Difference between revisions of "Eye of the Beholder"
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'''''Eye of the Beholder''''' is a series of first-person role-playing video games created by [[Westwood Studios]]. The game is both a pun on the term "Eye of the Beholder" and is based on the Dungeons & Dragons monster, a Beholder which is also a pun of the term. There were three games in the series, although Westwood stopped developing them after the second game, and a [[Game Boy Advance]] version was released which used the goldbox engine for combat and many other differences. | '''''Eye of the Beholder''''' is a series of first-person role-playing video games created by [[Westwood Studios]]. The game is both a pun on the term "Eye of the Beholder" and is based on the Dungeons & Dragons monster, a Beholder which is also a pun of the term. There were three games in the series, although Westwood stopped developing them after the second game, and a [[Game Boy Advance]] version was released which used the goldbox engine for combat and many other differences. | ||
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While there was never a fourth game, the series had a spiritual sequel, [[Dungeon Hack (DOS)]]. This game not only used the same engine as Eye of the Beholder III, but also included most of the enemies and sounds from that game. Most of the bugs present in the third game have been remedied for Dungeon Hack. | While there was never a fourth game, the series had a spiritual sequel, [[Dungeon Hack (DOS)]]. This game not only used the same engine as Eye of the Beholder III, but also included most of the enemies and sounds from that game. Most of the bugs present in the third game have been remedied for Dungeon Hack. | ||
| − | ==Eye of the Beholder== | + | ==Games== |
| + | ===Eye of the Beholder=== | ||
| + | The party is summoned by the Lords of Waterdeep to investigate an evil lurking underneath the city. The part is sent to the sewers. When they entered, the way they entered is barricaded by rocks, so they have no choice but to go deeper into the sewage system. They later come across a dwarven community, as well as encounter the Drow elves. The party must defeat the titular Beholder, Xanathar. | ||
* [[Eye of the Beholder (AMI)]] | * [[Eye of the Beholder (AMI)]] | ||
* [[Eye of the Beholder (DOS)]] | * [[Eye of the Beholder (DOS)]] | ||
| Line 18: | Line 14: | ||
* [[Eye of the Beholder (SNES)]] | * [[Eye of the Beholder (SNES)]] | ||
| − | ==Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon== | + | ===Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon=== |
| + | In the second game, the party is staying at a tavern in Waterdeep when a note is slipped to them. The message urges the party to visit the archmage of Waterdeep, Khelben Blackstaff. Upon doing so, Khelben informs the players that there is an evil lurking in the Temple Darkmoon. He sends the party to investigate the evil, and warns his scout Amber never returned. Upon visiting the seemingly innocent temple, it is revealed throughout the game that a 300+ year old dragon in human form (with an uncanny resemblance to Q from Star Trek), Dran Draggore, is not only behind the evil in Temple Darkmoon, but was also responsible for the events of the first game. | ||
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| + | The game uses the same game engine as the first game and vastly improves the gameplay and its mechanics. The party has access to more spells, items, and you can even transfer party members and their items from the first game into this game. Eye of the Beholder II was received positively by critics, and is considered by fans of the series to be the best in the trilogy. | ||
* [[Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon (AMI)]] | * [[Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon (AMI)]] | ||
* [[Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon (DOS)]] | * [[Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon (DOS)]] | ||
| Line 24: | Line 23: | ||
* [[Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon (PC98)]] | * [[Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon (PC98)]] | ||
| − | ==Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor== | + | ===Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor=== |
| + | In this game, the party members from the previous game are bragging about their success in a tavern in Waterdeep. All of a sudden, a creepy-looking man enters the bar and asks the party to recover an artifact from Acwellan the Lich. The party blindly accepts the man's mission, who subsequently teleports them to the graveyard of Myth Drannor. Before making it to the ruined city, the party must make it through the graveyard, mausoleum, and forest trail. In Myth Drannor, they must progress through the Mages Guild and the Temple of Lathander. After defeating Acwellan in the Mages Guild, it is revealed the man from the beginning is the Dark God, and that Acwellan was actually good. He opens up the way to the Temple of Lathander before dying. The Dark God sits at the top floor, and the party must reach him and defeat him. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Westwood was not involved with this game, and instead worked on [[Lands of Lore]], which is much superior. Strategic Simulations developed this game, but it received negative reviews by critics. Mainly, this is due to the new game engine called AESOP. The game locks up at random times, you can no longer rest if monsters are near, and the sound effect design is annoying, as a sound plays every time a monster moves. | ||
* [[Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor (DOS)]] | * [[Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor (DOS)]] | ||
| − | * [[Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor ( | + | * [[Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor (PC98)]] |
==Music== | ==Music== | ||
Revision as of 03:23, 3 December 2020
Eye of the Beholder is a series of first-person role-playing video games created by Westwood Studios. The game is both a pun on the term "Eye of the Beholder" and is based on the Dungeons & Dragons monster, a Beholder which is also a pun of the term. There were three games in the series, although Westwood stopped developing them after the second game, and a Game Boy Advance version was released which used the goldbox engine for combat and many other differences.
