View source for Software:Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance

{{Infobox video game
| title = Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
| image = File:Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance.jpg
| developer = [[Company:Snowblind Studios|Snowblind Studios]]{{efn|Ported to GameCube by [[Company:High Voltage Software|High Voltage Software]]. Game Boy Advance version developed by Magic Pockets. 2021 re-release ported by Square One Games.<ref>{{cite web |title=Square One Games |url=http://www.s1games.com/ |website=s1games.com |access-date=30 July 2022 |archive-date=July 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715065721/http://www.s1games.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| publisher = [[Company:Interplay Entertainment|Interplay Entertainment]]<br>[[Company:Black Isle Studios|Black Isle Studios]]{{efn|Game Boy Advance port published by [[Company:Destination Software|Destination Software]].}}
| producer = Darren Monahan
| designer = {{Unbulleted list|Chris Avellone|Erza Dreisbach|Ryan Geithman}}
| programmer = Erza Dreisbach
| artist = John Van Deusen
| composer = {{Unbulleted list|Jeremy Soule|Will Loconto}}
| series = ''Baldur's Gate''
| engine = Dark Alliance engine
| platforms = {{collapsible list|title_style=font-weight:normal|title=[[Engineering:PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]]|[[Engineering:Xbox (console)|Xbox]]|[[Engineering:GameCube|GameCube]]|Game Boy Advance|[[Software:Microsoft Windows|Windows]]|[[Software:MacOS|macOS]]|[[Software:IOS|iOS]]|[[Software:Linux|Linux]]|[[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]]|[[Engineering:PlayStation 5|PlayStation 5]]|[[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]]|[[Engineering:Xbox One|Xbox One]]|[[Engineering:Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]]}}
| released = {{collapsible list|title_style=font-weight:normal|title=December 4, 2001|'''PlayStation 2'''<ref name="PS2 info">{{cite web | url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/ | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (PS2) | publisher=GameSpy | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=June 15, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615130548/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/ | url-status=live}}</ref>{{vgrelease|NA|December 4, 2001|EU|December 14, 2001}}|'''Xbox'''{{vgrelease|NA|October 22, 2002<ref>{{cite web | url=http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/ | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (Xbox) | publisher=GameSpy | access-date=January 25, 2016 | archive-date=February 3, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203165407/http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/ | url-status=live}}</ref>|EU|March 21, 2003}}|'''GameCube'''{{vgrelease|NA|November 20, 2002<ref>{{cite web | url=http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/ | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (GameCube) | publisher=GameSpy | access-date=January 25, 2016 | archive-date=March 5, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305011251/http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/ | url-status=live}}</ref>|EU|April 25, 2003}}|'''Game Boy Advance'''{{vgrelease|WW|February 10, 2004<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/games/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/gba-490722 | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (GBA) | publisher=IGN | access-date=January 25, 2016}}</ref>}}|'''PS4''', '''PS5''', '''Xbox One''', '''Xbox Series X/S'''{{vgrelease|WW|May 7, 2021}}'''Nintendo Switch'''{{vgrelease|WW|May 20, 2021}}|'''Windows''', '''macOS''', '''Linux'''{{vgrelease|WW|December 17, 2021<ref name=RPS>{{cite web | url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/surprise-baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-is-out-now-on-pc | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance | website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun | date=December 17, 2021 | publisher=Rock Paper Shotgun | access-date=December 17, 2021 | last1=Beckhelling | first1=Imogen | archive-date=December 17, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217162338/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/surprise-baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-is-out-now-on-pc | url-status=live}}</ref>}}}}
| genre = [[Software:Action role-playing game|Action role-playing]], [[Software:Hack and slash|hack and slash]]
| modes = [[Software:Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Software:Cooperative video game|co-op multiplayer]]
}}

'''''Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance''''' is a 2001 [[Software:Action role-playing game|action role-playing]] video game developed by [[Company:Snowblind Studios|Snowblind Studios]] and published by [[Company:Interplay Entertainment|Interplay Entertainment]] subsidiary Black Rock Studios for the [[Engineering:PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]] and the [[Engineering:Xbox (console)|Xbox]] consoles, with [[Company:High Voltage Software|High Voltage Software]] handling the GameCube port, and Magic Pockets developing the Game Boy Advance version. [[Company:CD Projekt|CD Projekt]] was developing a version for [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]], but was ultimately cancelled. In 2021, a 4K port of the game was released for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC.<ref name=RPS />

The game is set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', and the gameplay is based on the rules of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3rd Edition, which were released in 2000. It is the first video game to implement the real time application of the new rules.<ref name="IGNXB">{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2002/10/18/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-review | publisher=IGN | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review (Xbox) | last=Hwang | first=Kaiser | date=October 18, 2002 | access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref> It is also the first game in the ''[[Software:Baldur's Gate|Baldur's Gate]]'' series released on [[Engineering:Video game console|console]]s as opposed to a PC and/or [[Engineering:Macintosh|Mac]].

