Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance

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Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Dark-Alliance-Logo.png
Studio United StatesUnited States Snowblind Studios High Voltage Software (GameCube) Magic Pockets (GBA)
United StatesUnited States
United StatesUnited States
Publisher United StatesUnited States Interplay Entertainment Ubisoft (GBA)
FranceFrance
Senior Developer Chris Avellone
Erstveröffent-
lichung
PlayStation 2 , Xbox , GameCube
December 3, 2001
Game Boy Advance
February 5, 2004
platform PlayStation 2
Xbox
GameCube
Game Boy Advance
Game engine Dark Alliance engine
genre Action RPG , Hack'n'Slay
Subject D&D , fantasy
Game mode Single player , multiplayer (PS2, Xbox, GameCube)
control Gamepad
medium DVD-ROM , MiniDVD
language Multilingual
Age rating
USK released from 12
USK released from 6

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (engl. F .: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance ) is an action role-playing the American game developer Snowblind Studios on behalf of American Publishers Interplay Entertainment . It was released in December 2001 for PlayStation 2 and October 22, 2002 for Xbox , and November 18, 2002 for GameCube . The title of the game refers to the successful computer game series Baldur's Gate , to which it has no connection other than the name.

action

In the game, the threat to the city of Baldur's Gate from Eldrith the traitor and the Dark Alliance that she leads and that gives the game its name is described. The former general of the city tries with the help of her allies to take revenge on the dukes of the city for her death and the failure to provide assistance in her fight against the orcs.

The intro video of the game describes the arrival of the three possible player characters in the city of Baldur's Gate and how they become victims of a robbery by a thieves' guild. This guild of thieves has only recently dominated the city's nocturnal streets and poses an increasing threat to the safety of the residents. Starting from the Elfenliedtavern in Baldur's Gate, the player goes in search of the backers of the organization and comes across the large one Conspiracy that extends beyond the immediate vicinity of the city. With the help of travel portals, the player gets to other areas of the western heartlands surrounding Baldur's Gate and at the end comes across the so-called onyx tower in Chelimber Moor. In her exile, the player must defeat Eldrith to complete the game.

A special feature of the story is that although the player decides on one of the three characters and guides him through the game world alone, the three hero characters always assume a common approach.

Gameplay

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is a console version of the computer role-playing game Baldur's Gate in the role-playing world of Dungeons & Dragons . However, there is no common ground in terms of plot or style of play. Dark Alliance is a Diablo- style action RPG . At the beginning of the game, the player chooses his main character from three given characters: the arcane archer Vahn, the elven magician Adrianna and the dwarf warrior Kromlech. In addition, after successfully completing the game with Drizzt Do'Urden, a bonus character will be unlocked. A free character generation like in Baldur's Gate or Icewind Dale is largely eliminated.

The player controls his only character directly with the help of the gamepad from an overview perspective, with a freely rotatable camera that can be zoomed in in three stages. The battle is played out in real time. By solving tasks and killing opponents, the player collects experience points, as is usual in role-playing games, which, when certain point limits are reached, allow the character to develop. The characters' development possibilities are given by a very limited skill tree within comparatively narrow limits. The skill selection is predominantly combat-oriented. In favor of the action-oriented game principle and thus in contrast to the underlying D&D set of rules, mana energy is consumed for the use of spells. There is no need to prepare sayings. In addition to action-oriented fights, there are skill and jump passages as well as simple switch puzzles. To save the game, the player has to go to special save points in the game world.

The single player campaign can, if desired, be played through with a second player in a cooperative mode.

development

Release years of the Infinity games and Dark Alliance series
1998
Baldur's Gate
1999 Baldur's Gate: Legends of the Sword Coast
Planescape: Torment
2000 Icewind Dale
Baldur’s Gate II: Shadow of Amn
2001 Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter
Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance
2002
Icewind Dale II
2003
 
2004 Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2

 
2012
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition
2013
Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition
2014
Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition
2015
 
2016 Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear

2017 Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition

The game is a joint development by Interplay and Snowblind Studios. While the technology was developed by Snowblind itself, the design of the game comes from, among others, the then Black Isle employee Chris Avellone . The role-playing division of Interplays also oversaw the production of the title.

Versions

The game was originally released for PlayStation 2 on December 3, 2001. It was not until May 17, 2002 that Interplay announced that they would be porting the game to Xbox together with Snowblind Studios. On September 19, the publisher also announced a GameCube port that was implemented by High Voltage Software. The Xbox version was released on October 22, 2002, and the GameCube version on November 18, 2002.

Shortly after the release of the successor title Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2 , a version of Dark Alliance adapted by Magic Pockets for the Game Boy Advance was released on February 5, 2004 after a long delay . Unlike the console version, this version has an age rating of 6 years and over.

technology

Dark Alliance uses a high-quality graphics engine developed by Snowblind Studios under the direction of Ezra Dreisbach. The water effects in particular were very advanced when they were first released compared to previous games. Because it was licensed to other companies and used in other games, it was often subsequently referred to as the Dark Alliance or Snowblind engine.

