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Not enough campaign time for the money

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I feel sorry for anyone who has spent more than ten dollars on this game. I purchased it for [...] at Toys 'R' Us. Basically a dollar for every hour of campaign time I got out of it.

I'm a huge rpg, particularly forgotten realms fantasy fan, and I was sorely dissapointed in this game. While, the story is missing in detail, the adventuring is fun, heavy hack n slash type, very little to no RP at all. The ending was just that, an ending, a real let down. We went through this game tooth and nail, making sure to uncover every stone, secret and bad guy and it still only took me 8 and a half hours to beat. I was really dissapointed. Just when we thought there was going to be a spectacular plot twist and the game was really going to start kicking, it just ended, promising yet 'another installment' in the Baldurs Gate series. Honestly, instead of purchasing the next game, I'll just pass. I just can't justify paying new game prices for what amounts to the time you would get out of a free community expansion.

If you want to purchase an RPG, save your money and put it towards the NWN platinum pack for the PC. Now there you can waste the hours away!!!

Don't let the name fool you...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 18 / 18
Date: May 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Despite the game's title, this game is not at all in the same vein as the wonderful Baldur's Gate PC RPGs. It's a hack-and-slash dungeon crawler, and in terms of gameplay it is nearly identical to Diablo II, but with better graphics. If this type of game appeals to you, great! If you're looking for your RPG fix though, you'll have to get it somewhere else.

Let's start with the good points. The game is pretty fun if you're into hack-and-slash types, especially with two players. Any game with a two-player cooperative mode always scores points with me. The graphics and sound are very good, and the game is easy to learn and easy to control.

There is some replay value to it, as there are some new modes you can unlock by finishing the game. Beat the game once and you'll be able to play a special game mode that puts you in a tough dungeon on a short time limit, playing as none other than Drizzt Do'Urden. Beat that mode, and you unlock Extreme difficulty in the normal game, which is several times more difficult than usual. If you manage to beat Extreme, you can play as Drizzt in the normal game.

There are some bad points to the game, however. It's extremely short; you can beat it in under 10 hours. It's really a shame that the game is not more extensive. Also, as with any game of this type, it can get quite repetitive after awhile. The game is very easy as well. The Gauntlet is really the only difficult part of it. Even on Extreme, I had no problems completing the game quickly.

And finally, although I knew this wasn't really an RPG when I bought it, I still couldn't help feeling disappointed at the great lack of depth compared to many other games that have been set in the Forgotten Realms. I would have liked to see a wider variety of D&D skills and spells brought in, as well. For instance, the Sorceress (and all spell-casting enemies) doesn't have any spell effects aside from direct damage. It would be cool to have things like Entangle and Charm Person available, to have a thief class with all their many skills, and so on. I realize why many of these things were left out, but a little more work on the design could have added a welcome element of strategy to what it is essentially little more than a slugfest.

My list of complaints may be long, but don't get me wrong; for what it is, this game was executed extremely well. If you're looking for a game like Diablo, you will enjoy this. If you want an RPG, you're better off with Morrowind, or waiting until Bioware rolls out their Star Wars RPG this summer. It's better with a friend, so BG:DA scores a few points there. Still, rent before you buy. You could easily beat this game in a weekend, and you might never play it again after that.

A lot of fun...for Diablo fans

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 12 / 12
Date: December 09, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game because I was a big fan of the PC Baldur's Gate series, having played and finished both Baldur's Gate I and II and their respective expansion packs. And although Dark Alliance is fun, it is so similar to Diablo that it is almost misleading to put the Baldur's Gate name on it.

For instance, instead of starting the game creating a character from numerous races, classes, and alignments ala the originals, you are allowed to select from only three pre-defined characters: a male human archer, a male dwarven fighter, and a female elven sorceress (very much like Diablo). Additionally, if you are expecting to be able to control a full party of non-player characters (NPCs) as in the PC versions, you will be disappointed: you can only control one player at any time (although you can play two player co-op), and Dark Alliance does NOT support XBox Live multiplayer capabilities either.

Additional similarities to Diablo include a mana-based spellcasting system instead of a true AD&D one, identical gameplay (smashing barrels and opening chests), and some very interesting coincidences (the color of health and mana potions, for instance).

Outside of these similarities, one of the major disappointments with Dark Alliance is how much the expansive Baldur's Gate universe is simplified. The selection of only three characters eliminates some of the most popular character types, including thieves and clerics. Additionally, the variety of spells and monsters is very limited and you cannot interact with any NPCs or enter any building outside of the main storyline, eliminating one of the things that made the originals so compelling and re-playable - the sense of exploration.

That said, true to Baldur's Gate the graphics are outstanding and the music and dialog excellent (including some voices from the original series). The controls are easy and intuitive to learn, and the storyline engaging enough.

