ark Alliance for the GBA is a lot like the "fun size" candy people hand out for Halloween. It’s every bit as good as the full-size version, only smaller. More focused on action than role-playing, Baldur’s Gate is one fun little fantasy (not in the dirty way) title.

Entering the city of Baldur’s Gate as one of three classes – fighter, wizard, or archer – you progress through a fairly linear main story with optional side quests. You gain experience and find new gear like in any other RPG, but the main focus is exploration and combat. There are no combos to speak of, but the ability to switch between melee, ranged, and magical combat keeps things from growing stale. The constantly unfolding plot keeps things moving as well. It’s an engaging title that’s hard to put down once you’re into it.

The graphics are nice, although the sound is far from impressive (even by GBA standards), but doesn’t really detract from the experience. As far as fantasy titles go, Dark Alliance is more fun than cheesy, so-bad-they’re-good films like The Dungeonmaster, starring Richard Moll from Night Court. And we all know that Bull Shannon is one hard act to top.  

ADAM BIESSENER   7.25 Though it has mind-blowing graphical splendor going for it, this port also has a complete lack of re-engineered gameplay against it. Everything’s slightly dumbed-down from the original, but the biggest problem is the inexplicable absence of recall potions. Walking back out of cleared dungeons is not how I want to spend my time.