<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2001	O
action	O
role-playing/hack	O
and	O
slash	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Snowblind	O
Studios	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
and	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Application
consoles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
ported	O
to	O
GameCube	B-Application
by	O
High	O
Voltage	O
Software	O
,	O
and	O
to	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
by	O
Magic	O
Pockets	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
version	O
was	O
published	O
by	O
DSI	O
Games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
CD	O
Projekt	O
was	O
developing	O
a	O
version	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
,	O
but	O
it	O
was	O
ultimately	O
cancelled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2021	O
,	O
a	O
4K	B-Architecture
port	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X/S	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
Forgotten	B-Application
Realms	I-Application
campaign	O
setting	O
of	O
Dungeons	O
&	O
Dragons	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
gameplay	O
is	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
rules	O
of	O
Dungeons	O
&	O
Dragons	O
3rd	O
Edition	O
,	O
which	O
were	O
released	O
in	O
2000	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
also	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
series	I-Application
released	O
on	O
consoles	O
as	O
opposed	O
to	O
a	O
PC	O
and/or	O
Mac	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dark	O
Alliance	O
was	O
well	O
received	O
on	O
all	O
four	O
platforms	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
version	O
going	O
on	O
to	O
win	O
the	O
Academy	O
of	O
Interactive	O
Arts	O
&	O
Sciences	O
award	O
for	O
"	O
Role-Playing	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
(	O
2001	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2004	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
is	O
a	O
real-time	B-General_Concept
hack	O
and	O
slash/action	O
role-playing	O
game	O
presented	O
in	O
a	O
3D	O
perspective	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
rotatable	O
isometric	B-Application
three-quarter	O
top-down	O
view	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
if	O
a	O
character	O
increases	O
to	O
level	O
twelve	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
will	O
gain	O
twelve	O
experience	O
points	O
to	O
spend	O
on	O
the	O
character	O
's	O
spells	B-Application
and	O
feats	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
of	O
the	O
three	O
characters	O
have	O
their	O
own	O
unique	O
fighting	O
style	O
and	O
their	O
own	O
specific	O
set	O
of	O
spells	B-Application
and	O
feats	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Kromlech	O
is	O
a	O
fighter	O
,	O
his	O
spells	B-Application
and	O
feats	O
tend	O
to	O
focus	O
on	O
increasing	O
his	O
brute	O
strength	O
and	O
ability	O
to	O
resist	O
damage	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
granting	O
him	O
powerful	O
abilities	O
to	O
aid	O
in	O
melee	O
combat	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
swing	O
his	O
weapon	O
in	O
a	O
circle	O
or	O
slam	O
it	O
into	O
the	O
ground	O
to	O
damage	O
groups	O
of	O
nearby	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Vahn	O
relies	O
on	O
ranged	O
attacks	O
,	O
his	O
spells	B-Application
and	O
feats	O
tend	O
to	O
focus	O
on	O
increasing	O
the	O
power	O
of	O
his	O
bow	O
and	O
granting	O
him	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
fire	O
special	O
types	O
of	O
arrows	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
exploding	O
arrows	O
,	O
ice	O
arrows	O
or	O
multiple	O
arrows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Adrianna	O
is	O
a	O
sorceress	O
,	O
her	O
spells	B-Application
and	O
feats	O
tend	O
to	O
focus	O
on	O
increasing	O
the	O
power	O
of	O
her	O
magic	O
and	O
granting	O
her	O
numerous	O
new	O
spells	B-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
shoot	O
ice	O
or	O
fire	O
from	O
her	O
fingers	O
,	O
shoot	O
a	O
ball	O
of	O
lightning	O
or	O
call	O
down	O
meteors	O
on	O
her	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
HUD	B-Application
features	O
the	O
option	O
to	O
use	O
either	O
a	O
transparent	O
map	O
that	O
covers	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
screen	O
,	O
or	O
a	O
mini-map	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
player	O
also	O
given	O
the	O
option	O
to	O
turn	O
the	O
map	O
off	O
entirely	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
version	O
of	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
features	O
some	O
noticeable	O
gameplay	O
differences	O
from	O
the	O
console	B-Device
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
experience	O
meter	O
from	O
the	O
console	B-Device
versions	O
was	O
removed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
town	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
