Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II

"Once again BGDA strikes true."

The game begins where the first leaves off, you are not able to use existing characters for reasons you will soon find when you begin the game. Instead you can choose between a Male Moon Elf Necromancer (the spell caster), a Male Human Barbarian (tank), a Female Human Cleric (spells and swords), a Female Dark Elf Monk (unarmed combat, speed over strength), and a Male Dwarf Rogue (thief, explosives guy). As with the first you can play single player of two player.

Gameplay: 8.5
Great hack and slash appeal, as before kill the bad guys for experience, loot the place for gold, equipment and things to sell. A great new feature is the Workshop, you access it from the shop and it allows you to add enchantments to your weapons and equipment using rune stones (find them or buy them) and various gems that have different effects. The improved feat selection (see control) makes the use of magic or feats quick and easy. An automatic combo system has been added for those skilled in a weapons use (enough points in the feat) the combo begins as you continue to attack it has the advantage of doing increased damage but has the disadvantage of locking you into the movement, not usually a problem but can be bad against some of the bosses. You are able to equip three sets of weapon, one handed, two handed, ranged, and a quick press of the D pad will switch between them. Multiplayer is slightly different as far as money and experience goes. Experience in a straight fifty fifty split, as is money. The money displayed for each character is the amount in the pool, so if you have 5000 displayed on your character and the other player spends 2500 you will be left with only 2500. Something to get used to and could be a problem if you are in competition with the other player. Works very well for coop. For its easy playing style it should rank up a 9, unfortunately it isn't only the gameplay that is easy to master. The difficulty levels are nowhere near as well done as the first game, normal was easy, easy shouldn't have been included. The final act is the most disappointing, as are almost all of the boss levels. This is due to the aforementioned lack of difficulty in levels. It's nothing like killing Eldrith that is for sure! Thankfully there is an extreme mode to save the day.

Control: 8.5
Controls are tight and responsive. Although every button and trigger is used (some more than once) it doesn't take very long to get used to them. You can change the control layout anyway you want though I found the default setting very easy to use. The left trigger (default setting) is a shift button that allows you to map feats to the A,B,X,Y buttons. Once done simply pull on the left trigger hit the button and that is your spell cast or feat triggered. With the B button still set for feat/magic this means you can have five feats/spells primed and ready to go. The Y button is still the jump, but no tricky jump puzzles in this one. The only problem with the whole control set up is the D pad. It's set up: UP = next feat, DOWN = last feat, LEFT = map. RIGHT change weapon, I found that this often resulted in the map popping up on the screen mid fight when you go to change weapons.

Story: 7.5
It is a hack and slash action rpg so don't be expecting anything to deep and you won't be disappointed. A little twist keeps things interesting. It is enough to carry the game along so it does its job.

Graphics: 8
Slightly improved on the first. The terrain is very well done. The characters look good and move well. Due to the lack of any great change the game has a very familiar feel to it (if you have played the first). Single player mode now offers a zoom feature for the real up close and personal adventuring.

Sound: 8
Voice acting was good, it would have been nice to have your character speak his/her part. Single player your characters comments during combat can get a little annoying. I say single player because with multi at least you have a second voice. The music is unobtrusive and much the same as the first which is a good thing.

Replay: 8.5
Five characters to play and two unlockable characters means plenty of reasons to play through again and again.

Overall: 8.2
A good game overall, improved on the first. A very enjoyable game well worth the purchase price.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 01/30/04