''Dark Alliance'' was well received on all four platforms, with the PlayStation 2 version going on to win the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences award for "Console Role-Playing Game of the Year" (2002). A sequel, ''[[Software:Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II|Baldur's Gate]]'', was released in 2004 for non-Nintendo consoles. A third game was planned, but was cancelled early in development due to legal problems, and the closure of Black Isle Studios after Interplay went [[Finance:Bankruptcy|bankrupt]].<ref>{{cite web | first=Tor | last=Thorsen | publisher=GameSpot | title=Interplay shuts down Black Isle Studios | date=December 8, 2003 | url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/fallout3/news_6085243.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060613125717/http://gamespot.com/pc/rpg/fallout3/news_6085243.html | archive-date=June 13, 2006 | access-date= May 1, 2006 | url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2003/12/16/black-isle-closure-the-inside-track | title=Black Isle Closure: The Inside Track | publisher=IGN | last=Butts | first=Stephen | date=December 16, 2003 | access-date=September 7, 2013 | archive-date=January 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117140208/http://ie.ign.com/articles/2003/12/16/black-isle-closure-the-inside-track | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.secinfo.com/d13nF9.vFs.c.htm | title=Interplay Entertainment Corp 10-K for 12/31/05 EX-10 | date=June 19, 2006 | publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | access-date=August 24, 2013 | archive-date=January 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117140217/http://www.secinfo.com/d13nF9.vFs.c.htm | url-status=live}}</ref>

==Gameplay==
[[File:Dark Alliance gameplay.jpg|thumb|left|Gameplay in the PlayStation 2 version of ''Dark Alliance'', showing Vahn fighting his way through the Marsh of Chelimber. His [[Software:Health (gaming)|health]] and mana meters are at the top left of the screen. The empty meter between them is his experience meter.]]

''Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance'' is a [[Real-time computer graphics|real-time]] [[Software:Hack and slash|hack and slash]]/[[Software:Action role-playing game|action role-playing game]] presented in a [[3D computer graphics|3D perspective]], with a rotatable isometric three-quarter top-down view.<ref name="IGNXB"/>

At the beginning of the game, character stats are preset, with the player able to choose from three race/class combinations; a dwarven fighter (Kromlech), a human archer (Vahn) or an elven sorceress (Adrianna).<ref>{{cite book | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance PlayStation 2 Instruction Manual | url=http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.1976 | chapter=Heroes of Baldur's Gate | last=Avellone | first=Chris | publisher=[[Company:Black Isle Studios|Black Isle Studios]] | year=2001 | page=8 | id=S7145715 | access-date=February 22, 2016 | archive-date=February 14, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214225534/http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.1976 | url-status=live}}</ref> The player can customize their character's stats through gaining [[Software:Experience point|experience point]]s from defeating enemies. Every time the character increases in level, points are awarded corresponding to that level; i.e. if a character increases to level twelve, the player will gain twelve experience points to spend on the character's spells and feats.<ref>{{cite book | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance PlayStation 2 Instruction Manual | url=http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.1976 | chapter=Spells and feats | last=Avellone | first=Chris | publisher=[[Company:Black Isle Studios|Black Isle Studios]] | year=2001 | page=26 | id=S7145715 | access-date=February 22, 2016 | archive-date=February 14, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214225534/http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.1976 | url-status=live}}</ref> For every four levels which the character increases, the player is given one ability point to spend on one of the six core attributes (strength, intelligence, wisdom, dexterity, constitution, charisma).<ref name="Manual21">{{cite book | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance PlayStation 2 Instruction Manual | url=http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.1976 | chapter=Character abilities | last=Avellone | first=Chris | publisher=[[Company:Black Isle Studios|Black Isle Studios]] | year=2001 | pages=20–21 | id=S7145715 | access-date=February 22, 2016 | archive-date=February 14, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214225534/http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.1976 | url-status=live}}</ref>

Each of the three characters have their own unique fighting style and their own specific set of spells and feats. Gameplay strategy is thus different for each character. As Kromlech is a fighter, his spells and feats tend to focus on increasing his brute strength and ability to resist damage, as well as granting him powerful abilities to aid in melee combat, such as the ability to swing his weapon in a circle or slam it into the ground to damage groups of nearby enemies. As Vahn relies on ranged attacks, his spells and feats tend to focus on increasing the power of his bow and granting him the ability to fire special types of arrows, such as exploding arrows, ice arrows or multiple arrows. As Adrianna is a sorceress, her spells and feats tend to focus on increasing the power of her magic and granting her numerous new spells, such as the ability to shoot ice or fire from her fingers, shoot a ball of lightning or call down meteors on her enemies.<ref>{{cite book | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance PlayStation 2 Instruction Manual | url=http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.1976 | chapter=Active feats | last=Avellone | first=Chris | publisher=[[Company:Black Isle Studios|Black Isle Studios]] | year=2001 | pages=28–31 | id=S7145715 | access-date=February 22, 2016 | archive-date=February 14, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214225534/http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.1976 | url-status=live}}</ref>

Gameplay is linear, and each main quest must be completed in sequence before the story can proceed, although there are some optional side-quests, which do not have to be completed immediately, but all side-quests must be completed within the act in which they are assigned. There are relatively few [[Software:Non-player character|NPCs]] in the game, with whom only those who are part of a quest or side-quest may be interacted. Weapons, armor and items are only available for purchase from one location at a time, and become increasingly expensive and more powerful as the game progresses. The [[Head-up display|HUD]] features the option to use either a transparent map that covers most of the screen, or a mini-map, with the player also given the option to turn the map off entirely.<ref name="GSpotPS2">{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-review/1900-2827479/ | publisher=GameSpot | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review (PS2) | last=Villoria | first=Gerald | date=November 27, 2001 | access-date=August 24, 2013 | archive-date=November 11, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111043942/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-review/1900-2827479/ | url-status=live}}</ref>

The game also features [[Software:Cooperative video game|cooperative gameplay]] with another player. Both players share the same screen, and are thus limited in how far they can move away from one another. In co-op mode, the player who makes the kill gets 60% of the experience, and the other player gets 40%. Whichever player collects any gold drops gets 100% of the value, with the other player getting nothing.<ref name="Manual21"/>