is	I-Application
much	O
more	O
interactive	O
,	O
and	O
players	O
are	O
able	O
to	O
talk	O
to	O
NPCs	O
,	O
enter	O
houses	O
,	O
and	O
use	O
weapons	O
(	O
to	O
break	O
barrels	O
,	O
etc	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
Sword	O
Coast	O
and	O
the	O
Western	O
Heartlands	O
,	O
areas	O
in	O
the	O
Faerûn	O
continent	O
of	O
the	O
Forgotten	B-Application
Realms	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
act	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
a	O
different	O
region	O
:	O
Act	O
I	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
city	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
itself	O
;	O
Act	O
II	O
in	O
the	O
Sunset	O
Mountains	O
;	O
and	O
Act	O
III	O
in	O
the	O
Marsh	O
of	O
Chelimber	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
begins	O
with	O
Vahn	O
,	O
Adrianna	O
and	O
Kromlech	O
arriving	O
in	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
,	O
whereupon	O
they	O
are	O
attacked	O
by	O
a	O
group	O
of	O
thieves	O
led	O
by	O
Karne	O
(	O
Michael	O
Bell	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Elfsong	O
Tavern	O
employee	O
Ethon	O
follows	O
them	O
into	O
the	O
sewers	O
and	O
disappears	O
,	O
they	O
rescue	O
him	O
from	O
thieves	O
,	O
and	O
he	O
directs	O
them	O
to	O
the	O
nearby	O
crypts	B-Algorithm
,	O
where	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
thieves	O
was	O
headed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
,	O
they	O
encounter	O
Fayed	O
(	O
Cam	O
Clarke	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
priest	O
of	O
Illmater	O
,	O
who	O
requests	O
their	O
help	O
in	O
stopping	O
the	O
"	O
Orb	O
of	O
the	O
Undead	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
has	O
filled	O
the	O
crypts	B-Algorithm
with	O
zombies	O
and	O
skeletons	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
tells	O
them	O
that	O
troops	O
and	O
monsters	O
are	O
planning	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
portals	O
to	O
move	O
from	O
the	O
mountains	O
into	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
,	O
attacking	O
the	O
city	O
from	O
within	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
tells	O
them	O
of	O
the	O
nearby	O
"	O
Onyx	O
Tower	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
of	O
its	O
inhabitant	O
,	O
Eldrith	O
the	O
Betrayer	O
(	O
Vanessa	O
Marshall	O
)	O
,	O
who	O
has	O
sworn	O
vengeance	O
against	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
explains	O
that	O
Eldrith	O
once	O
served	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
as	O
its	O
greatest	O
general	O
,	O
fighting	O
a	O
crusade	O
against	O
the	O
Black	O
Horde	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eldrith	O
survived	O
,	O
but	O
her	O
army	O
was	O
defeated	O
,	O
and	O
,	O
furious	O
,	O
she	O
rallied	O
her	O
remaining	O
soldiers	O
to	O
attack	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
,	O
but	O
was	O
again	O
defeated	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Seeking	O
revenge	O
,	O
she	O
orchestrated	O
the	O
attacks	O
against	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
,	O
and	O
created	O
a	O
dark	O
alliance	O
between	O
Xantam	O
's	O
guild	O
,	O
the	O
drow	O
,	O
and	O
sth	O
's	O
tribes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
reiterates	O
her	O
plans	O
for	O
the	O
destruction	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dark	O
Alliance	O
was	O
first	O
revealed	O
on	O
November	O
7	O
,	O
2000	O
,	O
when	O
Interplay	O
confirmed	O
to	O
IGN	O
that	O
a	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
game	O
based	O
on	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
had	O
entered	O
production	O
,	O
following	O
the	O
cancellation	O
of	O
the	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
port	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Little	O
was	O
known	O
at	O
this	O
time	O
other	O
than	O
the	O
fact	O
that	O
Interplay	O
would	O
publish	O
,	O
and	O
BioWare	O
,	O
developers	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
,	O
would	O
not	O
develop	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
first	O
shown	O
at	O
E3	O
in	O
May	O
2001	O
,	O
where	O
it	O
gained	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
,	O
with	O
IGN	O
writing	O
"	O
it	O
almost	O
instantly	O
became	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
wanted	O
games	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
owners	O
across	O
the	O
country	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
lighting	O
,	O
shadows	O
,	O
textures	O
,	O
models	O
,	O
water	O
effects	O
,	O
and	O
reflections	O
are	O
all	O
amazing	O
to	O
look	O
at	O
and	O
are	O
a	O
testament	O
to	O
the	O
power	O
of	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
and	O
the	O
skills	O
of	O
the	O
developers	O
over	O
at	O
Snowblind	O
Studios	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
utilized	O
a	O
new	O
game	O
engine	O
;	O
