Eye of the
Beholder is a fairly early
3D computer 'role-playing' game. As with all such efforts before about
Planescape: Torment, the role-playing aspect is nil, but it's still an excellent game. It's written by
SSI and
Westwood Associates, and clearly draws on the legacy of
FTL software's
Dungeon Master. Movement is on a square-by-square basis, and the
VGA graphics are quite lush.
The story is set in, or rather under,
Waterdeep in the
Dungeons and Dragons Forgotten Realms gameworld - by implication, in or around
Undermountain. The rules of the game are a surprisingly good imitation of
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Second Edition - although there's a nifty
exploit linked to the fact that the designers over-estimated the
XP value of
kenku. To return to the plot: your
PCs have been asked to investigate mysterious goings-on in the
sewers beneath Waterdeep. On arrival in the tunnels, however, the group is mysteriously imprisoned by a rock-fall. Only by discovering secret passages and overcoming some slightly implausible monster opponents can you proceed, and discover the secret of
Xanathar!
The game was followed by two sequels:
Eye of the Beholder II:
Legend of Darkmoon and
Eye of the Beholder III:
Assault on Myth Drannor.
Spoilers ahead!
Level 1: Sewers. Inhabitants:
Kobolds and giant
leeches.
Level 2: Sewers. Inhabitants:
Skeletons and
Zombies.
Level 3: Sewers. Inhabitants:
Kuo-toa and
Flind.
Level 4: Grey stone
catacombs. Inhabitants: Giant
spiders.
Level 5: Grey stone catacombs. Inhabitants:
Dwarves and giant spiders.
Level 6: Grey stone catacombs. Inhabitants:
Kenku and one angry
mage.
Level 7: Purple stone tunnels. Inhabitants:
Drow and
skeleton warriors.
Level 8: Purple stone tunnels. Inhabitants:
Driders and
hellhounds.
Level 9: Purple stone tunnels. Inhabitants:
Displacer beasts and
rust monsters.
Level 10: Green gungy catacombs. Inhabitants:
Thri-kreen.
Level 11: Green gungy catacombs. Inhabitants:
Mind flayers and
xorn.
Level 12: Grey stone overlaid with mock
victoriana in a horrible
mauve hue. Inhabitants: Stone
golems and the Big Awful. If you haven't guessed the identity of Xanathar, I'm not going to tell you
.
There are twelve special quests spread through the game, one per level, and originally there was said to be a prize if you completed all of them and informed SSI. The
Amiga version of this game had better cut-scenes than the PC version.
Tips:
To escape the first level, look for two hidden switches, and be prepared to leave something behind.
If at all possible, pick all three locks at the beginning of level two.
On level four, in the room with all the sayings about King Kruen, close the left and right doors, open the middle one and pull the chain. You will receive a powerful magic axe called
Drow Slayer.
Keep all stone items - they begin appearing early on. They're portal keys.
Before descending to level seven from level six, ensure that the door into the wide passages, unlocked with a gold key, is open. Failure to do so can result in locking yourself out of about a fifth of the game, including some very useful rooms.
On level nine, in the area beginning '
donate', you can find a +5 long sword, one of the best weapons in the game. Its name is
Severious.