Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance/Versions

Console version features

The console version of Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance begins with a choice of three pre-built characters:

• Vahn, Human Arcane Archer: archer with weapon-related magical abilities.
• Adrianna, Elven Sorceress: spell caster, limited to smaller weapon classes.
• Kromlech, Dwarven Fighter: strong melee fighter with limited melee magic.

Once the game has been completed once, a new challenge is unlocked, called the Gauntlet. Choosing to play the Gauntlet gives you the following character and 15 minutes to complete it.

• Drizzt Do'Urden, Drow Ranger/Fighter: strong melee fighter with two scimitars

After completion of the Gauntlet, a new mode of gameplay is unlocked called Extreme mode, which is much harder than any other level of difficulty in story mode. Upon selecting Extreme mode, the player is prompted to choose a character from a preexisting save to play through the story again in Extreme mode. Upon completion, Drizzt, mentioned above, is then available for play in story mode.

Gameplay strategy is different for all characters: the human relies on ranged attacks and stealth, the elf character can cast magic spells, and the dwarf is an all-around fighter.

A local co-op mode is available. The second player can select one of the two unused characters, and plays with the main character on a shared game screen.

Game Boy Advance features

The Game Boy Advance version of Dark Alliance featured some noticeable differences from the console versions.

• There can only be one save at a time, although it can be saved anywhere.
• There is no playable characters like in the original game. Instead, a human male is playable. A player could choose his class, however (fighter, wizard, archer). After the completion of the game, a new class, titled Elven Fighter, is available.
• Players cannot import a character to play through the story again, so they must restart at level 1 every time.
• No multiplayer mode.
• The town of Baldur's Gate is much more interactive. Players are now able to talk to people, enter houses, and use weapons (to break barrels, etc).
• The town is split into two sections: North and South. The southern portion cannot be entered at the beginning of the game.
• New side-quests.
• Lack of recall potions.
• Players can no longer jump.
• Players can switch between melee and ranged combat using the "R" button.
• Larger enemies will sometimes get trapped behind doorways, allowing the player to shoot them with the bow while staying out of harms way.
• The white dragon Ciraxis (who was the final boss of Act II in the console version) is absent in the GBA version.
• The wizard (comparable to the monk in the original game) is no longer as strong and has a lower mana pool.