Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance

by UBI Soft

Product Features

• Inherits the most important features from the PlayStation 2 version: Character enhancement, different fighting styles, many different weapons, equipment and magic spells.
• Character enhancement visible in-game: Armor, weapons, shields, gloves, helmets, and boots.
• Real 3D isometric environments and 3D rendered characters and monsters.
• New set of maps inspired by the PlayStation 2 version.
• Impressive lightning effects and magic spells.

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00008G75B
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 4.8 x 0.2 inches
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: January 13, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,910 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Game Informer Review

Dark Alliance for the GBA is a lot like the "fun size" candy people hand out for Halloween. It's every bit as good as the full-size version, only smaller. More focused on action than role-playing, Baldur's Gate is one fun little fantasy (not in the dirty way) title.

Entering the city of Baldur's Gate as one of three classes – fighter, wizard, or archer – you progress through a fairly linear main story with optional side quests. You gain experience and find new gear like in any other RPG, but the main focus is exploration and combat. There are no combos to speak of, but the ability to switch between melee, ranged, and magical combat keeps things from growing stale. The constantly unfolding plot keeps things moving as well. It's an engaging title that's hard to put down once you're into it.

The graphics are nice, although the sound is far from impressive (even by GBA standards), but doesn't really detract from the experience. As far as fantasy titles go, Dark Alliance is more fun than cheesy, so-bad-they're-good films like The Dungeonmaster, starring Richard Moll from Night Court. And we all know that Bull Shannon is one hard act to top.

Concept:
Bring the Baldur's universe to the GBA in an action-heavy dungeon crawler

Graphics:
The characters are fairly blurry, but the environments are sharp and atmospheric

Sound:
Background music is almost non-existent, and the sound effects might make you think you're playing Gauntlet

Playability:
Lining your character up with an object can be surprisingly tricky, but overall everything is solid

Entertainment:
Once you're into it, it's hard to close this gate

Replay:
Moderate

Rated: 8.25 out of 10
Editor: Jeremy Zoss
Issue: February 2004

2nd Opinion:
Though it has mind-blowing graphical splendor going for it, this port also has a complete lack of re-engineered gameplay against it. Everything's slightly dumbed-down from the original, but the biggest problem is the inexplicable absence of recall potions. Walking back out of cleared dungeons is not how I want to spend my time.

Rated: 7.25 out of 10
Editor: Adam Biessener


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Product Description

Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance challenges you to travel the Sword Coast as you rescue your kidnapped relatives!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Dungeon Crawl, February 10, 2004

By 

Jaelus (Clifton, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (Video Game)

This hack and slash dungeon crawl plays like the console version of the same name. You can be a human male fighter, archer, or wizard. The graphics are good for the gba and they pulled this title off surprisingly well. This is one of the few games I actually liked enough to play through. In my opinion there are WAY too many magic items and potions, to the point where if you crack open a barrel and there isn't a flaming burst adamantine longsword +5 in it it's a surprise, but who cares? This isn't a hardcore rpg like the baldur's gate for the pc (one of the best titles of all time). This is just a hack and slash dungeon crawl, and it does that very well. The locations are varied and interesting and you fight everything from kobolds, drow, frost giants, and even a beholder. Pick this title up and it will keep you entertained for many hours. Very enjoyable and a good D&D addition to the GBA.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy RPG without the cuteness, January 20, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (Video Game)

Most RPG Gameboy Advance titles suffer from the same problem, they're too cute! Short, cartoonish heros battle sweet looking bunnies that happen to throw lightning from their pink little ears. As much as I love RPGs, I just can't bring myself to play these games. But there are some titles that try to look a bit more real and gritty. Baldur's gate for the GBA is one of them. For those who have played the PS2 version, then this will seem quite familar. It looks and plays the same, although with a bit less to drool at graphically (as is to be expected on a handheld system). The plot is the same but with a few differences in the actual "dungeons" and a bit more of the city to explore. You can still choose one of three classes but in this version, your character is always a human male. Game play, so far, is smooth and fun, although it is far to easy to cheat by standing just outside of a monsters reach and blasting him with spells or arrows. Still, this is almost a perfect mini-sized version of the orginal. All the spells and feats seem to be included as well as the items (although the recall potion is oddly absent.) I'm still on Act One, but so far I finally feel like I got a Gameboy Advance RPG that is fun but isn't cute.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, to a point, January 12, 2005

By 

IdrilCelebrindal - See all my reviews

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (Video Game)

This is a game that is definitely all about the hack and slash. Everything else, including story, takes a backseat. The real development and appeal lies in the real time combat that dominates the game, and actually proves to be suprisingly fun.

One of my absolute favorite aspects to the Baldur's Gate games (particularly the computer version) is the atmosphere; and I believe this game is no less, though on a considerably smaller scale. The various worlds and areas explored aren't large, but they are detailed and fittingly designed. Music is used sparingly, which I see to be a minor complaint since, in my experience, Baldur's Gate creates tension and atmosphere without letting itself be dominated by the music.

The combat hack and slash is fun, as well as the vast amount of weapons and arrows and potions collected and nearly all of the barrels, etc. that are broken, and the replay is fun simply to try out the different classes (my favorite was the mage because of the awesome spells that you can learn.)

But unfortunately, it's not a very long game (was beaten in a week) nor a particularly complex one. And the replay only lasts so long; having been beaten so easily, I've beaten it many times since and have found each time less inclined to continue playing. If there are any major complaints to this game, in my opinion, it's that it's too easy and too short. I just hope that the sequel (assuming there will be one) will improve on both of those aspects.