Dark Cloud 2

Missable

To reach photography level eight, you will need a photography score of 700. The score comes from taking pictures of scoops and ideas. Scoops are worth 5 points and ideas are worth 2 points. There are only 750 points in the entire game, and more than 70 points are from missables, which means you need to be careful. If you want to check your current score, bring up the camera with and then press . In the top right corner, you will see your photography level and your current score. After getting the camera in Chapter 1, you should pull up this web app made by Reddit user u/tedmeat. It provides a checklist that is conveniently divided into chapters and locations. Here are all of the missable scoops and ideas. The ones in red are used in inventions, and you will have to get them for A True Visionary:

Chapter 1

• Brave Little Linda - During the fight with Linda, the circus elephant, she will occasionally stand on her hind legs to do a stomp attack. This is when you want to take a picture.
• Clown Robo's Attack - During the fight with Halloween, the giant robot, it will occasionally shoot rockets at you. Pay attention, as your moment to take the picture comes very quickly. You want the moment that the rocket leaves the robot.

Chapter 2

• King Mardan - When in Fish Monster Swamp, you will eventually fish out "The Holy One" with a poison apple. Before giving him what he wants, take a picture of him.
• R. Butterfly United - During the boss fight with the Rainbow Butterfly, you will want to mess up once the butterfly has split into seven pieces. Instead of hitting the red one first, hit any of the others. Doing this will cause all 7 butterflies to fly towards the center and unite. Ready your camera and take a picture the moment it comes back together.

Chapter 3

• Flying Battleship - During the fight at the lighthouse, you will be switching between fighting Gaspard as Monica and defending Lin as Max. While defending Lin, take a picture of the blimp in the background (you can get this in a couple different spots, but only in those spots).
• Phantom Memo Eater - After Lin has recovered and joined your party, you will eventually come to Yorda's Valley. After a cutscene, a boss fight will ensue. Take a picture of this boss before taking him on.

Chapter 4

• Doctor Jaming - During the fight where you are surrounded by the mind-controlled Shigura, take a picture of Doctor Jaming on his floating platform.
• Flying Battleship - If you didn't get it in the last chapter, you can get it again during the fight with Doctor Jaming.
• Puppet Shingala - After talking to Osmond in the future and obtaining the electrified fish, you can take on the mind-controlled Shingala. Before doing anything, as this fight can go by quickly, take a picture of him.

Chapter 5

• Cinders - Before destroying the Fire Squall, make a straw house and place it in Heim Rada. Leave the area and come back, and the straw house will be gone. In its place will be a pile of cinders. Take a picture of that pile before picking it up.
• Flying Battleship - The last time you can get this scoop is during the fight at the Mount Gundor Peak. If you haven't gotten it yet, now is the time to do so!
• Fire Squall - Take a picture of the large machine at Mount Gundor Peak before blowing it up.
• The Ultimate Gaspard - After fighting normal Gaspard at the end of Mount Gundor, a cutscene will play, where he transforms into a giant fire demon. Take a picture of him before you start fighting him.

Chapter 6

• Dead Tree - Before entering the palace, there are a couple of dead trees around. Take a picture of one, as they will disappear the next time you come here.
• Earth/Fire/Water/Wind Altar - In Kazarov Stonehenge, take a picture of each of the 4 pillars around for 4 easy ideas. These are NOT the same as the gem altars, which are not missable.
• Gigantor Paznos - After bringing Paznos to the present, it will go into "Colossus Mode." Once you regain control, you can see it off in the distance in Kazarov Stonehenge. Take a picture of it.
• Ixion - Any place the Blackstone One would be, the Ixion will be there until you complete Chapter 7. The Blackstone One will return in Chapter 8.
• Kazarov Stonehenge - Take a picture of the central altars in Kazarov Stonehenge.

Chapter 7
Everything is missable if you defeat the boss at the end of the chapter without getting everything. Don't forget that, upon completing this chapter, you will be unable to go to the future. These are the ones that you will only see once, however:

• Golden Door - Take a picture of the door leading to Emperor Griffon's room.
• Labyrinth Door - Take a picture of the door you use to get into the boss area of Chapter 7.
• Legend of the Moon - When fighting Dark Element, take a picture of the Moon behind him.
• Sun Chamber Gatekeeper - Take a picture of one of the statues guarding the Golden Door.

Chapter 8

• Flotsam Revived! - The fight with Flotsam takes place in the floor "A Suspicious Opening." Take a picture of Flotsam before you start fighting him.
• Mr. Big Shot's Shadow - Take a picture of the Dark Genie before you start to fight him in Zelmite Mine Depths.

My personal recommendation is to not advance to the next chapter until you have all of the ideas and scoops from the current chapter. This way, you won't need to backtrack too much, and you can focus on what new ideas and scoops have come up.

When you advance to the next photography level, a little message will pop up saying that your level has increased. Once you reach level 8, the trophy will pop.