Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance

Moby ID: 5805
PlayStation 2 Specs
Note: We may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made via eBay or Amazon links (prices updated 3/28 5:51 PM )
See Also

Description official descriptions

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is an action RPG which casts the player as one of three basic characters: an elf sorceress, a human archer, or a dwarf fighter. From humble beginnings slaying rats in the cellars of an inn, the adventurer will move on to exploring caves, crypts, and mountain passes. Naturally, it's all filled to the brim with horrible monsters, wicked traps, treasures, and fabled magical weapons. As the game progresses, the player is constantly rewarded with new weaponry, new monsters to fight, and experience points to put into the adventurer's character stats to grow even more powerful. The adventurer must eventually unravel the secrets of a dark, new Thieves Guild backed by powerful mages.

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Videos

See any errors or missing info for this game?

You can submit a correction, contribute trivia, add to a game group, add a related site or alternate title.

Credits (PlayStation 2 version)

19 People

Producer
Line Producer
Lead Programming
Programming
Art Director
El Presidente
Audio and Localization Producer
Design
Lead Character Artist
Senior Artists
Artist
Music
Music By
QA Project Supervisor

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 81% (based on 53 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.6 out of 5 (based on 110 ratings with 5 reviews)

This game is very good and is best when played with another person

The Good
The co-op feature was really cool because it made the game even better when I played it with someone else.

It was very challenging at parts which made the game interesting to play through.

It had vivid maps that expanded which really got the player in depth in the story line.

Large variety of creatures with different levels (including bandits, rats, undead, etc. with various difficulties).

The spells in the game were really cool and made it very fun.

The Bad
Some parts were very hard to get past such as the orb part in the under ground. But besides that, it was a very good game.

Also, there really wasn't much of a background story to the characters you play as (like other adventures on how the human or the elf were able to get there).

The Bottom Line
The game was very good and probably should be in all RPG game libraries because of its replayability.

Xbox · by Todd Bello (28) · 2006

A graphically attractive hack n' slash with little gameplay

The Good
Graphics-wise there is little to complain about in Dark Alliance. The monsters are well modeled and animated, the locations are interesting to look at, and the lighting effects are wonderful. The ripple and counter-ripple as your character wades through water is beautiful. Your character portrait is a pleasure to look at. My only real complaint with the graphics is that your character is a bit small and there is no way to zoom in closer to the action.

The Bad
Sadly, for me there was more bad than good to this game. The game began very well and I was anticipating and enjoyable adventure. By the end of Act I I was very disappointed.

The game play is repetitive and predictable. Each level consists of nothing more than killing the hordes of monsters that charge you. Usually there are only 2 or 3 types of monsters per level. There are no puzzles to solve beyond the very simple 'pull the lever to open the door' variety found in Act I. There are no mazes to explore. Every level is either a twisty passage from entrance to exit or starts with a left or right choice that both lead to the same place. Game play is a matter of walking from point A to point B killing anything that gets in your way.

There is not even the excitement of finding powerful artifacts and treasure in the dungeons. I found that the weapons in the chests and dropped by enemies were always inferior to what was available in the shop at the start of each level. There came to be no point picking up other weapons except to sell them for gold in order to buy the most powerful weapon at the next shop.

The game was also VERY short. I finished it in 11 hours, and that was making point of searching out and exterminating every monster on each level. Another gripe is that the end boss was ridiculously easy. It was over so fast that I figured that it must not be the end of the game after all. I was wrong. It was the end and a short on at that.

The Bottom Line
Dark Alliance started out very well and then dropped the ball. There are no surprises in this game after Act I. As an action game it is completely average. It is so standard that it could have been a 2D side scroller without losing anything from the gameplay. As a RPG it fails. I was actually glad that there were so many save points so that I could play in short intervals before I grew too bored.

If you are looking for a serious RPG skip Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance. It is nothing like it's PC cousins. If you are looking for a simple hack and slash fantasy game you have found it with Dark Alliance. Don't expect too may thrills though.

PlayStation 2 · by NobodysSon (13) · 2006

This game is not much RPG, Not much Diablo like... what is it trying to be?

The Good
The graphics and effects in this game are incredible, but that's where my praise for this game ends. Although the story is paced well and moves along, it seems that it is rather simple to say the least. I'm gunna have to move the rest of my views on this game to the BAD

The Bad
OK, where do I begin. It's short... very short. The RPG elements are limited to skill building and level gaining, but honestly, the way the game works... they should have just simplified the engine to a Gauntlet style. All this game really is was designed by the Gauntlet creators long ago. The creature variety is lacking. Kill and Knoll, kill another, another, another, etc... Oooo a Troll... ok, back to the knolls... Yeah... And they do nothing but charge you, or run in circles to take pot shots out you with ranged weapons (All the creatures in the game act like this) The bosses are simple to say the least. (Not even going to comment on the joke of a final boss) I just can't say enough about how this game just doesn't follow through. The game has items drop everywhere much like diablo. So you'de think that maybe, item finding is the fun part of the game... beefing up your character. But nope... it's all pretty basic stuff, and only the best stuff appears when your done with the game mostly anyway. The game is a typical hack and slash... pretty, but not worth the time it takes to play it. You want an RPG? Go with Baldurs Gate 2, you want Hack and Slash? Go with Diablo, or Gauntlet: Dark Legacy. (Which has some actually length) Stay away from from this glittering crud.

The Bottom Line
Gold covered crud. Pretty, but lacking any definition as to what it is trying to be good at to set it apart.

PlayStation 2 · by VXBlade (2) · 2002

[ View all 5 player reviews ]

Trivia

1001 Video Games

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

Analytics

MobyPro Early Access

Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings!

Related Games

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II
Released 2004 on PlayStation 2, Linux, Windows...
Baldur's Gate
Released 2005 on J2ME
Baldur's Gate
Released 1998 on Windows, 2000 on Macintosh
Baldur's Gate III
Released 2020 on Windows, Macintosh, Stadia...
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition + Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition
Released 2019 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Baldur's Gate: Infinity Collection
Released 2016 on Macintosh, Linux, Windows
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition
Released 2012 on Windows, 2013 on Macintosh, 2014 on Linux...
Baldur's Gate (Gold Edition)
Released 1998 on Windows
Baldur's Gate: The Original Saga
Released 1999 on Windows, 2014 on Macintosh, Linux

Related Sites +

Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 5805
  • [ Please login / register to view all identifiers ]

Contribute

Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.

Contributors to this Entry

Game added by NeoMoose.

Macintosh, iPhone, Windows Apps, Android, Linux, Windows, iPad added by Plok. Xbox added by vism. Xbox One, Xbox Series added by Rik Hideto. GameCube added by Kartanym. PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch added by Terok Nor.

Additional contributors: Corn Popper, FatherJack.

Game added February 18, 2002. Last modified March 17, 2024.