Info about Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection One:

Official game description:
The Forgotten Realms world of Dungeons & Dragons has been home to many a hero and imagination since its publication, producing adventures and stories to be retold and enjoyed for years to come. The Forgotten Realms Archive - Collection One allows you to journey through one such set of adventures: the Eye of the Beholder trilogy, a set of first-person, real-time role-playing games.  
**EYE OF THE BEHOLDER**  
A new evil is plaguing the city of Waterdeep, stalking the streets and preying on its citizens. Though initially thought to come from afar, this great evil, known only as Xanathar, instead resides within Waterdeep and, if not stopped, threatens to overwhelm the city. The Lords of Waterdeep believe that the evil lurks in the sewers below and have commissioned a party of adventurers to investigate and foil this nefarious plot. Granted full rights of marque and ownership of any treasure, artifacts or valuables you find on your quest, you must venture into the chasms, discover the nature of this evil and destroy it by any means necessary.  
**EYE OF THE BEHOLDER II: THE LEGEND OF DARKMOON**  
Following your quest in the sewers beneath, you and your party are recovering with Waterdeep’s finest healers, when a letter arrives from Khelben Blackstaff, mystic advisor to the Lords of Waterdeep. Trouble is brewing in the Northern and Western regions, and he has tasked you with exploring the land and investigating these incidents. Although nothing has been confirmed, renowned but troublesome archaeologist, Wently Kelso believes the disturbances are related to an evil uprising and the presence of a powerful ancient artefact. These troubles could, of course, simply be the work of unruly bandits, but since Kelso’s previous findings in the sewers of Waterdeep proved true, one would be wise not to easily dismiss his opinion on the matter. Therefore, you should exercise greater care and vigilance as you begin your next adventure.  
**EYE OF THE BEHOLDER III: ASSAULT ON MYTH DRANNOR**  
Having rid the sewers of Waterdeep and the dreaded Temple Darkmoon of the evil forces within, you and your companions are surely deserving of a strong drink, good food and a warm fire. And so, your first port of call is to the nearest tavern, where you slop ale all over yourself and engage in jovial antics as you regale your adventures to your captivated listeners and admirers. However, in the midst of your retelling, the tavern door is thrust open by a hooded figure, whose eyes scan the crowd before locking on you and your party. Approaching you, he quickly introduces himself and explains his reasons for disturbing the festivities; his master wishes you to free the ruined city of Myth Drannor from the clutches of a Lich and restore it to its former glory. Looks like your adventures aren’t over just yet…  
With an original story set in the Forgotten Realms universe, the Eye of the Beholder trilogy is based on the Advanced Dungeon & Dragons 2nd Edition’s game rules. Bringing the immersion, wonder and epicness of a D&D campaign to the PC, the Eye of the Beholder is a genre-defining and beloved series for RPG and Dungeons & Dragons fans alike.  
*   Assemble your party across various races and classes - from human to dwarf, cleric to thief  
*   Use weapons, magic and resolve to ensure your survival as you complete your quests  
*   Transfer your party across all three titles to keep your band of adventurers together to the very end  
*   Explore the various dungeons, ruins and secrets that Waterdeep Sewers, Temple Darkmoon and Myth Drannor have to offer  
*   Fight a wide array of monsters and restore peace to the Forgotten Realms

Release date: Mar 29, 2022

Categories: First-Person Dungeon Crawler, Grid-based Movement, Party-based Combat, Real-time Combat, CRPG, Class System and Party, Dungeon Exploration, Forgotten Realms Setting

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: Linux desktop play appears viable with DOSBox configuration adjustments, and at least one user reports it works on both Windows and Linux. Steam Deck is less smooth: reviews repeatedly mention unofficial support, setup hoops, anti-cheat/middleware skipping, and a separate map app that complicates setup. Evidence points to a tinkering-required Linux/Steam Deck experience rather than a fully broken one.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The audit finds moderate Steam Deck friction. The game is playable and enjoyable once configured, but users must contend with an officially unsupported status, manual setup steps, a separate map app, DOSBox adjustments, and a minor map display bug. No launch failures, crashes, unreadable UI, or mandatory Proton Experimental or touchscreen launcher workflows are reported. The score places it in the Tinkering Required range.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $8.99 - $12.99
