Universal Monster Army

Pick the two Hasbro Mystery board games you like the best!

Here's a site with good pictures of each of the games:

Hasbro Mystery Games (http://www.angelfire.com/az2/gamesgoneby/mummy19.html)

cl:)

Holy crap - The Mummy Mystery Game??????????????

The Phantom of the Opera is my favorite. Best artwork of all. Frankenstein is pretty good too.

Matt

Phantom of the Opera is my also my favorite.
Had it back in '64 and currently have another.

Quote from: RPM on March 04, 2012, 08:36:53 PM
Phantom of the Opera is my also my favorite.
Had it back in '64 and currently have another.

Oh, that is cool. Do you remember anything about getting it, and whether or not it came shrink wrapped?

Hi darkmonkeygod,

I received the game for Christmas in '64. It was purchaed from a large regional toy store. I choose the Phantom over the other Hasbro monster games. Since the game was issued in '63, it must of been on the market for a year before I received it, but never saw it before this.
If I recall correctly, it was not shrink wrapped, but the compartment holding the cards, figures and wood bases was cello covered.

Quote from: mjaycox on March 02, 2012, 10:15:57 PM
The Phantom of the Opera is my favorite. Best artwork of all.

Quote from: RPM on March 04, 2012, 08:36:53 PM
Phantom of the Opera is my also my favorite.

There's somerthing very wrong here! Two members have publically vouched that they picked the Phantom yet the Phantom game has only one vote! Could it be that they changed their minds in the close confines of the ballot box, or is there a more sinister plot to besmirch the reputation of the Phantom afoot here? Could the skullduggery have even involved tampering with the ballot box?

:o

I demand a complete investigation!

>:(

What...no love for the Bride of Frankenstein Mystery Game?

(http://farm1.staticflickr.com/26/61848123_6b1823bdb1.jpg)

:o

Rob

It's a fraud. Thankfully I checked or I would have totally screwed up the poll.

>:(

Quote from: Hepcat on March 05, 2012, 07:59:38 PM
It's a fraud. Thankfully I checked or I would have totally screwed up the poll.

Fraud is a harsh overstatement. It's an expertly crafted tribute or fantasy piece created in 2003. Here's the scoop:

http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=1589.msg24565#msg24565 (http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=1589.msg24565#msg24565)

Would that I had one!

Quote from: RPM on March 05, 2012, 07:58:56 AM
Hi darkmonkeygod,

I received the game for Christmas in '64. It was purchaed from a large regional toy store. I choose the Phantom over the other Hasbro monster games. Since the game was issued in '63, it must of been on the market for a year before I received it, but never saw it before this.
If I recall correctly, it was not shrink wrapped, but the compartment holding the cards, figures and wood bases was cello covered.

I love to hear the stories, must have been a great Christmas. From looking at Hasbro wholesale catalogs and FM ads, the Creature, Mummy, and Phantom games did come out in '64. The Dracula, Frankenstein, and Wolf Man assortment was re-released with them. 

Sorry Hepcat.  I was just playing.  I knew that this fantasy piece was well known around these parts.   :-X

Hardcore fans of the Bride of Frankenstein can pledge their undying fealty and devotion in this other poll:

http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=17099.15 (http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=17099.15)

cl:)

I've never seen any before but I voted for The Creature and Dracula ...  8)

Quote from: CreepyJeff on March 02, 2012, 08:20:19 PM
Holy crap - The Mummy Mystery Game??????????????

Zounds! I don't see that the Mummy has received any votes either. It would appear that the plot to siphon votes from their rightful owners extends beyond just the Phantom. Are these votes being siphoned off into a slush account for the Bride of Frankenstein, or is there an even more insidious plot to besmirch the honour of the Universal monsters afoot?

:o

Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this mystery for the good of all concerned.

:-\

There are some excellent shots of these games in the Gallery section of the UMA webpages:

Creature from the Black Lagoon

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroCreaturegame3.png)

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroCreaturegame2.png)

Dracula

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroDraculaboard5.png)

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroDraculaboard6.png)

Frankenstein

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroFrankensteinboard6.png)

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroFrankensteinboard5.png)

Mummy

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroMummygame5.png)

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroMummygame6.png)

Phantom of the Opera

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroPhantom5.png)

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbrophantomMysterygame2.png)

Wolf Man

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroWolfmangame.png)

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroWolfman5.png)

cl:)

Hi
I am new to this site , but have always loved the Universal Monsters. I voted for the Creature and the Phantom. I have a Phantom of the Opera game , but alas , it is without the rules which makes it exceedingly difficult to claim victory over my teenage son ... or even to play! Please help me out and either post or email me a copy of the rules. My UNDYING gratitude to the rules supplier!