The game contains four difficulty levels; "Easy", "Normal", "Hard" and "Extreme". Extreme can only be unlocked after the player has beaten "The Gauntlet", a special mini-dungeon unlocked once the player completes the game on any difficulty level. The Gauntlet can only be played with Drizzt Do'Urden.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps2/468547-baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/faqs/21179 | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Gauntlet Walkthrough | publisher=[[GameFAQs]] | access-date=March 25, 2015 | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115842/http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps2/468547-baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/faqs/21179 | url-status=live}}</ref> Extreme mode takes the form of a [[Software:New Game Plus|New Game Plus]], and can only be played by importing a saved character from another game.<ref>{{cite book | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance PlayStation 2 Instruction Manual | url=http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.1976 | chapter=Controlling your character | last=Avellone | first=Chris | publisher=[[Company:Black Isle Studios|Black Isle Studios]] | year=2001 | pages=13–14 | id=S7145715 | access-date=February 22, 2016 | archive-date=February 14, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214225534/http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.1976 | url-status=live}}</ref> Once the player has completed Extreme mode, Drizzt Do'Urden becomes available to use in the main game.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps2/468547-baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/cheats | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (PlayStation 2) Cheats | publisher=[[GameFAQs]] | access-date=August 24, 2013 | archive-date=September 13, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913105609/http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps2/468547-baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/cheats | url-status=live}}</ref>

===GBA version===
The Game Boy Advance version of ''Dark Alliance'' features some noticeable gameplay differences from the console versions.<ref name="IGNGBA"/><ref name="GSpotGBA">{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-review/1900-6087132/ | publisher=GameSpot | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review (GBA) | last=Provo | first=Frank | date=January 28, 2004 | access-date=August 24, 2013 | archive-date=February 24, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224202843/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-review/1900-6087132/ | url-status=live}}</ref>

Removed features:
* Character creation is more limited. Only a human male is playable, although his class can be chosen from three available (fighter, wizard, archer). After the completion of the game, a new class, "Elven Fighter", becomes available.
* Upon completion of the game, players cannot import a character to play through the story again; they must start a new game.
* The game is strictly single-player and there is no co-operative multiplayer mode.
* The player character cannot jump.
* Recall potions (which allow the player to teleport back to town to sell wares and then back to where they were in the dungeon) are not available.
* The experience meter from the console versions was removed.

New features:
* The town of Baldur's Gate is much more interactive, and players are able to talk to NPCs, enter houses, and use weapons (to break barrels, etc.).
* The town is split into two sections: North and South. The southern region cannot be entered at the beginning of the game.
* There are various new side-quests.
* The ability to save the game is present at all times through the pause menu, and in-game save points are less frequent, usually appearing before act bosses.

==Plot==
===Setting===
The game takes place in the Sword Coast and the Western Heartlands, areas in the Faerûn continent of the Forgotten Realms. Each act of the game takes place in a different region: Act I takes place in the city of Baldur's Gate itself; Act II in the Sunset Mountains; and Act III in the Marsh of Chelimber.

===Story===
The game begins with Vahn, Adrianna and Kromlech arriving in Baldur's Gate, whereupon they are attacked by a group of thieves led by Karne (Michael Bell). The city watch save the trio and take them to the Elfsong Tavern to recover. There, the bartender, Alyth Elendara (Jennifer Hale), tasks them to clear the tavern's cellar of rats. In the cellar, they discover the thieves are using the tavern's [[Engineering:Sewerage|sewer]] entrance to infiltrate the city. When Elfsong Tavern employee Ethon follows them into the sewers and disappears, they rescue him from thieves, and he directs them to the nearby [[Engineering:Crypt|crypt]]s, where one of the thieves was headed. There, they encounter Fayed (Cam Clarke), a priest of Illmater, who requests their help in stopping the "Orb of the Undead", which has filled the crypts with zombies and skeletons. They destroy the orb and discover the thieves, collectively known as Xantam's Guild, placed it there. Ethon introduces them to Jherek (John Rhys-Davies), a member of the Harpers, a group dedicated to protecting the realms from evil. Impressed with the trio, he invites them to join the Harpers and destroy Xantham's Guild. They agree, and Jherek shows them the guild's entrance in the sewers.

After navigating a gauntlet of traps they face and kill Karne, and then find the guild master, the beholder Xantam (Tony Jay). They fight and kill him, and Jherek asks them to enter a portal which Xantam was guarding. The portal transports them to the Sunset Mountains, whereupon they head to a dwarf mining village, which is oppressed by drow elves. They light a signal fire atop a nearby mountain, calling for aid from neighboring dwarven clans, and enter the mines to rout the drow. After killing the drow priestess, they rescue a dwarven Harper, who tells them of another portal in the mountains. He also tells them that troops and monsters are planning to use the portals to move from the mountains into Baldur's Gate, attacking the city from within. The adventurers head to the portal, which is guarded by the ice dragon Ciraxis. They slay him and pass through the portal into the Marsh of Chelimber.

There they meet Sleyvas (Kevin Michael Richardson), one of the native lizardfolk. He tells them of the nearby "Onyx Tower", and of its inhabitant, Eldrith the Betrayer (Vanessa Marshall), who has sworn vengeance against Baldur's Gate. He reveals that his kin, led by the lizard Sess'sth, are serving Eldrith. The trio fight through hordes of lizardfolk, kill Sess'sth, and cripple the lizard army. Sleyvas leads them to the Onyx Tower, which they enter by taking a detour through the Elemental Plane of Water. Inside the tower, they witness Eldrith's preparations for war and fight their way upwards, through legions of Eldrith's soldiers.