  - Reasoning: The reviews assess the base game around the current $9.99 price. Multiple users say $10 is worth it or that the game is cheap, and one says it is reasonably priced even though they prefer waiting for a sale. No review calls the base game overpriced. This supports a fair community range near the current price, with a lower bound for discount-oriented buyers and an upper bound reflecting the view that $10 is already inexpensive.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 5.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The five-hour quote describes a single play session that ended in a total party kill, supporting a session length of about 5 hours. The 10-hour and 20-hour quotes refer to individual games within the collection, not to the collection as a whole, so they are rejected for gameCompletion. The 2-hour quote reports total time played so far rather than a completion time or a clear session length. No evidence supports story completion or endgame hours.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players report early friction from confusing, repetitive dungeon navigation and an old-fashioned design that demands patience, but the game's depth, atmosphere, and progression can make the effort worthwhile. No review provides a precise timing cue.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Adjusting to the old-fashioned design and confusing navigation
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Confusing, repetitive dungeon navigation with circular turns; Need to track a compass and leave breadcrumb-like notes; Hidden wall buttons and manual sketching when lost; Old-fashioned design requiring patience and adjustment
  - Unlock drivers: Depth and atmosphere that justify the effort; Sense of progression; Excellent balance between storytelling, dungeon design, and character progression; Character progression as a core strength
  - Conditions: Requires patience and adjustment to the old-fashioned design; Enjoyment depends on tolerance for confusing navigation and note-taking; Appreciation of storytelling, dungeon design, and character progression supports enjoyment; Longtime familiarity or nostalgia may sustain positive attachment
- Player Archetypes:
  - Nostalgic Old-School Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Reliving early PC role-playing memories and the challenge of classic dungeon crawls.
    - Playstyle: Plays party-based Gold Box and Eye of the Beholder-style crawls with original controls and dated interfaces.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: old school rpg fans
    - Reference games: Dungeon Master
  - Classic Dungeon Crawl Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Exploring a respected old-school dungeon-crawl trilogy and continuing a party across entries.
    - Playstyle: Plays the series in order, imports the same team, and focuses on classic dungeon exploration.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Manual Mapping Puzzle Purist (buy)
    - Motivation: Solving devious dungeon puzzles and mastering complex maps through hands-on exploration.
    - Playstyle: Uses grid-paper mapping, accepts cryptic trial-and-error puzzles, and may use mapping mods only as an alternative.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Non-Nostalgic Curious Newcomer (no buy)
    - Motivation: Trying an influential classic RPG series out of curiosity rather than nostalgia.
    - Playstyle: Attempts the games without prior knowledge, often needing outside help and may bounce off the opaque rules.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Dungeon crawling remains enjoyable (weight 0.48): Players find exploring dungeons fun and challenging, with the pleasure of discovery. The core dungeon-crawling loop is consistently praised across clusters.
- Automapper is helpful (weight 0.47): The automapper is a helpful feature that aids navigation and includes guide functionality. Players appreciate this convenience.
- Great trilogy collection (weight 0.41): Having all three games in one pack is a great way to play the trilogy. The convenience and value are highly appreciated.
- Masterpiece quality (weight 0.32): The game is widely regarded as a masterpiece and an amazing experience. This strong praise reflects its high quality.
- Persistent character progression across trilogy (weight 0.31): Characters created in the first game can be carried through the entire trilogy, creating a sense of long-term investment. This feature enhances the overall experience.
- Includes manuals and cluebooks (weight 0.24): The collection includes PDFs of original manuals, maps, and cluebooks, though they are only in English. This adds value for players seeking authentic materials.
- Charming and light fun (weight 0.23): The game is described as charming, fun, and light, making it an enjoyable experience. This positive reception highlights its appeal.
- Classic and still fun (weight 0.18): The game is considered a classic that remains fun and engaging. Its timeless quality is a key strength.
- Worth it for old-school fans (weight 0.17): The game is worth a go for fans of old-style RPGs and is great for old-school RPG enthusiasts. It caters well to that audience.
