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.

Play Modes

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

Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 133 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The Eye of the Beholder trilogy offers a nostalgic experience for fans of classic dungeon crawlers, maintaining the charm of the originals while adding quality of life improvements like the All-Seeing Eye automapper.
The games are challenging and engaging, providing a solid dungeon crawling experience that appeals to both nostalgic players and newcomers to the genre.
The inclusion of original manuals and cluebooks enhances the gameplay, allowing players to immerse themselves in the lore and mechanics of AD&D.

The controls and interface feel dated, making navigation and combat cumbersome, which can detract from the overall experience.
The third installment of the trilogy is considered lackluster compared to the first two games, with some players expressing disappointment in its quality and gameplay mechanics.
Technical issues, such as problems with saving games and the All-Seeing Eye mapping tool, can lead to frustration for players, especially those unfamiliar with older gaming systems.

story
12 mentions
25 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The story across the three games is set in the world of Waterdeep, featuring a classic Dungeons & Dragons adventure framework that emphasizes a quest to defeat a big bad evil guy (BBEG). While the narrative is not the primary focus, it provides a rich backdrop with engaging lore and character development, including a short story in the manual of the third game. Players appreciate the balance of story and gameplay, noting that the plot is concise enough to keep the experience engaging without becoming overly drawn out.
- “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.”
- “Backstory, character stats and creation, iconic characters that I have read entire books about.”
- “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.”
- “The plot of the three games each has its own storyline that follows on from one another, but as with most dungeon crawlers, the plot doesn't feature that heavily in the games themselves.”
- “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.”
- “The story is typical of any D&D adventure.”
graphics
9 mentions
44 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
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 similar titles from that era. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and find the visuals acceptable for gameplay, many express a desire for graphical upgrades to enhance the experience. Overall, the graphics 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
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The music in these games is sparse, primarily reserved for significant moments like dungeon entrances and cutscenes, leading to a quiet adventuring experience. While some players appreciate the eerie and menacing quality of the older soundtracks, they feel that modern games have shifted towards a lighter, more upbeat musical style that lacks the same intensity. Overall, the classic music is often regarded as more impactful and fitting for the game's atmosphere.
- “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 it is 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 as the decades went on, making everything more touchy-feely and happy-go-lucky sounding.”
- “They're also the IBM versions, so no music for you.”
- “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; it's 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 that they released, which was way more menacing than the art they use currently for Dungeons and Dragons.”
gameplay
6 mentions
17 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is simpler than the original Baldur's Gate, appealing to those seeking a less complex experience, though it may feel standard for dungeon crawlers. While the combat system adheres to 2nd edition AD&D rules, it can be challenging for newcomers, and players looking for strategic turn-based mechanics may find it lacking. Overall, the focus on storytelling may attract casual players, but those seeking depth might be disappointed.
- “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.”
- “Combat: 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
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The stability of Eotb 3 is mixed; while some users report a smooth experience with no glitches and an easy interface, others highlight significant bugs due to the use of a different game engine.
- “The game worked well with no glitches, providing a smooth and easy interface.”
- “I experienced no crashes or bugs, which made for a stable gaming experience.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive; everything runs seamlessly without interruptions.”
- “Eotb 3 is using a different game engine, so it is extremely buggy.”
optimization
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's smooth performance and the helpful features like the auto-mapper and monster info panel, which enhance the overall experience without causing any hindrances.
- “The auto-mapper and monster info panel really adds something I didn't know was missing, and the game runs smoothly without getting in the way of itself like I feared it might.”
replayability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game has minimal replay value, with users indicating that there is little incentive to play it again after the initial experience.
- “Replay value: very little.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's not much incentive to go back.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
monetization
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-300 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game features a straightforward monetization model with no microtransactions, in-game purchases, or Steam achievements, focusing on a complete experience without additional costs.
- “No Steam achievements, no microtransactions, no in-game purchases.”
- “The lack of microtransactions and in-game purchases is refreshing, but it feels like the game is missing out on potential revenue streams.”
- “No Steam achievements, which is disappointing for players who enjoy that aspect of gaming.”
- “While I appreciate the absence of monetization tactics, it leaves the game feeling incomplete and lacking in engagement.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
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.”