History YMMV / EyeOfTheBeholder

* ContestedSequel: ''Eye of the Beholder 3'' was almost universally panned for a long time, but today it is just divisive. Some fans feel it is the weakest game in the trilogy due to its monotony and worse dungeon design, other fans feel it is a perfectly good game that has the best optional party members and the most climactic story. Many also argue that most of its more glaring flaws (confusing dungeons, cheap enemies) are overstated [[FranchiseOriginalSin and just as prevalent in the previous two entries.]]

* EvenBetterSequel: Most people agree that ''[=EoB2=]'' is the crowning achievement of the series, by allowing players to [[OldSaveBonus import their party]], limiting backtracking and increasing the maximum level.

** The ''stoneskin'' spell in ''[=EotB1=]''. Once a scroll with this spell is found and a magic-user is of high level enough to cast it, the whole party can be basically made invulnerable to physical attacks. Only monsters that can do magical attacks still stand a chance. This is because the spell has no set duration, but will only fade once a character has suffered a certain number of blows. Hence the magic-user can cast the spell, then the whole party can rest so ''stoneskin'' is memorized again, and so on until every member is protected. The protection can be quickly soaked up in a fight for the front-rank Meat Shields, but it can just be cast again as soon as dispelled... and for the SquishyWizard or TheMedic behind their lines, one casting may last very long since they are rarely hit. Not surprisingly, ''stoneskin'' [[{{Nerf}} completely disappeared]] in ''[=EotB2=]'', even for a party coming from the previous game, an exception to the OldSaveBonus.[[note]]This spell was largely considered a GameBreaker in the second edition of ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons AD&D]]'' itself (of which ''Eye of the Beholder'' is based) for the same reasons. It even spawned a lengthy discussion in ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'' magazine about how to circumvent this problem. Of course, in RPG the GameMaster can always arbitrate and decide to change the spell description or prevent its use altogether. Video games don't have this luxury.[[/note]]

** The ''stoneskin'' spell in ''[=EotB1=]''. Once a scroll with this spell is found and a magic-user is of high level enough to cast it, the whole party can be basically made invulnerable to physical attacks. Only monsters that can do magical attacks still stand a chance. This is because the spell has no set duration, but will only fade once a character has suffered a certain number of blows. Hence the magic-user can cast the spell, then the whole party can rest so ''stoneskin'' is memorized again, and so on until every member is protected. The protection can be quickly soaked up in a fight for the front-rank Meat Shields, but it can just be cast again as soon as dispelled... and for the SquishyWizard or TheMedic behind their lines, one casting may last very long since they are rarely hit. Not surprisingly, ''stoneskin'' [[{{Nerf}} completely disappeared]] in ''[=EotB2=]'', even for a party coming from the previous game, an exception to the OldSaveBonus.[[note]]This spell was largely considered a GameBreaker in the second edition of ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons AD&D]]'' itself (of which ''Eye of the Beholder'' is based) for the same reasons. It even spawned a lengthy discussion in ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'' magazine about how to circumvent this problem. Of course, in RPG the GameMaster can always arbitrate and decide to change the spell description or prevent its use altogether. Video games don't have this luxury.[[note]]

** The ''stoneskin'' spell in ''[=EotB1=]''. Once a scroll with this spell is found and a magic-user is of high level enough to cast it, the whole party can be basically made invulnerable to physical attacks. Only monsters that can do magical attacks still stand a chance. This is because the spell has no set duration, but will only fade once a character has suffered a certain number of blows. Hence the magic-user can cast the spell, then the whole party can rest so ''stoneskin'' is memorized again, and so on until every member is protected. The protection can be quickly soaked up in a fight for the front-rank Meat Shields, but it can just be cast again as soon as dispelled... and for the SquishyWizard or TheMedic behind their lines, one casting may last very long since they are rarely hit. Not surprisingly, ''stoneskin'' [[{{Nerf}} completely disappeared]] in ''[=EotB2=]'', even for a party coming from the previous game, an exception to the OldSaveBonus.

* ContestedSequel: ''Eye of the Beholder 3'' was almost universally panned for a long time, but today it is just divisive. Some fans feel it is the weakest game in the trilogy due to its monotony and worse dungeon design, other fans feel it is a perfectly good game that has the best optional party members and find many of its more glaring flaws (confusing dungeons, cheap enemies) are overstated [[FranchiseOriginalSin and just as prevalent in the previous two entries.]]

* EnsembleDarkhorse: The optional party members of the third game. Even fans who hate the game tend to agree it has by far the most interesting and memorable party members, which including an eccentric fairy and an honorable lizardman.

** The third game is generally considered the weakest of the trilogy, its reputation has bettered a bit overtime but some would still rather pretend it ended with the second game.