- Interesting puzzles (weight 0.17): The game features nice puzzles that can be pretty interesting, adding to the gameplay variety. Puzzle design is a positive aspect.
- First game worth the price (weight 0.17): Eye of the Beholder 1 is worth the price alone, providing good value. The first game is particularly strong.

Common complaints:
- Game-breaking bugs and softlocks (weight 0.9): Numerous bugs cause softlocks or prevent game completion, including a system error in Eye of the Beholder 2's Azure Tower, missing key items, save/load errors, and one-way passages triggering before obtaining necessary items. These issues require frequent saving and can make the game unfinishable.
- Poor combat and balance (weight 0.87): Combat is tiresome and unbalanced, with finicky ranged systems, awkward evasion, and enemy poison/stun effects that can overwhelm early. The difficulty is highly dependent on party composition, and some enemies are disproportionately powerful.
- Dated graphics and sound (weight 0.81): Graphics and sound are extremely outdated, with simple sprites, limited animations, and minimalist environments. The visuals are from 1990 and unlikely to meet modern players' standards, with sound effects minimal and music lacking except in the intro.
- Obtuse and confusing design (weight 0.8): The game features sadistically confusing labyrinth-like design with hidden walls, minimal hints, and repetitive corridors. Navigation is difficult without an in-game map, requiring manual mapping and note-taking, and the difficulty curve is all over the place.
- Clunky and outdated controls (weight 0.64): Controls are not modernized enough and feel clunky, requiring awkward numpad and mouse combinations that can cause physical strain. The game feels slow and janky, especially without nostalgia.
- Third game weakest in series (weight 0.63): Eye of the Beholder 3 is considered the weakest of the trilogy, with balance issues, poor companion design, and a different engine that makes it barely playable. It feels like a sad conclusion with something missing beneath the surface.
- Missing quality of life features (weight 0.51): The games lack modern conveniences such as auto-pickup for ammunition, custom keybindings, multiple save slots, and proper mouse controls. Inventory management and spell preparation are cumbersome, and the interface requires patience.
- Missing documentation and tutorials (weight 0.51): The game provides no explanation for weapons, spells, or AD&D rules like armor class and saving throws. Players must consult external manuals to understand basic mechanics, making the game even more difficult without prior knowledge.
- Unfair traps and dead ends (weight 0.47): The games contain unfair traps, invisible walls, and dead-end scenarios that can permanently block progress. Some areas require walking into traps and hoping not to die, and one-way passages can trigger before obtaining necessary items.
- Steam Deck compatibility issues (weight 0.4): Steam Deck users face multiple hurdles, including manual setup, display bugs, and incompatibility with the All-Seeing Eye mod. The game is officially unsupported on Steam Deck and requires workarounds to run.
- Poor user interface design (weight 0.4): The UI is cumbersome, with inventory management and spell preparation requiring patience. Menus in the third game feel weird, and the auto-mapper is too big for the screen with no way to resize it.
- DosBox configuration hassles (weight 0.39): Running the games on modern systems requires adjusting DosBox settings, rebinding keys, and dealing with windowed mode limitations. The auto-mapper and other addons may not work properly in fullscreen.
- Lack of Steam integration (weight 0.39): The games have no Steam achievements or trading cards, and the GOG versions lack Steam platform features. Additionally, the auto-mapper is a separate app that can be buggy and requires manual startup.
- Missing music and sound (weight 0.37): The IBM versions lack music entirely, with minimal sound effects that are sometimes annoying. The PC version has worse sounds and lacks an ending animation, reducing the overall atmosphere.
- Nostalgia required for enjoyment (weight 0.34): Without nostalgia, the games are hard to stay engaged with due to clunky mechanics and dated design. They require the right mindset to appreciate and are not recommended for players without nostalgia.
- Version differences and compatibility (weight 0.26): The games are not the Amiga version, which some consider the best, and the PC version has worse sounds. There is no French version, and Mac compatibility is lacking, limiting access for some players.
- Frequent game crashes and errors (weight 0.25): The games suffer from frequent crashes, save corruption, and errors like 'Could not find Levels.TMP' that prevent loading. These issues make the game unplayable without workarounds and frequent saving.
