Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance

[Deck Rickard]

Not to be confused with Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (also an old favorite) this game is loosely based on The Crystal Shard by R.A. Salvatore. As a big fan of Drizzt and his companions, this is definitely one game I'm stoked for. Looks like you face off against Icingdeath, Akar Kessell and hopefully Errtu. You can play as Drizzt, Catti-Brie, Wulfgar and Bruenor. Graphics and action look crazy good.

 

[The Infernal]

Will there be actual dugeon crawling or is it just an co-op arena fighter?

Also the opening of the trailer just makes ask, why can't I play as a team of a Beholder, Lich and Giant? lol

 

[Deck Rickard]

Yeah I’m not sure about the actual gameplay. I hope there is dungeon crawling and this isn’t just D&D Mortal Kombat. But it’s being marketed as an RPG so I don’t think it’s just fighting boss after boss with nothing in between. I read a review the other day and the guy said that there’s a town where you return to and you can buy and equip weapons and all that.

 

[Iceman]

Looks interesting. I also really hope it's more RPG style than arena battle.

 

[Deck Rickard]

So the Wikipedia page on this says it’s set after The Crystal Shard, though it seems to have some elements of that story in it. Unless that’s another ice dragon that Drizzt is fighting there (which is totally possible).

I’m just excited about playing a game set in the Forgotten Realms universe as one of my favorite characters. I wonder if Enteri will make an appearance (though if this is truly set between Crystal Shard and Streams of Silver, the group wouldn’t have encountered him yet). But Salvatore admitted that these games tend to take detours from the source material so who knows what will happen.

 

[Iceman]

So the Wikipedia page on this says it’s set after The Crystal Shard, though it seems to have some elements of that story in it. Unless that’s another ice dragon that Drizzt is fighting there (which is totally possible).

I’m just excited about playing a game set in the Forgotten Realms universe as one of my favorite characters. I wonder if Enteri will make an appearance (though if this is truly set between Crystal Shard and Streams of Silver, the group wouldn’t have encountered him yet). But Salvatore admitted that these games tend to take detours from the source material so who knows what will happen.

I want more games like this for sure. Have you read all the books?

 

[Deck Rickard]

I want more games like this for sure. Have you read all the books?

No, not all. I’ve read the Icewind Dale trilogy, then the Dark Elf Trilogy (which canonically is the first part of the story), and the Legacy of the Drow books. I’ve read the first two books in Paths of Darkness but I never got back to it after that. But now that this game is coming out, I’ll likely go back to it and finish that series, along with the one after it (Hunter’s Blades). I’m in the middle of the first Dragonlance book now; it would also make a great video game or movie.

Of the ones I’ve read, I would say the first two Icewind Dale books are the worst. Salvatore really hadn’t found his footing as a writer yet in terms of storytelling, though the character work is good. But those books are a bit TOO Tolkien-derivative. The Shard is basically the One Ring and the second half of Streams of Silver is a straight-up Hobbit ripoff. But if you can get past that, it gets really good from the third book forward. It’s just kinda funny that the first three books are referred to as the Icewind Dale Trilogy when only the first book takes place there.

 

[The Infernal]

I wouldn't mind seeing Jarlaxle, but I'm not well versed with the books so I'm not sure where he fits in the story.

 

[Deck Rickard]

I wouldn't mind seeing Jarlaxle, but I'm not well versed with tye boks so I'm not sure where he fits in the story.

Jarlaxle is awesome but if I remember correctly, he doesn’t cross paths with Drizzt until Legacy of the Drow, which would be a long time after the events in this game. Though I could see them changing that to include him sooner.

 

[Deck Rickard]

A look at the heavy metal-inspired art style and some creature descriptions: In-depth look at the art style of Dark Alliance

 

[The Infernal]

I hope this game has unlockable characters, it would be fun to play as characters like Sarevok and Irenicus as unlockables, the latter especially given there's no spellcaster given they're telling a story based around Drizzt and his companions.

The Baldur's Gate games alone would be a great place to draw from for unlockable characters. It would be a good opportunity to include Minsc and have Jim Cumming reprise his role.



Here's a hands on. It's good to see there is armour sets as I was a bit bummed when I saw the pre-order Beholder and Lich sets were just weapons and thought that was all you could customise.

One thing I've noticed is how Guenhwyvar seems more spectral, blueish/white whereas in art is often depicted as a deep black panther. Which does kinda bug me tbh.