the	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
Engine	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
built	O
specifically	O
for	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
,	O
and	O
would	O
go	O
on	O
to	O
become	O
the	O
foundation	O
for	O
other	O
games	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
such	O
as	O
Fallout	B-Application
:	I-Application
Brotherhood	I-Application
of	I-Application
Steel	I-Application
and	O
The	B-Application
Bard	I-Application
's	I-Application
Tale	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Graphically	O
,	O
the	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
engine	O
is	O
a	O
major	O
improvement	O
over	O
the	O
engine	O
used	O
by	O
the	O
original	O
PC	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
games	O
,	O
the	O
Infinity	O
Engine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
engine	O
,	O
on	O
the	O
other	O
hand	O
,	O
made	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
's	O
advanced	O
GPU	O
,	O
allowing	O
for	O
such	O
improvements	O
as	O
dynamic	O
lighting	O
,	O
real-time	B-General_Concept
shadowing	O
and	O
3D	O
models	O
of	O
characters	O
and	O
environments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
wrote	O
of	O
the	O
E3	O
presentation	O
,	O
that	O
"	O
none	O
of	O
the	O
problems	O
that	O
are	O
commonly	O
associated	O
with	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
games	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
low-res	O
textures	O
,	O
flickering	O
,	O
or	O
aliasing	B-Error_Name
problems	O
,	O
are	O
to	O
be	O
found	O
here	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
's	O
hard	O
to	O
think	O
of	O
a	O
game	O
that	O
pulls	O
off	O
the	O
much-fabled	O
anti-aliasing	B-Algorithm
as	O
well	O
as	O
this	O
game	O
does	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dark	O
Alliance	O
uses	O
a	O
technique	O
similar	O
to	O
what	O
a	O
large	O
number	O
of	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
games	O
did	O
to	O
pull	O
off	O
their	O
clean	O
look	O
:	O
they	O
simply	O
render	O
the	O
scene	O
at	O
a	O
much	O
higher	O
resolution	B-General_Concept
,	O
anti-alias	B-Algorithm
it	O
,	O
then	O
drop	O
it	O
down	O
to	O
a	O
more	O
acceptable	O
resolution	B-General_Concept
for	O
TVs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
8	O
,	O
IGN	O
gave	O
a	O
full	O
preview	O
,	O
again	O
praising	O
the	O
graphics	O
,	O
and	O
writing	O
:	O
"	O
This	O
game	O
is	O
running	O
on	O
a	O
rock-solid	O
3D	O
engine	O
with	O
completely	O
rotatable	O
dungeons	O
,	O
brilliant	O
animation	O
for	O
nearly	O
every	O
interactive	O
element	O
(	O
of	O
which	O
there	O
are	O
many	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
first-rate	O
lighting	O
effects	O
of	O
all	O
different	O
kinds	O
 [ ... ] 	O
In	O
the	O
beginning	O
,	O
simple	O
refined	O
touches	O
are	O
impressive	O
,	O
amid	O
the	O
generally	O
sharp	O
atmosphere	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
(	O
while	O
there	O
is	O
no	O
visible	O
aliasing	B-Error_Name
,	O
the	O
graphics	O
are	O
n't	O
heavily	O
filtered	O
,	O
either	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
the	O
PlayStation	O
version	O
,	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
port	O
,	O
also	O
developed	O
by	O
Snowblind	O
,	O
was	O
announced	O
by	O
Interplay	O
on	O
May	O
17	O
,	O
2002	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
demo	O
released	O
on	O
May	O
31	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
GameCube	B-Application
version	O
was	O
officially	O
announced	O
on	O
September	O
19	O
,	O
2002	O
,	O
to	O
be	O
ported	O
by	O
High	O
Voltage	O
Software	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
port	O
was	O
announced	O
by	O
DSI	O
Games	O
on	O
November	O
8	O
,	O
2001	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sebastian	O
Zieliński	O
,	O
developer	O
of	O
Mortyr	B-Application
2093-1944	I-Application
,	O
which	O
Interplay	O
had	O
published	O
,	O
was	O
placed	O
in	O
charge	O
of	O
the	O
project	O
,	O
with	O
Adam	O
Badowski	O
,	O
a	O
film	O
storyboard	O
artist	O
,	O
hired	O
as	O
designer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
development	B-Application
kit	I-Application
was	O
smuggled	O
from	O
Interplay	O
's	O
offices	O
in	O
London	O
to	O
Poland	O
,	O
and	O
work	O
on	O
the	O
port	O
began	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
reissue	O
of	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X	I-Device
and	I-Device
Series	I-Device
S	I-Device
was	O
released	O
on	O
May	O
7	O
,	O
2021	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
version	O
followed	O
on	O
May	O
20	O
,	O
2021	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
future	O
plans	O
for	O
a	O
personal	O
computer	O
and	O
mobile	O
version	O
later	O
that	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
reissue	O
supports	O
some	O
addition	O
updates	O
such	O
as	O
4k	B-Architecture
resolution	I-Architecture
support	O
on	O
the	O
newer	O
