Eye of the Beholder (computer game, 2002)
| Eye of the Beholder | |
|---|---|
| Studio | Pronto Games |
| Publisher | Infogrames |
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
November 7, 2002 |
| platform | GBA |
| genre | Computer role playing game |
| Subject | Dungeons and Dragons |
| Game mode | Single player |
| medium | Cartridge |
| language | English German |
Eye of the Beholder is a computer role-playing game by the American development studio Pronto Games from 2002 for the handheld game console Game Boy Advance . It is an adaptation of the title of the same name by Westwood Associates from 1991 and was published by the French publisher Infogrames .
Action and gameplay
The theme of the game is identical to the original series title. The trading town of Tiefwasser has big problems with the organized criminal gangs of the Unterberg. An unknown power seems to have convinced the once warring factions from the depths below city to work together under the leadership of Xanathar's thieves' guild. Since the city guard cannot stop the attacks, the princes of Tiefwasser commissioned by Lord Piergeiron Paladinssohn a group of adventurers to clarify the background. When the group of adventurers enters the dungeon , the entrance is buried and the group has to look for another way out.
On the basis of the 3rd edition of the rulebook, the player creates a group of four characters. Name and gender are freely selectable. There are restrictions in the disposition, no bad disposition is possible here. There are seven selectable races (human, shield dwarf, moon elf, rock gnome, half-elf, light-footed halfling, half-orc) and four classes (cleric, fighter, villain, magician). You also choose a portrait and a miniature representation of the character that will be used in the battles. Unlike in the 3rd edition, the attributes are rolled. According to the 3rd edition, the player can still select skills and distribute talent points.
The exploration of the dungeon takes place in the first person perspective . The player moves field by field through the square grid levels. There are simple switch and object puzzles, traps and hidden entrances. A minimap documents the exploration progress. If the player meets opponents, the view changes. From an oblique perspective, similar to the gold box games , the player can see the square grid and instruct his characters to perform actions such as moving, attacking or doing magic. The combat system is turn-based. For successful battles, the player receives experience points and possibly equipment or gold. However, the program does not provide any information about the attack and armor values of the items. With a sufficient number of experience points, the heroes reach a level rise and can thus improve their skills.
Apart from the intro, the game has no background music and only a few sound effects.
reception
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The ratings of the game were mostly negative ( Metacritic : 57%).
“Bottom line here is this is a game for the hard core RPG gamer although given that so much luck (and possible frustration) is involved at the beginning, you'd probably have more fun actually running around your local sewer. Or you could play D&D; as it was meant to be played: with live friends, dice, pen, and paper. (Final Score: Not recommended) ”
“The bottom line is that this is a hardcore RPG game, although it involves so much luck (and possibly frustration) at the beginning that you probably have more fun running around your local sewer system. Or you could play D&D; how it should be played: with real friends, dice, pen and paper (final evaluation: not recommended) "
“Much like the classic Dungeons & Dragons-based computer role-playing games, Eye of the Beholder can last you for a while. But this awkwardly designed and rather ugly-looking game can by no means be recommended to everyone, nor is it necessarily suitable for fans of other GBA role-playing games. The best things Eye of the Beholder has going for it are its nostalgia value for fans of the original and its use of some Dungeons & Dragons rules and characters. If that's enough for you, then by all means give this decidedly unusual GBA role-playing game a shot. "
“Similar to the classic Dungeons & Dragons-based computer role-playing game, Eye of the Beholder can wear for quite a while. But this awkwardly designed and rather ugly looking game cannot be recommended to everyone, nor is it necessarily suitable for fans of other GBA RPGs. The best points that speak for Eye of the Beholder are its nostalgic values for fans of the original and its use of some D&D rules and characters. If that's enough for you, then you can give this unquestionably unusual GBA role-play a chance. "
In the overall review of D&D computer games, game editor Allen Rausch described the game as “ 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 ” (German: “Curiosity for older players and an annoying western role-playing game for a new generation of Nintendo fans who had no idea what a gold box game was. ")
Web links
- Eye of the Beholder at MobyGames (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b metacritic.com
- ↑ gamerankings.com
- ↑ Dungeons & Dragons Eye of the Beholder . In: GameStop (ed.): Game Informer . March 2003.
- ↑ gamepro.de
- ^ A b Greg Kasavin : Dungeons & Dragons Eye of the Beholder . In: GameSpot . August 19, 2004. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
- ↑ jeuxvideo.com
- ↑ Lee Cieniawa: D&D: Eye of the Beholder . In: Armchair Empire . March 16, 2003. Archived from the original on August 7, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
- ↑ Martin Eiser: Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder . In: Gameboy Universe . March 16, 2003. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
- ^ Dungeons & Dragons Eye of the Beholder - NCG . In: NGC Magazine , February 2003, p. 56, Text Archive - Internet Archive
- ↑ Dungeons & Dragons Eye of the Beholder . In: Ziff Davis (Ed.): Pocket Games . No. 11, February 2003, p. 31.
- ↑ Mike Messersmith: Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder . In: Gamezilla . January 7, 2003. Archived from the original on January 19, 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
- ↑ Allen Rausch: A History of D & D Video Games - Part V . In: GameSpy . December 17, 2002. Retrieved March 20, 2019.