The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Dark Lore Trivia Game

This is the trivia game for the rest of us. Yeah, Trivial Pursuit is fun, but do they really ask questions on topics that really matter? Heck no! For example, does Trivia Pursuit have an entire category for Superstitions? Monsters? Comedy Horror? Does Trivial Pursuit ask questions about the X-Files? No. No it does not (well, not to the degree that we would deem necessary). There is one game that does.

Dark Lore.

This is a great trivia game that takes into account our science-fiction and fantasy tastes. It realizes that some of us may have very extensive knowledge regarding demonology, horror movies and superstitions. It is a very straight forward game with few rules and lots of fun. It plays rather quickly too, so in an hour you could get about two games in (depending on your die rolling, number of people playing and knowledge).

The game can accommodate up to six players. The goal of the game is to get your monster token to the Castle first. Yes, I know, it's a little thin, but it fits the theme of the game. On your journey to the Castle, you have to answer questions to move ahead, dodge pit traps and deal with situation cards called Full Moon Cards.

The questions come from six categories: Horror Movies, Supernatural, Monsters & Magic, Superstition, Mixed Macabre and Comedy Horror. Some sample questions are: -Which lasts longer, hauntings or poltergeists?

-The word aphrodisiac was derived from which Greek Goddess?

-When a witch gave someone a peacock feather, what was she cursing them with- a slow death or madness?

-The movie "Creepshow" was based on whose stories- Bram Stoker, Stephen King, or Clive Barker?

-What do you call the spirit of a person who is about to die-a wraith, a ghoul, or a shade?

-What is the tip of the devil's tail shaped like?

Well, there are some sample questions, and no, I am not giving the answers (I can just hear some of your brains twitching now.) Some questions are ridiculously easy (hey, when you know it, you know it!), and some are terribly obscure and difficult (if I knew everything, why would I play a trivia game?).

The game is a lot of fun to play and it never ceases to amaze me how we all have become, what a manager once called me… "A store-house of useless knowledge."

Useless no longer!

The game is not without its downsides. The game board and box cover have really amateurish art. The cover of the box is especially nasty. I would recommend new cover and board art in new editions. The actual 'Dark Lore' logo is neither here-nor-there. It also could stand to be reworked. Considering that this is a small press publication, overall they did a helluva job!

The board is large, and very sturdy. The cards are black and white with the Dark Lore logo on the back, with a really decent question/answer side. The backs of the cards could be colored or have some other design on it, they're rather plain. The same goes for the Full Moon cards.

The tokens that are used to represent each player are card-stock with plastic stands. Each token has a picture of a famous movie monster on it, in black and white. Also, some color here would've been nice.

The layout of the board is easy to see and easy to follow. I wish there would've been more spaces, so as to promote a longer game, there was definitely room on the board for it.

The price tag of $34.99 is kinda steep (cheaper than Cults Across America), but it's a good time. I judge this game, like Mag Blast, on my wife's reaction. She loved it! She's not a gamer by nature, yet.

All negatives aside, and they are rather trivial details (no pun intended), the game play makes up for any shortage in graphic representation.

Check out the web page at: www.darklore.com

Check out this game, it's a nice change of pace for any gamer! It will test your knowledge of all things dark and macabre!

Style: 3 (Average)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Dark Lore
Author: Ryan Parfitt Category: Board Game Company/Publisher: Griffin Games Inc. Line: n/a Cost: $34.99 Page count: n/a Playtest Review by John Snyder on 06/02/99. Genre tags: Fantasy Science_fiction Horror Space Comedy Vampire Gothic	Dark Lore Trivia Game This is the trivia game for the rest of us. Yeah, Trivial Pursuit is fun, but do they really ask questions on topics that really matter? Heck no! For example, does Trivia Pursuit have an entire category for Superstitions? Monsters? Comedy Horror? Does Trivial Pursuit ask questions about the X-Files? No. No it does not (well, not to the degree that we would deem necessary). There is one game that does. Dark Lore. This is a great trivia game that takes into account our science-fiction and fantasy tastes. It realizes that some of us may have very extensive knowledge regarding demonology, horror movies and superstitions. It is a very straight forward game with few rules and lots of fun. It plays rather quickly too, so in an hour you could get about two games in (depending on your die rolling, number of people playing and knowledge). The game can accommodate up to six players. The goal of the game is to get your monster token to the Castle first. Yes, I know, it's a little thin, but it fits the theme of the game. On your journey to the Castle, you have to answer questions to move ahead, dodge pit traps and deal with situation cards called Full Moon Cards. The questions come from six categories: Horror Movies, Supernatural, Monsters & Magic, Superstition, Mixed Macabre and Comedy Horror. Some sample questions are: -Which lasts longer, hauntings or poltergeists? -The word aphrodisiac was derived from which Greek Goddess? -When a witch gave someone a peacock feather, what was she cursing them with- a slow death or madness? -The movie "Creepshow" was based on whose stories- Bram Stoker, Stephen King, or Clive Barker? -What do you call the spirit of a person who is about to die-a wraith, a ghoul, or a shade? -What is the tip of the devil's tail shaped like? Well, there are some sample questions, and no, I am not giving the answers (I can just hear some of your brains twitching now.) Some questions are ridiculously easy (hey, when you know it, you know it!), and some are terribly obscure and difficult (if I knew everything, why would I play a trivia game?). The game is a lot of fun to play and it never ceases to amaze me how we all have become, what a manager once called me… "A store-house of useless knowledge." Useless no longer! The game is not without its downsides. The game board and box cover have really amateurish art. The cover of the box is especially nasty. I would recommend new cover and board art in new editions. The actual 'Dark Lore' logo is neither here-nor-there. It also could stand to be reworked. Considering that this is a small press publication, overall they did a helluva job! The board is large, and very sturdy. The cards are black and white with the Dark Lore logo on the back, with a really decent question/answer side. The backs of the cards could be colored or have some other design on it, they're rather plain. The same goes for the Full Moon cards. The tokens that are used to represent each player are card-stock with plastic stands. Each token has a picture of a famous movie monster on it, in black and white. Also, some color here would've been nice. The layout of the board is easy to see and easy to follow. I wish there would've been more spaces, so as to promote a longer game, there was definitely room on the board for it. The price tag of $34.99 is kinda steep (cheaper than Cults Across America), but it's a good time. I judge this game, like Mag Blast, on my wife's reaction. She loved it! She's not a gamer by nature, yet. All negatives aside, and they are rather trivial details (no pun intended), the game play makes up for any shortage in graphic representation. Check out the web page at: www.darklore.com Check out this game, it's a nice change of pace for any gamer! It will test your knowledge of all things dark and macabre! Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)