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

Crypt vase combination

In level 1 of The Crypt, the combination for the vases is: blue, green, yellow.

Freeze ghosts

When you are in the Crypts or the Hall of Remembrance as Adrianna or as Drizzt, use the Ball of Ice. Wait until a ghost is next to a wall and then shoot it at the wall. The ghost will freeze and keep going straight without moving.

Act 2: Easy experience and gold

After defeating the Drow dark elf in Act 2, talk to the Dwarf in the cellar. Return to town and immediately save. Talk to a dwarf other than the one where you can buy and sell stuff. He will thank you and give you 2000 experience and 3000 gold. Save this as a new game. Load the game and import your character from the new game.

Defeating Eldritch

As Adriana and under the easy difficulty setting, it is possible to defeat Eldritch with just Magic Missile and blocking. Stock up on potions. Set Magic missile and save at the stairs of Hall of Remembrance. When you face Eldritch, keep her still on screen and set shield to block to a button. After she has sent her sword to attack, fire two rounds of Magic Missile for each attack of Eldritch. She will stay put and towards the end she will try and attack with Spears of the Tower. Stay put and carry on. You will use no more than two Healing Potions, but you will kill her without the need of stronger spells, such as Lighting, which does not work on her.

Here's the final Boss fight of the game: