Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance

Item: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Rating: 71
Author: VaporLens

Last updated: 2025-05-27

Summary

Excellent nostalgic action RPG experience.
Great co-op, both local and remote.
Simple, accessible, and well-optimized.
High replayability due to multiple characters.
Overpriced, feels like a lazy port.
Poor, outdated graphics quality.

Categories

Action RPGCooperative MultiplayerSingle-player StoryCharacter ProgressionCharacter CustomizationReal-time CombatDungeon CrawlerPuzzle Solving

Reviews (sample size): 180
Helpful reviews: 82%
Unhelpful reviews: 16%
Protest reviews: 3%

71%
Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
29%
Helpful reviews with negative sentiment

Positive points: 250
Negative points: 243
Gameplay points: 77
Perf. points: 52
Rec. points: 113
Misc points: 26

Point	Description	Importance
Excellent nostalgic action RPG experience Description 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. Importance 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.	94%
Great co-op, local and remote Description 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. Importance 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.	73%
Simple, accessible, and well-optimized Description 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. Importance 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.	62%
High replayability, multiple characters Description 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. Importance 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.	55%
Well-executed and polished PC port Description 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. Importance 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.	14%
Varied characters with unique abilities Description 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. Importance 8%	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.	8%
Flexible and customizable control options Description 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. Importance 7%	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.	7%
Charming and interesting story Description 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. Importance 6%	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.	6%
Long campaign, strategically challenging Description 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. Importance 5%	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.	5%
Character importing allows save exploits Description 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. Importance 4%	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.	4%
Great voice acting and soundtrack Description The game features fully voiced NPC dialogue and an amazing soundtrack, enhancing the immersive experience. Importance 3%	The game features fully voiced NPC dialogue and an amazing soundtrack, enhancing the immersive experience.	3%
Fast-paced combat system Description The game features a fast-paced combat system, contributing to its engaging and dynamic gameplay. Importance 3%	The game features a fast-paced combat system, contributing to its engaging and dynamic gameplay.	3%
Good console-to-PC Diablo-like port Description The game is considered a good console-to-PC port and a solid "Diablo-like" experience on consoles. Importance 2%	The game is considered a good console-to-PC port and a solid "Diablo-like" experience on consoles.	2%