This game should be a lot of fun for Diablo fans or fans of the hack-and-slash genre, but if you are a hardcore Baldur's Gate fan, don't expect this game to match the breadth and depth of the original series or you will be sorely disappointed.

too easy

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 6
Date: December 06, 2002
Author: Amazon User

this game is too easy .. I finished it in 10h , nice grafik and fun to play in coop, but its too short in my own opinion

Fun but short

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 12, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I got this game and finished it within 3 days. It is sad to see a game ending so quicky. I am still playing Golden Sun for GBA for about 7 months now. Everything else about this game is good. Gaphics, Gameplay, Multiplayer experiance (without split screen), It was really too short that was the problem. And I also notice the world is not excatly so origional.. there were 3 worlds all 3 of them were sort of familiar to the ones in diablo's 3 acts, for world one it was basicly like the monistary from diablo, world 2 was like a desert and snowy planes of act 2 and 5(exp), and world 3 was like a marshy lands of diablo's act 3's terrain

Great - SHORT game

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 26, 2002
Author: Amazon User

The game was awesome if you like the Baldurs Gate D'n'D games.
Its a 3/4 perspective action RPG (similar play style to Diablo).
I loved that you can play 2 players on the same console (though there is no link option for extending the MP functions). The graphics were fantastice and the game play was fast paced and a lot of fun. So why not 5 stars? I beat the game in less than 2 days... for 50$ thats a pretty quick game...
They should have extended the world/quests much further than they did. Other than that, its an excellent game.

Entertaining for bit. But way to short.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 29, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game has some nice visual affects, wonderfull control and the hack n slash style battle system is refreashing. I didnt like the battle system on the PC baldurs gate, and in fact that was the only thing that kept me from really getting into it. However I gave this game only 3 starts for various reasons. First it was just way to easy. I bought this game on a thursday and passed it on saturday. It wouldnt have been to bad if it was atleast a little longer too. I couldnt beleive how short this game was compared to the rest of the series. Lastly there was a lack of depth. There was just nothing that really grabed me and took me in; Nothing at all. If your looking for something to tide you over for the weekend this game is for you. But rent it, pass it and be done with it.

good but keeps you wanting more

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 03, 2004
Author: Amazon User

just wanted to say that this is a good game ,story and action is good also.The problem i have with this title is that i found it way too short way too easy,and definetly too linear.So unless your a dongeon and dragons or a fantasy fan dont buy it because for 55 dollars you are not going to get your moneys worth.Too bad because i would like to see more games like this on game cube.

Great hack & slash fun

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 18 / 19
Date: December 02, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This is one rental that actually turned into a purchase. I'm usually not a fan of hack and slash type games, but this one has turned out to be quite entertaining.

Like other games in this genre, Dark Alliance is a third person perspective game (kinda 2.5D) in which you venture through cellars, mines, dungeons and even outdoor environments like mountain and villages. Levels typically end with a "boss" of varying difficulty and combat style. Gameplay is mixed with first person cut scenes in which you converse with other characters in a multi-choice format.

Interestingly, you can only save your game at certain points. At first this seems annoying, but there are enough save points around the game so it isn't too bad. Another big plus is that saving is really quick. If you've played games like Morrowind, where saving and loading are good opportunites to grab a drink, then you're in for a treat. Unfortunately you can only save about 25 games at once and there is no way to describe the saved game. A bit annoying, but oh well.

I'm not too much of a D&D fan, so I can't comment on how true this game is to the ruleset. However, as you move through the game you'll acquire better goods and have to manage your inventory and make decisions about how to develop your powers as you advance levels. Who knows if these mechanisms are authentic enough, but they are fun.. :)

Finally, one of the best aspects of the game (and why I ended up purchasing it) is the two player option. This put two players on the screen at the same time, working together to battle through the game. I find this style of multiplayer play to be much more enjoyable than split screen, and this is one of the few games that offers it.

Campy Fun in a Starter RPG

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 15 / 17
Date: February 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Baldur's Gate is a hugely popular RPG series for the PC. With Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, console gamers get a taste for what makes this game so much fun.

First, remember that this is a console port of a very rich PC game. That means that instead of having lots of choices of male/female or human/elf/dwarf or fighter/thief/mage/cleric, you have three. You can be a male archer, a dwarf fighter, or a female sorceress.

The graphics are really quite good. There are numerous pools of water for you to run around in, to watch the ripples and wakes shimmer and merge. The lighting is lovely, the detail in the buildings and towns and dungeons look great on even large TVs. The sound is good too, and sitting in your living room with friends while the stereo sound surrounds you is tons of fun.

You can play single player or two-person cooperative, which makes couch-play even more fun. With a large bowl of popcorn and your favorite drinks, you can hack and slash your way through numerous hours or a weekend of play.

Now, the down side. Again, console port. Really, you're playing Gauntlet. You run around hacking up barrels and crates in your friend's cellar. Is this exactly the nicest thing to do? You hack at rats and enemies, look for things in barrels. Yes, you get into lever-pulling and puzzles. But in the end the game is pretty linear and the monsters don't regenerate. So whatever level you're at when you get to a certain point, you can't build yourself up more strongly.

This can get to be a real pain when you hit a strong boss. You can't go buy more gear, because there's no way to make more money. You can't get stronger or more skillful, because there's nobody else to kill "behind you" and you can't go "ahead" until you kill the boss. So you're doomed to keep trying to hack at him until you get past him ... somehow.

Another big complaint I have is that the gamemakers seem obsessed with the female form. The guys in the game are all pudgy and uninteresting. But the girls! The first woman you meet, the bartender, has jiggly, wiggly breasts and she shakes them around non-stop during her long, long discussions with you. Everyone I showed the game to was mesmerized by them.

And playing the female sorceress character, I found that no matter how hard I tried, I could NOT get her clothed well. Every outfit involved a cut-off top, skimpy leather boots and not much else. Ahem, she's going into a deep, dark dungeon to face dire enemies? And she's doing this in beach-wear??

Still, the game was campy fun, and definitely draws you in. A fun weekend-play game for real RPGers, and an easy way for those new to the genre to learn what it's about and to get a taste for the fun.

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