Info about Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance:

Official game description:
A NEW LEGACY BEGINS...  
Experience the massively popular world of Baldur's Gate as never before. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance thrusts you into an epic Dungeons & Dragons adventure filled with intense action, intricate puzzles and sinister intrigue, where your mastery of cold steel and devastating spells is the only thing between you and ultimate evil.  
• A ground-breaking adventure, featuring the 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons® rule set.  
• Explosive spell effects and incredibly detailed creatures and environments deliver a more realistic gaming experience.  
• Three customizable characters, each with distinctive powers, appearances and abilities that develop throughout the game.  
• Battle alone or join a friend in two-player cooperative mode.  
• Explore Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance all over again, experiencing newfound adventures with a different customized character or replaying in Extreme mode for ten times the difficulty and fun.  
• Dolby Surround sound, real-time sound effect mixing, Hollywood voice talent and an original soundtrack by acclaimed composer Jeremy Soule.

Release date: 17 Dec, 2021

Categories: Action RPG, Cooperative Multiplayer, Single-player Story, Character Progression, Character Customization, Real-time Combat, Dungeon Crawler, Puzzle Solving


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Excellent nostalgic action RPG experience (weight 0.94): The game is praised for successfully capturing the nostalgic feel of classic action RPGs, especially those from the PS2 era. Many reviewers express excitement about reliving their childhood memories and find the game just as enjoyable as they remember it. This strong nostalgia factor significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- Great co-op, local and remote (weight 0.73): The game offers enjoyable co-op experiences, both locally and remotely, enhancing the fun and replayability. The "Remote Play Together" feature is highlighted as a major positive, allowing players to share the game with friends even if only one person owns it. The game is considered a great couch co-op alternative.
- Simple, accessible, and well-optimized (weight 0.62): The game is easy to pick up and play, with intuitive controls and mechanics that "just work." It offers multiple difficulty levels, making it accessible to both newcomers and experienced players. The game runs smoothly on PC without requiring extensive setup.
- High replayability, multiple characters (weight 0.55): The game offers high replayability due to multiple character classes and unlockable difficulty modes. Players are encouraged to play through the game multiple times to fully explore each character's skills and experience the game at higher difficulty levels.
- Well-executed and polished PC port (weight 0.14): The PC port is well-executed, featuring improved graphics, textures, and fast loading times compared to the original. Reviewers report no significant bugs or stuttering issues, indicating a polished and stable experience.
- Varied characters with unique abilities (weight 0.08): The game features a selection of characters with unique abilities, including a secret character, Drizzt Do'Urden, unlockable through specific achievements. The characters provide varied gameplay experiences, such as the sorceress with auto-attacks and ranged spells.
- Flexible and customizable control options (weight 0.07): The game offers flexible control options, with easy remapping for both keyboard and controller. USB corded 360 controllers work seamlessly, and the keyboard/mouse controls are surprisingly good for a port.
- Charming and interesting story (weight 0.06): The game features a story-driven plot with good writing, involving a thieves guild and a larger evil organization. The narrative is engaging and contributes to the overall enjoyment of the game.
- Long campaign, strategically challenging (weight 0.05): The game features a lengthy campaign with varied environments and a relatively high difficulty. Strategic play is required to avoid quick deaths, and staircases provide easy access back to the hub.
- Character importing allows save exploits (weight 0.04): The game allows character importing between save files, which can be exploited for item duplication and repeated boss fights. This feature can be used to boost XP and gain an advantage.
- Great voice acting and soundtrack (weight 0.03): The game features fully voiced NPC dialogue and an amazing soundtrack, enhancing the immersive experience.
- Fast-paced combat system (weight 0.03): The game features a fast-paced combat system, contributing to its engaging and dynamic gameplay.
- Good console-to-PC Diablo-like port (weight 0.02): The game is considered a good console-to-PC port and a solid "Diablo-like" experience on consoles.

Common complaints:
- Overpriced, lazy port (weight 0.56): The overwhelming sentiment is that the game is overpriced for a barebones port of a 20-year-old game, lacking significant enhancements or modernization.  Many reviewers feel the price does not reflect the minimal effort put into the PC version and consider it a cash grab.
- Poor, outdated graphics (weight 0.56): Reviewers consistently criticize the poor visual quality, citing muddy textures, blurry UI elements, low-resolution menus, and a general lack of graphical options.  The game's visuals appear dated and unoptimized for modern PCs, with some assets not scaling well to higher resolutions.
- Technical issues and bugs (weight 0.47): The game suffers from various technical issues, including crashes, freezes, and frame rate-related bugs. Some reviewers reported the game running at excessively high speeds due to uncapped refresh rates, making it unplayable.
- Lacks PC-specific features (weight 0.47): The PC port is criticized for lacking essential PC-oriented settings and modern quality-of-life improvements. Reviewers note the absence of graphical options, cloud saves, proper keyboard/mouse support, and other features expected in a modern PC game release.
- Poor balance and difficulty (weight 0.26): The game's balance and difficulty are frequently criticized, with reviewers noting difficulty spikes, the need for 'cheesing' strategies, and imbalances between character classes. Some found the game overly difficult, requiring excessive health potion consumption.
- Dated, irritating mechanics (weight 0.24): Reviewers express frustration with dated gameplay mechanics, such as frequent backtracking, a terrible camera, and a lack of quality-of-life improvements like a full map or convenient town portal system. These issues contribute to a monotonous and irritating gameplay experience.
- Non-functional cloud saves (weight 0.14): The game advertises Steam Cloud saves, but this feature is not functional, preventing seamless play between devices. This is a significant issue for players wanting to switch between PC and Steam Deck.
- Unstable controller support (weight 0.1): Controller support is unstable and limited, with issues including temperamental recognition, incorrect assignments, and disconnections.  Local co-op is the only multiplayer option, with limitations in Remote Play.
- Inferior to similar games (weight 0.1): The game is considered inferior to other similar titles, such as Champions of Norrath and the classic Baldur's Gate games. Reviewers express disappointment with the game's combat and overall quality compared to these titles.
- Poor audio quality (weight 0.06): The game suffers from poor audio quality, with reviewers noting compressed sound, bit-crushed audio, and noticeable cracks and hissing. This significantly detracts from the overall experience.
- Broken rumble feedback (weight 0.05): Rumble feedback is broken in this version, a disappointing regression from the original release. Multiplayer support is poor, hindering the experience of playing with friends for hours like the original.
- Excessively difficult Gauntlet mode (weight 0.04): The Gauntlet mode is very difficult and must be completed to unlock Extreme difficulty. The gauntlet, an optional timed challenge to unlock a character, is excessively difficult.
- Over-hyped, didn't meet expectations (weight 0.03): The game is over-hyped, and the experience didn't meet expectations. The game's length does not justify its price tag, especially considering it's a re-release after 30 years.

Gameplay feedback:
- Diablo-like ARPG in Baldur's Gate (weight 0.27): The game is a hack-and-slash ARPG in the D&D/Baldur's Gate universe, similar to Diablo but simpler than classic RPGs like Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter Nights. It features three pre-made characters, dungeon crawling, and loot progression. The game also includes local co-op support.
- WASD movement and jumping (weight 0.09): Unlike typical hack and slash games, movement is controlled with WASD keys instead of mouse clicks, and the game includes jumping. These control mechanics were considered innovative at the time of release.
- Adjustable camera with limitations (weight 0.08): The game features a fully 3D, top-down perspective with an adjustable rotating camera, but some sections restrict camera rotation. In co-op, if one player stops moving, the camera locks off the other player, potentially leading to them getting trapped and killed.
- Leveling and skill progression (weight 0.08): Leveling provides stat points and ability points for active and passive skills, with increasing costs per tier. Attributes like strength, intelligence, wisdom, dexterity, constitution, and charisma can be increased upon leveling up. The game features a skill menu with various abilities.
- Stunning enemies and varied types (weight 0.06): The game includes various enemy types, normal enemies, mini-bosses, and bosses. Larger enemies can briefly stun the player, potentially leading to death.
- Baldur's Gate setting and lore (weight 0.06): The game is set in the Baldur's Gate setting and features many D&D monsters, but uses little else from the PC titles apart from some lore. The story is tied to a D&D setting in Baldur's Gate.
- Convenient teleportation potions (weight 0.05): The game includes quick travel potions to return to safe areas within each act, as well as 'recall potions' for instant teleportation to the hub and back to the original location.
- Enjoyable but slow leveling (weight 0.03): Looting and leveling are enjoyable aspects of the game, but leveling is a slow process.
- Destructible items and loot (weight 0.03): The game features destructible barrels and crates containing gold and potions. Treasure chests and weapon stands contain equipment, and defeated enemies may drop items.
- Limited armor set variety (weight 0.03): Players can purchase weapons and armor, but the game features only a handful of different armor sets.
- Warrior character exploit (weight 0.02): The warrior is the strongest character due to an exploit where attacking enemies from the side is more effective than blocking because of their turning mechanics.
- Mindless hack and slash combat (weight 0.02): Combat focuses on mindless hacking and slashing rather than character development or tactical battles.
- Mouse-based attack direction (weight 0.02): The attack direction is determined by the mouse position, not the character's facing direction.
- Blocking is crucial for survival (weight 0.02): Blocking with a weapon or shield is crucial for survival, especially as a melee character.
- Inconspicuous gold coins (weight 0.02): Gold coins on the ground are hard to see, so players should listen for the sound to locate them.
- Inventory weight limits (weight 0.02): The game features an inventory with weight limits, requiring players to sell items frequently.
- Strategic boss fights (weight 0.02): Boss fights often require strategic movement to avoid attacks.
- Static and non-interactive world (weight 0.02): The universe is just a static decoration; you can look at one location in the city, but you can't do anything there.
- Scarce healing items (weight 0.02): Healing items are hard to come by.
- Enemies do not respawn (weight 0.02): Defeated enemies remain dead and do not respawn.
- Side quests in safe areas (weight 0.02): Safe areas contain NPCs who offer side quests.
- Simple map without enemy markers (weight 0.02): The map is simple but functional, though it doesn't mark enemies.
- Dark and gory atmosphere (weight 0.02): The game has a dark atmosphere, enhanced by blood and dismembered corpses.
- Limited trap usage (weight 0.02): Sparse opportunities exist to lead enemies into traps.
- First-person NPC conversations (weight 0.02): The camera smoothly transitions to first-person view during conversations with fully voice-acted NPCs.
- More compact than other ARPGs (weight 0.02): More compact compared to Titan Quest and Grim Dawn.
- Save point system (weight 0.02): Save points are present in the game.

