Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II is a computer role-playing game developed by Black Isle Studios for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, released in 2004. Dark Alliance II returned to Baldur's Gate with a new story and new characters.
Development[]
Unlike the first game, Dark Alliance II was developed by Black Isle using a modified version of the Snowblind Engine. Unlike the first game, the game was not released on the Nintendo GameCube due to financial difficulties in Interplay.
According to Snowblind Studios (who developed the first game) Interplay used their engine and the Dark Alliance brand without their permission, leading to a lawsuit which was settled out of court. In the settlement, Interplay agreed to never use the Dark Alliance brand and the Snowblind Engine again, which led to the cancellation of Dark Alliance III.
Gameplay[]
Dorn Redbear fighting the Red Fang goblins.
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II is a real-time hack-and-slash action role-playing title rendered in three-dimensional graphics, featuring a rotatable isometric three-quarter top-down viewpoint. Most of Dark Alliance II is set in the city of Baldur's Gate and surrounding areas where the player can accept sidequests and enchant weapons and armor for a price.
Gameplay follows a semi-linear progression, where most main quests can be completed in varying sequences within specific groups of missions. Optional side-quests are also available, though players are not required to undertake them. The game also supports cooperative play for two participants, both of whom share a single screen, limiting the distance they can move apart. In cooperative mode, each player automatically receives 50% of the experience points for every defeated enemy, regardless of who delivers the final blow. All treasure is evenly split between both players, irrespective of which individual picks it up, marking a departure from the mechanics of the original game.
The heads-up display (HUD) allows players to choose between a transparent map covering the majority of the screen, a more compact mini-map, or no map display at all.
The game offers four difficulty settings: “Easy,” “Normal,” “Hard,” and “Extreme.” Once players finish any of the initial three settings, “Extreme” becomes available. This mode can only be accessed by importing a previously saved character from a completed playthrough.
Characters[]
At the onset of the game, character statistics are predetermined, and players select from one of five distinct race/class combinations. Each of the five playable characters features a distinct combat style and a specialized repertoire of spells and feats, leading to varied strategic approaches for each.
Vhaidra Uoswiir fighting zombie pirates.
- Allessia Faithhammer, a human cleric: Allessia, a cleric, commands healing and defensive spells and is equally capable in melee; at more advanced levels, she acquires the ability to reanimate the dead to fight by her side.
- Borador Goldhand, a dwarf rogue: Borador excels primarily in archery but is also adept in melee combat, with feats enabling offensive shield use, trap-setting, and the disarming of enemy traps.
- Dorn Redbear, a human barbarian: Dorn emphasizes sheer strength and resilience, including feats that allow him to dual-wield two-handed weapons.
- Vhaidra Uoswiir, a drow monk: Vhaidra, who specializes in unarmed combat, relies on heightened speed and combo attacks, with feats that grant close-range techniques such as pushing foes back.
- Ysuran Auondril, an elven necromancer: Ysuran focuses on enhancing his magical power, gaining new spells such as those rooted in shadow magic.
Drizzt Do'Urden and his nemesis, Artemis Entreri, both make appearances as playable characters if you beat the game once on normal, and then again on "extreme" mode.
As the game progresses, characters accumulate experience points by overcoming enemies, earning level increases. Each time a character gains a level, the player is awarded a set number of points to enhance various skills or abilities. Additionally, for every four levels earned, the player receives one ability point, which may be allocated to any of the six primary attributes: strength, intelligence, wisdom, dexterity, constitution, or charisma.
The game includes a greater number of non-player characters (NPCs) than its predecessor, allowing for more extensive interaction; however, the nature of the assistance and information offered by these NPCs may differ depending on the player’s chosen character.
Items[]
All weapons, armor, and items can be purchased exclusively from a single shop in Baldur’s Gate, which updates its stock at the start of each new act, offering progressively more powerful and expensive equipment.
A notable addition in Dark Alliance II is the capacity for players to craft and enhance custom weapons and armor. At least one runestone must be applied to any item intended for improvement, while gems are optional but can further augment the item's power and attributes. However, the number of gems affixed to an item cannot exceed the number of runestones. Each item can accommodate two different types of gems at once, with each type producing distinct effects depending on the nature of the item.
Plot[]
A promotional art featuring Vhaidra Uoswiir, Dorn Redbear, Allessia Faithhammer, Borador Goldhand, and Ysuran Auondril.