At the penultimate level of the tower they meet the ghost of Keledon (Dwight Schultz), first captain of the company of the Westering Sun. He explains that Eldrith once served Baldur's Gate as its greatest general, fighting a crusade against the Black Horde. After defending the city, she defied orders and led her army in pursuit of the retreating Horde. Trapping them in a ravine, they proved stronger than she had anticipated, and she asked the city for re-enforcements, which never came. Eldrith survived, but her army was defeated, and, furious, she rallied her remaining soldiers to attack Baldur's Gate, but was again defeated. The city's soldiers pursued her and her men to the Marshes of Chelimber, and killed them all, but Eldrith's rage was such that she returned to life, creating the Onyx Tower, which gave her access to the portals. Seeking revenge, she orchestrated the attacks against Baldur's Gate, and created a dark alliance between Xantam's guild, the drow, and Sess'sth's tribes.

Keledon explains that if the trio defeat Eldrith, the Tower will be destroyed, and the ghosts within will be freed. However, as they cannot leave the tower, it will likely lead to their own deaths. They find Eldrith on the roof of the Tower guarding another portal. She reiterates her plans for the destruction of Baldur's Gate. They fight and defeat her, and as she dies, she repents her actions. With the tower crumbling, the heroes enter the portal, not knowing where it leads.

It is revealed that Sleyvas manipulated the heroes to defeat Eldrith for his unidentified master. He tells his master that the heroes have died within the tower and Eldrith is no longer an obstacle. As such, they can now proceed with their plans. Meanwhile, the trio emerge in an unknown forest, and are surrounded by dark creatures.

==Development==
''Dark Alliance'' was first revealed in November 2000, when [[Company:Interplay Entertainment|Interplay]] confirmed to IGN that a [[Engineering:PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]] game based on ''[[Software:Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn|Baldur's Gate II]]'' had entered production, following the cancellation of the [[Engineering:Dreamcast|Sega Dreamcast]] port of the original ''[[Software:Baldur's Gate (video game)|Baldur's Gate]]''. Little was known at that time other than the fact that Interplay would publish, and BioWare, developers of the original ''Baldur's Gate'', would not develop the game. Instead, the game was to be developed by [[Company:Snowblind Studios|Snowblind Studios]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2000/11/07/interplay-confirms-baldurs-gate-ii | title=Interplay Confirms Baldur's Gate II | date=November 7, 2000 | publisher=IGN | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=January 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117200552/http://ie.ign.com/articles/2000/11/07/interplay-confirms-baldurs-gate-ii | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/baldurs-gate-on-ps2/1100-2651315/ | title=Baldur's Gate on PS2 | last=Shahed | first=Ahmed | date=November 7, 2000 | publisher=GameSpot | access-date=November 11, 2011 | archive-date=March 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320080755/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/baldurs-gate-on-ps2/1100-2651315/ | url-status=live}}</ref> The game was officially confirmed in February 2001. [[Company:Black Isle Studios|Black Isle Studios]]' division director Feargus Urquhart stated:

{{blockquote|We recognize the tremendous demand for a ''Baldur's Gate'' game on PlayStation 2. We're totally committed to making ''Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance'' a completely original experience that both console gamers and RPG fans will enjoy.<ref name="Snow PS2">{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2001/02/15/baldurs-gate-finally-confirmed | title=Baldur's Gate Finally Confirmed | date=February 15, 2001 | publisher=IGN | access-date=September 6, 2013}}</ref>}}

Ryan Geithman, director of Snowblind, added:

{{blockquote|We are developing the game from the ground up to take full advantage of the sophisticated PlayStation 2 technology. Our goal is to push the hardware to its limits thus creating stunning environmental effects and highly detailed characters never before seen on the console.<ref name="Snow PS2"/>}}

Interplay said that if the game was successful, a sequel would enter development immediately.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2001/04/17/interplay-talks-finances-the-matrix-and-sequels | title=Interplay Talks Finances, The Matrix, and Sequels | date=April 7, 2001 | publisher=IGN | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=January 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117140228/http://ie.ign.com/articles/2001/04/17/interplay-talks-finances-the-matrix-and-sequels | url-status=live}}</ref>

The game utilized a new [[Software:Game engine|game engine]], the Dark Alliance Engine, which was built specifically for ''Dark Alliance'', and would go on to become the foundation for other games on the PlayStation 2, such as ''[[Software:Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel|Fallout]]''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/fallout-brotherhood-of-steel/493885p1.html | title=Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel (PS2) Review | publisher=GameSpy | date=January 12, 2004 | last=Meston | first=Zach | access-date=August 24, 2013 | archive-date=July 29, 2012 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729033746/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/fallout-brotherhood-of-steel/493885p1.html | url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[[Software:The Bard's Tale (2004 video game)|The Bard's Tale]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/song-of-the-bard/493867p1.html | title=The Bard's Tale (PS2) Preview | publisher=GameSpy | date=February 15, 2004 | last=Padilla | first=Raymond | access-date=August 24, 2013 | archive-date=February 5, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205072135/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/song-of-the-bard/493867p1.html | url-status=live}}</ref> Graphically, the Dark Alliance engine is a major improvement over the engine used by the original PC ''Baldur's Gate'' games, the Infinity Engine. Infinity was only able to [[Rendering (computer graphics)|render]] [[2D computer graphics|2D]] [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]] characters and static environments. The Dark Alliance engine, on the other hand, made use of the PlayStation 2's [[Engineering:PlayStation technical specifications#Graphics processing unit|advanced GPU]], allowing for such improvements as dynamic lighting, real-time shadowing and [[3D rendering|3D models]] of characters and environments. 

