Haunted Mansion

Okay, I usually don't do similar games back to back, and I generally try and steer away from games based on things, or from external media (Jumanji was an outlier, obviously), but this one that cropped up while I was doing last weeks post really caught my attention and demanded I discuss it, so here we are. Because, look at this, and I mean just look at it for a good solid few minutes before we continue. There's so much to appreciate here, and that's just aside from the fact that it actually exists, ok? 

Released in 1972 and published by Lakeside, 2 to 4 players attempt to move their Doom Buggy throughout the Haunted Mansion. Meanwhile, there's large swaths of the game board which feature rotating discs that regularly change the path your Doom Buggy can or cannot take, which is an extremely neat idea. It also means that if you land on a spin stone via these discs, you'll activate the spooky ghosts you're trying so hard to avoid, so there's a whole other level of difficulty added to this. The game runs for approximately 30 minutes, which is give or take a small fraction of the wait line for the ride itself, so. But this begs the question why they didn't do this for more Disneyland rides? I mean, sure, most of them likely don't lend themselves to this type of adaptation, but I could think of a few that, with a couple of adjustments, could be really fun, like The Jungle Cruise for instance. But alas, as far as I know, no others ever came to fruition, so this seems to be the only one we get. And frankly, much as I love other Disney rides more, even I can't deny that Haunted Mansion is likely the best ride for this type of medium, so there.

And I'm glad to be able to say that it isn't just the box that's fantastic, it's the whole damn thing. This thing was clearly made with adoration, and it shows in spades. From the game pieces, to the board itself, this is a labor of love. The artwork on the inserts for the board alone are a fantastic example of why this was such a phenomenal piece of media, and why it's a real shame it doesn't seem to be attainable anymore. Which is a little odd, considering just how much companies like Disney enjoy milking their properties - and thusly their audiences love of those properties - for all its worth, especially when it comes to nostalgia. You'd think they'd rush these things out like gangbusters, anniversary edition after anniversary edition, just to keep that cash continually flowing in. Look at the line work on these board inserts, look at the color on the man and the dog in the graveyard. Just absolutely beautiful. Honestly, these would just work as a nice little decorative piece somewhere around the house. They're just that fantastic.

While it doesn't sound anymore entertaining or too different from any other board game - because, let's face it, they all have the same goal: reach the end - it makes up for the lack of complexity by simply being fucking cool as shit. Frankly, I think it's kind of a wasted opportunity for Disney not to simply re-release this, but also not to follow up on the same concept with other rides. As stated before, Jungle Cruise would be a sure fire one to start with, but there's definitely others up for the challenge, I'd say. Space Mountain, maybe? As I said, these would have to be tweaked enough to make them board game viable, but I think it's a thing worth doing. It could not only be really profitable, but also just a really cool part of an industry that, as far as I am aware thus far outside of the random game here or there (Disney Trivia, anyone?), has been largely neglected by one of the biggest media companies we have.

Just take a look at this board, while we're at it. Chock full of little bits of artistry and the track design itself is really cute and original! They also include neat little things like Leota's Head or the Ghost Host Vestibule's, which is, again, such a nice little treat for those who really love the ride. Between the stuff ripped right from the ride itself and the random spooky stuff like the cobwebs or coffins, it's such a beautiful work of art, and the more I look at it, the angrier I get that I will likely never get to experience this thing firsthand, honestly. That isn't fair. And, as you can see (which I previously stated) there are six rotating discs that will alter your course at any given moment, making the game that much more frustrating for those simply trying to reach the goal, and I love that. They really could've just said "Let's make a game to capitalize off the popularity of this ride" and done something super basic, but they didn't, and it's that level of commitment and adoration that makes this such a sight to behold.

And I know I don't usually include this many photos in a post, but there's just so much to look at it in regards to just how all out they went with this thing. The artwork is, as I've likely overstated at this point, just absolutely tremendous and deserves to be recognized. So many games make the box itself the selling point in regards to its artwork, and rarely do anything for the board design or any interior pieces, but this game? This game hit the ground running and crossed the finish line faster than it started at the starting point. That's how much they believed in what this game was worth. Not only is the box amazing, but the interior set pieces are amazing, the game pieces are amazing and the board itself is amazing! This thing, all around, is just a super well done homage to an already beloved classic theme park ride that doesn't just capitalize on nostalgia (especially not when it came out) nor does it just try and capitalize on the brand itself, but it really is its own thing worthy of its praises because of all the work that went into crafting it. The people who made this game really really cared, and it shows in spades. More than anything now, I just wish we could get this game re-released as is, completely unchanged, so that we can all enjoy it once again, because it really deserves to be enjoyed. For all the hard work that went into making it such a unique piece of art, it deserves not just the recognition, but the playthrough as well.

So yeah, I generally don't like to do board game types back to back (being, in this sense, two haunted house themed games) nor do I like to do board games based on things, but every once in a while something will peek through the cracks and demand to be noticed, and this was a perfect example of such a moment. I see you, Haunted Mansion board game, and I'll do my darndest to get you out to the people. You're a force to be reckoned with. And keep in mind that I'm by no means a big Disney fan. I'm barely a moderate Disney fan. But what I AM is a board game fan.

And this is one of the best board games I've ever seen, bar none.

So for that, I will try and make it noticed.