[This week’s game review is from Michael Hibbard, author of the Waking Dream Series]

Arkham Horror - The Master of the Macabre Lives!

Video games have become a force to be reckoned with. Fewer and fewer board games are being created and this is a sad reality. Board games are generally not as involved as your average computer game. However, if you are looking for something to play with your friends around the table, like the good old pen-and-paper RPG days, look no further.

Arkham Horror is a very involved board game based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft. Chaosium Inc originally released the game in 1987 as a fusion between the classic board game mixed with role-playing elements. It was one of the first board games of its kind, and others have followed in its footsteps. The original Chaosium version of the game won “Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Board Game of 1987″ at the Origin Awards and was extremely popular through its final printing in the 1990s. Now, Fantasy Flights, Inc. has released the game with a complete revision to the original game play in 2005 and an additional revision in 2007.

“The End is Near! The year is 1926. The place is Arkham, Massachusetts. Gateways to places horrible beyond imagination are opening up all over town, releasing hideous creatures into the streets to stalk the night. Worse yet, if enough of these gates open up, then a creature of unfathomable power will be unleashed on the world. Pitted against these overwhelming odds is a small band of investigators determined to beat back the uncaring forces of the universe. They’ll have to delve deep into the mysteries of the Mythos and use all of their skills, weapons, and spells if they want to have even a slim chance of success. The classic game of Lovecraftian adventure returns in a new edition after almost 20 years!” — From the publisher.

I am an avid fan of H.P. Lovecraft and have been reading him since I was nine. His works are deeply chilling, strange, horrifying and down-right weird. Arkham Horror captures all of the elements of his works in one glorious bundle. You can play alone or with up to eight people, I have been playing alone and find that the game is much more nerve-wracking with fewer players.

The game begins with a 30 minute set-up time, and requires a large space. Each of the players picks a random Investigator from the deck. Each investigator has different attributes and abilities unique to that Investigator. Weapons, spells, unique items and skills are also assigned according to the sheet the player has chosen.

Once the players have chosen their investigator, the Ancient One you will be battling, if you fail, is revealed. From Yig to Cthulhu, an Ancient One is stirring from its slumber, ready to strike the quaint New England town of Arkham, and consume the souls of your Investigator.

The board itself has many locations related to Arkham and the stories related to it. As an investigator, you take turns moving about the board from location to location. You have the opportunity to visit such famous locations as Arkham Asylum (Yes, where DC comics got the name), Mikatonic University, the home of the Unnamable and many more.

The game progresses in 5 distinct phases:

Upkeep Phase where you collect pay, make payments on bank loans, refresh your equipment and adjust your skills to meet imminent encounters.

Movement Phase is where you move your character along the streets of Arkham to locations. This is when the monsters also move, closing in on the investigators from the streets or the skies.

Arkham Encounters Phase is how you interact with the various locations on the board. Each location has a deck of cards that gives you a random encounter for your particular location.

Otherworld Encounters Phase is where you must draw a random encounter if you were unfortunate enough to fall into a portal, leading to the dark land of the Ancient Ones.

Finally, the Mythos Phase is where the currently acting player draws a card to expose where a portal opens, and a monster emerges.

The town of Arkham and its citizens are unstable. As more monsters emerge, a counter called the Terror Track advances, further adding to the chaos of the game. As the Terror Track progresses, much needed resources become unavailable, and inexorably send the town into a state of panic as more monsters roam the otherwise quiet Massachusetts streets.

As each portal opens, it further awakens the Ancient One. Once the Ancient One awakens, the investigators must do battle and defeat it, or they lose.

There are three ways to win. Close all the open gates, which is limited by the number of players. Seal at least six gates, in which case the Ancient One cannot come forth. Or Defeat the Ancient One.

But wait! The story doesn’t end there! There are expansions available that extend the map, add new Ancient Ones, weapons, items, and spells. It seems that Fantasy Flight Games has really taken over where Chaosium fell short.

If you are looking for something more rewarding than clicking a mouse or thumbing a joystick, Arkham Horror is well worth the time and money to send you into the macabre and terrifying mind of H.P. Lovecraft.