In September, Interplay originally entered negotiations with Vivendi Universal Games for an exclusive North American distribution deal, with ''Dark Alliance'' being one of the first two titles.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/09/26/vivendi-to-publish-interplay-titles | title=Vivendi to Publish Interplay Titles | date=September 26, 2001}}</ref> The game was finalised and was originally scheduled with a release date of November 12.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/baldurs-gate-ps2-goes-gold/1100-2822140/ | title=Baldur's Gate PS2 goes gold | date=November 2, 2001 | publisher=GameSpot | first=Shahed | last=Ahmed | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=March 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320071903/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/baldurs-gate-ps2-goes-gold/1100-2822140/ | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2001/11/05/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-is-final | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Is Final | date=November 5, 2001 | publisher=IGN | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=January 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117200747/http://ie.ign.com/articles/2001/11/05/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-is-final | url-status=live}}</ref> The game was shipped by Black Isle Studios on December 3.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/baldurs-gate-shipped-for-the-playstation-2/1100-2829535/ | title=Baldur's Gate shipped for the PlayStation 2 | date=December 3, 2001 | publisher=GameSpot | last=Ahmed | first=Shahed | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=March 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320083703/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/baldurs-gate-shipped-for-the-playstation-2/1100-2829535/ | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2001/12/03/black-isle-ships-baldurs-gate-dark-alliance | title=Baldur's Black Isle Ships Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance | date=December 3, 2001 | publisher=IGN | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=January 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117200749/http://ie.ign.com/articles/2001/12/03/black-isle-ships-baldurs-gate-dark-alliance | url-status=live}}</ref>

===Ports===
With the success of the PlayStation version, the [[Engineering:Xbox (console)|Xbox]] port, also developed by Snowblind,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2002/07/11/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-5 | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Xbox Preview | date=July 11, 2002 | publisher=IGN | last=Boulding | first=Aaron | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=January 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117200755/http://ie.ign.com/articles/2002/07/11/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-5 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-officially-announced-for-xbox/1100-2866158/ | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance officially announced for Xbox | date=May 17, 2002 | publisher=GameSpot | last=Torres | first=Ricardo | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=March 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320072217/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-officially-announced-for-xbox/1100-2866158/ | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2002/05/17/xbox-and-a-dark-alliance | title=Xbox and a Dark Alliance | date=May 17, 2002 | publisher=IGN | last=Boulding | first=Aaron | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=January 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117200752/http://ie.ign.com/articles/2002/05/17/xbox-and-a-dark-alliance | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2002/05/31/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-6 | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Xbox Hands On | date=May 31, 2002 | publisher=IGN | last=Frankle | first=Gwen | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=January 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117200753/http://ie.ign.com/articles/2002/05/31/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-6 | url-status=live}}</ref> was released on October 22, 2002.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-alliance-for-the-xbox-goes-gold/1100-2881600/ | title=Dark Alliance for the Xbox goes gold | date=September 25, 2002 | publisher=GameSpot | last=Parker | first=Sam | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=March 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320073438/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-alliance-for-the-xbox-goes-gold/1100-2881600/ | url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Engineering:GameCube|GameCube]] version<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-for-gamecube/1100-2880881/ | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance for GameCube | date=September 19, 2002 | publisher=GameSpot | last=Parker | first=Sam | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=March 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320090050/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-for-gamecube/1100-2880881/ | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2002/09/19/baldurs-gate-official | title=Baldur's Gate Official | date=September 19, 2002 | publisher=IGN | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=January 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117200759/http://ie.ign.com/articles/2002/09/19/baldurs-gate-official | url-status=live}}</ref> was ported by [[Company:High Voltage Software|High Voltage Software]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2002/09/25/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-4 | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance GameCube Preview | date=September 25, 2002 | publisher=IGN | access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> and released on November 20 of the same year.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2002/10/28/baldurs-gold | title=Baldur's Gold | date=October 28, 2002 | publisher=IGN | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=January 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117200800/http://ie.ign.com/articles/2002/10/28/baldurs-gold | url-status=live}}</ref> The Game Boy Advance port was developed by Magic Pockets. The port was originally announced in November 2001,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destination-software-confirms-gba-gamecube-games/1100-2823634/ | title=Destination Software confirms GBA, GameCube games | date=November 9, 2001 | publisher=GameSpot | last=Ahmed | first=Shahed | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=March 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320080744/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destination-software-confirms-gba-gamecube-games/1100-2823634/ | url-status=live}}</ref> but little more was heard of the title until January 2004, when a rumor circulated that the game was finished, and was set to be published by [[Company:Ubisoft|Ubisoft]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisoft-to-distribute-gba-dark-alliance/1100-6086596/ | title=Ubisoft to distribute GBA Dark Alliance | date=January 15, 2004 | publisher=GameSpot | last=Thorsen | first=Tor | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=March 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320080705/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisoft-to-distribute-gba-dark-alliance/1100-6086596/ | url-status=live}}</ref> This proved inaccurate, with [[Company:Destination Software|Destination Software]] ultimately publishing the title in February.<ref name="IGNGBA">{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2004/01/30/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-9 | publisher=IGN | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review (GBA) | last=Harris | first=Craig | date=January 29, 2004 | access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref>

