Fallout for the PS2.....BG: Dark Alliance revisited

[Tyjenks]

I may be one of the few who hated Dark Alliance. I loved the PC BG titles, of course, and even though I knew the console version was not going to be the same animal, I was hopeful. It looked nice, but was basically a Diabloesque game with fewer features.

Now we get the hallowed Fallout name slapped onto a similair title for the PS2 and X-box (http://www.interplay.com/games/product.asp?GameID=533). I guess it gets the name out there and if the planets are aligned properly mayhaps it will hasten a Fallout III being made. I am not holding my breath.

[xahlt]

Ugg, that game looks ugly. It's like looking at a blurry version of the original but in 3d.

I'm negatively excited for a Fallout 3. Given the current clime of BIS and Interplay, I don't know that I'd like the end product and with all the big name series problems lately (MOO, Unreal, etc) failing, I'm starting to feel like they ought to just leave it alone until the right time.

[Robert Sharp]

I'm with you about the internal problems at Interplay, but the fact that MOO3 and Unreal 2 have been mediocre (yes, I am being overly generous) has nothing to do with how good a new Fallout game would be. There were tons of sequels this last year or so and some have been great, some bad, and some in between, as usual.

Personally, I mildly enjoyed BG:DA. It wasn't as good as I hoped, but it wasn't bad, for what it was. I like Diablo style games though. I agree it could have used more options and such, but that's a problem with the D&D system, IMO, not the game. I thought Record of Lodoss War for the DC was MUCH better for this type of game. I would certainly be interested in a Fallout console game, if it were done well. But I agree that the Interplay situation is troubling in that regard.

[Jazar]

BG:DA was good for multiplayer co-op action, but the value wasn't worth much more then a rental.

[xahlt]

I'm with you about the internal problems at Interplay, but the fact that MOO3 and Unreal 2 have been mediocre (yes, I am being overly generous) has nothing to do with how good a new Fallout game would be.

No, of course not. What I meant is that I'm suddenly scared of what I might get, and I'm happy enough to let this all time favorite sleep for a while.

[Jupiter Jones]

Eww, sorry, I absolutely loved BA:DA. For $20 it was 40 solid hours of mini-RPG enjoyment. I loved the interface and the controls were perfect. I actually fiund myself cursing Neverwinter nights because I wanted PS2 controls for it. I may be in a very small minority, but I think this paper-thin Fallout game might be fun too! I will wait until its $20 though.

[Anonymous]

Why would Fallout III be any good without at least half of the guys who made the originals special gone to Troika?

The people behind a game matter a lot more than the franchise name on the box. The X-Com and Star Control franchises should have proven that by now...

[Anonymous]

Why would Fallout III be any good without at least half of the guys who made the originals special gone to Troika?

Er, just wanted to straighten out the convoluted grammatical nightmare of that sentence. It should have read:

"Why would Fallout III be any good? Under almost any imaginable circumstances, it would be produced without most of the people who made the originals special (the ones who left to form Troika)?"

[Desslock]

[quote="Jumping Jesus"]Why would Fallout III be any good without at least half of the guys who made the originals special gone to Troika?[\quote]

The Troika founders didn't work on Fallout 2 beyond its earliest conception.

[hanji]

Altho this new Fallout game doesn't look fantastic I'm still excited by the prospect of it. The Fallout series is one of my favourite and while this most likely won't be anywhere near as deep, I still think it could be really cool.

[Sam Jones]

Ach y fi.

That's like some horrible accountants vision of the "Fallout Franchise". Tim Cain must be rolling in his....uhh...cubicle.



Why would Fallout III be any good without at least half of the guys who made the originals special gone to Troika?

The people behind a game matter a lot more than the franchise name on the box. The X-Com and Star Control franchises should have proven that by now...


I reckon Chris Avellone could make it happen with one eyebrow tied behind his back. This obviously relies on the hypothetical situation where the horrible accountant accidentally has the *right* Vision Thing and greenlights Fallout 3.

[Dirt]

"I may be one of the few who hated Dark Alliance."

but you're not alone. i still don't get why so many people like that hack and slash.

[Kool Moe Dee]

I liked BG:DA quite a bit. If they can provide a similar variety of things to kill, and weapons to use, I'm there.

Of course, I still want a proper FO3, but I think this could be a successful offshoot.

[Jim Preston]

"I may be one of the few who hated Dark Alliance."

but you're not alone. i still don't get why so many people like that hack and slash.

I really enjoyed it as well. I think there is a simply appeal of good graphics, seeing new monsters, finding cool new weapons and seeing their effects, new environments, etc. I don't think there is anything really innovative about BG:DA, but I thoroughly enjoyed it for what it was: a nicely polished dungeon crawler.

[Dave Long]

BG:DA rocks in multiplayer. It's one of those games that makes you wish more games had co-op play. I'll definitely take a look at a Fallout version of it since the setting is more engaging to me.

--Dave

[Tyjenks]

"I may be one of the few who hated Dark Alliance."

but you're not alone. i still don't get why so many people like that hack and slash.

I really enjoyed it as well. I think there is a simply appeal of good graphics, seeing new monsters, finding cool new weapons and seeing their effects, new environments, etc. I don't think there is anything really innovative about BG:DA, but I thoroughly enjoyed it for what it was: a nicely polished dungeon crawler.

