Interplay Productions Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II Action Review

NathanDickman

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 0 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
2 votes

Price Paid:  $50.00 from Game Stop

Summary:
I bought the first Baldurs gate right when I came out. I then spent the next month beating it with every character, leveling up to the max, getting the cool items, and just having a good time. After a month, I just got sick of it, so since then I've been looking forward to a good sequel. Luckily, this title doesn't disapoint, too much.

chicken wing

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 0 of 5

Price Paid:  $50.00 from best buy

Summary:
The game was alright, but I would agree with anyone that says the first one is better. Also check out Champions of Norrath. It's a game made by snow blind who is one of the makers of the first Baldurs Gate for those who didnt know. I've played that game and it was a lot better than BG II.

Icepick

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 0 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Price Paid:  $50.00 from EB

Summary:
This is a typical hack and slash game. It is fun at the beginning but gets really boring at the end of the game. The levels are pretty much the same (narrow corridors). It was ok at the beginning of the game but gets really annoying afterwards since you will probably spend a lot of time trying to find the narrow passages. The game is also really easy. If you know what you are doing, you can beat the last 40% of the game in less than 2 hours. Basically, it is a rental because it is short and you will probably be bored after you beat it once. It took me 7 hours to beat it the first time and 3 hours to beat it the second time. The only reason why I played it a second time was to unlock secret characters.

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 0 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5,
1 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
A direct sequel to Dark Alliance, DA2 picks up immediately afterwards with a pair of adventurers (or just one if you're playing by yourself) who more or less take up the slack that was left behind in the previous title's "ending".

One of the closest RPG style titles on the PS2, this is a hack and slash affair that simulates the choice/freedom aspect that make RPGs what they are. Of course, everything is pre-programmed so the storyline is pretty linear. Still, it's nice to let yourself believe that you're actually affecting the outcome of all that surrounds you. With five characters to choose from constricting the freedom aspect heavily, considering that I only cared for two of these characters (Vhaidra and Ysuran), and a layout reminiscent of Diablo, it's strictly a hack and slash affair that quickly winds up becoming a race to gain levels rather than to progress the plot which, I might add, is neither inspiring or memorable.

Bottom line: Fun for a while; more fun with a second player. Nothing new but the quest, so it feels more like an expansion pack to the previous game. Try it for a rental first, and then wait for it to drop into the bargain bin.

Wait, that was, like, three lines, wasn't it? Sorry.