Believing the game could also be a success on the PC, Interplay's Feargus Urquhart and David Perry contacted Polish developers [[Company:CD Projekt|CD Projekt]]. As Poland was known for only developing PC games, Urquhart and Perry believed Projekt would be the perfect team to port ''Dark Alliance'' to PC. Sebastian Zieliński, developer of ''[[Software:Mortyr|Mortyr 2093-1944]]'', which Interplay had published, was placed in charge of the project, with Adam Badowski, a film [[Storyboard|storyboard]] artist, hired as designer. A PlayStation 2 [[Software development kit|development kit]] was smuggled from Interplay's offices in London to Poland, and work on the port began, but almost immediately, Interplay cancelled development.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-11-06-seeing-red-the-story-of-cd-projekt | title=Seeing Red: The story of CD Projekt | last=Purchese | first=Robert | date=November 7, 2013 | publisher=Eurogamer | access-date=November 7, 2013 | archive-date=November 7, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107171150/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-11-06-seeing-red-the-story-of-cd-projekt | url-status=live}}</ref>

A reissue of ''Dark Alliance'' for [[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]], [[Engineering:PlayStation 5|PlayStation 5]], [[Engineering:Xbox One|Xbox One]], [[Engineering:Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X and Series S]] was released on May 7, 2021,<ref name="Gematsu2021May">{{cite web|title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance coming to PS4, Xbox One, and Switch on May 7, PC and mobile in 2021|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/05/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-and-switch-on-may-7-pc-and-mobile-in-2021|website=Gematsu|date=May 6, 2021|access-date=May 23, 2021|archive-date=December 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231173350/https://www.gematsu.com/2021/05/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-and-switch-on-may-7-pc-and-mobile-in-2021|url-status=live}}</ref> with a [[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]] version followed on May 20,<ref>{{cite web|title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance finally launches on Nintendo Switch this week|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-05-18-baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-finally-launches-on-nintendo-switch-this-week|website=Eurogamer|date=May 18, 2021|access-date=May 23, 2021|archive-date=May 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523091250/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-05-18-baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-finally-launches-on-nintendo-switch-this-week|url-status=live}}</ref> and for [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]], [[Software:MacOS|macOS]] and [[Software:Linux|Linux]] (published on [[Software:Steam (service)|Steam]] and [[Company:GOG.com|GOG.com]]) on December 17.<ref name="Gematsu2021May"/><ref name=RPS /> The reissue supports some additional updates such as [[4K resolution|4K resolution]] support on the newer consoles, but is otherwise not a remaster or remake of the original game.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-announced-for-ps5-ps4-xbox-series-xs-xbox-one-and-nintendo-switch | title = Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Announced for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch | first = Ryan | last = McCaffery | date = May 6, 2021 | accessdate = May 6, 2021 | work = IGN | archive-date = May 6, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210506143911/https://www.ign.com/articles/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-announced-for-ps5-ps4-xbox-series-xs-xbox-one-and-nintendo-switch | url-status = live}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| GBA = true
| NGC = true
| PS2 = true
| XBOX = true
| GSpot_GBA = 8/10<ref name="GSpotGBA"/>
| GSpot_NGC = 7.6/10<ref name="GSpotGC">{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-review/1900-2895937/ | publisher=GameSpot | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review (GameCube) | last=Kasavin | first=Greg | date=October 28, 2002 | access-date=August 24, 2013 | archive-date=May 28, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528045503/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-review/1900-2895937/ | url-status=live}}</ref>
| GSpot_PS2 = 8.8/10<ref name="GSpotPS2"/>
| GSpot_XBOX = 8.5/10<ref name="GSpotXB">{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-review/1900-2895913/ | publisher=GameSpot | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review (Xbox) | last=Kasavin | first=Greg | date=October 28, 2002 | access-date=August 24, 2013 | archive-date=March 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320081018/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-review/1900-2895913/ | url-status=live}}</ref>
| GSpy_NGC = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="GSpyGC">{{cite web | url=http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/561486p1.html | publisher=GameSpy | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review (GameCube) | last=Nutt | first=Christian | date=December 13, 2002 | access-date=March 23, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407051902/http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/561486p1.html | archive-date=April 7, 2010}}</ref>
| GSpy_XBOX = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="GSpyXB">{{cite web | url=http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/592477p1.html | publisher=GameSpy | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review (Xbox) | last=Padilla | first=Raymond | date=October 22, 2002 | access-date=March 23, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123110714/http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/592477p1.html | archive-date=January 23, 2013}}</ref>
| IGN_GBA = 8/10<ref name="IGNGBA"/>
| IGN_NGC = 7.5/10<ref name="IGNGC">{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2002/11/13/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance | publisher=IGN | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review (GameCube) | last=Mirabella III | first=Fran | date=November 13, 2002 | access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref>
| IGN_PS2 = 9.4/10<ref name="IGNPS2">{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2001/12/03/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-7 | publisher=IGN | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review (PS2) | last=Smith | first=David | date=December 3, 2001 | access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref>
| IGN_XBOX = 8.5/10<ref name="IGNXB"/>
| NP_GBA = 4/5<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review (GBA) | magazine=Nintendo Power | date=March 2004 | page=119}}</ref>
| NP_NGC = 4.2/5<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review (GameCube) | magazine=Nintendo Power | date=January 2003 | page=172}}</ref>
| OPM_PS2 = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review (PS2) | magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine | date=January 2002 | page=130}}</ref>
| OXM_XBOX = 8.8/10<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review (Xbox) | magazine=Official Xbox Magazine | date=December 2002 | page=142}}</ref>
| MC_GBA = 76/100<ref name="MCGBA">{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (GameBoy Advance) | publisher=Metacritic | access-date=August 24, 2013 | archive-date=June 17, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617082220/http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance | url-status=live}}</ref>
| MC_NGC = 79/100<ref name="MCGC">{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (GameCube) | publisher=Metacritic | access-date=August 24, 2013 | archive-date=July 25, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725020611/http://www.metacritic.com/game/gamecube/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance | url-status=live}}</ref>
| MC_PS2 = 87/100<ref name="MCPS2">{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (PlayStation 2) | publisher=Metacritic | access-date=August 24, 2013 | archive-date=October 22, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022075445/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance | url-status=live}}</ref>
| MC_XBOX = 83/100<ref name="MCXB">{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (Xbox) | publisher=Metacritic | access-date=August 24, 2013 | archive-date=October 23, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023094731/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance | url-status=live}}</ref>
| award1Pub = Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
| award1 = Console Role-Playing (2002)<ref name="Award">{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2002/03/27/baldurs-gate-wins-arts-and-sciences-award | title=Baldur's Gate Wins Arts and Sciences Award | publisher=IGN | date=March 27, 2002 | access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref>
}}