- Final boss difficulty spikes (weight 0.17): Final bosses require precise quick movement and action game-like controls, which feels out of place. The difficulty spikes make the ending frustrating and hard to complete.
- Limited replay value (weight 0.16): The games offer very little replay value due to linear design, lack of character build variety, and the need to restart from scratch each time. Players often have to restart multiple times due to poor character builds.
- Copy protection and manual checks (weight 0.15): The games still include copy protection requiring players to search the manual for symbols and words, which is inconvenient. Manual downloads on GOG require extracting zip files and searching for documents.

Gameplay feedback:
- Dungeon crawler genre (weight 0.97): The game is consistently described as a classic, old-school first-person dungeon crawler with grid-based movement and tile-based exploration. This core genre identity is the most frequently mentioned aspect across reviews.
- Automap feature available (weight 0.61): Many reviews mention an automap function, which is considered a quality-of-life improvement over the original games that lacked in-game maps. Some versions include an auto-mapper tool or mod.
- AD&D ruleset used (weight 0.56): The game is based on Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules, specifically the 2nd Edition. This includes character classes, races, spells, and mechanics like THAC0.
- Character progression carries over (weight 0.5): Players can import their characters and equipment between the three games in the series, allowing for continuous progression. This save import functionality is a notable feature.
- Puzzles are central (weight 0.47): Puzzles are a major gameplay element, often requiring players to solve them to progress deeper into dungeons. Reviews note that puzzles can be challenging without hints and sometimes lead to further puzzles.
- All-Seeing Eye tool (weight 0.43): The All-Seeing Eye is an automapping program that provides an interactive map, highlights items, switches, monsters, and fake walls, and includes a hint function. It is bundled with some versions but is buggy for Eye of the Beholder 3.
- Dungeon traps and tricks (weight 0.43): Dungeons contain various traps such as teleporting squares, spinner squares, trapdoors, and false walls with magic runes. These elements add challenge and complexity to exploration.
- DOSBox emulation used (weight 0.39): The games are presented via DOSBox versions of the originals, packaged to run on modern systems. This allows players to experience the classic DOS games on current hardware.
- Class system and party (weight 0.39): The class system includes fighters, clerics, mages, thieves, and other AD&D classes. Players control a party of up to six characters, often starting with four and recruiting NPCs.
- Enemy poison and stun (weight 0.37): Enemies like spiders can poison and stun the player, with some poisons being permanent until cured. Clerics have spell slots for removing stun and curing poison.
- Old-school challenge and darkness (weight 0.37): The game offers a challenging experience reminiscent of tabletop RPGs, with no hints and a dark, scary dungeon atmosphere. Players can get cornered and face game over.
- Eye of the Beholder 3 differences (weight 0.37): Eye of the Beholder 3 uses a different game engine than the first two games. It also introduces new features like an all-attack button and polearms that can attack from the back row.
- Real-time combat system (weight 0.35): Combat occurs in real-time and cannot be paused, requiring tactical positioning, healing, and spellcasting. Players manage a party, outfit them, and move positions during battles.
- Mapping is essential (weight 0.28): Players are expected to draw their own maps or use an automap tool to navigate the complex dungeons. The original games required mapping on grid paper, and mapping remains a core activity.
- Character creation and stats (weight 0.26): The game features character creation with stat editing and building that affects playthrough. Characters can be customized upon creation.
- Forgotten Realms setting (weight 0.23): The game is set in the Forgotten Realms universe, specifically beneath Waterdeep and extending into the Underdark. This provides a rich backdrop for the dungeon-crawling adventure.
- Manual required for gameplay (weight 0.21): Players are expected to read the manual to understand spells, weapons, and AD&D 2nd Edition rules. Effects are often only shown by name and must be looked up.
- Ranged and melee combat (weight 0.21): Combat includes both ranged and melee options, with a system for picking up and placing projectiles. Inventory management involves arrows, daggers, and stones for ranged attacks.
- Cloud saves and launcher (weight 0.19): The collection includes cloud saves and is wrapped in a launcher for easy access. These are modern conveniences added to the classic games.