I voted for Wolfman, but I love the artwork on all of the games.

The polling here is certainly tightening up!

Creature from the Black Lagoon 7
Phantom of the Opera 6
Frankenstein 5
Wolf Man 4
Dracula 3
Mummy 2

cl:)

The Creature has now clawed out a more comfortable two vote lead but it's still early.

cl:)

For me, Creature and Phantom are my fave. I really dig the graphics.

Quote from: CreepyJeff on March 02, 2012, 08:20:19 PMHoly crap - The Mummy Mystery Game??????????????

Quote from: mjaycox on March 02, 2012, 10:15:57 PM
The Phantom of the Opera is my favorite. Best artwork of all. Frankenstein is pretty good too.

Matt

So have you finally completed your collection by scoring a copy of the Mummy Mystery Game?

???

Quote from: Hepcat on December 06, 2013, 02:22:59 PM
So have you finally completed your collection by scoring a copy of the Mummy Mystery Game?

???

No! Darn it!!

I need one, still. Anyone reading this who has one to sell, contact me ASAP.

Serious cash offered. Quick :)

Matt

Here's hoping you complete your set this year!

:)

Phantom and Creech for me, love the Phantom's board!

Quote from: Hepcat on December 14, 2013, 09:36:21 AM
Here's hoping you complete your set this year!

:)

What a nice wish! Thanks, Hep!

Quote from: vikings40 on June 10, 2012, 06:41:26 PMI have a Phantom of the Opera game , but alas , it is without the rules which makes it exceedingly difficult to claim victory over my teenage son ... or even to play! Please help me out and either post or email me a copy of the rules. My UNDYING gratitude to the rules supplier!

So did you ever score a copy of the rules?

???

I sent vikings40 a photo of the rules printed on the inside top cover of my Phantom game about 2.5 yrs. ago.

Apparently, most of these Hasbro Monster Mystery games have the rules printed on the inside of the top cover while  others are blank and come with the rules printed on a paper insert, which if lost you are out of luck.  The rules/instructions paper insert is shown in the lower left side of the photo below and inside of top cover is blank (not shown).


(http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/yy178/rmaylor/_57_zps25efef56.jpg)

Quote from: RPM on January 07, 2015, 11:17:18 AMI sent vikings40 a photo of the rules printed on the inside top cover of my Phantom game about 2.5 yrs. ago.

Good man!

8)

Picked Frankenstein and The Creature on this poll , just loved the boxes

The Mummy & Phantom got my vote. I think the Mummy has the nicest board graphics out of all of them.

JP

 Yes, I agree that The Mummy board is killer. I am trying to find one to frame as that would look awesome on the wall.

Nice to see the Phantom of the Opera doing so well in this one.

:)

I like all 3 of the "second series" boards alot. Creature-Phantom-Mummy. The earlier ones kinda suck. Kinda. But I love them, too.

As a side note, the first Monster board game I was ever exposed to was the Ideal GODZILLA game, in like 1968 or so, at a "fall festival" rummage sale. I was kid-amazed at the box art of this game! I had to have it! Unfortunately, they wanted 25c for it, and all I had was a nickel. For about 20+ years I tried to relocate the game. Eventually, I did. And what a hurray day that was.

Would you say the Ideal Godzilla game is as tough to find as any of the Hasbro Mystery games? What about the Ideal King Kong board game?

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/KingKong_zps0db1cc87.jpg)

???

I think Godzilla and Kong hit in about the middle. Obviously Drac/Frank/Wolfman are the easiest to find, and the other three the hardest. 

OK..voted for Frankenstein and the Mummy. Frankenstein is a sentimental favorite because it is the one I had as a kid. But I really like the atmospheric illustration on the insert card. Mummy has a nice board and I appreciate the fact that the Mummy illustration on the cover is completely different from the Aurora art.
I've had a pet peeve with Creature items that are based on Bama's painting. Bama adjusted the one arm up at an angle so that both bloody claws would fit on the narrow constraint of the Aurora long box. But when the square box was released, the artist simply copied Bama's "arm up in the air" illustration, even though there was plenty of room on the square box to put it where it should be. And here we have the Hasbro game which perpetuates the awkward pose.

Maybe Creech was shielding his eyes from the glare of the sun or the movie camera lighting?