For the Game Boy Advance, the game was ported to a two-dimensional graphics engine that shows what is happening from an unchangeable isometric perspective. Due to the lower hardware performance, some changes have been made compared to the console sockets. While the course of the game remained identical and the visual design of the 2D levels was visibly based on the original display, some levels had to be adjusted in size or modified. Among other things, the jump passages were omitted. The engine mastered the real-time calculation of the shadows cast by game characters. Regardless of gender and type, there was only one figure model for the player character. An individual appearance can be achieved through equipment that changes the appearance of the figure. Due to the storage space limitation of the data carrier, it is only possible to create a game. In contrast to the console version, the player can save at any time. There is no soundtrack like in the console versions.

music

The music for the game comes from Jeremy Soule .

reception

Reviews

Dark Alliance was very well received by the press. The PS2 version was rated best (Metacritic: 87 out of 100), ahead of the Xbox and Gamecube version (Metacritic: 83 (Xbox) / 79 (GC)).

In addition to the graphics and soundscape, the successful variety in the game flow and the large selection of equipment were praised. On the other hand, the short duration of the game and the limited options for character selection and development were criticized. Many reviewers also point out that, despite the title Baldur's Gate, there is nothing in common with the Baldur's Gate series.

The GameCube version received significantly worse ratings than the other versions. It has been called a bad port of a good game. The reduced graphics was criticized with regular drops in the frame rate.

The adapted version for Game Boy Advance received an average rating of 76 out of 100 on Metacritic. The graphic performance, the close proximity to the original and the numerous different pieces of equipment and opponents were praised. On the other hand, the limitation to one storage space was criticized, as well as the lack of level overview maps and a multiplayer part.

Awards

In 2002 the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences recognized Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance as the best console role-playing game of 2002.

The game also received IGN's Editors' Choice Award .

Sales figures

On the occasion of a press release on March 24, 2003, Interplay announced that the game had been sold a million times on all platforms combined. The PS2 variant alone was sold more than 500,000 times.

successor

The direct successor to Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance was developed by Black Isle Studios and was released in Germany on February 6, 2004 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. a b c David Smith: Review: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance ( English ) In: GameSpy . IGN . December 3, 2001. Archived from the original on September 23, 2004. Retrieved on September 10, 2011.
  2. Interplay Entertainment : Black Isle Studios Announces Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance for Xbox ( English ) In: PR Newswire . May 17, 2002. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 10, 2011. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.prnewswire.com
  3. a b Interplay Entertainment : Black Isle Studios Announces Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance For Nintendo GameCube ( English ) In: PR Newswire . September 19, 2002. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 10, 2011. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.prnewswire.com
  4. Tor Thorsen: Ubisoft to distribute GBA Dark Alliance ( English ) In: GameSpot . CNET . January 22, 2004. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  5. JP_Hurh: Justice League Heroes Review ( English ) In: GameRevolution . AtomicOnline. January 11, 2006. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  6. a b Frank Provo: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review ( English ) In: GameSpot . CNET . January 28, 2004. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  7. a b Craig Harris: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review ( English ) In: IGN . IGN . January 29, 2004. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  8. a b Greg Kasavin : Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review ( English ) In: GameSpot . CNET . August 28, 2002. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  9. ^ Metacritic.com , PS2 Average Rating, accessed September 10, 2011.
  10. ^ Metacritic.com , Xbox Average Rating, accessed September 10, 2011.
  11. ^ Metacritic.com , GameCube Average Rating, accessed September 10, 2011.
  12. Sascha Szopko: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance - Review . In: Gameswelt . Web Media Publishing AG. December 31, 2001. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  13. Tobias Gehring: Baldurs Gate: Dark Alliance - Review . In: Looki . Looki Germany GmbH. May 27, 2003. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  14. Marc Rehder: Test: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance . In: 4Players . freenet AG . January 9, 2002. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  15. Christian Nutt: Review: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (GCN) ( English ) In: GameSpy . IGN . December 13, 2002. Archived from the original on January 4, 2008. Retrieved on September 10, 2011.
  16. ^ Metacritic.com , Game Boy Advance Average Score, accessed September 10, 2011.
  17. ^ Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences : Winner "Best Console Role Playing Game 2002" . Official website. Last accessed on September 10, 2011.
  18. Interplay Entertainment : Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II ... The Epic Continues ( English ) In: PR Newswire . March 24, 2003. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 10, 2011: “ Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2001, Xbox and the Nintendo GameCube in 2002 and has sold over one million units worldwide across all three platforms. " @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.prnewswire.com