Baldur�s Gate: Dark Alliance
- January 13, 2004 00:00 AM PST
Lots of adventure in a little package. The classic Baldur's Gate series comes to a GBA near you.
Baldur�s Gate: Dark Alliance for the GBA does a surprisingly good job of capturing the spirit of a big RPG in miniature form. There are three character classes from which to choose: Warrior, Wizard, and Archer; the game features enough weapons, attributes, items, and abilities to sate even the geekiest D&D fan; and the menu system is well organized and doesn�t interfere with gameplay. The controls are intuitive, helping the action flow while still maintaining the intricacy of RPG-style combat. Vivid graphics bring monsters and environments to life, while a host of special effects help you freeze, fry, and otherwise flay those who are unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of your wrath.But it�s not all Amulets of Protection and Scimitars of Wounding. A couple of simple but profound problems bog down an otherwise outstanding game. Due to the isometric view, your character is sometimes obscured by the scenery�this is especially annoying in the forest, where you end up having to �feel� your way around every single tree just to see if there�s a passage. The inclusion of a map would have been a significant improvement, but alas, there isn�t one to be consulted.
Though its complexity comes nowhere near that of its PC and console relatives, Baldur�s Gate: Dark Alliance steps up and represents for the Forgotten Realms. When you equip your Game Boy Advance with Baldur�s Gate: Dark Alliance, your Bag of Holding will never be empty.
