Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Hints V (PS2)

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is a role-playing game developed by Snowblind Studios and published by Vivendi Games for PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance. Despite the cross platform release, it is surprisingly similar on all gaming devices.

The player must create a character, choosing from one of the three templates available. Vahn is a human being and an archer who relies on arcane magic. His main strengths are the ability to hit enemies from a distance and the stealth to escape difficult battles. Adrianna is an elf and a sorceress, which means that she relies on magical attacks and on spells. Kromlech is a dwarf and a fighter. He is the closest thing the game has to a regular RPG tank, a guy who can take a lot of damage while also dishing it out.

After one complete run through the game, you can also select the legendary Baldur's Gate character Drizzt Do'Urden, who is a drow and can fulfill the dual roles of ranger and of fighter. In melee battle, he wields his signature two scimitars.

The plot is pretty standard RPG fare, with a lot of conspiracies and some Beholder meddling thrown in for good measure. The player begins as a lowly character and advances throughout the game to be powerful enough to take on the drow and even the undead. There's a cliffhanger ending to the game which was necessary as a sequel was in development at the time the game was launched.

GAMEPLAY HINTS

Carry more items

As the game only checks how much you can carry when buying and picking up items, you can put on Rings Of Strength and an Amulet Of Strength, pick up as many items as you can and then take off the strength items and put on Rings Of Constitution for more HP or other rings and amulets to boost other stats. This works well when duplicating Extra Healing Potions so you can carry a large number of them through tough areas and to face end Bosses.

Lighter load

When you begin the game, you are dressed with boots, gloves, and clothes. You can sell them to become lighter. You may look a little funny without any clothes on, but your Armor Class will remain the same nonetheless.

Move faster

If you want to move faster, you can jump everywhere instead of walking. It will make the journey about one and a half times faster.

Here's the final Boss fight of the game: