Eye of the Beholder (2002 video game)
{{Short description|2002 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title=Dungeons & Dragons - Eye of the Beholder
|image=250px
|caption=Game Boy Advance cover art
|developer=Pronto Games
|publisher=Infogrames
|designer=Randy Angle
|composer=Andrew Edlen
|series=Eye of the Beholder
|released={{vgrelease|NA|November 8, 2002{{cite web|url=http://www.prontogames.com/|title=Pronto Games - More Additions|date=8 November 2002|access-date=19 March 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021126050725/http://prontogames.com/|archive-date=26 November 2002}}}}
|genre=Role-playing
|modes=Single-player
|platforms=Game Boy Advance
}}
Dungeons & Dragons - Eye of the Beholder is a video game released for the Game Boy Advance in 2002, developed by American studio Pronto Games and published by Infogrames. It is an adaptation of the 1991 game of the same name.
Plot
The once peaceful city of Waterdeep now suffers from raids every night by the Undermountain factions, who have somehow become reunited and organized. The raiders are led by Xanathar's Guild, who have returned to take over Waterdeep. Lacking in manpower from the City Watch, Piergeiron the Paladinson summons a group of adventurers to investigate the city sewers, uncover the evil entity, and destroy it.{{cite book|title= "Eye of the Beholder" GBA Instruction Booklet |url=https://www.mocagh.org/ssi/eobgba-manual.pdf |date=2002 |publisher=Infogrames, Inc.}}
Gameplay
The games uses a stripped-down version of the 3rd edition D&D rules" with only four basic character classes and several traits, feats and skills.{{cite web|url=http://infogrames.com/corp_pressreleases.php?op=story&sid=275|title=Welcome to the Dungeon! Infogrames Signs Dungeons & Dragons(R) - Eye of the Beholder|publisher=Infogrames|date=24 May 2002|access-date=19 March 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020529105215/http://infogrames.com/corp_pressreleases.php?op=story&sid=275|archive-date=29 May 2002}}{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/gba/rpg/dungeonsdragonseyeotb/review.html|title=Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder|last=Kasavin|first=Greg|publisher=GameSpot UK|date=18 December 2002|access-date=22 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209115540/http://uk.gamespot.com/gba/rpg/dungeonsdragonseyeotb/review.html|archive-date=9 December 2008|df=dmy-all}} It is not a port of the original game, though it possesses roughly the same plot. It bears stronger resemblance to the original Gold Box games, such as Pool of Radiance.
Navigating through the dungeons is done in first-person mode, where the characters can make use of their skills to get through difficulties and have very limited use of spells. When an enemy is encountered, the game mode switches to an isometric view where the player engages in turn-based combat against monsters.{{cite magazine|title= Speaker Bios - Randy Angle|url=https://archive.org/details/gamedevelopersco2003unse/page/114 |magazine=Game Developers Conference |publisher=GamaNetwork |date=4 March 2003 |page=114}} Killing all enemies ends the combat mode. In some places, the player can recruit up to two additional characters, gather information and buy or sell items. Using items requires the player to equip them in a menu-driven inventory system.
Reception
=Critical reception=
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 52%{{cite web | title=Dungeons & Dragons Eye of the Beholder for GBA - GameRankings | url=https://www.gamerankings.com/gba/561612-dungeons-and-dragons-eye-of-the-beholder/index.html | work=GameRankings | publisher=CBS Interactive Inc. | date=8 August 2002 | access-date=20 March 2019 | archive-date=23 March 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323092226/https://www.gamerankings.com/gba/561612-dungeons-and-dragons-eye-of-the-beholder/index.html | url-status=live }}
| MC = 57%{{cite web | title=Dungeons & Dragons Eye of the Beholder (GBA) reviews at Metacritic.com | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/dungeons-and-dragons-eye-of-the-beholder/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance | date=17 December 2002 | publisher=Metacritic | access-date=20 March 2019}}
| GI = 55%{{cite magazine|title=Dungeons & Dragons Eye of the Beholder - Game Informer |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=GameStop |date=March 2003}}
| NGC = 41%{{cite magazine|title=Dungeons & Dragons Eye of the Beholder - NCG |url=https://archive.org/details/NGC-077-2003-02/page/n55 |magazine=NGC Magazine |issue=77 |publisher=Future plc |date=February 2003 |page=56}}
}}
The game received moderately negative reviews compared to the original computer game. It was given a 41% rating by NGC Magazine, criticizing it for its slow pace between exploration and combat, its bad interface and confusing menus, while highlighting only its variety of spells and character customization, that give the game some level of depth.
According to GameSpy, this game "only managed to be a curiosity for older gamers and an annoying Western-style RPG for a new generation of Nintendo fans who had no idea what a Gold Box game was".{{cite web | last=Rausch | first=Allen | date=19 August 2004 | url=http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/540/540375p3.html | title=A History of D&D Video Games - Part V | publisher=GameSpy | access-date=17 November 2012 | archive-date=20 August 2004 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040820221413/http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/540/540375p3.html | url-status=live }}
=Promotion=
The game was showcased at the 2002 Electronic Entertainment Expo{{cite web|url=http://www.prontogames.com/|title=Pronto Games - After E3 2002|date=29 May 2002|access-date=19 March 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020601113715/http://www.prontogames.com/|archive-date=1 June 2002}} and presented at the DunDraCon XXVII the following year,{{cite web|url=http://www.prontogames.com/|title=Pronto Games - DunDraCon XXVII|date=5 February 2003|access-date=19 March 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030214004053/http://prontogames.com/|archive-date=14 February 2003}} where the company president and game designer Randy Angle was interviewed.{{cite web|url=http://www.dundracon.com/DDC_Files/DDC27ProgramBook.pdf|access-date=21 April 2023|website=dundracon.com|title=DDC XXVII Program Book|archive-date=28 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128204435/http://dundracon.com/DDC_Files/DDC27ProgramBook.pdf|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20031027194453/http://www.prontogames.com/dnd/ Official GBA website]
- {{moby game|id=/dungeons-dragons-eye-of-the-beholder|name=Eye of the Beholder}}
{{Dungeons & Dragons video games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eye of the Beholder}}
Category:First-person party-based dungeon crawler video games
Category:Forgotten Realms video games
Category:Game Boy Advance games
Category:Game Boy Advance-only games
Category:Role-playing video games
Category:Single-player video games