- Outdoor areas in sequels (weight 0.15): Eye of the Beholder II and III include outdoor areas and separate dungeons, expanding beyond the original's dungeon-only setting. The sequels also add more role-playing aspects like dialogue options and animated cutscenes.

Performance notes:
- Save loading fails after restart (weight 0.19): Saves do not load after a complete computer restart in Eye of the Beholder I and II. However, Eye of the Beholder III loaded saves correctly after restart.
- Runs well on modern PCs (weight 0.16): The game works on modern PCs without any problem. It runs smoothly and is compatible with current hardware.
- Extremely low frame rate (weight 0.11): The game runs at about 1 frame rate. This makes any interaction nearly impossible.
- Unable to save game (weight 0.11): Players cannot save their game progress. This issue prevents continuing sessions.
- Clicking difficulty (weight 0.11): Players struggle to click on anything due to responsiveness issues. The game becomes unplayable when clicks do not register.
- Fatal disk error (weight 0.11): An error 'Could not find Levels.TMP. Insert Disk 2 into any Drive. Fatal Disk error has occurred. Now Returning to DOS. Hit ESC to proceed through messages nothing else works.' occurs, blocking progress. This disk-related error requires a specific disk that may be missing.
- DOSBox key rebinding hassle (weight 0.1): The games run in DOSBox, which makes rebinding keys a bit of a hassle. Players find the default controls inconvenient to customize.
- Steam Deck setup hurdles (weight 0.1): Steam Deck users have to jump through a few hoops to get it running. Additional configuration is required for playability.
- Steam Deck startup map display bug (weight 0.1): On Steam Deck, the game automatically shows the map on startup. This display bug disrupts the initial game view.
- Steam Deck All-Seeing Eye issue (weight 0.09): Steam Deck users have to pass on the All-Seeing Eye. This feature is not accessible on that platform.

Recommendations:
- Niche classic dungeon crawler appeal (weight 0.8): The collection is consistently recommended for players who enjoy classic CRPGs, old-school RPGs, and grid-based dungeon crawlers, especially fans of Forgotten Realms and early 90s first-person maze games. Many reviewers note it is best suited to those with nostalgia or an interest in genre history.
- Nostalgia drives enjoyment (weight 0.51): Several reviews emphasize that players who experienced these games back in the day will get the most out of the collection, while those without nostalgia may not enjoy them as much. Some directly state that if you have not played it before, you likely will not like it.
- Eye of the Beholder highlights (weight 0.4): The first Eye of the Beholder is frequently singled out as worth the price alone, with some recommending starting with the second game as the best of the trilogy. Others suggest playing all three, though opinions vary on the third.
- Historical value for CRPG fans (weight 0.36): Reviewers recommend the collection for those interested in the history of computer role-playing games, calling it a museum trip or an outstanding example of classic design. It is often suggested as a way to experience the foundation of the genre.
- Buy on sale, not full price (weight 0.34): Several reviews advise waiting for a discount or buying only on sale, with some stating it is not worth full price. A few note it is cheap enough to not wait, but the general sentiment favors a sale purchase.
- Old-school design requires patience (weight 0.3): Reviewers caution that the games are over 30 years old and come with old-fashioned design and potential frustrations. Patience and willingness to handle outdated mechanics are necessary for enjoyment.
- Steam version convenience praised (weight 0.22): The Steam versions are considered a good choice for those who want to jump right into the games without setup hassle. Cloud saves and having all SSI D&D titles in one place are mentioned as benefits.
- Technical tips for better play (weight 0.22): Players share specific technical advice such as playing in windowed mode at 720p to fit the automap, using 1152x864 or 1600x1000 resolutions for full HD monitors, and selecting OpenGL mode for screenshots. These tips aim to improve the experience on modern systems.
- Age and judgment caveats (weight 0.19): One review warmly recommends it to those over 30 who do not fear others' judgment, and another suggests only playing if you fall into specific categories like nostalgia or historical interest. These highlight the niche appeal and potential social perception.
