Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II

"It's like Dark Alliance with a II after it!!"

I know that to some, Dark Alliance was a groundbreaking game on the PS2. Personally, I thought the water and lighting effects were well done. Other than that, it just didn't do much for me. Rather bland story, rather bland combat system (press x), rather bland replay value. Dark Alliance II continues the tradition: pretty water, lots of baddies to hack and not much else.

Gameplay--5 The first Dark Alliance was fun for a couple of hours. The fun factor doesn't seem to last that long for this one. As excited as I was to be able to play as a Dark Elf from the get-go (Drzzt was available as an unlockable in the previous D.A.), my enthusiasm waned when I realized that dark elves basically run around and press ''x'' like anyone else. In addition, the action just didn't seem very fluid. You can't lock on to an enemy, meaning that half of your swings clobber thin air, and the jumping just...looked...wrong. This score may be better for the necromancer, but I just didn't have the constitution to play it that long.

Story--5 Eh, the game didn't hold my interest long enough to see the end (or the middle, for that matter!), but it continues the story from the first D.A. Pretty standard D&D stuff. Not that that's bad, but it's just been done to death.

Graphics--5 I was blown away by the lighting, water, and particle effects of the first Dark Alliance. While playing Dark Alliance II, I continued to be blown away by the lighting, water, and particle effects of the first Dark Alliance.

Replayability--? I honestly don't think it's fair for me to judge the ''replayability'' of the game. I suppose that once you beat the game, you could go back and beat it again with a different character. I didn't make it that far. That to me, however, isn't what replayability should be about. I think replayability should speak to a game's value and I was honestly glad that I had rented this one...for free.

Final Recommendation Let's put it this way, after renting this game I was inspired to register and write my very first review. I know 5 seems low, but to me that's what this game is...really average. Unless you're still playing your copy of the first Dark Alliance daily, please rent this one before you spend money that could go to a more original release.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 02/02/04