=== Pre-release ===
When the game was first shown at E3 in May 2001, it gained critical acclaim, with IGN writing that "it almost instantly became one of the most wanted games for PlayStation 2 owners across the country. The game's graphics are as good as anything else on the system. It's as simple as that. The [[Computer graphics lighting|lighting]], [[Shadow mapping|shadows]], [[Texture mapping|textures]], [[3D modeling|models]], water effects, and reflections are all amazing to look at and are a testament to the power of PlayStation 2 and the skills of the developers over at Snowblind Studios".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2001/05/18/e3-2001-more-praise-for-baldurs-gate-dark-alliance | title=E3 2001: More Praise for Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance | date=May 18, 2001 | publisher=IGN | access-date=November 11, 2011 | archive-date=January 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117200556/http://ie.ign.com/articles/2001/05/18/e3-2001-more-praise-for-baldurs-gate-dark-alliance | url-status=live}}</ref> Commenting on E3 presentation, IGN wrote that "none of the problems that are commonly associated with PlayStation 2 games, such as low-res textures, flickering, or aliasing problems, are to be found here. It's hard to think of a game that pulls off the much-fabled anti-aliasing as well as this game does. ''Dark Alliance'' uses a technique similar to what a large number of Dreamcast games did to pull off their clean look: they simply render the scene at a much higher resolution, anti-alias it, then drop it down to a more acceptable resolution for TVs. The result is a beautifully anti-aliased game".<ref name="IGN Preview"/> IGN gave a full preview in November, again praising the graphics, and wrote: "This game is running on a rock-solid [[3D computer graphics|3D]] engine with completely rotatable dungeons, brilliant animation for nearly every interactive element (of which there are many), and first-rate lighting effects of all different kinds [...] In the beginning, simple refined touches are impressive, amid the generally sharp atmosphere of the game (while there is no visible aliasing, the graphics aren't heavily [[Anisotropic filtering|filtered]], either). Even when all you have to fight are rats, and all you have to fight with is a dagger, you can admire how barrels come apart when you smash them, in realistically shaded pieces and a puff of dust, or all the different limbs you can bloodily excise from your foes".<ref name="IGN Preview">{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2001/11/27/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-8 | title=Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Preview | date=November 26, 2001 | publisher=IGN | last=Smith | first=David | access-date=September 6, 2013 | archive-date=January 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117200744/http://ie.ign.com/articles/2001/11/27/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-8 | url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Post-release ===
''Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance'' was well received on all four platforms. Metacritic records all versions as receiving "generally favorable reviews", with the PlayStation 2 version holding an aggregate score of 87 out of 100, based on twenty-nine reviews;<ref name="MCPS2"/> the Xbox version 83 out of 100, based on twenty-five reviews;<ref name="MCXB"/> the GameCube version 79 out of 100, based on ten reviews;<ref name="MCGC"/> and the Game Boy Advance version 76 out of 100, based on seventeen reviews.<ref name="MCGBA"/>

IGN reviewed all four versions of the game. David Smith scored the PlayStation 2 version 9.4 out of 10, giving it an "Editor's Award" and calling the Dark Alliance engine "one of the best 3D engines yet devised". He dismissed criticisms of the game as a "''[[Software:Diablo (video game)|Diablo]]'' clone", arguing the gameplay is much deeper than such a comparison suggests. His only criticisms were some anticlimactic boss fights and repetitive music. He called ''Dark Alliance'' one of the best titles for PS2.<ref name="IGNPS2"/> Kaiser Hwang scored the Xbox version 8.5 out of 10. He praised the graphics, but was critical that the Xbox version did not add anything new compared to PS2 version released a year earlier.<ref name="IGNXB"/> Fran Mirabella III scored the GameCube version 7.5 out of 10, criticizing the game's [[Frame rate|frame rate]] and called it "a downgrade from the PS2 version".<ref name="IGNGC"/> Craig Harris scored the Game Boy Advance version 8 out of 10, arguing that although it is missing a few key elements from the original version it's based upon, ''Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance'' works very well in portable form.<ref name="IGNGBA"/>

GameSpot also reviewed all four versions. Gerald Villoria scored the PlayStation 2 version 8.8 out of 10, praising the differences between the fighting styles of the three characters, the controls, the range of enemies and weaponry, and the lip syncing.<ref name="GSpotPS2"/> Greg Kasavin scored the Xbox version 8.5 out of 10, calling it "one of the finest action RPGs ever made" and lauding it as "a perfect port".<ref name="GSpotXB"/> Kasavin scored the GameCube version 7.6 out of 10, finding similar faults to IGN's Mirabella, also criticizing frame rate issues that are "nonexistent" in the PS2 and Xbox versions and concluded that "the game just wasn't optimized for the system".<ref name="GSpotGC"/> Frank Provo scored the Game Boy Advance version 8 out of 10, praising the enemy [[Artificial intelligence|AI]], the sound and the graphics.<ref name="GSpotGBA"/>