While there was never a fourth game, the series had a spiritual sequel, Dungeon Hack (DOS). This game not only used the same engine as Eye of the Beholder III, but also included most of the enemies and sounds from that game. Most of the bugs present in the third game have been remedied for Dungeon Hack.
Contents
Games
Eye of the Beholder
The party is summoned by the Lords of Waterdeep to investigate an evil lurking underneath the city. The part is sent to the sewers. When they entered, the way they entered is barricaded by rocks, so they have no choice but to go deeper into the sewage system. They later come across a dwarven community, as well as encounter the Drow elves. The party must defeat the titular Beholder, Xanathar.
- Eye of the Beholder (AMI)
- Eye of the Beholder (DOS)
- Eye of the Beholder (GBA)
- Eye of the Beholder (LYNX) (Unreleased)
- Eye of the Beholder (PC98)
- Eye of the Beholder (SCD)
- Eye of the Beholder (SNES)
Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon
In the second game, the party is staying at a tavern in Waterdeep when a note is slipped to them. The message urges the party to visit the archmage of Waterdeep, Khelben Blackstaff. Upon doing so, Khelben informs the players that there is an evil lurking in the Temple Darkmoon. He sends the party to investigate the evil, and warns his scout Amber never returned. Upon visiting the seemingly innocent temple, it is revealed throughout the game that a 300+ year old dragon in human form (with an uncanny resemblance to Q from Star Trek), Dran Draggore, is not only behind the evil in Temple Darkmoon, but was also responsible for the events of the first game.
The game uses the same game engine as the first game and vastly improves the gameplay and its mechanics. The party has access to more spells, items, and you can even transfer party members and their items from the first game into this game. Eye of the Beholder II was received positively by critics, and is considered by fans of the series to be the best in the trilogy.
- Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon (AMI)
- Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon (DOS)
- Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon (FMT)
- Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon (PC98)
Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor
In this game, the party members from the previous game are bragging about their success in a tavern in Waterdeep. All of a sudden, a creepy-looking man enters the bar and asks the party to recover an artifact from Acwellan the Lich. The party blindly accepts the man's mission, who subsequently teleports them to the graveyard of Myth Drannor. Before making it to the ruined city, the party must make it through the graveyard, mausoleum, and forest trail. In Myth Drannor, they must progress through the Mages Guild and the Temple of Lathander. After defeating Acwellan in the Mages Guild, it is revealed the man from the beginning is the Dark God, and that Acwellan was actually good. He opens up the way to the Temple of Lathander before dying. The Dark God sits at the top floor, and the party must reach him and defeat him.
Westwood was not involved with this game, and instead worked on Lands of Lore, which is much superior. Strategic Simulations developed this game, but it received negative reviews by critics. Mainly, this is due to the new game engine called AESOP. The game locks up at random times, you can no longer rest if monsters are near, and the sound effect design is annoying, as a sound plays every time a monster moves.
- Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor (DOS)
- Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor (PC98)
Music
All 3 of the games contain medieval-sounding tracks to fit with the theme of the game. However, the original computer versions contained no in-game music; only music for the intro cutscenes, as well as a theme for when the player was creating their party. The versions developed in Japan usually contained in-game music, but some of which contained techno music which, while good, did not fit the medieval setting that the game possessed. The PC-98 version of Eye of the Beholder II also added the polish of in-game music, but could be repetitive at times.
