Overall: Well this game is similar to the baldur's gate series in my opinion, which you've probably already read. Though I think that this is a good thing as I like baldur's gate series. I played and finished baldur's gate one and 2, and was bored with the second one already so I purchased this game. It's a pretty descent game I would recommend getting it if u like baldur's gate or gauntlet. Though I dislike gauntlet, this game is better than that but not quite as good as baldur's gate in my opinion. Though I never expected it to be better, it is made by Atari afterall. However it does satisfy a simlar hack and slash experience. It's a short game as well, but I'm happy I bought it, only paid 30 canadian for it anyways. Gameplay: The gameplay is good, some aspects better than baldur's gate. I like how the skill points from leveling are set up. You have better control over the camera as well. Though personally i like the camera in baldur's better since I never felt a need to change it, but with this I'm constantly having to change the camera angle and zoom. Graphics: I would've been much happier if this game had been built on the same graphics engine as baldur's gate. It doesn't shine in this section, probably it's main downfall compared to baldur's gate. Sound: I didn't think it had very many different sounds or a very good soundtrack. Though realistically i never care much about the sound, just noticed though that whatever u tend to break/smash sounds like crates breaking. Suggestions: Only for xbox, yet the graphics were not even close to the potential of the xbox. Even the compass or health bars were kind of dim and bland. Nothing was sharp or crisp like it should be. The character models were no different. You should be able to teleport to town from anywhere like baldur's with recall potions. Downloadable maps online, and randomized dungeons/maps/treasure for good replay value.
Overall: A very entertaining game, keeping you busy for a while. An engaging storyline and the ability to create a customized character works well in this title. Gameplay: Controls are pretty tight in this game, but long range attacks are sometimes hard to land successfully. Combos are sometimes hard to land, yet certain special moves are invaluable during large scale groups. Graphics: While the cut scenes could have been done wth a few more details, the visuals during gamepley are solid and characters, enemies, bosses and level design are colorful and clear. Sound: The sounds can become very repetitive as you plow through the masses of enemies, as well the voice acting could be a little better. Suggestions: Make a sequal that is little longer or with more skills and characters.
Overall: Excellent in my opinion for what it is: A hack n' slash action game. Co-op play is what this game is made for and it does it well. Graphicssound, and control are for the most part, up to par. If you like Hunter TR, or Baldur's Gate: DA, this game will most surely satisfy you for 15 hours or so (That IS one of my gripes, a little on the short side). Gameplay: Gameplay and control is spot on. I used a rouge whose specialty is arrows. In Baldur's Gate, the projectile weapon aiming was a little tricky. D&D does this much better (ie - intuitive and easy). All items are picked up by simple walking over them, no pick up button. Also, all levers and chests are handled the same way. For this type of game, this makes sense. "Run around, get the booty, frag another dozen orcs". Graphics: Visuals are a mixed bag. For most of the game, they're very good. Environments look very nice for the most part. And of course, the water is amazing. The largest improvement D&D offers over Baldur's is the ability to zoom in to the action on the fly. And, the textures and character models hold up very nicely when doing so. Camera control in this game is EXCELLENT. One VERY nice detail I liked was that the rouges arrows actually stick and stay wherever they land. Be it an adversary, or a wall. It's quite satisfying peppering an orc with arrows and turning him into a pin cushin. The graphics reeeeaaaally break down tho in several cutscenes. Scenes like when at a store buying potions and such, the character models are far below PS2 standards. Not sure what happened there. Luckily, these scenes are a small part of the game. Sound: Sound was good, but not GREAT. Spells and arrows do sound nice. Explosions are impressive. Some of the dialog is a bit thin tho. Definitely nothing to write home about. Suggestions: 1) Let multiple people edit inventory/shop at the same time a-la Baldur's. It gets painful watching other people sift through their booty at times.
2) NPC cut scene characters... Spend a couple more minutes on this guys. They're Baaaad.
Overall: Everybody knows that this is a Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance clone. With that said it does have a few things going for it. You can have 4 players on screen at once dueling it out with the dungeon denizens, and uh, it has the D&D license... Gameplay: Reminiscent of BGDA, you run around from a birds-eye view and hack-n-slash, arrow-to-death, jar-bomb a variety of different D&D licensed creatures. The camera, I must admit, to my likness is better than BGDA. I just think it swings better and zooms in better; however, as the first reviewer mentioned it does not zoom-in and tilt up far enough for you to see who is in front of you! A tad bothersome when you know some powerful creature is somewhere in the near distance and you can't see him without zooming out. With that said, see my grafix description*.
