Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon builds on the first game’s point-and-click dungeon-crawling foundation, offering a seamless blend of real-time combat and old-school AD&D 2nd Edition mechanics. You navigate narrow corridors from a first-person perspective, clicking to move your party or interact with levers, doors, and traps. Enemies spring from the shadows in real time, forcing you to think on your feet as you position your four-character team to block archers, flank spellcasters, or bait melee foes into deadly chokepoints.

The game supports party transfer from the original Eye of the Beholder or the creation of an all-new squad of adventurers. Six distinct classes—Fighter, Ranger, Paladin, Cleric, Mage, and Thief—allow you to tailor your team to preferred tactics, whether you favor brute force, stealth, or arcane power. As you explore the haunted forests and temple towers near Waterdeep, characters gain experience, unlock advanced spells, acquire magical items, and learn new abilities that shape the flow of future battles.

Puzzle-solving remains at the heart of Exploration, with no automapping to guide you. You must chart each maze-like level on paper or in your mind, remembering secret passages, pressure plates, and teleportation circles. From pressure-triggered pitfalls to cryptic runic inscriptions, the temple of Darkmoon offers relentless environmental challenges that reward patience, careful observation, and clever use of party skills.

Graphics

Eye of the Beholder II employs a pseudo-3D engine that renders corridors, chambers, and foes using richly detailed sprites on a grid. While primitive by today’s standards, the art direction vividly evokes the gloom of Darkmoon’s ruined towers, dank catacombs, and moss-covered forest paths. Subtle variations in wall textures, flickering torchlight, and realistically shaded floor tiles combine to create a consistently immersive atmosphere.

Character portraits and encounter illustrations were significantly expanded from the first game, appearing in key story moments and NPC dialogues. These static images, hand-drawn in vibrant color, add emotional weight and highlight each figure’s personality, from the stern gaze of Archmage Khelben to the twisted features of Darkmoon’s cultists. Even simple cutscenes at chapter transitions help maintain narrative momentum and reward exploration milestones with visual flair.

Environmental variety is one of the game’s strongest visual assets. The dank forest outside Waterdeep contrasts with the polished marble halls of the temple, while subterranean crypts and hidden alcoves reveal new palettes of shadowy hues and eerie lighting effects. Sporadic use of colored light beams and occasional animated effects—such as drifting motes of dust—inject life into otherwise static backdrops.

Story

The plot kicks off when Archmage Khelben summons the Heroes of Waterdeep—renowned for vanquishing the Beholder Xanathar—to investigate sinister occurrences near the Temple of Darkmoon. Villagers have vanished without a trace, and shallow graves filled with human remains have been discovered among the gnarled trees. Teleported to the haunted forest’s edge, your party must uncover the dark force manipulating the temple’s towers before more innocents perish.

Narrative progression unfolds through richly scripted NPC encounters, library tomes brimming with lore, and illustrated interludes that punctuate your descent deeper into the temple’s mysteries. You learn of an ancient cult that worships a shadowy deity, scheming to unleash foul rituals in Darkmoon’s sanctum. Dialogue choices and optional side paths allow for brief moments of role-playing, granting insight into the motivations behind your adversaries and spawning memorable character interactions.

As the party advances, the story steadily escalates, unveiling betrayals, forbidden magic, and the true legacy of the temple’s founder. The sense of intrigue remains constant, bolstered by ominous sound effects—whispers in the dark, echoing chants, and the distant rumble of collapsing masonry. By the time you confront the ultimate evil lurking in Darkmoon’s highest tower, the narrative stakes feel appropriately epic.

Overall Experience

Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon delivers a robust blend of tactical combat, challenging puzzles, and atmospheric exploration. The absence of an automap and the need for careful resource management heighten the tension, rewarding players who prefer deliberate strategy over run-and-gun adventuring. Though the learning curve is steep, mastering the interplay of party formations, spellcasting, and trap detection offers deep satisfaction.

This sequel especially appeals to fans of classic AD&D who crave authentic rule-set implementation and are undeterred by dated visuals or occasional inventory frustrations. The expanded NPC interactions, additional cutscenes, and more varied environments represent a clear step up from its predecessor, adding both narrative depth and visual polish. Combat encounters remain intense, with clever monster design that tests your ability to adapt on the fly.

Ultimately, The Legend of Darkmoon stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of dungeon-crawlers. Its rich story, demanding gameplay, and haunting atmosphere combine to create a memorable journey through the shadowed reaches of Faerûn. For those seeking a classic RPG challenge steeped in lore and brimming with hidden secrets, Eye of the Beholder II is an adventure well worth undertaking.

Retro Replay Score

8.2/10