Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II

"Addictive gameplay that lasts for years"

Dark Alliance 2 is an RPG that follows right along the lines of other games of its type. This doesn't make it boring in any way though!

B.G.D.A.2 has a unique level up system. When you go to distribute your points, you can place them on new magic skills, or on old ones to improve them. There are also passive skills that you can put them on to increase your carrying capacity, raise your max hp, increase your attack speed, and so forth.

The game has several different paths you can choose to change how you reach the end, though the end will always be the same. Some quests aren't even necessary, and you can skip them if the reward isn't worth the effort.

It has a easy to use spell book system, where you can set your skills to X, circle, triangle, and square when the book is opened. So you can attack with X, jump with triangle and so forth, and then hold L1 and cast spells with them as well. You can also set 1 spell to normal circle for easy access.

As you go through the game, there is SO many different evolutionary paths you might take, maybe you will have very powerful magi spells, or attack lighting fast. However, once you reach a certain level, your character will have little difference in his/her stats. This unfortunately means, that at a point your character will be about as good as it gets, and the game will become repetitive and boring.

There is 5 characters to choose from, all with their individual builds and end results. As a bonus to this, there are two secret characters you can unlock as well!

There is an awesome workshop system where you can take around 15 different types of gems, and use them to upgrade rings,armor, necklaces, and weapons. Each item will have 3 slots, [rune stone][gem1][gem2], where you can put up to 16 rune stones, 16 gem1's and 16 gem2's in the item to make 100's of combinations and potencys.

The game has a good story, but its very slow. Those who take the time to follow it will find it ties in excellently with the first game.

The sound is pretty bland, and the lack of cut-scenes makes it a bit disappointing, but the gameplay is fast paced and will keep you entertained for a long time.

Each character and build have their differences, and its very easy to notice when you add that extra few hit points, or get a new spell.

People who are looking for a new, edgy and innovative game will be disappointed by this game.

People who are looking for a fun, fast paced game with loads of things to do and ways to customize yourself and how you play, with an awesome multi-player mode co-op that makes the game even more fun, will be very satisfied.

RATINGS:
gameplay [10/10] Fun, addictive
Multi-player [10/10] ^^^
Sound [ 5/10 ] Very bland, not very noticeable
personalization [ 8/10 ] good, but only single genders for each char
Customization [10/10] couldn't be better
Graphics [ 9/10 ] very little they could do to this, but little there is
characters [10/10] easy to notice the differences in how they play
Story [ 8/10 ] unique and interesting, but no cut-scenes

OVERALL [ 8/10 ] Fun, fast paced and addicting. Thousands of
ways to make your character your own, with
lots of skills, levels, and monsters, that will make
you feel like your really there. Its easy to become
so focused you forget that its a game.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/12/07