partnering again to make a spiritual sequel (marketed as Dark Cloud 2 internationally). The title was a mass improvement, streamlining the RPG experience, filling the game with addictive procedure-generated dungeons, and improving the combat towards breakneck action
It was Level-5's first championed JRPG, and since then, they've gone from strength to strength, as an independent studio. Although their collaborations with Sony weren't done yet...