Performance notes:
- Uncapped framerate causes issues (weight 0.33): The game's uncapped framerate on modern hardware causes various issues. These include speeding up gameplay, desynchronizing audio, and screen tearing. External tools or V-Sync are often needed to lock the game at 60fps for proper functioning, with Nvidia cards showing better compatibility for framerate capping.
- Limited graphics options; blurry UI (weight 0.05): The game lacks graphics options, and some players have noted that the UI, particularly the inventory menu, appears blurry and low resolution. This suggests a lack of optimization for modern displays in certain areas.
- Remote play functions well (weight 0.03): Remote play functionality appears to be working well, allowing players to stream the game to other devices without significant issues. This enhances accessibility and convenience for those who want to play on different screens.
- Loud noise at startup (weight 0.01): One user reported that the Black Isle Studios screen at the start of the game produces an unpleasant, loud noise when using headphones. This is likely a minor audio glitch that affects a small number of players.

Recommendations:
- Emulation/Original better than port (weight 0.43): Several reviewers recommend emulating the game or playing it on original hardware instead of purchasing this PC port due to issues like bugs and lack of cross-platform cloud saves. Some also report that the original versions offer a better experience.
- Recommended for genre/D&D fans (weight 0.3): Many reviewers recommend the game to fans of the genre, D&D, or those seeking a nostalgic experience. Some consider it a masterclass or a timeless classic, and praise the story.
- Requesting ports of sequels (weight 0.06): Some reviewers suggest checking out the sequel, Dark Alliance 2, as it is reportedly better. They also request a PC port of Dark Alliance 2 and Champions of Norrath.
- Sequel is a better game (weight 0.04): Some reviewers feel that Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2 is a better game than this one.
- Clone of Champions of Norrath (weight 0.04): Some reviewers feel that the game is a clone of Champions of Norrath. They would like to see Champions of Norrath and Champions Return to Arms released on PC.
- Controller is recommended (weight 0.03): The reviewer recommends using a controller, as it is a port of a console game.
- Start on easy difficulty (weight 0.02): First-time players should start on easy or normal difficulty, especially if new to the game.
- Alternatives are mechanically superior (weight 0.02): There are more interesting ARPGs on PC, such as Grim Dawn, which is mechanically superior.
- Requesting a refund (weight 0.02): The reviewer is requesting a refund.

Other player notes:
- Direct port of original (weight 0.1): The game is a direct port of the 2001 console version with minimal graphical updates, not a remake or remaster. This point highlights that the game retains the original gameplay and visual style from two decades ago.
- First PC release (weight 0.03): This release marks the first time Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance has been available on PC, excluding a newer, less favored version. This is significant for players who prefer PC gaming and have been waiting for this title.
- Game preservation, nostalgia (weight 0.03): The game's addition to Steam is appreciated for game preservation and nostalgia. However, this point lacks specific feedback on the game itself.
- Customizable keyboard controls (weight 0.02): The game allows for keyboard control customization, as exemplified by remapping jump to the space bar. This is a positive feature for players who prefer personalized control schemes.
- Title significance unclear (weight 0.02): The game's title, "Dark Alliance," lacks clear explanation within the game itself. Players may need to seek external sources to understand the title's significance.
- 90s fantasy aesthetic (weight 0.01): The game features a 90s fantasy aesthetic in the design of female characters. This point is subjective and lacks specific details.
- Possible emulation (weight 0.01): The reviewer suspects that some emulation is happening. However, this point is speculative and lacks specific details.
- Uses OpenGL, hard to capture (weight 0.01): The game appears to be using OpenGL, which may make it difficult to capture. This point is technical and may only be relevant to a small subset of players.

Emotions:
No emotions}