Clue: Murder at Boddy Mansion

• Platform: IBM PC Compatible
• Release Date: December 15, 1998
• Genre: Traditional
• Style: Board Game
• Similar Games: Monopoly CD-ROM (IBM PC Compatible), Clue (IBM PC Compatible), The Game of Life (PlayStation)

Game Description

Clue: Murder at Boddy Mansion revives the murder mystery board game originally developed by Parker Brothers. Just as in the original, the players must exercise their deduction skills and solve the murder of Mr. Boddy by figuring out who the killer is, what instrument or weapon was used in his demise and where the murder occurred.

While basically true to the board game, Clue: Murder at Boddy Mansion features computerized enhancements such as original music and sound, 3D characters, animation and graphics designed to make the experience as realistic as possible. Up to six players can participate over a LAN or the Internet.

All the rooms in Clue: Murder at Boddy Mansion are colorful and exhibit realistic 3D views. The characters are the same as in the original game and include Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, Mrs. White or Mr. Green. Customize the game with the difficulty level of choice: novice, detective, sleuth or expert.

Roots & Influences

Clue: Murder at Boddy Mansion is a direct descendant of the classic Parker Brothers' board game, Clue. The original game celebrates it's 50th anniversary in 1999, having been released originally in 1949.

Review: Overall

Remember those days of sitting around a table, playing the game of Clue and trying to guess who did it? Well, the experience has been updated for the modern age with the release of Hasbro Interactive's digital version. The characters now walk, move and talk in 3D rendered graphics. In the computerized game, you play one of the main characters from the old board game. You roll the dice, move around the board collecting clues and then try to figure out not only who murdered Mr. Boddy, but where and with what murder weapon.

The graphics in the game are amazing and help draw you into the game, although at times, they can be a hindrance, causing you to revert back to the old classic board game perspective to figure out where to move. The adjustment is necessary because the 3D side cut-away view that the game uses doesn't always represent the best vantage point. Unless you make all the walls transparent during movement phases, you'll have difficulty clicking on specific locations to which you wish to move.

The game sounds are spooky and add a scary aspect to the game. The announcer's voice is deep and mellow and contributes to an eerie atmosphere. The cards and all the views of the characters are extremely well done. The characters are very detailed and move fluidly during gameplay. The characters' actions are clearly representative of their various personalities. For example, Mrs. Plum moves with grace and style while Col. Mustard moves a little awkwardly, yet with dignity.

The game keeps track of all the observations and clues discovered during gameplay, thus eliminating the need for manual tracking of progress. The addition of Internet and LAN play is one of the best features the game has to offer, especially if you participate in online gaming. The game is easy to set up and usually connects quickly. The multi-player aspect features fast response time and is rarely beset by significant lag time.

Overall, the game is a great translation of the old Clue with a new and modern twist. It will keep you entertained with great graphics and wonderful sound and gameplay -- good clean fun for the entire family.

Review: Enjoyment

If you liked the old board game or the first computer version, then you should love this game

Review: Graphics

Awesome views of the characters and the surroundings are just as good!

Review: Sound

Nice and spooky with an eerie atmosphere.

Review: Replay Value

Unlimited.

Review: Documentation

Adequate.

Production Credits