The game opens by revealing that after traversing the portal atop the Onyx Tower, Vahn, Kromlech, and Adrianna have been captured by the vampire Mordoc SeLanmere. Meanwhile, beyond the city of Baldur's Gate, Dorn, Vhaidra, Ysuran, Borador, and Allessia converge along the Trade Way, which has grown perilous in the wake of Xantam's Thieves Guild's downfall. A goblin army known as the Red Fang Marauders now preys on travelers in the area.
Upon infiltrating a nearby cave controlled by the Marauders, the party frees Randalla Brasshorn, a caravan guard, and proceeds to the fiefdom of Wayfork Village. There, they liberate the inhabitants from further attacks and defeat the hobgoblin commander, Harnak.
Upon entering Baldur's Gate, the group is commissioned by Randalla to investigate a string of murders plaguing the city. Their inquiries lead them to Bloodmire Manor, where they discover that Luvia Bloodmire has been splicing together parts of various creatures to engineer an entirely new species, which she subsequently provides to Lady Aragozia Firewind. Her first creation, Argesh, has established the Hands of Glory, a thieves' guild faction aligned with the Red Fang Marauders.
After killing Argesh and crippling the Hands of Glory, the party infiltrates the Marauders' primary stronghold and confronts their leader, the Red Queen, though she eludes capture. Pursuing her to Lady Arogazia's manor, they learn that Arogazia is affiliated with the Zhentarim, a criminal network dedicated to conquering Faerûn. Utilizing the Marauders, she aims to resurrect the Onyx Tower. Alongside her ally Kharne, a presumed-dead member of Xantam's Guild, Arogazia reveals her true identity as the polymorphed red dragon Aizagora and escapes the party.
Impressed by their accomplishments, Jherek, an agent of the Harpers, enlists the heroes to locate four elemental artifacts. Simultaneously, the Zhentarim seek these same items to restore the Onyx Tower. In the course of their quest, the party confronts Sleyvas, the lizard-like figure who betrayed the original Dark Alliance protagonists; now aligned with the Zhentarim, he is ultimately slain by the heroes. After securing all four elemental objects, each hero embarks on a personal journey to resolve their own individual objectives.
Ysuran Auondril fighting the Zhentarim.
After defeating the dragon Baragoth, Dorn's latent druidic powers are awakened, leading him to a deeper understanding of his true nature. Meanwhile, Ysuran comes to terms with the dark history of his past, particularly his hate crimes against humans, choosing to focus on building a positive reputation in the future rather than dwelling on his previous misdeeds. Borador liberates Gandam's Hold, reclaiming the Goblinbreaker name for his clan, who begin constructing new forges to liberate themselves from their obligations to the fey. Vhaidra journeys to Cloud Peaks, where she avenges the destruction of her family's house by a treacherous black elf. In Baldur's Gate, Allessia rids the Church of Helm of the corrupt cleric Goreth Vileback, who served the deity Cyric.
After returning to the city, the five heroes embark on a new mission at Jherek's request: to travel to each of the Elemental Planes and activate the Elemental Foundations using the four objects they previously obtained. In each plane, they face persistent attacks by the Zhentarim, who have seized control of the Foundations. Despite assaults by Luvia Bloodmire and Aizagora, the party defeats them both.
Upon completing their tasks and returning to Baldur's Gate, they learn from Kharne that the Zhentarim no longer intend to restore the Onyx Tower. Instead, they share a mutual adversary with the Harpers: Mordoc SeLanmere. Mordoc seeks to deploy the Tower to bring about the downfall of Baldur's Gate, an outcome that would benefit his “allies in the east.” Meanwhile, his steward, Xanhast, interrogates Vahn, Adrianna, and Kromlech, discovering that they possess little understanding of the broader plot.
Joined by Kharne and Jherek, the five adventurers storm Mordoc's Keep of Pale Night, freeing the captured trio. In response, Mordoc accelerates his plan, transporting the Onyx Tower directly into Baldur's Gate ahead of schedule.
After Baldur's Gate is transformed into “Mordoc's Gate” and its entire populace turned into zombies, the five adventurers storm the Onyx Tower. They defeat Xanhast and ultimately confront Mordoc in the Plane of Shadow. Upon slaying him, they destroy the Onyx Heart, seemingly eradicating the Tower for good. This act frees the citizens from their zombified state, and, under Randalla's guidance, they voice their gratitude to the heroes.
