SUMMARY:
Released in 1985 by Parker Brothers, this interactive murder-mystery game presents a three-level storyline (easy, intermediate, and hard) where the iconic CLUE characters (including four new additions) act out visual and verbal hints. While the recommended age range is for teens and adults, savvy pre-teens should be able to keep up.
The storyline depicts Boddy Mansion (presumably, somewhere in New England) where a thunderstorm’s damage has stranded its self-involved guests for a long weekend. These ten suspects mostly consist of friends, family, and staff of the late Mr. John Q. Boddy, whose own enigmatic murder has never been resolved.
Note: Despite multiple teases, the game’s plot never reveals who killed Mr. Boddy – that lingering mystery is left to the players’ imaginations. Instead, players must decipher various combinations of which suspects are the culprits and/or victims, along with each weapon and room. As a FYI: neither corpses nor blood are shown on-screen.
Consisting of eighteen games (6 per level) and a total of fifteen short scenes (5 per level), players are instructed to pause/stop the video between scenes for each ‘suspense’ round. In order to win, all the murders per game must be successfully deduced. An optional bonus is an identity game where players are each assigned suspects – they must then carefully divulge hints while deducing each other’s assigned identity. If a player subsequently makes murder accusations and fails, then that would-be sleuth is eliminated from gameplay.
If players decline the suspect identity component, then these Suspect cards are shuffled in with the other cards. For practicality’s sake, the Suspect cards (essentially, suspect portraits) are also helpful for basic visual observation, as to a suspect’s attire and/or physical attributes.
Again assuming the suspect identity game isn’t played, players are equally dealt a random assortment of three types of cards: CLUE, Suspect, and Investigation. The number of cards dealt depends upon the number of players: at least two with a maximum of ten. For instance: with two players evenly dealt the allotment of cards, there’s likely enough CLUE cards to deduce each solution without even really needing an Investigation card – at least, for the Blue and Green levels.
In ongoing ‘suspense’ rounds between scenes, however, the competitive practicality of Investigation cards (i.e. options for obtaining information from another player, replaying a scene, handicapping an opponent by stealing a random CLUE card, or even hiding one to keep others from obtaining it) becomes more relevant. Hence, with several players, there are far fewer cards to go around and outwitting opponents is a slower process.
The Storyline: Level Blue (“The Will”) allows players to familiarize themselves with the characters, rooms, and weapons. Outlandish character secrets are alluded to, as Boddy’s will reading necessitates that the ultimate heir must outlive the others – by any means necessary. Predictably, Boddy’s unscrupulous associates aren’t thrilled that outsiders, intentionally or not, may become their fellow heirs.
In the intermediate Level Green (“The Search”), rival searches of the manor for possible ‘alternate’ wills means at least two suspects connive to informally blackmail the others. A kooky séance sets up the concluding Level Red (“The Secrets”). Flaring tempers, death threats, and meltdowns will at last confirm/expose various secrets amidst the inevitable pandemonium.
Hosted by Mr. Boddy’s gracious butler – Didit (Bill Lucas), he introduces the game. In a video tutorial, he articulately explains the rules/gameplay. An impartial Didit also advises that he is also the sole non-suspect/victim. The ten suspects and victims are:
* = new to the franchise
- *M. Brunette (Michael Dell’Orto): Boddy’s eye-patched French attorney may be more than what he seems.
- Mr. Lyman Green (Barry Doe): Accustomed to being a domineering bully, Boddy’s surly business partner is evasive about his actual profession.
- *Sgt. Gray (Richard McElvain): This mentally erratic and easily distratcted state patrolman finds himself trapped with the others.
- Colonel Mustard (Walter Clovell): Once Boddy’s hunting buddy, this pompous (and faintly British) big game hunter evidently has a similar international past as Miss Scarlet.
- *Ms. Melba Peach (Mara Flash): The flamboyant, young Southern belle initially claims to be a stranded motorist, but she may also be a surprise heir or something else entirely.