When you create a character, you basically don't. The 4 PC are already pre-rolled which take out a little of the fun in creating a D&D character. You also have the basic BGDA upgrade slots that you can with bonus leveling points; which is a blatant rip from BG. One thing thats at least done right is that when you place armor on your character, the model does change to that look. Graphics: Average. If you zoom out, you can totally see the tile set used for the floors and the walls. Even the secret areas all use the same wall design. Makes it fairly easy to find "hidden" items. There is just nothing to really say about the graphics that'll make then any better. Since your camera can't zoom-in and up to any helpful degree your left pretty much staring at the ground, which to say is just plain dull. A simple effect would've been to add dust trailing off the characters feet as you ran in circles running away from Magic Missles or dodging a large underground lizard. Simple, but eye-candy is always a well come thing. Sound: Again, average. Nothing to write home about. Though, if you turn the volume up enough, you do get a little more immersed into the game and the dark dungeons. Suggestions: Ok, a decent first showing. And with the D&D license you can have practically any scenario, design, story, setting, anything at your grasps; so use it!
Make the next installment more RPG than hack-n-slash. Let us create our own characters, make a more interactive experience than just me pushing A, X, and B repetitously. And lastly fix the camera. Make it zoom-in and tilt-up to a more higher degree.
Overall: A hybrid of Baldurs gate and Gauntlet that in my opinion, largely manages to capture some of the best elements from both. Good level of character customization combined with deeper fighting and a greater variety of foes than Baldurs. It has faster action more reminiscent of Gauntlet. However, the action isn't quite at the frenetic gauntlet pace and stil requires a level of skill greater than gauntlet (just mashing buttons won't do it). There are no creature generators or such, but creatures do reinhabit areas after you leave, unlike Baldurs. The levels come faster and the games pace overall is increased. There is also a greater number of skills and a 2 different character classes. Overall, a great game that is lots of fun multiplayer. Gameplay: The game plays more or less exactly like Baldurs gate. Some of the interfaces are a bit different and it includes a couple of just fantastic features. Instead of usinf the d-pad to cycle abilities, you hold your right trigger and can quickly select a new feat and map in to the button you wish. It's not only faster, but it allows you multiple special abilites at your fingertips which creates a much bigger variety in combat tactics then either Gauntlet or Baldurs had to offer. A great feature they added is slow-mo when you are switching up the buttons. Everything goes bullet time when you hold the right trigger. This has many uses and makes switching tactics mid combat a breeze. In essence, if you've played Baldurs you've played this. It's not a bad thing, it's just different enough to be freash, and virtually all of the changes I would consider improvements. The primary difference in feel, is that you seem a bit tougher than in Baldurs, and the enemies are a bit weaker, but there are more of them. It seems like a litle thing, but it makes a big difference in the game. The thing I don't like, is that the story has very little depth compared to Baldurs. No conversation trees or the like. You meet people and they tell you what to do. That's about it. It does take some of the immersion away from it. That's too bad, because I'd be absolutely floored by the game if it possesed that. But hey, Baldurs 2 is just around the corner. All in all, some may argue that this game doesn't have enough of either Baldurs or Gauntlet, but I think they have managed to strike a very enjoyable balance between the two. Graphics: This I would call the games downfall. The camera is too far away and doesn't adjust relative to how many players are on screen. It's perpetually zoomed out to the maximum degree and that can make it hard to see. It doesn't detract greatly, but it certainly could be better. If they had an option to set a maximum zoom that would be amazing. Other than that the camera swing's nicely and the levels look straight out of Baldurs Gate minus one coat of polish. Essentially, it's just inferior lighting to Baldurs. The character models aren't as detailed, which is really a shame considering you zoom in quite close. When you get close you see that the models run awkwardly (like they're bowlegged) and aren't particualarly detailed. That's said, they aren't ugly. They look pretty good and you aren't paying that much attention when hacking up legions of baddies. Overall, the levels look pretty good (not Baldur good, but good nonetheless) and the characters look ok. I'd give the characters a 3 and the levels a 3.5). The cut-scenes on the other hand, look pretty sharp. They are well produced and pretty. I'd give them a 4. Hence, overall it gets a 3.5. Sound: I don't know how to rate sound. Are the sounds good? Yeah. Can I rememebr the theme song? No. It's not like the Halo theme which I can hum in my sleep. I guess the sound is average, but I don't feel like ripping on this game because of it. The voice acting is good and the sound effects are adequate. They could have been better, but they are effective, and I haven't discovered anything "annoying" yet. Suggestions: Well, I think the developer achieved what they were after. I don't believe this game was ever intended ot be a blockbuster, but it's got sleeper hit written on it somewhere. If the game was to be better, they could polish the graphics a bit, maybe add a touch dialogue (not much, stay focused on the action). Some more intense sounds would be nice. That would turn this game from a sleeper hit into a multiplayer favourite. Maybe even some Multiplayer vs. modes. I think the combat engine and character customization go far enough to allow for that. Like I said, I don't think Atari or whoever paid for this felt it was a big enough title to put in all the work to polish to it's maximum potential. So it's hard to tell them what to improve,as they succeded in making a pretty addictive action based game for less. Besides, why bother when Baldurs 2 is out so soon. That's not a franchise that's going to be outdone.
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