consoles	O
,	O
but	O
is	O
otherwise	O
not	O
a	O
remaster	O
or	O
remake	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ports	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
,	O
macOS	B-Application
and	O
Linux	B-Application
were	O
eventually	O
published	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
and	O
GOG.com	O
on	O
December	O
17	O
,	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
was	O
well	O
received	O
on	O
all	O
four	O
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Metacritic	O
records	O
all	O
versions	O
as	O
receiving	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
"	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
version	O
holding	O
an	O
aggregate	O
score	O
of	O
87	O
out	O
of	O
100	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
twenty-nine	O
reviews	O
;	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
version	O
83	O
out	O
of	O
100	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
twenty-five	O
reviews	O
,	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
version	O
79	O
out	O
of	O
100	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
ten	O
reviews	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
version	O
76	O
out	O
of	O
100	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
seventeen	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
David	O
Smith	O
scored	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
version	O
9.4	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
giving	O
it	O
an	O
"	O
Editor	O
's	O
Award	O
"	O
and	O
calling	O
the	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
engine	O
"	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
3D	O
engines	O
yet	O
devised	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
dismissed	O
criticisms	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
Diablo	B-Application
clone	I-Application
"	O
,	O
arguing	O
the	O
gameplay	O
is	O
much	O
deeper	O
than	O
such	O
a	O
comparison	O
suggests	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
concluded	O
:	O
"	O
There	O
is	O
honestly	O
not	O
a	O
great	O
deal	O
to	O
complain	O
about	O
here	O
 [ ... ] 	O
Snowblind	O
has	O
put	O
together	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
engines	O
on	O
PS2	B-Device
and	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
hacks	O
in	O
the	O
business	O
,	O
certainly	O
the	O
best	O
a	O
console	B-Device
has	O
ever	O
seen	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kaiser	O
Hwang	O
scored	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
version	O
8.5	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fran	O
Mirabella	O
III	O
scored	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
version	O
7.5	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
calling	O
it	O
"	O
a	O
downgrade	O
from	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
version	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
criticized	O
the	O
"	O
bafflingly	O
destroyed	O
frame	O
rate	O
"	O
and	O
commented	O
:	O
"	O
When	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
a	O
year	O
ago	O
,	O
few	O
could	O
believe	O
what	O
Snowblind	O
had	O
pulled	O
off	O
on	O
Sony	O
's	O
stubborn	O
console	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
year	O
later	O
,	O
and	O
quite	O
magically	O
,	O
High	O
Voltage	O
could	O
n't	O
get	O
the	O
engine	O
running	O
smoothly	O
on	O
GameCube	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Craig	O
Harris	O
scored	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
version	O
8	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
arguing	O
that	O
"	O
even	O
though	O
it	O
's	O
missing	O
a	O
few	O
key	O
elements	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
design	O
it	O
's	O
based	O
upon	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
works	O
out	O
very	O
well	O
in	O
portable	O
form	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Gerald	O
Villoria	O
scored	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
version	O
8.8	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
praising	O
the	O
differences	O
between	O
the	O
fighting	O
styles	O
of	O
the	O
three	O
characters	O
,	O
the	O
controls	O
,	O
the	O
range	O
of	O
enemies	O
and	O
weaponry	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
lip	O
syncing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Greg	O
Kasavin	O
scored	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
version	O
8.5	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
calling	O
it	O
"	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
finest	O
action	B-Application
RPGs	I-Application
ever	O
made	O
"	O
and	O
lauding	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
a	O
perfect	O
port	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kasavin	O
scored	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
version	O
7.6	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
finding	O
similar	O
faults	O
