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Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II

Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance II will provide a mana-blast of nostalgic glee for those who played the original Dark Alliance hack-and-slash RPG on their GameCube, but it doesn’t offer enough excitement or variety to otherwise hold your attention.
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II Game Cover
72%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
graphics, stability
80% User Score Based on 484 reviews
Critic Score 63%Based on 11 reviews

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Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II Game Cover

About

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II is a single player and multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by Black Isle Studios and was released on July 20, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Unspeakable evil has returned to the legendary city of Baldur's Gate in this dungeon-crawling, action RPG fantasy classic. A call for adventurers echoes through the embattled land. Cunning warriors and bold magic users are desperately needed to reclaim Baldur's Gate from a dark sorcery that threatens all in its path. • Five new heroes with new class feats and abilities • Hack your way or cast po…

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Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II screenshot
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II screenshot
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II screenshot
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II screenshot
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II screenshot
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II screenshot
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80%
Audience ScoreBased on 484 reviews
story14 positive mentions
stability11 negative mentions
  • The game successfully captures the nostalgia of the original Dark Alliance, providing a fun hack-and-slash experience.
  • Improvements in gameplay mechanics, such as character-specific quests and a crafting system, enhance the overall experience.
  • The game runs smoothly on modern systems, with good performance and support for controllers.
  • The port lacks significant graphical improvements, making it feel dated compared to modern titles.
  • There are numerous bugs and crashes, particularly in multiplayer mode, which can hinder gameplay.
  • The price point is considered too high for a port of a 20-year-old game, leading to mixed feelings among players.
  • story
    63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is generally viewed as average, particularly when compared to modern titles, with many reviewers noting its simplicity and reliance on classic RPG tropes. While some players appreciate the engaging characters and world-building, others criticize the narrative for being predictable and feeling rushed, especially towards the end. Overall, the story serves primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay, with a mix of character-specific quests and fetch quests that may detract from the overall experience.

    • “I love the story, the characters, the battles, and the loot.”
    • “The story, world, and characters in this game are amazing.”
    • “Love the different playstyles and expansive story.”
    • “Story-wise, it's a hack-and-slash from 20 years ago; it's on par, if not above average, for stories of that time, but does not hold up very well to current titles.”
    • “The story is predictable and simple.”
    • “Dark Alliance wasn't exactly a narrative masterpiece, but you still felt connected with what was going on - here your character just seems to be fetching everything for the real players of the story, with disconnected encounters between certain parties that barely get you involved.”
  • graphics
    43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of this game, originally released 20 years ago, are largely considered dated, with only minor improvements in resolution and texture quality for the remaster. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and artistic direction reminiscent of its era, others criticize the lack of significant upgrades and the presence of graphical glitches. Overall, the visuals may appeal to fans of classic games, but those seeking modern graphics may find them disappointing.

    • “For a game that is 18 years old, it was ahead of its time for a PS2 game graphically, and has held up fairly well now that it is in HD.”
    • “Dark Alliance 2 always had great artistic direction, really evoking the D&D aesthetic of the 90s and 00s, and this is not lost in this port.”
    • “While the game does look generally sharper than when it originally released due to higher resolution support, that is about as far as the graphics have improved.”
    • “The graphics are some of the most horrendous I've ever seen, even for a PS2 game; some of the NPC animations are laugh-inducing and super weird.”
    • “The graphics are exactly the same as when it first came out on the PS2; no retextures, no new models, no new effects, etc.”
    • “This is definitely no remaster; the graphics seem slightly sharper (except on the character select screen, hoo boy that was like 5 pixels) but they're just about the same as they were on PS2.”
  • gameplay
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Dark Alliance II" has received mixed reviews, with some praising its fun mechanics and improvements over its predecessor, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth. Players appreciate the variety of characters and boss mechanics, but many feel the core gameplay loop becomes stale and the overall experience is hindered by outdated mechanics and design. Despite these criticisms, some fans of the genre find enjoyment in its nostalgic action RPG elements and couch co-op gameplay.

    • “Phenomenal game, it is a huge improvement from the first Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance game in terms of gameplay, gem upgrades, abilities, etc. I never had a dull moment playing it; it is fun from beginning to end!”
    • “Improving on its predecessor in almost every way, Dark Alliance 2's modern debut showcases idealized couch co-op action RPG gameplay which still holds up, even when you compare it to some more modern and bigger budget titles.”
    • “The combination of perfect controls and the gameplay loop of combat, loot, and exploration is a joy to experience again in 2022.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, Dark Alliance II is more of exactly the same.”
    • “The reason for me not recommending this game is mostly due to the length of the game itself and the core gameplay loop becoming very stale.”
    • “The hub is soulless, the maps are jagged, the gameplay is stiff.”
  • stability
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is notably problematic, with numerous users reporting glitches, including issues with loading screens, UI malfunctions, and game-breaking bugs. While some players have found workarounds, such as disabling the Steam overlay, the overall experience remains marred by these persistent issues. Despite the bugs, many still enjoy the gameplay, suggesting that it may improve with future updates.