Anyone who liked DA and has an affinity for console RPG's should run not walk to your local software dealer and get Dark Cloud 2. Unless you all already have it. Its got the hacking, the slashing, the weapons, the items, and in greater numbers, to boot.

[Laralyn]

It looks a lot like Hunter, but in full 3D. Since Interplay published Hunter, there may be some engine similarities.

If it plays like Hunter, it'll be the console equivalent of a click-fest.

[Xaroc]

"I may be one of the few who hated Dark Alliance."

but you're not alone. i still don't get why so many people like that hack and slash.

I really enjoyed it as well. I think there is a simply appeal of good graphics, seeing new monsters, finding cool new weapons and seeing their effects, new environments, etc. I don't think there is anything really innovative about BG:DA, but I thoroughly enjoyed it for what it was: a nicely polished dungeon crawler.

Anyone who liked DA and has an affinity for console RPG's should run not walk to your local software dealer and get Dark Cloud 2. Unless you all already have it. Its got the hacking, the slashing, the weapons, the items, and in greater numbers, to boot.

DC2 is also a lot more complex. Which can be good. But BG:DA was more about a mindless dungeon romp a la Diablo whereas DC2 is far more involved and combat is only maybe a 3rd of the game. I spent 2 hours last night taking more pictures and inventing things and maybe 15 minutes fighting. Don't get me wrong I like that part of the game too but DC2 is a lot different from DA.

-- Xaroc

[Tyjenks]

DC2 is also a lot more complex. Which can be good. But BG:DA was more about a mindless dungeon romp a la Diablo whereas DC2 is far more involved and combat is only maybe a 3rd of the game. I spent 2 hours last night taking more pictures and inventing things and maybe 15 minutes fighting. Don't get me wrong I like that part of the game too but DC2 is a lot different from DA.

-- Xaroc

You are right. My unhealthy love for Dark Cloud 2 seems to cause me to make broad statements about it merits and create similairites where their may be precious few.

Get Dark Cloud 2. It's like Harbinger, but not in space.

[Anonymous]

dc2 has co-op?

[dannimal]

Throw in another vote for loving BG:DA as a co-op mindless killing romp. My friend and I ran through the game as a rental, but loved evey second of it.

[Robert Sharp]

dc2 has co-op?

Not really, so that is another difference. DA has true multiplayer, and it isn't quite as frenetic as the Gauntlet series. It also more character development than gauntlet (though not a lot more). It's certainly got better production values than gauntlet, but I think if you don't like that style of game (see monster, click and kill it) you won't like DA. But I love that style of game. It's good semi-mindless (DA is a pretty tough game, IMO) fun.

[Laralyn]

It looks a lot like Hunter, but in full 3D. Since Interplay published Hunter, there may be some engine similarities.

If it plays like Hunter, it'll be the console equivalent of a click-fest.

Of course, right after I post that, I see the report that Interplay sold the Hunter rights to Vivendi Universal. I wonder what's up with that? I think Hunter made good money for Interplay--in fact, it kept the company afloat for a while when it was between releases. Wacky.

[Mark Asher]

It looks a lot like Hunter, but in full 3D. Since Interplay published Hunter, there may be some engine similarities.

If it plays like Hunter, it'll be the console equivalent of a click-fest.

Of course, right after I post that, I see the report that Interplay sold the Hunter rights to Vivendi Universal. I wonder what's up with that? I think Hunter made good money for Interplay--in fact, it kept the company afloat for a while when it was between releases. Wacky.

My guess is Interplay is in desperate need of cash?

[mtkafka]

Game should be called Fallout Gauntlet. Even though IPsold out, it still could be a cool game. I mean, there really hasn't beena good Gauntlet knockoff that I've seen for Xbox yet... besides that bad reviewed Metal Dungeon... I'm looking for a good gauntlet style xbox game so I can at least play multi other than HALO on the damn thing... or show off booby volleyball... oh im so original...

etc

[Ben]

Fallout 3-
Why is there this assumptiont that only the original Fallout crew can make a good Fallout 3? Not only was Fallout 2 by different people(well, somewhat different people), proving that good Fallout doesn't require the Troika people, Arcanum wasn't very good, proving that Troika doesn't guarantee goodness.

As long as FO3 is made by someone who played and liked the earlier Fallouts, it should be a pretty good game. SPECIAL+Post-apoc Setting+Dark Humor=Good, almost all of the time. Now, if I set my right hand's action plan to "Punch Monster" only to find out that my shoulder decided to switch it to "Masturbate" after I left the screen, well, there'll be problems.

Fallout: BOS-
Dark Alliance rocked, one of my very favorite PS2 titles. I don't understand the RPG snob appeal of louding proclaiming that a certain game sucked because it wasn't enough of the genre for you, like "RPG" described quality rather than type. Dark Alliance was a superb 2-player Diablo clone. Pretty polished, and pretty well balanced. The mage was wicked powerful at the high end because of her one good spell, and some of the abilities were bizarrely constructed, like the Dwarf's high-end attack being a warhammer-only ability, but warhammers were obsoleted by better weapons by the time the dwarf could be thinking about buying the ability that required them.

Negatively, Hunter was a big let down from the reviews I read. The controls sucked(you had to press the right trigger a billion times), the weapons weren't powerful enough, the RPG elements weren't strong enough to justify replaying it, and the zone of walkibility was too small for multiplayer. If BOS is a Fallout version of DA, that'd be beyond cool. If it's just a Fallout themed Hunter, boo to that.