Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance
Game Type: Released
Max Players: 2
Genre: RPG - Action
Developers: Snowblind Studios
Publishers: Black Isle Studios
Cooperative: No
PEGI: 15
Game Overview
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance is a revolutionary action adventure with an epic tale of intrigue, fierce alliances, explosive spell effects and highly detailed creatures and environments. Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance is a benchmark of technology and gameplay. 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.
Introduction to the Adventure
"Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance" begins with the protagonist arriving in the city of Baldur's Gate, a bustling trade hub on the Sword Coast. However, upon entering, the hero is immediately ambushed by thieves and left for dead. Rescued by the city guard, the protagonist finds themselves in the Elfsong Tavern, where they are offered refuge. The tavern's keeper explains that the city has been plagued by criminal activity and that a mysterious guild controls much of it. From this moment, the protagonist becomes entangled in a series of events that will lead them far beyond the city's walls into dark dungeons, foreboding forests, and even otherworldly realms, as they seek to uncover the truth behind the growing threats facing Baldur's Gate.
Unravelling the Guild's Secrets
The first major task involves investigating the thieves' guild that attacked the protagonist. With guidance from various city inhabitants, the player ventures into the sewers beneath Baldur's Gate, where the guild is rumoured to operate. Deep within these sewers, the player encounters various enemies, from bandits to monstrous creatures. Eventually, the hero discovers that the thieves' guild is just a front for a more sinister organization seeking to destabilize Baldur's Gate. As they fight their way through the guild's ranks, the protagonist gathers clues about a deeper, more dangerous plot that extends beyond mere theft and robbery, pointing toward darker forces at play.
Into the Crypts and Caverns
As the player progresses, they learn of the presence of undead forces beneath the city. The protagonist is sent to investigate the crypts, where it becomes evident that an ancient evil has begun to stir. Necromancers, skeletons, and other dark creatures pose significant challenges as the hero delves deeper into the forgotten burial grounds. Along the way, they uncover that the disturbances are connected to a much larger scheme involving powerful magic and ancient rites. The deeper the protagonist ventures, the more they realize that these evils are not confined to Baldur's Gate but are part of a broader threat that could engulf the entire Sword Coast.
The Journey to the Marshes
Having dealt with the immediate threats beneath Baldur's Gate, the protagonist's journey leads them to the Marshes of Chelimber. The swampy terrain is filled with dangers, from hostile creatures to treacherous landscapes. In the marshes, the protagonist encounters lizardfolk and other dangerous enemies, all while searching for clues to the whereabouts of a powerful artifact that could help stop the growing evil. The Marshes serve as a critical turning point, as the protagonist begins to understand the scale of the threat they face and the dark power driving it. The hero must use their wits and strength to survive the perils of the marsh and uncover the truth.
The Descent into the Underdark
With new knowledge and equipment in hand, the protagonist embarks on a dangerous journey into the Underdark, a vast subterranean world filled with deadly creatures and ancient evils. Here, the player faces some of the most difficult challenges yet, including powerful dark elves, mind flayers, and other sinister beings. As the protagonist fights their way through the twisting tunnels and caverns of the Underdark, they begin to uncover the true source of the evil that threatens the surface world. A malevolent force, long thought to be dormant, is awakening, and it is up to the player to stop it before it’s too late. The Underdark tests the player's combat skills, puzzle-solving abilities, and determination to succeed.
The Confrontation with Eldrith
As the protagonist continues to delve deeper into the mystery, they eventually come face-to-face with the game's primary antagonist, Eldrith the Betrayer. Once a hero of Baldur's Gate, Eldrith was betrayed by her allies and now seeks revenge against the city she once fought to protect. Driven by rage and the promise of power, Eldrith commands an army of monsters and dark forces that threaten to destroy Baldur's Gate. The final confrontation between the protagonist and Eldrith takes place in her fortress, where the player must overcome numerous challenges to reach her. In a climactic battle, the hero must use all the skills and abilities they have gained throughout the game to defeat Eldrith and her dark minions, saving Baldur's Gate from destruction.
Final Showdown in the Plane of Shadow
In the final stages of the game, the protagonist is transported to the Plane of Shadow, an otherworldly realm where Eldrith has gathered her forces. This dark and twisted dimension is filled with powerful enemies and deadly traps, making it one of the most dangerous locations the player has faced. As the protagonist navigates through the Plane of Shadow, they must confront Eldrith's lieutenants and survive the numerous dangers that lurk in this shadowy realm. The atmosphere is foreboding, and the stakes have never been higher, as the fate of Baldur's Gate and the entire Sword Coast hangs in the balance. The player must use everything at their disposal to make it through this final challenge.
Victory and the Aftermath
After an intense battle with Eldrith, the protagonist emerges victorious, banishing her from the Plane of Shadow and saving Baldur's Gate from certain doom. With Eldrith's defeat, the dark forces that had gathered to destroy the city are scattered, and peace is restored, at least for now. However, the ending hints at the possibility of future threats, as the world of "Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance" is filled with dangerous magic and powerful enemies waiting in the shadows. The protagonist returns to Baldur's Gate as a hero, but the adventure has left them changed, with a deeper understanding of the dark forces that constantly threaten the Sword Coast.
Legacy of the Hero
The player's journey through "Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance" is one of personal growth, as they start as a simple adventurer and emerge as a seasoned hero capable of facing down the greatest of evils. Throughout the game, the protagonist forges alliances, makes difficult choices, and grows stronger with each battle fought. By the end of the game, the player has not only saved Baldur's Gate but has also gained a reputation as a legendary hero whose name will be remembered for generations. The legacy of the protagonist's actions will echo throughout the lands of the Sword Coast, ensuring that the story of their courage and strength continues to inspire others.