Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance II Reviews

A gaggle of reviews (ok, only four) for Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance II have surfaced on the ‘net. The first is over at GamePro with an overall score of 4.5/5:

Anyone who’s played this kind of game before is bound to find a few nitpicky problems: For one, the level designs are a little on the expansive and mazelike side, leading to many similar-looking, random corridors and lots of backtracking the longer you play, the more a (this feels familiar) sense will start to kick in (Dungeons & Dragons Heroes for the Xbox did a better job keeping things feeling fresh). The camera is still too limited, and most bosses are underwhelming. Also, it’s not all that difficult to unlock your character’s best feats, making the climb up the (skill tree) a little less rewarding than in some other games of the type. And, in an era where games like D&D Heroes allow four-player co-op (the upcoming Champions of Norrath allows four players online), you can’t help but notice that Dark Alliance 2 is only a bicycle built for two. But those are just a few bent coins, really, in a heaping mound of treasure.

The second is at IGN PS2 with an overall score of 8.4/10:

Any fan of BG:DA who wanted more adventuring to go through will find it right here. The action keeps up through the 10 or so hours it will take to play through. The workshop feature creates a bit of an added experience and some new weapons to play with, but if the system was opened even further to make the weapons and armor more fluid, it would have been a better choice. The biggest change is the new characters, especially the necromancer who brings some different strategies to the game.
If you haven’t played the original, don’t worry about missing anything since the story doesn’t require any previous knowledge. All you need to know is that this game is easy to pick up, easy to play, and a great excuse for wading through legions of monsters by yourself or with a friend.

The third is at GamingWorldX with an overall score of 9.3/10:

Dark Alliance 2 is a sequel for the fans, and it shows. Much more has been done to this game than what meets the untrained eye, but die-hards will appreciate the additions, in which there are a lot of them. The game is still easily assessable to anyone, whether they’ve played the first game or not (it makes several references to the first installment and fills the player in very well on its chain of events), but is still a game that clearly caters to its dedicated followers. It also does everything that constitutes a great game and worthy sequel. It keeps the core gameplay intact, but improves on it significantly, and then adds a plethora of new additions that only enhance what’s already on offer. Very well-executed and finely polished, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 2 is the embodiment of what a sequel should be, and goes to show that sometimes, it’s the little things that make all the difference.

And the fourth is at GamesAreFun.com with an overall score of 8/10:

After reading all of this, what you should be asking yourself is whether or not you loved Dark Alliance enough to want to spend another $49.99 on its slightly improved sequel. Even without all the fancy new bells and whistles, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance II is a fun game that will keep you entertained for a good 10 hours, more if you decide to play through the game with multiple characters. I firmly believe that you will happily get your money’s worth, but if a four-player mode and online play are crucial to your buying decision, you may want to wait for Champions of Norrath.