Wizards of the Coast have recently been getting back into the Dungeons and Dragons video game realm with games like Baldur's Gate 3 and, now, Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Alliance developed by Tuque Games and Snowblind Studios. As a spiritual successor more than a direct sequel to the previous entries in the series, Dark Alliance has the benefit of bringing its hack-n-slash, loot-based systems to a new generation of gamers that play the likes of Borderlands, Diablo, and Destiny.
While critical reception was mixed, Dark Alliance was able to bring a large part of the Forgotten Realms to life, giving players the chance to play as fan favorites in famous locations across the fantasy world.
10 Awesome: The Characters Are Fleshed Out Well
Loosely based on RA Salvatore's Icewind Dale trilogy, Dark Alliance sees the player control one of four major characters from the novel: Drizzt Do'Urden, Catti-Brie, Bruenor Battlehammer, and Wulfgar. The characters are fully voiced, and their personalities are woven into the call-outs between them during, or out of, battle.
Many other characters from the series make appearances as NPCs and, although there is no character creation, being able to control some of the most loved characters in the series is a welcome alternative.
9 Disappointing: No Regis, Despite Being An Important Character To The Lore
With four out of the five main characters from the trilogy making appearances, many players find it strange when they get to character selection and find that the fan-favorite halfling rogue Regis is missing. As a driving force of the trilogy's plots, Regis would have important agency in much of the games plot as well.
Rumored to be a DLC character, Regis may still show up down the line. However, for now, gamers will only have four playable characters to choose from, and may need to wait to hear more about their favorite halfling until after the game has been released for a while.
8 Awesome: The Cutscenes Look Amazing
While Icewind Dale has been brought to life in video games a few times before, it is unusual that the setting is given the full cinematic treatment. In Dark Alliance, major plot points have full cutscenes depicting them.
Additionally, the events of Dark Alliance take place before the events of the books, allowing players the chance to see the world as it was in the lead up to the series. Watching an Ice Dragon descend on a horde of attacking goblins will be a treat for many players.
7 Disappointing: The Enemy AI Isn't Very Bright
When playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends, there are few moments more exciting than taking down a group of intelligent enemies that are just as adept at focusing on weak points as the player characters are. Unfortunately, the foes found in Dark Alliance are not as capable as a DM who has studied their PC's sheets.
According to critics, the enemies in Dark Alliance have little to no battle sense, which can be frustrating for players that want a more capable artificial intelligence that can more closely match the tabletops counterparts.
6 Awesome: The Lore Is Represented Well
Dark Alliance has the benefit of being built upon a trilogy of acclaimed books, which, in turn, are built upon a world that has been developed over decades by official and unofficial sources alike. Due to this, the game is able to draw upon storylines that are immersive and engaging, while still being able to build its own identity within the Forgotten Realms.
Each location in the game has a history behind it. Each character has personality developed by their experiences beyond the events of the game. Dark Alliance allows its influences to shine.
5 Disappointing: Weapons Of The Same Type All Tend To Feel Exactly The Same
Weapons in D&D make all the difference in a fight. That first +1 in the early stages of a campaign feels like a level boost in its own right. Dark Alliance, as a loot-based game, should have gear that gives that same feeling of empowerment as its tabletop counterpart.
Instead, weapons and armor found in chests throughout missions all feel like minor stat increases, with little personality between them. Although the consistency of loot is ever-present, the loot itself doesn't offer much to draw the player in.
4 Awesome: Co-Op Supports Up To 4 Players For The First Time In The Series
As a loot-based slasher, it's to be expected that Dark Alliance would have some online cooperative gameplay. Here, players can link up with friends online and play through the entirety of the campaign together. Being able to experience the world of Icewind Dale with a friend who has also immersed themselves in the lore is a fun way to experience this world.
Although there is no couch co-op, having a full party of four tackle the series of missions provided hearkens back to the game's inspirations, and brings players together for another turn at party combat.
3 Disappointing: Combat Feels Shallow & Repetitive
The vast variety of spells and class-based attacks makes Dungeons and Dragons combat exciting, even when a single battle stretches out for hours, as each player is able to feel distinct in their roles. Unfortunately, Dark Alliance doesn't replicate much of that excitement.
Combat is repetitive, with light and heavy attacks supported by simple spell casting. Little of the inspiration makes its way to the gameplay, and players quickly grow tired of fighting as the moves that make their class special don't carry over to the game.
2 Awesome: The Levels Are Varied & Reward Exploration
With the backdrop of the Forgotten Realms, Snowblind Studios had plenty of unique locations to pull from. Levels are varied with substantial verticality and exploration is rewarding, as hidden areas litter each mission without asking the player to spend all of their time searching every corner to find them.
Each level feels crafted for the mission they serve with interesting skyboxes that hearken back to the art from the tabletop they are based on. Players will be excited to see their favorite locations brought to life here.
1 Disappointing: The Game Was Released In A Very Buggy State
Perhaps worst of all, Dark Alliance is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that can hurt the gameplay experience. Often, characters will fail to respond to inputs, or will find themselves caught on environmental surfaces. Enemies stall while walking, and sometimes fly off the screen, whether still alive or not.
While the developers work to fix the issues with the game, be prepared to encounter issues throughout the campaign that will slow down progress. While many of the issues do not outright break the game, gamers would be better off waiting for patches.