Dark Cloud: What's the real deal with the Flapping Duster?

[Adrastia]

In case you aren't in the know, the Flapping Duster is an item that is needed to access the back floor in the Gallery of Time. Apparently, through some localization snafu it is unobtainable in the NA and possibly the EU versions of the game. There is a way to obtain it via an inventory glitch. Actually getting the Flapping Duster via the glitch looks like a hassle. But the inventory glitch in general is very easy to discover by accident. That's how I discovered it. How the HFIL did that one go unnoticed?

However, some people claim that they have found the Flapping Duster in western versions of the game and it is just an ultra rare drop. I swear I also obtained it. Although I no longer have a PS2 (stolen). I do however have the game and memory card. But of course I can't check the card because no PS2. I have a PS3 Super Slim so I can't even play the game on it. Life is hard like that.

It is possible that I, like other people, misremembered the item I obtained. It has been a long time. Especially people that played Dark Cloud as a kid. I was already an adult when I played it. But that doesn't mean my memory is infallible either. However, what makes me think that there may be some truth to it being a mega ultra rare chest drop is the top rated FAQ on GameFAQs: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps2/197042-dark-cloud/faqs/11858

This FAQ is a collaboration by Adrenaline_SL and Azaroth. If you search the FAQ for the Flapping Duster Azaroth says this:

The item needed to open the way to the back floors in the Gallery of Time is the Flapping Duster and is very rare, I found one in the whole dungeon.

So the FAQ doesn't say which version of the game Azaroth was playing. But based on this quote by Adrenaline_SL I assume that it is either NA or EU. Most likely NA. But since both accounts haven't been active in ages I can't really PM either user about this.

Q: I can't find a Flapping Duster! Help!

A: There is a rumor circulating the boards that this is non-existent in the
US release of Dark Cloud. I don't know the exact answer to this, but I
infer this from the great number of e-mails I've been getting about it.
I've been told that people have found Flapping Dusters in the import
Version, but none in the US release. How Azaroth found one is beyond me.
Go ask him.

Neoseeker user GamemasterAnthony claims he found one in the US version of the game. It's in this thread: https://www.neoseeker.com/forums/385/t58921-flapping-dusters/
A few more people that claim to have found it in the US version despite people saying it is impossible: https://www.neoseeker.com/forums/385/t12499-gallery-of-time-backstage-level/

I'm not sure if this person is joking:



So, who amongst us has found a Flapping Duster in a NA or EU version of Dark Cloud? Is this just a video game related Mandela Effect or are we finally vindicated? Maybe the difference here is whether or not you have the Greatest Hits version. I actually don't remember. I'd have to pull the vidya container out from under my bed. And I can't do that right now because there is another container containing cat treats under there and my cats are sound asleep and have enough treats for the day already.

 

[bjork]

I'm not familiar, but it sounds like if there was some non-glitch workaround to make it happen, it would be widespread by now, the game's almost 25 years old after all. But even if it could drop and the rate was 1/32,780? I'll just do the glitch, I'm only gonna be alive for so long.

 

[Deleted member 560402]

well it's normally used to clean carpets, such as flying ones i guess. lol

 

[Adrastia]

well it's normally used to clean carpets, such as flying ones i guess. lol

A bunch of people swear they saw the magic carpet. But that too could be an ME or confusion with the early gameplay footage that featured the magic carpet or something in the Jampack demo.

I'm not familiar, but it sounds like if there was some non-glitch workaround to make it happen, it would be widespread by now, the game's almost 25 years old after all. But even if it could drop and the rate was 1/32,780? I'll just do the glitch, I'm only gonna be alive for so long.

TCRF says the Flapping Duster has a 0% chance of spawning in a chest: https://tcrf.net/Dark_Cloud#Gallery_of_Time_Back_Area
It was however listed in the Prima strategy guide. Maybe that's why people rememner obtaining it. They saw it in the guide. I'm just not 100% convinced that it actually has a 0% chance of spawning.

Azaroth says they found one in a chest and didn't mention the inventory glitch. So I guess that's some super lucky luck if that's how it was obtained.

Some glitched inventory videos:

Spoiler

People have said that even if you glitch it in the item will not work. This appears to be false. It is possible that someone glitched in a non-working copy of the Flapping Duster. But it is indeed 100% in the game in some capacity. I'm not sure if I can test it myself on my laptop because the game may not run well enough. I'd honestly rather rip my own disc just to see if that makes any difference due to whatever version I have. But I think the disc drive stopped working.

Anyway, there's no reason to glitch it in on an emulator unless you really want to because there's a patch to fix the issue anyway: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/3405/