Meanwhile, a servant informs a stone sarcophagus of Mordoc's failure and affirms that Baldur's Gate remains standing. Undeterred, the sarcophagus proclaims that this setback will not hinder its “sacred” mission, ordering preparations for its army and the readiness of its sun barge.
Index[]
Characters[]
- Playable
- Adrianna • Allessia Faithhammer • Artemis Entreri • Borador Goldhand • Dorn Redbear • Drizzt Do'Urden • Kromlech Bruenghor • Vahn • Vhaidra Uoswiir • Ysuran Auondril
- Other
- Allana • Argesh • Aizagora (as Arogazia Firewind) • Atrocious • Baragoth • Bartley • Bile-Tooth • Dibtolpt • Durbem • Felldane • Felleth • Habdazar Doomwing • Harnak • Huros • Illudra • Jherek • Keaira • Kharne • Khoris • Lady Cadmere • Landen • Larani • Luvia Bloodmire • Lyran • Mordoc SeLanmere • Omduil • Randalla Brasshorn • Red Queen • Sart Sarkat • Sleyvas • Sollus Duncirc • Ulchalothe • Ulua • Xanhast • Xantam
- Referenced only
- Daeros Dragonspear • Eldrith
Creatures[]
A troll art.
- animated armor • blood crow • bugbear • chimera • dog • drider • drow • dwarf • elemental (air, earth, fire) • elf • ettin • flesh hound • fundamental (fire, water) • gargoyle • ghast • ghost • ghoul • giant bat • giant beetle • giant insect • giant rat • giant spider • gnoll • goblin • goblinoid • gold elf • golem (brass, bronze, steel) • green dragon • green slime • hammer of the hall • hell hound • helmed horror • hill giant • hobgoblin • human • kuo-toa • lich • manticore • mimic • mind flayer • mummy • nightwalker • orc • otyugh • rat • reanimated • red dragon • roper • rust monster • shade • skeleton • spider • troglodyte • troll • umber hulk • undead • vampire • will-o'-wisp • wolf • wraith • yeti
Items[]
- Armor
- boots • bracers • chainmail • half plate • leather armor • light mace • longsword • padded armor • plate mail • scale mail • shield • studded leather
- Food and Drink
- ale • spiced wine
- Gems
- amethyst • aquamarine • coral • diamond • jacinth • jade • jet • moonstone • pearl • ruby • sapphire • topaz
- Jewellery
- amulet • ring
- Misc
- harpsichord
- Substances
- bronze • gold • iron
- Weapons
- arrow • bastard sword • battleaxe • bow • club • crossbow • dagger • greataxe • greatsword • handaxe • javelin • long sword • morning star • scimitar • shield • shortbow • short sword • spear • staff • throwing axe • throwing knife • warhammer
Locations[]
A location art.
A location art.
- Buildings & Sites
- Bloodmire Manor • Darkhold • Dragonspear Castle • Firewind Manor • Halls of the Hammer • Keep of Pale Night • Lyran's Hold • Onyx Tower • Purple Wyrm Inn and Tavern • Seer's Cove • sewers of Baldur's Gate • Skull Gorge
- Planes
- Elemental Planes (Air, Earth, Fire, Water) • Material Plane • Plane of Shadow
- Planets
- Toril
- Regions
- High Moor • Western Heartlands • Underdark
- Roads
- Trade Way
- Settlements
- Baldur's Gate • Evermeet • Wayfork
- Wilderness
- Cloak Wood • Forest of Wyrms • Hill's Edge • Reaching Woods • Trollbark Forest • Wood of Sharp Teeth
- Referenced only
- Amn • Beregost • Brigand's Hold • Cormyr • Darkhold • Hells • Mulhorand • Nashkel • Trollclaws • Waterdeep
Magic[]
- Items
- Brazier of Eternal Flame • Charon's Claw • Icingdeath • Jade Octahedron • Oceanic Urn • Orb of Thunder • Twinkle
- Potions
- healing potion • recall potion • rejuvenation potion
- Spells
- slow
- Weapon qualities
- corrosive burst • corruption • defending • disruption • flaming burst • icy burst • mighty cleaving • shocking burst • vampiric
- Other
- Shadow gate
Organizations[]
- Hands of Glory • Harpers • Red Fang Marauders • Zhentarim
- Referenced only
- Cadmere
Religions[]
Miscellaneous[]
Gallery[]
Credits[]
- Production
- Executive Producer: Scot Lane
- Producer: Kevin Osburn
- Line Producer: Albert Perez Jr.