- Mrs. Peacock (Betty Lee Bogue): Married multiple times, Boddy’s well-dressed bridge partner proudly notes that she never gets divorced. This sixty-ish socialite resembles the sinister equivalent of one of NBC-TV’s The Golden Girls.
- Professor Plum (Jack Neary): Boddy’s geeky and sniveling son-in-law is also a chemist, who gleefully concocts new (and undetectable) poisons.
- *Madame Rose (Mara Clark): She is Boddy’s ultra-eccentric, middle-aged sister, who considers herself a clairvoyant.
- Ms. Scarlet (Janet Wong): Reputedly Boddy’s favorite knitting partner, this Asian American femme fatale gloats about her shadowy past exploits overseas … and then emphatically denies ever being there.
- Mrs. White (Cheryl McMahon): After a quarter-century in the family’s employment, Boddy’s high-strung maid seemingly knows everybody’s secrets … despite ineptly hiding a few of her own.
Note: A 1987 sequel, CLUE II: Murder in Disguise – A VCR Mystery Game, was produced with this same cast. Ostensibly, their characters are now all fugitives wanted for murder while hiding out undercover overseas. Again, the ensemble’s acting hijinks are meant to come off as over-the-top dinner theater.
The Weapons: Knife, Candlestick, Gun, Poison, & Rope.
The Rooms: Hall, Dining Room, Conservatory, Kitchen, & Library.
Here’s a checklist of the game’s full set of materials, as it should include:
VHS Cassette: The video mystery’s length is approximately an hour.
CLUE Note Pad: The notepad has a full allotment of intricate 8” x 11” sheets where players can keep track of players, rooms, weapons, and write out their accusations. Photocopying additional notepad pages may be prudent.
Detective Casebook: It explains the rules, extensive gameplay details, brief character bios, and the coded solutions. The back cover includes suspect portraits from the Personal Identity cards.
CLUE Cards: For each game (numbered 1 through 6 per level), at least one clue is conveyed. CLUE Cards are Blue (easy), Green (intermediate) and Red (difficult).
Suspect Cards: Each depicting a suspect/victim, these cards are Black.
Investigation Cards: Shuffled in randomly with the CLUE cards and possibly the personal identity cards, these cards determine actions a player can take during each ‘suspense’ round. These cards are Gray.
Writing utensils aren’t included.
REVIEW:
Given the cast’s delightfully campy approach, the Clue VCR Mystery Game retains its nostalgic charm.
Though modern convenience means locating the video portion online, this VCR whodunnit’s cheesy interactive fun surpasses the board game’s entertainment value. Comparatively speaking, only the suspect identity guess-who portion is something of a bore. By this same token, the video’s tongue-in-cheek, present-day plot adheres more faithfully to the source material than the 1985 feature film set during McCarthyism.
If one can find the complete game package, then one’s family and friends are in for a welcome treat on party game nights. Though today’s teens will likely roll their eyes at its antiquated elements, the game’s all-ages appeal still sports a welcome asset. Specifically, the comedic plot is depicted more tastefully than contemporary party games inspired by ‘true crime.’
It’s a shame that Parker Brothers has not bothered to release this cult favorite in either a DVD or Blu-Ray format. Then again, a 40th Anniversary re-release would would be welcome.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
Also included is a red 3-D filter strip, which allows players to read each game’s coded solution. These solutions are found at the back of the casebook. If the strip isn’t provided, then one will have to research the eighteen solutions online.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
Notes: As a fun double-feature, an ideal film (aside from the 1985 movie) would be 1945’s black-and-white And Then There Were None. Its darkly comedic and almost spoofy approach to Agatha Christie’s classic suspense novel/play is similar to this game.
Also, in 2013, a 38-minute documentary entitled Who Did It?: The Story Behind the Clue VCR Mystery Game was released to celebrate the game’s innovative legacy.