- All-Seeing Eye tool recommended (weight 0.17): Multiple reviewers highly recommend using the All-Seeing Eye tool to enhance the experience, with one citing it as a reason for a positive review. It appears to be a valuable aid for navigation and mapping.
- AD&D ruleset familiarity helpful (weight 0.16): Reviewers note that familiarity with the AD&D ruleset enhances the experience, recommending it for those who know the rules. This suggests the games are more accessible to experienced tabletop players.
- Walkthrough and hintbook advised (weight 0.16): Some reviewers recommend carefully reading a walkthrough or using a hintbook, especially for the third game, to avoid getting stuck. This suggests the games can be challenging without guidance.
- Positive but caveated recommendation (weight 0.15): Some reviews give a thumbs up but with heavy caveats, such as for fans of the series or those who have heard about them. The recommendation comes with conditions.
- Save issues reported (weight 0.09): A warning about save issues is mentioned, advising buyer beware. This indicates a potential technical problem that could affect gameplay.
- Party composition tip (weight 0.08): One review offers a tip to bring a cleric and a magic-user, likely essential for survival in these dungeon crawlers. This is a specific gameplay advice for new players.
- Mixed recommendation for first game (weight 0.08): One reviewer would find it easier to recommend if the first game could be tried separately, implying a desire for more flexible purchasing options. This is a minor point about distribution.

Other player notes:
- Includes All-Seeing Eye Automap (weight 0.97): The bundle comes with the All-Seeing Eye automap program, which enhances quality of life by automatically mapping dungeons. It is highly praised for making the games more accessible and comfortable to play.
- Full Eye of the Beholder Trilogy (weight 0.85): The collection includes all three classic Eye of the Beholder games: the original, The Legend of Darkmoon, and Assault on Myth Drannor. This provides a complete package for fans of the series.
- Contains Manuals and Cluebooks (weight 0.61): The collection includes original manuals and cluebooks, often in PDF format, providing helpful documentation and solutions. Some versions also come with adventure guides.
- Dated Graphics and Technology (weight 0.41): The games show their age with outdated graphics and a noticeable technological gap compared to modern titles. Attempts to adapt to modern monitors have had mixed success.
- Original Versions from 1991-1993 (weight 0.41): These are the original AD&D Eye of the Beholder games from the early 1990s, developed by Westwood and published by SSI. They are DOS-based and emulated.
- Runs on Multiple Platforms (weight 0.4): The collection is playable on Windows and Linux, and works on Steam Deck via emulation, though official Steam Deck support is lacking. It runs on pretty much anything.
- Reasonably Priced Classic RPGs (weight 0.3): The games are considered cheap and a good deal for the amount of content provided, especially for fans of classic RPGs.
- Historical Influence on RPGs (weight 0.24): The Eye of the Beholder series is considered highly influential in the evolution of RPGs, bridging the gap between niche and mainstream. It was among the most influential D&D games before Baldur's Gate.
- Third Game Less Favored (weight 0.23): Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor is often considered inferior to the first two games, with some players skipping it based on its reputation.
- Separate Launcher with Tools (weight 0.23): The games are wrapped in a launcher that includes the All-Seeing Eye, manuals, cluebooks, and configuration options for controls and display.
- Comparison to Dungeon Master (weight 0.22): The series is often compared to Dungeon Master, sitting chronologically right after it in the evolution of dungeon crawlers. It is seen as a classic in the genre.
- Language Support Varies (weight 0.22): Language support is inconsistent: some games have multiple languages, but others are English-only. Notably, French localization is lacking.
- Supports Cloud Saves (weight 0.18): The collection supports cloud saves, allowing players to sync their progress across devices.
- Part of D&D Forgotten Realms (weight 0.18): The trilogy is set in the Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms campaign setting, connecting it to the broader D&D universe.
- Challenging for AD&D Fans (weight 0.17): The games are known for providing a true challenge, especially for fans of AD&D, requiring strategic thinking and knowledge of the rules.
- Second Game Considered Best (weight 0.17): Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon is widely regarded as the best in the trilogy, often cited as a favorite among players.
- Steam Deck Compatibility Issues (weight 0.16): The games are listed as unsupported on Steam Deck, and the All-Seeing Eye automap does not work well on the platform, requiring workarounds.
