by Matt Bird

Created on: May 03, 2009

Clue is proof that murder can still provide a good time on a rainy Saturday evening.

The classic game of intrigue and mistrust, Clue - originally known as Cluedo in the United Kingdom, where it was first released - is a murder mystery. Somebody has died in a fabulous mansion and it's up to the players to figure out who's to blame. The first person to discover the murderer - even it's themselves! - is crowned winner.

Yet there's no player involved who knows the identity. All must vie against one another, making guesses based on what they know and competing for the truth. The murderer must be identified in order of person, place and murder weapon, all of which may be found in the mansion. With six characters, six weapons and nine different rooms there are thousands of different combinations, however, and the successful detective must be exactly right or risk elimination from the game.

Determining the circumstances of the murder is fairly ingenious. At the beginning of the game three sets of cards - weapons, rooms and people - are shuffled, and from each deck one card is removed. Those three cards describe the murder. They are then placed in an envelope that may only be opened by those making open accusations. Then the rest of the cards are distributed to the players, allowing them to eliminate the rooms, people and weapons that weren't involved in the murder.

From there players move about the mansion in turn, entering rooms and making guesses as to the murderer. If somebody has a card that disproves their notion then they'll secretly reveal it - but one card only - thereby eliminating the chance of those particular circumstances being right. This game of detective plays out until somebody discovers the true nature of the death and makes a formal accusation.

Despite how it sounds, Clue really doesn't take very long to play. More players naturally extends the length, and generally makes the game more fun overall; however this is an experience that's limited in scope. The nature of the investigation is fun enough, however, that you'll likely play two or three rounds before wrapping the game up. It's an addictive little puzzle that virtually anybody can enjoy as long as their noggin is sufficiently bright. I wouldn't suggest having less that three players, however, as the game is far less interesting with a constant back-and-forth with nobody in the dark as to one another's cards.

To be honest, half the fun of Clue is the playing pieces, specifically the weapons. Though none of them are terribly essential to the game it's fun (and maybe a tad macabre) to play around with each of them, especially when it's not your turn. Feel free to carry out additional, non-canonical murders while you're waiting in the hallways for your turn to roll around.

Clue is good fun. The games are quick, addictive and generally enjoyable, so long as you don't mess up with the cards in the beginning. Expect lots of replay value out of this timeworn classic.

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