Mid-March River Horse Games announced Jim Henson’s Labyrinth – The Adventure Game. So we decided to look back at their first Labyrinth offering, when we talked to Alessio Cavatore about the game. This article originally appeared in Issue 18 of The Campaigner, published in 2016. The issue is still available as digital download or in limited print stock.
By Matthew Lee (ML)
The genius of Jim Henson is responsible for a great many things, the adventure film Labyrinth being one of them. Even decades after its release the movie has a legion of fans, and it is a much loved classic.
This year River Horse surprised many when they announced the Labyrinth tabletop game. Within months of its announcement the game skyrocketed in popularity. In this issue The Campaigner talks to Alessio Cavatore (AC), Game Designer at River Horse, about Labyrinth.
ML: Can you briefly explain what the game Labyrinth is about? How does it fit in with the movie? What kind of game play does it have?
AC: Labyrinth is a cooperative game – up to four players work together as a group to defeat Jareth and save Toby. Like in the movie, you have 13 hours (i.e. 13 game turns) to save the babe. First you adventure through the Labyrinth, facing creatures and riddles, trying to join together as a group so that you can use each character’s best abilities. When you find the entrance to Goblin City, then you have to face its Guards and fight your way through to the Castle of the Goblin King, where Sarah will face Jareth alone, as ‘That’s the way it’s done’. The game is therefore a very close rendition of the movie, and you can either succeed as a group or fail as a group if you run out of time (which also ensures the game will last about an hour!).
ML: Were you familiar with the movie Labyrinth before working on the game?
AC: Oh yes, it has always been in my ‘favourite movies’ library. I still have the VHS edition! That film has played a part in forming my imagination and ultimately, my career!
ML: How did you come to work on the Labyrinth game? Were you contacted by the license owner, or did you approach them?
AC: We approached the Henson Company at an event, as I was thinking that Jim Henson’s Labyrinth was going to make a splendid board game!
ML: Why Labyrinth? What do you think made the movie a good fit for a tabletop game inspired by it?
AC: Think about it, it’s all there: a party of heroes, a fascinating and challenging quest, a host of bad guys and an arch-villain to defeat! And all in the fun and characterful tone of Jim Henson and Brian Froud’s creations, and with the charisma of great actors and the wonderful music of David Bowie!
ML: What about working with the much-loved movie license excited you?
AC: You know, at the end of the movie, the characters tell Sarah that if at any time in her life she was going to need them, for any reason at all, she just had to call them. And as I identified with Sarah when I first saw the film as a young teenager, it seems fit that I summoned their help to make this game extra special!
The remainder of this interview is available in Issue 18. The issue is still available as a digital download.
