This isn't a great game, but my kids both enjoyed it. It was more fun than I thought it was going to be. Being rewarded for remembering lines from the movie was a great element that made our group smile when it happened. Also the cards that summon Jareth to your space were surprisingly tense and did create some excitement for us. We also had a character fall into the bog of eternal stench which prevented him from using the advantage of traveling in a group. That definitely made game more challenging. We won by a close shave and were satisfied with the end game. The game length was perfect for the kids and had so much nostalgia that we were singing and quoting through out it. I wouldn't play this game often or with adults who weren't die hard Labyrinth fans, but my kids love the movie and were satisfied by the game. Everything said in the review is true, but in our case it was a pleasant enough game to stay on our shelves and get some occasional play.
I found that it captured the nostalgia of the movie really well, mini's are great. It's not a complex game, but very easy for kids to play, I play with my 5 and 11 year old kids, boy and girl. I have shoved this movie down their throats!for years as it's my favourite childhood film. I agree with a few points in this review, the screen shot stands are cheap feeling, some I would replace with miniatures i think. I also really enjoy the board art. For a slice of nostalgia and something your kids can easily play it's great fun, certainly a better alternative some some classic kids boardgames. I am going to enjoy painting the mini's too.
This game is great for playing with children or people who actually enjoy the Magic Dance song. The Goblins! expansion takes care of the ugly standees, btw. Also, the minis and components can be adapted to an RPG for a more story driven game. BUT I do hope the Dark Crystal game Riverhorse is releasing has more depth.
It's a role playing game and is designed as such. I'm having fun taking on the challenges of the Labyrinth and imagining how each character would have overcome or failed that challenge. It is difficult and that's fun. Who ever said it was suppose to be easy. Getting dropped into the Labyrinth is suppose to be challenging, I mean it's the freaking Goblin King!
I'm spending the money for the miniatures, which I will have painted and use with Ravensburger's Labyrinth... then i'll have a much better Jim Henson version of Labyrinth to play with my family.
I really want to redesign the game using the miniatures and maybe some other components.... I wonder if anybody else has some Homebrew rules available...
I'm currently making home-brew rules for this game. I think I can fix it enough to enjoy it. I'll be changing the movement rules that allow use of the Willpower tokens to affect all die rolls. Mostly I'll be adding more RPG elements.
Wow, I discovered the game in Brazil (all in Brazilian Portuguese) by a company named Meeple; didn't know of an English version. Cost me around $60 USD special edition.
A could have been good game . Shame it relies on luck rather than tactics with a few extra rules allowing each character to have special abilities this could have been OK .I had to add some Ludo able to have rocks to control , Hoggle with knowledge of the Labyrinth , Sir Didymus immune to the bogs effect and Sara able to choose extra cards but loosing time helped make it more interesting
Even when watching the early previews of this game I was thinking it was a major design failure. They could have done something really interesting with it if they had gone for a tile-placing dungeon crawl design with an emphasis on puzzle solving and exploration, maybe with some narrative choose-your-own-adventure elements. Instead we get the mechanics of a simple kids game with no sense of adventure and an uninspired, outdated design. And I haaaate when screen grabs are used as the artwork in licensed games. Yuck.
Rather just watch the DVD again. Don't think this brings anything new. But you're right - I'd love a Hoggle mini on my shelf. * TBH the Sara mini looks like crap and Ludo isn't fat enough. And where is Bowie's Banana? Looks like designer needs to go back to the Betamax.
Wow, what a great review. I am a semi- fan of the movie. I saw it in the theater and I still watch it every couple of years. I will keep an eye out and maybe find on clearance some.
me and My kids love the movie and the game! It's a boardgame based of a kids film, a more complex game wouldn't really be fitting. It's great fun and captures the nostalgia. Plus it's cheap.
Sounds like a simpler Talisman which imho isnt a bad thing. I found Talisman to be a mess, too much reading, unnecessarily complicated and waaaaaay too long
Very nice review style. Clear rules explanation and thoughts that made sense without complaining that a female character's ankles were showing or something like that. Just a shame the game sucked.
A could have been great game but --- so i changed and added some new rules . I have contacted Riverhorse games with alternative rules but they were not interested .Still some good components and some good ideas except the lack of choice and statergy options made the game boring
This isn't a great game, but my kids both enjoyed it. It was more fun than I thought it was going to be. Being rewarded for remembering lines from the movie was a great element that made our group smile when it happened. Also the cards that summon Jareth to your space were surprisingly tense and did create some excitement for us. We also had a character fall into the bog of eternal stench which prevented him from using the advantage of traveling in a group. That definitely made game more challenging. We won by a close shave and were satisfied with the end game. The game length was perfect for the kids and had so much nostalgia that we were singing and quoting through out it. I wouldn't play this game often or with adults who weren't die hard Labyrinth fans, but my kids love the movie and were satisfied by the game. Everything said in the review is true, but in our case it was a pleasant enough game to stay on our shelves and get some occasional play.
Yeah, it's never a good sign when there's an open window into the box showing the miniatures inside. Good review! Thanks Robert!
I found that it captured the nostalgia of the movie really well, mini's are great. It's not a complex game, but very easy for kids to play, I play with my 5 and 11 year old kids, boy and girl.
