Post originally by Matt Stevens at 2005-01-19 07:29:25
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I feel this game has a lot of potential. The components are gorgeous, and the fundamental system is sound. However, after playtesting several scenarios, I found they needed a <i>lot</i> of work. The instructions were often confusing; and the scenarios were usually wildly unbalanced, with the Traitor either insanely overpowered or hopelessly outmatched by the other players.
Ideally, WotC/Avalon Hill will publish a new set of scenario booklets, each one adequately playtested to ensure playability. I think it could be a great game, and I hope WotC can put forward the resources to make it one.
Post originally by Matt Drake at 2005-01-19 08:15:24
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I can agree with that, to a certain degree. I did feel that in some of the scenarios, it was nearly impossible for one side or the other to win. On the other hand, I didn't think that was that important. This is such an unconventional game - with one player pitted against the rest, with secret instructions for each - that I didn't mind if the traitor was too powerful or weak. When the traitor turned invisible and had to kill us all, we just huddled together until he attacked and then teamed up to beat the bejeezus out of us. On the other hand, when the mad bomber rigged us all with explosives, she had little trouble dynamiting the lot of us. Neither situation bothered me, because I had so much fun either way. I didn't mind the lack of balance because I felt like it was secondary to the game play, and overall 'story' that we were playing out around the kitchen table.
Post originally by Patrick Riley at 2005-01-19 10:07:08
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I agree that the instructions are not nearly as clear as they should be, but I think that balance is not a design goal.
Because the haunting is triggered randomly, you can play the exact same scenario twice and have it play out very differently. It all depends on the layout of house, which rooms have been uncovered, which items, omens, and events have come into play, which character is chosen to become the traitor, etc. And, of course, the luck of the dice also plays a major part.
Horror stories are not balanced. The experience is more important than the outcome.
Post originally by Old_Scratch at 2005-01-19 10:29:20
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This game has a lot of promise, but its mostly unfulfilled potential.
First, there are two stages in the game: the exploration phase of building the house and then the haunting phase.
The Exploration Phase is a bit of a bore once you've done it a couple of times. You're essentially laying down a few tiles while things both good and bad happen to you - and a bad incident in the first room can potentially cripple your player for the remainder of the game. Basically, this phase is a total crapshoot which robs the player of any power - you walk into a room and draw a card. Yippee. There's little strategy in that respect, you're just the receptacle for a series of events with little impact. You pull a tile, place a tile, draw a card and then suffer. Makes for tedious gameplay in the long run, especially when you're wanting to get to the Haunting.
The Haunt phase would have more promise if this thing had been play tested. I can't stress this enough: this game is not ready to be released. The scenarios are not only unbalanced (which some may argue is not a problem) but that the scenarios are poorly written and since they cannot refer to one another's books, each side kind of has to guess what the rules really mean. We've had a number of rules questions and confusion resulting from this, and you need only look at the errata for this game...
In a game where the surprise is in the scenarios and each group has their own book to reference (and to keep secret from the others), these books should be the key to the game. Instead we've got a 15+ page errata...
Lastly, the game is simply too random. We've had games that took an hour for the discovery phase and then games that ended in a turn or two after the haunting, where the traitor was incredibly weak, the monster incredibly difficult (example: the Dragon!), or the victory conditions were already possible. So this much randomness makes for a game where player input if of little value and there are few strategic choices in the game.
I simply can't recommend this game, and I think that despite its potential replayability, the game gets old very quickly as too much depends upon luck.
Post originally by Shannon Appelcline at 2005-01-19 11:25:56
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I agree with that dissension. The game's got 20 pages of errata & FAQ because Hasbro couldn't be bothered to playtest the game. In the one game I played even *that* wasn't sufficient; there were still more questions with our haunt because the rules were so badly set out.
Beyond that, yes, the game is entirely random (except for a tiny bit of strategy in the haunt phase). In my last game I got to move one space before I was killed. Fun.
Reward good games, not this crap, just because it has a theme & some interesting design ideas.
Post originally by Matt Stevens at 2005-01-19 13:16:26
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"Horror stories are not balanced."
I would argue that most of them <i>are</i> more balanced than the worst BaHotH scenarios -- usually the heroes win, but the villain kills a lot of heroes before they do -- but I won't push the argument. Because even if it was true, who cares? BaHotH is sold as a game, not a wind-up invent-your-own-horror-plot toy. If it doesn't work as a game it can be critized on those grounds (just as it can be praised for its fidelity to the horror genre).
Post originally by Matt Drake at 2005-01-19 13:49:09
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In all honesty, I cannot argue with your objections. The beginning of the game is almost entirely luck. The haunt is also largely luck, with severe balance issues. These are definitely issues.
However, despite these drawbacks, I can still recommend this game to a fairly wide audience. If you are looking for a game of deep strategy, keep looking. It's not here. If you want a well-balanced game where anyone can win, you're up a creek again. But if you are looking for a fun time with the family, or a quick party game of fake horror, this is a good time.
My family likes this game a great deal. We play it regularly. My wife wishes you could do the exploration without the haunt, as a matter of fact, because that's her favorite part. I personally like the haunts, but some of them are fairly arbitrary. Unfortunately, since I recommend the game based on the non-strategy, light-hearted, goofy fun, I return again to my critical take on the dark theme. If this game were more B-movie camp and less forced melodramatic horror, I would play it even more.
I would like to reiterate that I review games more or less in a vacuum. I do not seek other opinions, outside those of the players. I rate the game based on my opinion of the game, and attempt to relay enough information to allow potential purchasers to make up their own minds. And if I like a game, I will say that I like it. If I dislike a game, I will say that, as well. The most important factor in a game is, for me, whether I have fun. And when I played Betrayal at House on the Hill, I had fun.
Post originally by Chris Farrell at 2005-01-19 14:18:24
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I agree with Shannon and Old_Scratch, this is a horrid little game. It made my "worst of the year" list. The FAQ/Eratta is insane - the game is basically unplayable out of the box, the haunts are so screwed up. And there is no skill and very little flavor. Not only is whether you win or lose dictated mainly by luck, but also whether or not you have any fun.
Post originally by Matt Stevens at 2005-01-19 14:19:52
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<i>I would like to reiterate that I review games more or less in a vacuum. I do not seek other opinions, outside those of the players. I rate the game based on my opinion of the game, and attempt to relay enough information to allow potential purchasers to make up their own minds.</i>
I think that's fine, and I don't see anything wrong with your review. I'm just adding my own opinion about the game, in the comments section.
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