• Platform: Xbox
• Media: Video Game

Despite the Baldur's Gate name Dark Alliance II, with its real-time combat and simplified stats and rules, is more Gauntlet (or Diablo if you're too young to recognise that reference) than the Baldur's Gate PC games. This is not to imply that it's a simplistic button-basher, though; the combat is highly involved, with different styles of melee, distance and magic attacks depending on which character you choose to control. When you're not fighting (which isn't often) you can take part in those other stalwart features of the RPG genre, shopping and levelling up--both of which are made as easy and interesting as possible.

If you're wondering what has changed or been improved for the sequel, the simple answer is not much. Even the graphics seem the same and the few gameplay features that have been altered are entirely minor. To be fair, though, there wasn't much wrong with the original. --David Jenkins

Product Description
Darkness gathers yet again in the sprawling port city of Baldur's Gate. Bloodthirsty bandits stalk the trade roads and a secret society of heartless assassins dominates the criminal underworld, abducting citizens on moonless nights and dragging them screaming into the darkness. The city's most recent saviours vanished along with the Onyx Tower and so, in heroic tradition, adventurers throughout the Western Heartlands make the journey to Baldur's Gate to meet their great and unknown fate.

Embark on a new adventure in Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II and brave terrible dangers in search of fortune, glory and power. Face a multitude of sinister enemies while travelling through many spectacular environments in this action-packed fantasy game. Rid the lands of chaos, mastering skills, spells and deadly weapon. The fate of thousands hangs in the balance.