Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II (Sony PlayStation 2, 2004)

There's a lot to the Baulder's Gate series, and the second release follows right where the first one left off. The plot and its elements are difficult to stay along with, so if you're more into hack and slash adventure rather than an intricate background, I wouldn't recommend the game for you. If you're one who follows along with "intimidating" fantasy elements, this game can be fun. Single player is not nearly as enjoyable as multiplayer, so be sure to have a friend play along.

As far as the aesthetics of the game, the graphics are excellent, third person omniscient view and great effects. Sound is good, and music is a typical Lord of the Rings Howard Shore kind of deal (but to a lesser epic degree). You get a few more characters than the first Baulder's Gate, but don't expect anything great in that department (five characters total, I believe). Armor and weapons system have not changed--as a matter of fact, nothing truly has changed from the first Dark Alliance.

In conclusion, if you enjoyed the first game, then you'll enjoy the second one as well. If you haven't played the first, don't worry about which one you pick up first. Either way, chances are you'll be confused with the plot line and just wind up playing it because it's a fun hack-and-slash-magic-bash adventure/RPG that's best in co-op mode. Either way, it's a buy for all those fantasy lovers out there.

I own Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance I for Game Cube. My spouse and I had so much fun playing in co-op that we wanted to purchase II. Unfortunately, there is no Game Cube version of this game. So we purchased the version for PS II.
Dark Alliance II also allows co-op play. It has another chapter and two more character classes to choose from. You can also re-visit some levels for more loot and experience. Magical items work differently - you create them - giving them their own abilities. In general, the game is more complex and leads to longer play time. The only negative I can think of is that the loot and found items tend to be less plentiful and less valuable. Otherwise - I have to say this is an excellent game! Definitely one of my favorites!

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II is one of the crowning jewels of the Hack n' Slash RPG genre on the PS2. Players are allowed to choose 1 of 5 different adventurers, depending on their desired play-style and customize them and their gear as they progress through the game. In addition, the game has a 2 player co-operative mode that allows you to play through with a friend. Swords, spells and a good storyline, this game has it all!

Anyone who has played Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance, Champions of Norath, or Champions Return to Arms is likely to enjoy this game, since they were all built on the same basic game engine. The only downside is that there wasn't another game in the series. ;)

The controls are a bit different from what I've grown accustomed to with other games by this maker (i.e. Champions), but once I figured them out I found them innovative and useful.
My favorite aspect of this game is that there is a certain level of free will that can be asserted in the storyline. You are given the opportunity to take on side quests, rather than being forced to constantly trudge through the storyline.
Another aspect new to this sequel of the first Baldur's Gate is that each character has a background story that is relevant to the side quests you will have access to, and the way other characters react to your character and vice versa. This makes it so you will need to try going through the game with each of the characters in turn to complete the game in its entirety. Which is a major plus for a "completionist" like myself and my husband.
I absolutely adore this game and will enjoy playing it over and over again. This is definitely a game worth owning.

The guys who put together the Baldur's Gate series of games never fail to impress me with their attention to detail and fine-tuned products. This is, like the games in the series that came before it, a wonderful sweeping adventure, full of interesting quests, strange critters, and a large variety of magic items and equipment.

The graphics are very nice, and the play style is exactly what one who had played the previous games would expect. Overall, the only flaw I could possibly find is the way the characters aren't balanced - some are good in the beginning levels, some at the end - but this is a characteristic trait of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons games (the wizard is always a wimp at the beginning and middle levels, and then extremely powerful at the end).

Set in Faerun, in the Forgotten Realms setting, the story is well-situated within the lore of the novels and D&D source books. And as this franchise continues to sell well, you will come to recognize many similarities between this game and the others in the series. However, they still manage to make this game feel fresh, new, and completely original.

I highly recommend this game.