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PS2 | RPG | Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance

Boxart for Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 51 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 5.0
  • SOUND: 5.0
  • CONTROL: 4.5
  • FUN FACTOR 4.5
  • AVG USER SCORE 4.5
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 4.3
Winner of the GamePro Editor's Choice Award

Hands-On: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance

Hands-On by UNCLEDUST | 09/27/2001 | 14:44:45 PM PST

Baldur?s Gate: Dark Alliance is looking to take the PS2 by storm. Judging by the preview version, it has a good chance to succeed.

Open the Flood Gate!
Baldur?s Gate: Dark Alliance is shaping up to impress RPG fans not only with its fantastic graphics?including stunningly realistic environments and insane particle effects?but also with its action-oriented gameplay. The preview version featured only the first of three acts of the story, but the classic Dungeons & Dragons world of the Forgotten Realms was vividly brought to life: Lip-synched characters populated the town and a myriad of beasts straight from the Monster Manual skulked around the subterranean levels. The only major change from the impressive earlier versions of the game was the story, which was streamlined from its original conception?but this change won?t be noticeable to many.

Remember the Forgotten Realm
Players will be able to choose from three characters?a human ranger, a dwarven warrior, and an elven sorceress?to begin the quest at Baldur?s Gate. In the preview version, playing as the sorceress was a special treat?you could battle with hand-to-hand weapons (except the heavy two-handed ones) and you also had access to an awesome array of spells, from Magic Missile to Flaming Hands. Third edition D&D rules worked seamlessly in the background during battle and were accessible if you entered the menus or when you leveled up.

The gameplay was very reminiscent of the Diablo series, but BGDA was filled with stunning 3D characters and backgrounds. The controller layout was well-suited to all the hacking and slashing, with the R2 and L2 buttons used for quick access to potions (like Diablo?s belt system). So far, BGDA is shaping up to be the first serious RPG to make its way to the PS2.


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