Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection One | Game Brain

Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection One Game Cover

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Forgotten Realms: The Archives – Collection One is a strategy role-playing game set in the famous Dungeons & Dragons' fantasy world. This collection includes the games "Pool of Radiance," "Curse of the Azure Bonds," "Secret of the Silver Blades," and "Pools of Darkness," all remastered for modern systems. Embark on epic quests, battle formidable foes, and explore a rich and immersive world filled with magic, mystery, and adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection One screenshot

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 266 reviews

graphics8 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The Eye of the Beholder trilogy is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, capturing the essence of classic dungeon crawlers with enjoyable gameplay.
The addition of quality of life features like the All-Seeing Eye automapper enhances the experience, making exploration and puzzle-solving more manageable.
Despite its dated graphics and controls, the series remains a beloved classic among fans of old-school D&D and dungeon crawling.

The controls are clunky and dated, making gameplay frustrating, especially for new players unfamiliar with the mechanics.
The third installment of the trilogy is considered lackluster compared to the first two games, with some players feeling it doesn't hold up as well.
Technical issues, such as save file problems and poor performance on modern systems, detract from the overall experience.

story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
75%
13%
The story across the three games is set in the world of Waterdeep, featuring a typical Dungeons & Dragons adventure where players embark on a quest to defeat a big bad evil guy (BBEG). While the plots are interconnected and provide some backstory, they are not heavily emphasized, allowing for a focus on gameplay rather than narrative depth. Each game offers a concise experience, with additional lore and content available, such as short stories in the manuals, enhancing the overall RPG experience without overwhelming players with lengthy narratives.
- “As for the story, it's set in the world of Waterdeep, where over 1,000 years ago, it was once a harboring town for merchants until it grew into a prosperous kingdom with plenty of inhabitants ruled by a high council.”
- “Whereas 'The Assault on Myth Drannor' contains an entire short story which introduces a few topics that come up during the course of the game, as well as one of the recruitable NPCs.”
- “Eye of the Beholder 2 is a fantastic dungeon crawler, with a good mix of exploration, combat, and story elements.”
- “The plot doesn't feature that heavily in the games themselves, as is common with most dungeon crawlers.”
- “The story is typical of any D&D adventure.”
- “You and your other three party members are on a quest to kill a big bad evil guy (BBEG), that's all you need to know.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting their origins from the early 1990s, yet they are not considered the worst among older titles. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and gameplay experience, many express a desire for graphical upgrades and improvements. Overall, the visuals are seen as basic but serviceable, with some commendation for the accompanying artwork in supplementary materials.
- “Even when playing today, the graphics are not that bad.”
- “I would have loved to get a graphic upgrade and achievements, but the games are good enough with the quality of life improvements they added that I am still happy with my purchase, especially the original Pool of Radiance, Curse of the Azure Bonds, and Eye of the Beholder series.”
- “Excellent artwork in the PDF files.”
- “The graphics are obviously outdated, but not as blocky and bad as some other older games.”
- “They were good for their time, but that was 30 years ago, so the graphics and sound now seem extremely dated.”
- “Sys to eek out every last bit on lower memory, only now, you have them all bundled into a nice package and the graphics are atrocious.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
63%
19%
The music in these games is sparse, primarily reserved for significant moments like dungeon entrances and cutscenes, leading to a quiet adventuring experience. Many users express a preference for the darker, more menacing soundtracks of classic games compared to newer titles, which they feel have become overly cheerful and less impactful. Overall, while the music may be dated, it is appreciated for its atmospheric qualities that enhance the game's themes.
- “However, my favorite was the one before the final dungeon; it has an eerie feel reinforced by the short introductory text and the music.”
- “Is it just me, or is the music way better in these classic games than in new games?”
- “Yah, the music is dated, but it's darker and better for the game styles. It feels menacing; they seem to have lost that thought over the decades, starting to make everything more touchy-feely and happy-go-lucky sounding.”
- “Speaking of… there is not a lot of music in these games, adventuring is very quiet as the songs are mostly saved for important moments such as the aforementioned dungeon entrances or cutscenes.”
- “Yah, the music is dated but it's darker and better for the game styles. It feels menacing; they seem to have lost that thought as the decades went on, making everything more touchy-feely and happy-go-lucky sounding and looking. Even the art on the box covers they released was way more menacing than the art they use currently for Dungeons and Dragons.”
- “Is it just me or is the music way better in these classic games than it is in new games?”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The gameplay is simpler than previous titles like Baldur's Gate, appealing to those seeking a nostalgic experience, but may disappoint players looking for the strategic depth of traditional tabletop D&D. The combat system is standard for dungeon crawlers, though some mechanics may feel complex for newcomers to the 2nd edition AD&D rules. Overall, while it satisfies casual players interested in storytelling, it lacks the tactical elements that hardcore fans might expect.
- “The combat system is pretty standard for a dungeon crawler, but those not familiar with the 2nd edition AD&D rules set may find some of the underlying mechanics a little 'obtuse' to say the least.”
- “It's neat that they brought this back for those familiar with the classic, but as someone looking for the strategic turn-based gameplay of traditional tabletop D&D, this is a miss.”
- “Much simpler in mechanics than even the original Baldur's Gate, but still sufficiently AD&D to scratch that itch.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The stability of Eotb 3 is mixed, with some users reporting significant bugs due to the use of a different game engine, while others experienced a smooth gameplay experience with no glitches and an easy interface.
- “Worked well, no glitches, easy interface”
- “Worked well, no glitches, easy interface”
- “Eotb 3 is using a different game engine, so it is extremely buggy.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's optimization, noting that it runs smoothly and effectively incorporates features like the auto-mapper and monster info panel, enhancing the overall experience without hindering gameplay.
- “The auto-mapper and monster info panel really adds something I didn't know was missing, and the game runs smoothly and doesn't get in the way of itself like I feared it might.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has minimal replayability, with users consistently noting that it offers very little incentive to play again after the initial experience.
- “Replay value: very little.”
- “Replay value: very little.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a straightforward monetization model with no microtransactions, in-game purchases, or Steam achievements, focusing on a complete experience without additional costs.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is noted to be enjoyable and distinct, providing a unique experience that sets it apart from others.
- “Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying it and the atmosphere it brings; it's just very different.”