    • “Full of glitches, don't exit a dungeon before it's finished!”
    • “Co-op works pretty well with the Steam Play with Friends feature, however the game does have some game-breaking bugs and glitches that have not been patched out yet.”
    • “This remaster is iffy though, there are some audio glitches and I had it crash once, plus it really needs an online 2-player mode.”
  • optimization
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is primarily geared towards multiplayer, which detracts from the solo experience, as many characters are not well-suited for single-player gameplay. While some users report excellent performance and stability, particularly on specific devices like the Steam Deck, others note that certain characters struggle in solo play, leading to an uneven experience. Overall, while performance is generally good, the optimization for multiplayer may hinder solo players.

    • “As far as the purported performance and stability issues, I've experienced no issues at all.”
    • “Performance is generally very good.”
    • “The biggest flaw with this game, and what keeps it from true greatness, is the fact that it seems to be optimized for a multiplayer experience, even though 90% of people who play this will probably only be doing solo play.”
    • “Dorn Redbear is your generic warrior type, but he's actually the best character for beating the game since the game is optimized for characters who use melee and spam the use of potions.”
    • “While this should've been the best character in the game, she is not optimized for single player, so she always ends up dealing less damage and taking more damage by default.”
  • music
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players praise it as the best aspect, highlighting its epic composition by a renowned artist, others note the heavy reuse of tracks from previous titles, leading to a lack of originality. Additionally, there are concerns about sound mixing, particularly with voice volume being overshadowed by music and effects. Overall, the music is appreciated for its ambiance but criticized for its repetitiveness and some technical issues.

    • “Very fun and the music is awesome.”
    • “Fully voice acted story and wonderful music and ambiance.”
    • “The music is the best part of the game, since it was composed by the guy who worked on Morrowind; it sounds more epic than what the game deserves.”
    • “The final boss doesn't even have their own unique music track, which made the ending feel rushed.”
    • “A lot of assets were reused, such as soundtracks, so nothing felt fresh or exciting; it was just 'oh, I heard this track back in Dark Alliance 1.'”
    • “There are some issues with sound mixing, as there's no way to control voice volume, and by default, it is drowned out by music and effects.”
  • replayability
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability, with players able to experience different playthroughs using multiple characters and modes, including an "xtreme mode" and various cheat codes. Many reviewers note that the addition of a gem system enhances playstyles, contributing to the overall replay value, which is often rated around 7/10. Overall, players find the game enjoyable enough to warrant multiple playthroughs, making it a worthwhile purchase.

    • “This game alone has a lot of replay value, and once you beat it in extreme mode, you can then use the cheat codes for even more fun!”
    • “The game has twice the replayability of the original, so I'd say it's worth the purchase.”
    • “Plenty of replayability if you want to play through with all 5 (7) characters.”
    • “Price to purchase stayed the same and the game has twice the replayability as the original, so I'd say it's worth the purchase.”
    • “Lastly, I also love the gem system which adds more playstyle and replayability.”
  • monetization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers noting that it offers little value beyond nostalgia and basic graphical improvements. Players feel that the remaster lacks substantial features and is not worth the price, reflecting a shift away from the era when game developers prioritized quality and player experience.

    • “Literal cash grab except for the fact that the game was a rare find, making it cheaper than a game store with fewer working features than the original disc.”
    • “Nothing in here is worth any real money; sadly, it's another cash grab, 20 years too late.”
    • “The game is basically a nostalgia cash grab.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of funny and sad moments, often stemming from its dated mechanics and janky animations, which can lead to amusing experiences during gameplay. Players find joy in the absurdity of the game, especially when tackling challenges with friends, despite the underlying issues that have even led to legal disputes. Overall, the humor adds a layer of fun, making the experience enjoyable despite its flaws.

    • “It's kind of funny and strange, since on subsequent playthroughs instead of thinking about methodically clearing out each dungeon, I instead just estimated how many health potions I would need to defeat the remaining bosses.”
    • “It is pretty dated, but can be very fun trying to become god tier with a friend and laughing at the janky animations.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features a nostalgic old-school D&D atmosphere filled with goblins and enchanted furniture, complemented by a dark ambiance. However, sluggish combat, uninspired environmental design, and limited build variety detract from the overall experience, despite the presence of an engaging equipment upgrade system.

    • “It is a nice old school D&D atmosphere with lots of goblins and enchanted furniture.”
    • “Sluggish combat, drab environmental design, and low build variety all hold this one back considerably, though it’s saved somewhat by its equipment upgrade system and dark atmosphere.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly noting that Act 2 feels unnecessarily prolonged, even with the potential for item duplication exploits.

    • “Even if you use the item duplication exploit, it would still be tedious.”
    • “Act 2 is needlessly long and tedious.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the emotional impact of the game to be both heartwarming and upsetting, particularly in the revelation that Luvia is not the final boss, which adds depth to the narrative and character relationships.

    • “To find out that Luvia isn't the final boss is both heartwarming and upsetting.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters left me in tears; their struggles felt so real.”
    • “I was completely immersed in the story, and the emotional moments hit me harder than I expected.”
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63%Critics’ scoreBased on 11 critic reviews
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10h Median play time
8h Average play time
2-13h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II is a role playing game.

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 8 hours playing Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II.

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II was released on July 20, 2022.

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II was developed by Black Isle Studios.

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its graphics.

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning, Dungeon Siege, Titan Quest, Dungeon Siege II and others.