- Localization Producer: Brandon Lee Lang
- Special Thanks: Feargus Urquhart, Darren L. Monahan
- Operations Manager: Christopher M. Benson
- Art
- Lead Artist: Jonathan Hales
- Artists: Aaron Brown, Abdul Brown, Eric Campanella, Trent Campbell, Carlos Cheek, John Dickenson, Hector Espinoza, Mustazar Essa, James Hawkins, Jung Lee, Christopher Marleau, Brian Menze, Vera Milosavich, Dennis Presnell, Mike Colonnese
- Additional Art: Cyberlore Studios Inc, Reflexive Entertainment Inc
- Design
- Lead Designer: David Maldonado
- Designers: Terry Spier, Jason G. Suinn, Scott Everts
- In-Game Cinematics: Terry Spier
- Additional Design: Jeff Jirsa
- Programming
- Lead Programmer: Bernie Weir
- Programmers: Danien Chee, Kurt W. Dekker, Chad Freeman, Frank Kowalkowski
- Additional Programming: Dave Boulanger, Jay Fong, Shaun McCabe
- Localization Programming: Brad Dodge, Darren Walker
- Marketing
- Associate Product Manager: Paige Slaughter
- Manual Design / Layout: Tim Baker
- Traffic Manager: Kathryne Wahl
- Public Relations Manager: Jessica Urquhart
- Localization
- International Services Manager: Rafael López
- Editor / Translator: Olaf Becker (German), Emilie Castellano (French), Rafael López (Spanish)
- Quality Assurance
- Product Manager: John Kirkland
- Associate Product Manager: Edward Hyland
- Analysts: Tom Adams, John Bell, Kevin Bellardi, Stanley Cheng, Matt Drinkward, Pamela Ferdinand, Savina Greene, Kristen Hewes, Joseph Isip, Daniel Kannard, Ernie Kwok, Erick Lujan, Daniel Mendez, Andre Phan, Steven Rocha, Charles Salzman, Matthew Sarinas, Gary Tesdall, Josh Thomas, Devin Vink, Tex Yang
- QA Manager: Douglas Finch
- QA Console Manager: Amy Lyn Presnell
- QA Operations Manager: Shanna Lynne Takayama
- Technical Resource Specialist: Derek Gibbs, Joshua Walters
- Audio
- Audio Director and Cinematics Mixer: Gene Semel
- Sound Design and Audio Mastering: Robert Burns, Scott Tang
- Dialogue Supervisor and VO Casting: Fred Hatch, Mike Fox, Trevor Sperry
- VO Recorded At: Monkeyland Audio
- Dialogue Editorial: Scott Purvis
- Sound Librarian: Pat Ryan
- Additional Sound Design: Brian Fredrickson
- Music: Craig Stuart Garfinkle, Jeremy Soule
- Additional Music: Midnight Syndicate
- VO Talent: Adam Lawson, Alan Oppenheimer (credited as Alan Oppenhiemer), Alan Shearman, Ara Celi, Bill Ratner, Corey Burton, David Kaye, Frank Welker, Fred Tatasciore, Greg Burson, Grey DeLisle-Griffin, Gwendoline Yeo, Lisa Kaplan, Mari Devon, Mitch Lewis, Neil Kaplan, Roberta Farkas, Sandra Teres, S. Scott Bullock, Wayne Grace, Jim Cummings, Cree Summer (credited as Cree Summers), Jeff Glenn Bennett
- Video
- Video Manager: David Cravens
- Media Operations Technician: Ronald E. Austin
- Executive Management
- CEO: Hervé Caen
- President: Phil Adam
- VP of Production: Jim Molitor
- Director of Technology: David R. Sullivan
- Director of Media Services: Dan L. Williams
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Further Reading[]
- Bobby MacPherson (2015-06-11). D&D Videogames (Web). In Matt Chapman ed. Dragon+ #2. Wizards of the Coast. p. 6. Retrieved on 2017-07-16.
External links[]
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II article at the Baldur's Gate Wiki, a wiki for the Baldur's Gate games.- Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II at Planet Baldur's Gate
Connections[]
Other settings
Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse • Planescape: Torment (Enhanced Edition) • Ravenloft: Stone Prophet • Ravenloft: Strahd's Possession • Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace
Collaborations
Dragonheir: Silent Gods • Stumble Guys
| Dark Alliance series | |
| Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance • Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II • Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance • Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance III (cancelled) | |