to	O
IGN	O
's	O
Mirabella	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
called	O
it	O
"	O
technically	O
deficient	O
"	O
and	O
argued	O
"	O
the	O
visuals	O
 [ ... ] 	O
just	O
do	O
n't	O
measure	O
up	O
,	O
mostly	O
because	O
it	O
suffers	O
from	O
frame	O
rate	O
issues	O
that	O
are	O
nonexistent	O
in	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
version	O
(	O
or	O
the	O
new	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
version	O
)	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Frank	O
Provo	O
scored	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
version	O
8	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
praising	O
the	O
enemy	O
AI	B-Application
,	O
the	O
sound	O
and	O
the	O
graphics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
concluded	O
:	O
"	O
If	O
you	O
're	O
looking	O
for	O
a	O
hack-and-slash	B-Application
game	O
on	O
the	O
go	O
,	O
this	O
is	O
the	O
one	O
to	O
get	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpy	O
reviewed	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
and	O
GameCube	B-Application
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Raymond	O
Padilla	O
scored	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
version	O
4	O
out	O
of	O
5	O
:	O
"	O
With	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
,	O
the	O
developers	O
had	O
a	O
significantly	O
more	O
powerful	O
tool	O
to	O
retell	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
criticized	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
compatibility	O
or	O
any	O
kind	O
of	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
,	O
arguing	O
"	O
the	O
only	O
improvements	O
are	O
superficial	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
he	O
also	O
wrote	O
:	O
"	O
Compared	O
to	O
competing	O
titles	O
,	O
this	O
is	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
games	O
available	O
for	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
 [ ... ] 	O
I	O
wholeheartedly	O
recommend	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Christian	O
Nutt	O
scored	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
version	O
3.5	O
out	O
of	O
5	O
,	O
calling	O
it	O
"	O
a	O
wonderfully	O
entertaining	O
game	O
that	O
does	O
n't	O
quite	O
live	O
up	O
to	O
the	O
technical	O
quality	O
of	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
original	O
or	O
its	O
Xbox	B-Device
incarnation	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
praised	O
the	O
gameplay	O
,	O
but	O
wrote	O
"	O
for	O
a	O
gamer	O
with	O
a	O
choice	O
between	O
platforms	O
,	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
version	O
is	O
the	O
one	O
to	O
avoid	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Billy	O
O'Keefe	O
,	O
of	O
the	O
Knight	O
Ridder	O
Tribune	O
wrote	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
is	O
"	O
all	O
about	O
action	O
"	O
,	O
opining	O
that	O
a	O
pure	O
RPG	O
would	O
not	O
work	O
on	O
a	O
console	B-Device
,	O
and	O
the	O
additional	O
action	O
elements	O
in	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
improved	O
playability	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Breeden	O
agreed	O
,	O
saying	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
graphics	O
on	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
version	O
are	O
eons	O
ahead	O
of	O
the	O
PC	O
series	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
ranked	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
No	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
a	O
commercial	O
success	O
,	O
selling	O
over	O
one	O
million	O
units	O
across	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
and	O
GameCube	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
GameSpots	O
annual	O
"	O
Best	O
In-Game	O
Water	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Role-Playing	O
Game	O
"	O
prizes	O
among	O
console	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
which	O
went	O
respectively	O
to	O
Wave	B-Application
Race	I-Application
:	I-Application
Blue	I-Application
Storm	I-Application
and	O
Final	O
Fantasy	O
X	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
2002	O
GameCube	B-Application
version	O
was	O
a	O
runner-up	O
for	O
GameSpots	O
annual	O
"	O
Best	O
Music	O
on	O
GameCube	B-Application
"	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Role-Playing	O
Game	O
on	O
GameCube	B-Application
"	O
awards	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
port	O
claimed	O
nominations	O
for	O
"	O
Best	O
Music	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
"	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
Sound	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
"	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Role-Playing	O
Game	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
66	O
in	O
IGN	O
's	O
"	O
Top	O
100	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
Games	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
