Xbox

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance

While the game itself is fairly straight forward and a bit shorter than you might expect from and RPG Adventure title, there are quite a few reasons to come back for more action. Along with being able to select from three different characters, and three different levels of difficulty, the bonus level is fun in itself. Playing through as another character is a different experience, as varied techniques are required. Add in the cooperative play, and you have a game with lasting appeal.

By the time you finish this one (and see the cliffhanger ending, those bastards!) there's no doubt you'll be clamoring for more. This is really an RPG for the masses as it's not bogged down with excruciating cinemas, 45-minute CGI mini-movies, and crap loads of dialouge. The addition of the co-op mode really sets this one above any other action RPG. The melee action really can't be matched. Plus, it's got blood!!! Lots of blood! Just wait until you see the bosses get hacked up in real time. That should satisy all of the little kiddies who only seem to care about the red stuff anymore. Definitely a game for anyone.

As a growing fan of RPGs, I’ve invested countless of hours exploring the fantasy world of Morrowind and craving for even more role-playing titles for the Xbox . . . seeing as the PS2 has been getting all the real good ones (Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, etc.). Last year the PS2 managed to squeeze in Dark Alliance from the popular Baldur’s Gate series for the PC and boy was it a great game. Thankfully, the Xbox crowd is getting its chance to experience the Dungeons and Dragons-inspired role-playing action RPG that’s big enough for you to invite a friend over to play along. It truly doesn’t get any better than this.

Very few times do I take time out of my schedule to complete a game in one sitting…but with Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, I could not put it down. Games that have a great storyline appeal to me the most, and the D&D Universe certainly has a ton of great tales. BG has the entire package: a great story, beautiful graphics, superb audio, all tied together with gameplay that will keep any action adventure gamer glued to their couch. I was surprised at how easy a few of the intimidating monsters and bosses were to beat, but all in all, there are enough challenges to hold most gamers for many hours. Anyone that is a fan of third person perspective action/adventure games should immediately pick up Baldur’s Gate…no doubt. Though not much hype has been put behind Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, it should not be overlooked.

PlayStation 2 gamers were treated with Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance almost a year ago to the day, but time hasn’t changed the fact that it’s a truly outstanding game. Unlike its PC brethren, Dark Alliance isn’t a complex RPG, but rather a fun dungeon crawler where you fight your way, real-time, through a horde of monsters. You can play as one of three characters: a human archer, a dwarven fighter, or an elven sorceress. As you would suspect from any game following the AD&D rule set, there are many items for you to collect and outfit on your character, plus feats they can learn as they level-up.

Visually, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance for the Xbox isn’t much different than its year-old PlayStation 2 counterpart. The graphics are a little crisper, but you’d be hard pressed to notice any real difference. With that said, character and creature animations are plentiful, with death animations taking the cake, and the effects, weapon and spell alike, are fantastic. Water effects are equally as impressive, although it can be difficult to locate creatures with all the ripples rippling. The audio is right up there with the visuals. The game features an excellent soundtrack that really adds to the atmosphere, and loads of voiceovers that are well acted. The sound effects are spot-on as well. Whether it’s a barrel exploding, weapons clashing or enemies grunting, it all sounds great.

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance for the Xbox is essentially a perfect port of one of last year's surprise hits. On the one hand, one might argue that the publisher should have pushed for the Xbox version to have some exclusive features in it that weren't available on the PS2 a year ago. On the other hand, Dark Alliance for the Xbox obviously isn't intended for those who've already played it on the PS2. If by chance you've played the PS2 version already, then you already know that Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is a great game. And if you either don't have a PS2 or overlooked Dark Alliance amid the holiday rush last year, then you shouldn't miss this opportunity to get what's easily one of the finest action RPGs ever made.

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is more or less a direct port of last years hit of the same name for the PS2. The game had you running through dungeons, killing everything in your path, and then moving to the next location. Not exactly rocket science if you know what I mean. Xbox owners now have the chance to play through one of last years best games, but the question is, has anything changed or improved, and is the game still worth your time almost a full year after its initial release?

So, if you've played the PS2 version, there's no reason to do the whole thing again on the Xbox. If you own both consoles and haven't played it, you can find the PS2 edition for around $20 cheaper. Finally, if the Xbox is your only system, I wholeheartedly recommend Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance for the Xbox. It's not serving up anything new, but it's still a grand adventure.

The well-designed control scheme gives you the ability to heal yourself on the fly, although switching weapons can be somewhat awkward. Interacting with characters conveys an interesting storyline, and the voice acting is not bad at all. Ominous music and crystal clear sound effects like creaking doors complete the immersive experience. There are ample save points and a two-player mode to boot. Some may find the action a little repetitive, but there's really not much to fault with this game. If you have a mind for adventure, you can't go wrong with Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance.

Dark Alliance serves up enough tasty D&D stew to satisfy your role-playing urges. It oozes with quality and is genuinely fun. The next time your girlfriend (real or imaginary) breaks your geek heart, grab Dark Alliance and make that saving throw versus depression.

Si la durée de vie moyenne du jeu et l'absence d'un mode 4 joueurs peuvent être montrées du doigt, Dark Alliance n'en est pas moins un mets de choix. Un gameplay exquis, des graphismes alléchants, le titre de Snowblind est une véritable réussite dans la forme comme dans le fond. Un grand jeu tout simplement. Que l'attente va être longue d'ici la sortie du deuxième opus.

So how does Baldur’s Gate fare against similar games already on the Xbox. Well, it’s far deeper and prettier than Gauntlet, but it supports only two-player co-op versus Hunter: The Reckoning’s (and Gauntlet’s) four-player simultaneous play. Hunter has a better story, but Baldur’s Gate has lots more variety in its replay value. Plus Baldur’s is the only one of the three that has any real pedigree as an RPG.

Da hätte ich ein bisschen mehr erwartet. Leider ist BA:DA ziemlich kurz und zeigt so manch deutliche Schwäche auf. Trotzdem: Bisher der beste Diablo-Klon auf der Xbox.

Si Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance ne marche pas totalement dans les pas de ses prédécesseurs sortis sur PC, on peut tout de même dire que cette version Xbox est excellente même si peu de différences sont à constater depuis la version PS2. BGDA est donc un achat plus que raisonnable pour ceux qui souhaitent découvrir les joies du Hack'n Slash au coeur des Royaumes oubliés et pour les fans d’Enclave fustrés de ne pas avoir eu de mode coopératif.

Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance ist ein technisch perfekt in Szene gesetztes Spiel ohne Ecken und Kanten und vielleicht der richtige Einstieg für Anhänger des ursprünglichen Baldur's Gate in das Genre Action Rollenspiel und vielleicht bietet das Szenario aus den Vergessenen Reichen auch den Hack & Slay Jüngern genug Anreiz, sich mit den anderen Spielen aus der Baldur's Gate Reihe zu beschäftigen. Ich freue mich jedenfalls schon auf die angekündigte Fortsetzung.