I have shoved this movie down their throats!for years as it's my favourite childhood film.
I agree with a few points in this review, the screen shot stands are cheap feeling, some I would replace with miniatures i think. I also really enjoy the board art.
For a slice of nostalgia and something your kids can easily play it's great fun, certainly a better alternative some some classic kids boardgames. I am going to enjoy painting the mini's too.
did you ever paint the minis? would love to see what they look like.
This game is great for playing with children or people who actually enjoy the Magic Dance song.
The Goblins! expansion takes care of the ugly standees, btw. Also, the minis and components can be adapted to an RPG for a more story driven game. BUT I do hope the Dark Crystal game Riverhorse is releasing has more depth.
It's a role playing game and is designed as such. I'm having fun taking on the challenges of the Labyrinth and imagining how each character would have overcome or failed that challenge. It is difficult and that's fun. Who ever said it was suppose to be easy. Getting dropped into the Labyrinth is suppose to be challenging, I mean it's the freaking Goblin King!
I enjoy this game. I love all the references from the film in it.
I'm spending the money for the miniatures, which I will have painted and use with Ravensburger's Labyrinth... then i'll have a much better Jim Henson version of Labyrinth to play with my family.
I really want to redesign the game using the miniatures and maybe some other components.... I wonder if anybody else has some Homebrew rules available...
Great walkthrough and review!
I decided not to back this game because it just didn't look fun. Confirmed.
I'm glad I was outbid on ebay for this, I forgot to read the sellers description that said the figures were missing
Guess they made a game just like it would've been made if it were made in 1986(the year the movie was launched), it an homage of sorts...
This game is exactly what I was expecting. I'm glad I passed on it. It's nostalgia over quality.
I'm currently making home-brew rules for this game. I think I can fix it enough to enjoy it. I'll be changing the movement rules that allow use of the Willpower tokens to affect all die rolls. Mostly I'll be adding more RPG elements.
Wow, I discovered the game in Brazil (all in Brazilian Portuguese) by a company named Meeple; didn't know of an English version. Cost me around $60 USD special edition.
Excellent review. Succinct, clear, to the point explanation. Look forward to you reviewing a better game next time! Nicely done nonetheless.
the game is great to play, really enjoyable
So this was designed by formew GW strategist Alessio Cavatore?
The Labyrinth is an amazing movie. It's a shame the license wasn't used for a better game.
great review
Came so close to buying this game. Thanx for the review, very helpful!! May just rent it instead for a onetime play. 👍
Brutal. I’ll look at the 40th anniversary and check what’s changed
Looks like for a $5 thrift find with all the pieces I got JUST money's worth. Thank you.
A could have been good game . Shame it relies on luck rather than tactics with a few extra rules allowing each character to have special abilities this could have been OK .I had to add some Ludo able to have rocks to control , Hoggle with knowledge of the Labyrinth , Sir Didymus immune to the bogs effect and Sara able to choose extra cards but loosing time helped make it more interesting
loved the movie growing up. to bad the game couldn't be better.
I wonder if anyone has come up with house rules to make it better?
Indeed... House Rule #1: Remove the Miniatures... House Rule #2: use the miniatures to play with Ravensburger's Labyrinth... Game now much improved.
I got this game on a deal. I was dubious about gameplay. I pretty much play games solo. Not sure how this will play solo.
Is this like Chutes and Ladders?
Even when watching the early previews of this game I was thinking it was a major design failure. They could have done something really interesting with it if they had gone for a tile-placing dungeon crawl design with an emphasis on puzzle solving and exploration, maybe with some narrative choose-your-own-adventure elements. Instead we get the mechanics of a simple kids game with no sense of adventure and an uninspired, outdated design. And I haaaate when screen grabs are used as the artwork in licensed games. Yuck.
Rather just watch the DVD again. Don't think this brings anything new.
But you're right - I'd love a Hoggle mini on my shelf.
*
TBH the Sara mini looks like crap and Ludo isn't fat enough.
And where is Bowie's Banana? Looks like designer needs to go back to the Betamax.
Is it bad that I think this game looks fun
Wow, what a great review. I am a semi- fan of the movie. I saw it in the theater and I still watch it every couple of years. I will keep an eye out and maybe find on clearance some.
where. Well done. Thanks.
what has this o do with jim henson?
He made the movie. Actually a lot of big names worked on it.
I disagree with your assessment. We found the game quite fun as adults and with younger kids.
very irritating they took an amazing IP just to try and make a buck. lazy, poor design, bad mechanics, very disheartening
me and My kids love the movie and the game! It's a boardgame based of a kids film, a more complex game wouldn't really be fitting. It's great fun and captures the nostalgia. Plus it's cheap.
I prefer the Weta version
Sounds like a simpler Talisman which imho isnt a bad thing. I found Talisman to be a mess, too much reading, unnecessarily complicated and waaaaaay too long
Very nice review style. Clear rules explanation and thoughts that made sense without complaining that a female character's ankles were showing or something like that. Just a shame the game sucked.
A could have been great game but --- so i changed and added some new rules . I have contacted Riverhorse games with alternative rules but they were not interested .Still some good components and some good ideas except the lack of choice and statergy options made the game boring
So overly complicated, co-op Talisman? No thanks.
What a major disappoint.