Jarlaxle is awesome but if I remember correctly, he doesn’t cross paths with Drizzt until Legacy of the Drow, which would be a long time after the events in this game. Though I could see them changing that to include him sooner.

It's funny, I just recently read Homeland and just started reading Exile and got to the bit where they introduce Jarlaxle. Really put me in the mood for picking up this game. I even re-downloaded Neverwinter to play some of that. lol

 

[Deck Rickard]

I hope this game has unlockable characters, it would be fun to play as characters like Sarevok and Irenicus as unlockables, the latter especially given there's no spellcaster given they're telling a story based around Drizzt and his companions.

The Baldur's Gate games alone would be a great place to draw from for unlockable characters. It would be a good opportunity to include Minsc and have Jim Cumming reprise his role.



Here's a hands on. It's good to see there is armour sets as I was a bit bummed when I saw the pre-order Beholder and Lich sets were just weapons and thought that was all you could customise.

One thing I've noticed is how Guenhwyvar seems more spectral, blueish/white whereas in art is often depicted as a deep black panther. Which does kinda bug me tbh.



It's funny, I just recently read Homeland and just started reading Exile and got to the bit where they introduce Jarlaxle. Really put me in the mood for picking up this game. I even re-downloaded Neverwinter to play some of that. lol

Yeah, I always pictured Guenhwyvar as a fairly normal looking Panther.

Homeland and Exile are probably my favorite books in the entire series. Sojourn is also good but it feels a little anticlimactic as a trilogy conclusion. But obviously it’s intended to set up the story for the Icewind Dale Trilogy (a misleading name since only the first book takes place there). The Legacy of the Drow books are crazy good too.

 

[Dugath]

Another Gamepass game loving it. Haven't had to pay for a game since CyberPunk.. well the wife bought it for me.. but I do not touch it as I am waiting for the xbsx upgrade.

Anyways glad this is going to GP.

Now.. only if biomutant would...

 

[Deck Rickard]

Just over a month to go! Here’s a look at the gameplay.

 

[Deck Rickard]

This is also pretty cool. An interview with Salvatore and an animated Drizzt short narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch.

 

[Hbl]

Its weird that they designed the companions so modern. Wulfgar is supposed to have long blonde hair usually with a wolf pelt and a magic hammer he can throw that comes back to him given to him by bruenor. The hammer is not even in the gameplay. Hes known for twirling it in a circle like thor calling tempus! Before throwing it.

cattie brie is supposed to be way more feminine than this. Her bow is supposed to shoot arrows of silver that streak through the air. She also was depicted much more cleaner and hygenic than the design. Why did they add weird goggles on her head? And why is her skin so dark tone? Shes a white woman with auburn hair that is braided. Adopted by the northen tribe of dwarfs.

Drizzt abilities that are missing are his glowing twinkle sword and icingdeath that emanates cold immune to fire and ability to caste fairie fire that confuses the enemies. They got the globe of darkness right. The depiction is supposed to be more dark ebony and with violet eyes not white eyes.
Its his trademark, why would they change that?

Bruenor is the only character that seems to be designed as depicted in the books fairly with some liberty. And his abilities is pretty basic which they capture pretty well.

on the fence with this as they change the characters too much. Not sure if I will enjoy it with expectations I have from the books.

 

[The Infernal]

I haven't got that far into the books, but I did notice they got Guenhwyvar wrong. I think this is the D&D world filtered through their own art style, which is where the disconnect is coming from. I similarly get irked by designs in the PS4 Spider-man game, especially their take on the costume.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Did Wulfgar throw and twirl his hammer like Thor in the books? It’s been a long time since I read them but I don’t remember that.

 

[Gee]

This, Solasta and BG3... Great time for D&D fans.

-edit-

 

[Deck Rickard]

Ouch…

 

[The Infernal]

Wow. That is a buggy mess. It was just bug after bug and bad design choices. How disappointing as I thought the game looked fun. Time to cancel that pre-order I think.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Yeah after reading the reviews, I think I’ll wait until this thing is available for $7.99 on PlayStation. Maybe then, all the bugs will be worked out. I also wasn’t impressed by the Drizzt voice actor in a cut scene I watched. So disappointing, especially after how good the Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance games were. And it stings even more since this one features beloved characters from the books. Damn it.

Oh, well. At least we have that D&D Jumanji movie to look forward to!