Game: Labyrinth

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Inkygirl — 2008-03-10T00:27:49+00:00

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Inkygirl — 2008-03-10T00:27:23+00:00

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trick — 2008-01-12T23:34:25+00:00

Labyrinth Cardinal 1997 Version Box & Game

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trick — 2008-01-12T23:33:29+00:00

Labyrinth Cardinal 1997 Box

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TGov — 2007-02-26T01:38:51+00:00

late 80's Cardinal edition

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Badgeroonie — 2006-11-29T22:43:32+00:00

Thread: Starting position change

OldestManOnMySpace — 2006-10-26T07:39:35+00:00

I would suggest having players new to the game start at the finish instead of the start. The finish is far easier for newbies to start out at, and teaches many basic mechanics and strategies for the game - the start always ends up frustrating people until they finally learn how to do it.

Thread: No, it is approaching the hole! Bummer..try it again?

OldestManOnMySpace — 2006-10-26T07:37:55+00:00

Labyrinth is an addicting little one-player dexterity game. You control a tiny marble through a labyrinth, from start to finish. The catch is that this labyrinth is full of holes. If you get your marble into one of these holes, then you have to start over again.

Imagine a Superplexus (Outside the Scope of BGG), that does not look as cool (no real "wow" factor), makes you lose by falling into a hole instead of falling out of the maze, and that is less scripted.

To navigate the ball, you turn two little wheels around. One tilts the labyrinth up and down (depending on the direction you turn it in), and the other tilts it left and right.

The game is relatively easy to find - although the game itself is not that popular, sets of it can still be found without too much difficulty. The catch of the game is to go about it quite slowly - the start of the game is devastatingly brutal to players who do not know this rule, as hurrying it will always knock you out early.

This game greatly benefits from being single-player - all geeks find situations where there is just no one to play with them. The game also pretty much requires no teaching - most people can just pick up the rules by looking at it.

It, unfortunately, has several cons as well as its previously listed pros. The marble is quite small, and therefore easily losable. Although it is not too difficult to find a replacement, it will most likely be out of your way, as most "standard-size" marbles are too large to fit in the holes.

The game is not too sturdy - one of my sets of this does not entirely work, as it can only move up and down, with no powers to go left or right.

However, I still quite like this game. I would give it . It can be annoying, but at very least, it is a decent looker. Being (typically) made of wood means, at very least, it could be tucked away on a table as a cross between an art piece and a game.

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OldestManOnMySpace — 2006-10-24T20:55:23+00:00

The ball gallops towards the hole, watching its shadow as it plunges to its doom.

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OldestManOnMySpace — 2006-10-14T23:05:36+00:00

Ouch! Your marble fell into the hole. Game over, man, game over!

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OldestManOnMySpace — 2006-10-13T04:01:14+00:00

A failure in Labyrinth - the ball goes into the hole. Not pictured is the player grumbling and starting over. And failing. Again.

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OldestManOnMySpace — 2006-10-12T21:29:22+00:00

An unsuccesful navigation in Labyrinth results in the ball falling into a hole.

Thread: User Review

Mndwrm — 2005-02-08T00:31:14+00:00

A dexterity based game which involves navigating a steel ball by tilting the board. There are two knobs, one which tilts the board forward/backward, the other left/right; these are used in conjunction to carefully or haphazardly steer the ball around walls and past holes.

There are several versions of this game in as many sizes--there are travel sizes with less than a dozen holes, to hefty table-warping sized versions with numbers in the hundreds.

This is an engaging game; just by leaving it out it will often attract a crowd of people trying to get the furthest, see who can finish the fastest--which may or may not allow cheating by hopping holes or launching the ball to the end.

Overall this is quite a worthwile game, even if just to leave out for guests to break the ice or provide some temporary entertainment. The game is generally durable, and the only concern is making sure the steel ball stays with the game.

Thread: Quick Comments

taragalinas — 2005-02-04T00:07:21+00:00

A "beer and pretzels" classic in which the object is to guide a small steel ball through a labyrinth (hence the name of the game) without falling into one of the many holes along the way.
The gameboard itself tilts in different directions when you move the control knobs. The steadiest hand no doubt wins the game.

The board design is sturdy and can take more beatings than you'd think.

Even though you grow tired of the game after a couple of rounds, it still has a high replayability value. It's easy to pull out when you've invited a few mates over. Why not have a go while the others set up the pieces for the gargantuan WWII simulation you're about to engage in.

One does ponder though, if this actually is a board game per se?