- Character Editing and Controls (weight 0.15): The collection allows character stat editing during creation and offers configurable controls, such as keyboard movement and mouse attacking.
- DRM-Free Release (weight 0.1): The collection is DRM-free, with codes included in the manuals, allowing for unrestricted installation and play.
- Includes Art by Jeff Easley (weight 0.09): The collection features artwork by Jeff Easley, a renowned artist known for his work on Dungeons & Dragons.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.23): Players are frustrated by severe technical and design issues, including game-breaking bugs, save corruption, and inability to load games, which force frequent restarts and lost progress. The labyrinthine mazes, unclear puzzles, and missing key items often leave players stuck or wandering aimlessly. Additional pain points include clunky controls, poor map visibility, and compatibility problems on modern systems.
- Disappointment (weight 0.17): Disappointment stems from outdated graphics, clunky controls, and technical problems like poor performance and missing content in later entries. The third game in particular is seen as a letdown, with worse artwork, weird menu navigation, and an overall lack of fun. Modern D&D games are also criticized for losing the dark, menacing vibe of the classics.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.14): Nostalgia is triggered by revisiting classic dungeon crawlers from childhood or teenage years, often on platforms like the Amiga 500. Players fondly recall the early 90s, discovering RPGs, and the specific feelings of playing these games for the first time. The music and old-school design evoke memories of a darker, more serious era of gaming.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Enjoyment comes from the charming classic dungeon crawler gameplay, including exploring dungeons, engaging combat, and party progression. Managing the party, outfitting them, and moving positions during battles remains fun, as does replaying the trilogy and discovering interactive puzzles. The beautiful dungeons and stylish sprites contribute to the overall fun.
- Joy (weight 0.06): Joy is expressed at revisiting these games, still having a blast, and being happy they run on modern systems like Windows 11. Finishing the first game and starting the second with the All-Seeing Eye, as well as replaying after many years, brings pure delight.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.04): Satisfaction arises from exploring dungeons and discovering secrets, such as hidden items like the +3 axe found by pushing stone blocks in a specific order. Quality of life improvements, like the All-Seeing Eye mapping, make the games enjoyable despite dated graphics and turn them into a 20-hour experience.
- Amusement (weight 0.04): Amusement is found in quirky moments, such as characters resting for 136 hours straight in a dungeon, or the game being old and clunky but still fun. An instance where dwarves killed the player causing a lost point in the score also elicits amusement.
- Love (weight 0.03): Love is expressed for the game as an old classic, with reviewers loving both the game and their characters. A long-standing love for the dungeon-crawling genre since childhood also contributes to this emotion.
- Fear (weight 0.03): Fear is induced by the scary dungeon atmosphere where monsters move behind walls, and by spiders that inflict poison which never goes away.
- Excitement (weight 0.03): Excitement comes from the game being fun no matter how many times you play it, eagerness to explore the rest of the trilogy with the help of the automap, and having all three games in a bundle.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): Annoyance is caused by loud enemies in Assault on Myth Drannor, final bosses requiring precise movement, and thief lock picks breaking with no way to get more.
- Hope (weight 0.03): Hope is expressed for a fix to the fullscreen automapper bug soon, and a desire for the Might and Magic series to receive similar quality of life improvements and achievements.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Appreciation is felt for being able to play the original AD&D games on modern systems with included manuals and maps, and for the streamlined Steam versions with a unified launcher and accessible documents.
- Pleasure (weight 0.01): Pleasure is derived from replaying the games after many years and progressing characters.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Engagement remains high throughout the journey due to dungeon exploration and dangerous encounters.
- Challenge (weight 0.01): The game presents a real old-school challenge and serves as an exam on one of the hardest AD&D rule editions.
- Bitterness (weight 0.01): Bitterness is felt due to an unfinishable game, leaving a bitter taste in the mouth.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is provoked by frustrating and nonsensical design in Eye of the Beholder II, and by rust demons that destroy good items.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm stems from the series getting the reviewer hooked on dungeon crawlers.
- Mild disappointment (weight 0.01): Mild disappointment is caused by controls not being modernized.}