GameSpy reviewed the Xbox and GameCube versions. Raymond Padilla scored the Xbox version 4 out of 5. Although he called it one of the best titles for Xbox, he was critical of the game having minor visual and aural enhancements in this version, and criticized the lack of Xbox Live compatibility or any kind of [[Software:Downloadable content|downloadable content]], arguing that the improvements are only "superficial".<ref name="GSpyXB"/> Christian Nutt scored the GameCube version 3.5 out of 5, calling it "a wonderfully entertaining game" despite not living up to the technical quality of the PS2 or Xbox versions. He wrote that "the graphics have taken a subtle but damaging hit" and criticized the game's frame rate as "sluggish", but commended gameplay.<ref name="GSpyGC"/>

In the mainstream press, Victor Godinez of ''The Dallas Morning News'' called the game "a blast to play".<ref name="godinez">{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-82056201.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064816/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-82056201.html |url-status = dead| archive-date=March 4, 2016 | last=Godinez | first=Victor | title=Electronic adventures: Final Fantasy X appears winded | work=The Dallas Morning News | publisher=Knight Ridder | date=January 22, 2002 | access-date=January 16, 2013}}</ref>  Billy O'Keefe, of the ''Knight Ridder Tribune'' wrote ''Dark Alliance'' is "all about action", opining that a pure [[Software:Role-playing video game|RPG]] would not work on a console, and the additional action elements in ''Dark Alliance'' improved playability.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120562367.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211122454/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120562367.html |url-status = dead| archive-date=February 11, 2017 | last=O'Keefe | first=Billy | title=Reviews of recent video game releases | work=Knight Ridder Tribune | publisher=Knight Ridder | date=January 22, 2002 | access-date=January 20, 2013}}</ref> John Breeden II of ''{{wipe|The Washington Post}}'' praised "the smaller number of more straightforward quests".<ref name="breeden">{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-338064.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324223824/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-338064.html |url-status = dead| archive-date=March 24, 2016 | last=Breeden II | first=John | title=Reviews: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance | newspaper={{wipe|The Washington Post}}  | date=February 10, 2002 | access-date=January 20, 2013}}</ref> Bob Low of the ''Daily Record'' called the graphics "flawless".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-78250737 | last=Low | first=Bob | title=Sand Blaster: Games Review | work=Daily Record | publisher=Trinity Mirror | date=September 1, 2001 | access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> Godinez also lauded the graphics, calling them "breathtaking".<ref name=godinez/> Breeden agreed, saying that "the graphics on the PS2 version are eons ahead of the PC series".<ref name=breeden/> Low's one complaint was that the game was too short.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-81293261 | last=Low | first=Bob | title=20th Sentry Foxed | work=Daily Record | publisher=Trinity Mirror | date=January 4, 2002 | access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> Breeden echoed this sentiment, arguing that players used to the longer PC games in the series might find ''Dark Alliance'' too brief.<ref name=breeden/>

IGN ranked ''Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance'' No. 7 on their list of "The Top 11 Dungeons & Dragons Games of All Time" in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/05/the-top-11-dungeons-dragons-games-of-all-time|title=The Top 11 Dungeons & Dragons Games of All-Time|first=Leif|last=Johnson|date=November 1, 2021|website=IGN|access-date=January 3, 2022|archive-date=September 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902005437/https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/05/the-top-11-dungeons-dragons-games-of-all-time|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Sales and awards===
''Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance'' was a commercial success, selling over one million units across PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2003/03/24/dark-alliance-ii-announced | title=Dark Alliance II Announced | publisher=IGN | date=March 24, 2003 | access-date=September 7, 2013 | archive-date=January 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117140201/http://ie.ign.com/articles/2003/03/24/dark-alliance-ii-announced | url-status=live}}</ref> During the 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (now known as the D.I.C.E. Awards), the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awarded ''Dark Alliance'' with "Console Role-Playing Game of the Year".<ref name="Award"/> It was nominated for ''GameSpot''{{'}}s annual "Best In-Game Water" and "Best Role-Playing Game" prizes among [[Software:Console game|console game]]s, which went respectively to ''[[Software:Wave Race: Blue Storm|Wave Race]]'' and ''[[Software:Final Fantasy X|Final Fantasy X]]''.<ref name=bestworst2001>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020803185618/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/bestof_2001/ | url=http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/bestof_2001/ | title=''GameSpot''{{'}}s Best and Worst Video Games of 2001 | author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> | date=February 23, 2002 | work=GameSpot | archive-date=August 3, 2002 | url-status=dead}}</ref> The 2002 GameCube version was a runner-up for ''GameSpot''{{'}}s annual "Best Music on GameCube" and "Best Role-Playing Game on GameCube" awards, while the Xbox port claimed nominations for "Best Music on Xbox", "Best Sound on Xbox" and "Best Role-Playing Game on Xbox".<ref name=bestworst2002>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030207155400/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/ | url=http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/ | title=''GameSpot''{{'}}s Best and Worst of 2002 | author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> | date=December 30, 2002 | work=GameSpot | archive-date=February 7, 2003 | url-status=dead}}</ref> It was later listed at No. 66 in IGN's "Top 100 PlayStation 2 Games".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ign.com/top/ps2-games/66 | title=Top 100 PlayStation 2 Games | publisher=IGN | access-date=November 15, 2012 | archive-date=October 27, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027131233/http://www.ign.com/top/ps2-games/66 | url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{notelist}}



[[Category:Action role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Cooperative video games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]

{{Sourceattribution|Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance}}