Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (PS2)
	Developer Snowblind Studios, Black Isle Studios Publisher Interplay Reviewed by Rob "Wedge" Amos [Feedback] [Author Bio] Review Date March 5, 2002

Rating (out of 5.0) 4.0 out of 5.0*

Judge for yourself

Strengths Graphics Sounds Immersive Storyline Weaknesses No player customization Only three player classes Gaming angle restricts some views Aiming mechanism

* Notes Gaming Voice ratings are based on the technical and/or gameplay merits of a given product as well as the developer's choice of features and delivery of same. Our rating is not an endorsement of the thematic content of a given title. Gamers and parents are cautioned to determine if such content conflicts or coincides with their values and beliefs.

Be forewarned, Dark Alliance is an action game, more like Gauntlet. What this title gives us is an intuitive effort which gives RPG console players something a little bit different: hack and slash, pillage and plunder, attack first ask questions later -- all in the name of the common good, of course. There are some very simple RPG dialogue interfaces and some elementary puzzle solving features, but this is not why you would buy this game. This game is what it is, and it makes no excuses.

The controls are simple, elegant and responsive, however targeting enemies is sometimes difficult. I think that this aspect was intentional (at least in part), because you improve your aiming by completing level-up goals.

Simply put, the graphics are dazzling, and the best feature of the game. The water features are particularly beautiful, offering reflections and wave physics unlike any I've ever seen. The cutscenes were more effective than they were breathtaking, and though they were a little lengthy in certain spots, they were all key to the story. The only visual impairment was the camera angle, which made it difficult to see items in certain areas. It also was a little unrealistic to be able to see through doors and walls into the next room -- but this genre isn’t really about realism anyway. We want to be able to see the beasts we must obliterate!

Game sounds were very solid. Effects were presented realistically, while voice acting was well done and not with the industry-standard cheesiness that you might expect. Background sounds were detailed, and added to the game experience.

Though this is not a turn based game, you can still see the makings of it underneath the breathtaking graphics. You might be able to get some strong blows in against some slow moving creatures, but make no mistake -- they WILL get an opportunity to backhand you at least once, and thus their "turn".

I would like to have more options on the type of player that you can create at the beginning of the game. As it is, you can choose to be a human ranger, a dwarven fighter or an elven sorceress. Even something as simple as choosing race, then choosing your class to give you 9 combinations instead of the static three offered would have been an improvement. However, this did not detract from my enjoyment of the game at all – but it would have enhanced the replay value.

The game is linear, but not stringently. You have level objectives, and you must complete certain of these objectives before you can proceed. But, for the most part, you can complete them in whatever order you choose.

In summary, this game is a nice diversion. I was thoroughly expecting an extension of the PC game, but was pleasantly surprised to see it was virtually a different genre, with the PC version acting as a ghostly guide for players. I enjoyed the experience from start to finish. Parents should be warned that there is a great deal of 'hack-and-slash', blood and use of alcohol, and thus deserving of its ESRB T (Teen 13+) rating. If you are prepared for this, then the rest should be a treat or you. It is definitely worth a rental and is a likely candidate for purchase.