???

Are the games pretty generic, substituting monsters in the play process...or am I wrong?  Can anyone comment on the playability, and was the monster mythos worked successfully into the game play?

I understand that each game was quite a bit different.

:-\

 Yes, the games were based on the actual attributes of the specific monster. I think I only had the Dracula game as a kid, but I remember it vividly. For example, For example, there were a few spaces you could land on that would make you vulnerable to other players. If they landed on the same spot while you were there, you would become a vampire.

Given that these board games have the same box art that's featured on the Hasbro Painting by Numbers sets, it's interesting to compare the vote totals in this poll to those in the poll for the Hasbro Painting by Numbers sets:

http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=18742.60 (http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=18742.60)

Painting by Numbers Vote Totals

Creature from the Black Lagoon - 20
Frankenstein - 20
Dracula - 19
Phantom of the Opera - 13
Wolf Man - 13
Mummy - 5

Mystery Game Vote Totals

Creature from the Black Lagoon - 18
Phantom of the Opera - 18
Frankenstein - 12
Mummy - 6
Dracula - 4
Wolf Man - 4

Evidently the Phantom of the Opera Mystery game must be particularly well designed, while the Dracula, Wolf Man and Frankenstein games must be pretty ho-hum.

:-\

Quote from: Hepcat on August 15, 2019, 10:24:08 AM
Given that these board games have the same box art that's featured on the Hasbro Painting by Numbers sets...

They don't.

Quote from: darkmonkeygod on August 15, 2019, 08:23:05 PM
They don't.

Yeah, first 3 not at all. Second 3, same reference material. Creature might be the same painting, but flipped and with a different background.

Quote from: Mike Scott on August 15, 2019, 09:04:06 PM
Yeah, first 3 not at all. Second 3, same reference material. Creature might be the same painting, but flipped and with a different background.

It's not the same painting. These are 12 distinct projects, sharing design among 4 sub-sets, but the illustrations are distinct.

Quote from: darkmonkeygod on August 15, 2019, 09:55:25 PM
It's not the same painting.

A little hard to tell from small photos.

Quote from: darkmonkeygod on August 15, 2019, 08:23:05 PMThey don't.

Quote from: Mike Scott on August 15, 2019, 09:04:06 PMYeah, first 3 not at all. Second 3, same reference material. Creature might be the same painting, but flipped and with a different background.

Yes, you fellows are correct. The first three Hasbro Mystery Games have very different artwork from the corresponding Hasbro Painting by Number sets:

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroDraculaboard5.png)

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroFrankensteinboard6.png)

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroWolfmangame.png)

Only the last three Hasbro Mystery Games have fairly similar box art to that featured on the Hasbro Painting by Number sets:

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroCreaturegame3.png)

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroMummygame5.png)

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroPhantom5.png)

The last three are the ones that have always drawn my focus since they're so much scarcer than the first three. That's  how and why I was induced to generalize incorrectly.

:(

Frankenstein game does have the best interior (spinner) art (spooky old house and gnarly tree, with Frankie lumbering across the lawn), as the 2nd series games just repeat the box lid art.

The Dracula game may have the best board:

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbroDraculaboard6.png)

Followed by the Phantom of the Opera game:

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/HasbrophantomMysterygame2.png)

cl:)

Quote from: Hepcat on August 16, 2019, 01:05:19 PM
The Dracula game may have the best board:

I like the Phantom and Creature boards, just for the art.

Quote from: Hepcat on January 13, 2015, 03:19:04 PMWould you say the Ideal Godzilla game is as tough to find as any of the Hasbro Mystery games? What about the Ideal King Kong board game?

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/KingKong_zps0db1cc87.jpg)

 ???

I have the Godzilla and King Kong board games. I also have the Creature and Phantom mystery games. The Godzilla and Kong games aren't even in the same league as the 2nd series of the Hasbro mystery games, as far as value and difficulty to find.

Quote from: Wolfman on July 03, 2025, 07:27:08 PMI have the Godzilla and King Kong board games. I also have the Creature and Phantom mystery games.

Have you had them for many years/decades, or pay high collector's prices?

Quote from: Wolfman on July 03, 2025, 07:27:08 PMI have the Godzilla and King Kong board games. I also have the Creature and Phantom mystery games. The Godzilla and Kong games aren't even in the same league as the 2nd series of the Hasbro mystery games, as far as value and difficulty to find.

How about when it comes to aesthetics and game play though?

 ???