Clue
by Hasbro
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Toys and Games Reviews of Clue
Customer Review: reimagination of the classic
Summary: 5 Stars
This latest release of a Clue game can really be thought of as the original game with a minor expansion pack and a major cosmetic overhaul. Inherently, it is the same game as the classic, just "modernized."
For those who haven't played Clue or any variants before, the idea is that a Suspect, Weapon, and Room card have been randomly chosen and concealed from play, and the rest of these cards are distributed among the game's players. By process of elimination, mostly through making guesses and having other player's prove these guesses wrong, you aim to name the concealed cards before anyone else to win the game. This is still the main idea behind this version of the game. The rest of this review lists some details for those who are already more familiar with the classic version.
There are a number of minor changes that have little to no impact on the game. The backstories of the six suspects are different (Plum's no longer a Professor, Mustard's not a Colonel, White's not the maid) and the names of several of the rooms have changed. The layout of the mansion, while similar to before, is somewhat more balanced, so all rooms seem mostly equally accessible. Some of the classic weapons are gone, and there are now nine weapons total. "Making a suggestion" is now called "starting a rumor." Further, the number of cards dealt to each player is the same, with the remainder placed in the middle room of the board, where they can be viewed by anyone who enters there. Also, the first player is chosen by a die roll.
What I would consider the "expansion pack" to the classic game is the Intrigue deck and the one-time bonus ability associated with each character. The Intrigue cards are drawn every time a player lands on a question mark space on the board or rolls a question mark on one of the dice. These cards include "Keeper" cards and "Clock" cards. Keeper cards can be played at specific times in the game to temporarily bend a rule - for example, "Add six to your roll after you roll the dice but before you move," or "Move a character back to their start space after your turn ends," or "View the card that one player just showed another player after they disprove a rumor." (The one-time bonus abilities associated with each character are similar to these.) There are eight Clock cards, which are revealed immediately when drawn. The first seven Clock cards don't do anything, but if someone draws the eighth one, they are knocked out of the game (as if they just made an incorrect Accusation). This addition to the game changes the strategy for the game a little bit, as the game can in fact be won or lost as a result of these new cards.
Overall, I think this new version of Clue is a welcome addition to my board game collection. It remains faithful enough to the original recipe that it is a solid game, while the new gameplay keeps things interesting for those all too familiar with classic Clue.
Customer Review: Uninspired Little Game
Summary: 3 Stars
As a Clue collector, I was delighted to see a new game coming to the market. Too bad it turned out the way it did. While the classic Clue editions each had their charms, this game merely feels like an annoying high school kid dying to be popular. The idea of making a modern edition of the classic game is admirable. But the people at Hasbro tried way too hard.
Making Mustard a football player? Mrs. White being a child star? The designer of this game spent too much time watching reality tv. With weapons like a dumbbell and an Oscar trophy, this edition is very obviously trying to cater to all those Hollywood stereotypes. Perhaps the strangest improvement is that each suspect now has a special power that can be used once during a game. In my opinion, it does not truly improve game play.
As for the pieces themselves... the weapons are very nicely made of solid metal. The pawns are simply plastic rectangles with a "?" displayed in the middle and a colored base. They look very cheap. But the cards are the most disappointing aspect of the whole game. While using real pictures for suspects isn't a bad idea, taking pictures that look like they came from a bad retail catalog does. Mrs. White's picture is especially bad. She looks like she has an itch on her nose.
Overall, the game is durable, but only because you won't want to play it much. I gave it some educational value because, like the original Clue, people do learn to think more strategically by using deducting skills. As for the story and game play... I would recommend sticking to the classic clue games.
Customer Review: Still a game for the whole family
Summary: 2 Stars
I've been a huge clue fan my entire life. I always thought it was quite a fun and witty game. And to make it better, I usually win. haha. Anyway, I recently purchase this version of clue, as our old game is missing some key items (like the whole game!). I opened the box, excited, and excusing the new "diverse" characters, proceeded to pull out all of the pieces with my older brother. We soon discovered the personality cards.
cheating.
completely cheating.
They have never since left the box.
They do not make it easier for younger children who want to try and place, they're just an unnecessary handy-cap.
The added in one black man, an asian woman, and a questionably raced gentle men. I believe as green, white, and plum (in that order I recall). And the rest of the characters are still white. Scarlett's a little questionable too, i suppose. but either way, it seems like making it about race, takes away from the game.
Also, there is an observatory, but not a conservatory. Other rooms are also renames, or all together gone.
=/ I will definitely buy the classic version next time.
Customer Review: a little too soap operish and needlessly complicated
Summary: 3 Stars
Read the bios for the characters of CLUE...this version is for age 9 on up. The bios for the characters are not really suitable for a 9 year old. All of it sounds like a soap opera, everyone has an alterior motive that sounds like stuff from the tabloids.
It doesn't add to the game at all either unless the people playing are into all that drama stuff. It certainly isn't healthy for a 9 year old to be encouraged to think about such things.
The good part of this game is that you can forget about the new category of cards and rules they added to this format and play good old fashioned CLUE if you want. Some interesting new weapons too.
The bad news is that the other new additions of cards to use and ways that someone else can die during the game really is not that exciting.
This game is ideal for teenagers who still love a good board game but maybe have been bored with traditional clue.
Customer Review: Classic Clue has been discontinued for this Hollywood makeover
Summary: 1 Stars
As far as I can tell, Hasbro intends for this version to permanently replace the original Clue game. On the official Clue website, this is the only game listed as "Clue".
Gone is the classic 1940s English setting. Now all the characters have been changed to vapid Hollywood and reality TV stereotypes.
The game is about as fun as the original, except for some new cards that penalize good deducers by adding more randomness to the game.
I am distressed at all the changes and the fact that they might be permanent. Clue, with its classic English setting, and murder mystery archetype characters, were an engrained part of British and also American culture, but Hasbro is on its way to killing that.
Hasbro, please re-continue the classic game! Leave this garbage for the kind of people who prefer reality TV to a classic movie, or a gossip magazine to a good book.