Putting the 'role' back in role-playing games since 2002.
Donate to Codex
Good Old Games
  • Welcome to rpgcodex.net, a site dedicated to discussing computer based role-playing games in a free and open fashion. We're less strict than other forums, but please refer to the rules.

    "This message is awaiting moderator approval": All new users must pass through our moderation queue before they will be able to post normally. Until your account has "passed" your posts will only be visible to yourself (and moderators) until they are approved. Give us a week to get around to approving / deleting / ignoring your mundane opinion on crap before hassling us about it. Once you have passed the moderation period (think of it as a test), you will be able to post normally, just like all the other retards.

Arkham Horror: Mother's Embrace - investigation game with turn-based combat

LESS T_T

Arcane
Joined
Oct 5, 2012
Messages
13,582
Codex 2014



https://af.gog.com/game/arkham_horror_mothers_embrace?as=1649904300

https://www.asmodee-digital.com/en/mansions-madness-mothers-embrace/



Published by Asmodee Digital.

Diving into the Madness - The Universe

Hello to all of our horror, adventure and investigation fanatics!

Today we're very excited to be able to tell you all about a glorious game that is just around the corner—Mansions of Madness: Mother's Embrace. We're so excited to bring you into this world of dread, fear, clues, mysteries and untold horrors. For those of you delving into the depths of this investigation with no knowledge of Lovecraft and the board game, fear not... this insanity is for all and you won't be left behind, unless your mind leaves you first. For those that are already aware of the Lovecraft mythos and the original board game that our game is based off, you should have a good idea of what kinds of terrors and machinations await you. But remember that this is a brand new story and adventure to undertake... so be prepared!

Mansions of Madness: Mother's Embrace is a video game adaptation of the well-known board game Mansions of Madness, which has been an immense success over the years. In this game you will control your team of up to three investigators from a selection of characters—all with their own unique strengths and weaknesses, personality traits, quirks, interests and abilities—and try to discover what insane machinations and mysteries are occurring in an incredibly beautiful and narrative world. You will see a story unfold before you as you adventure through Arkham and Louisiana, fight off terrifying lovecraftian creatures and watch as your mind slowly slips away from you as the true horror of what is really happening becomes apparent.

9c573ac95f22c28719ee2dbbb9c784ef7789925e.png


The story that has been created by LuckyHammers, in close collaboration with Fantasy Flight Games, is a respectful variation and interpretation of Lovecraft's books. It also integrates elements that you wouldn't usually find in a Lovecraftian story that assist in enhancing the gameplay experience. While all of the creatures you face in Mansions of Madness: Mother's Embrace will be beyond your imagination and powerful beyond measure, you will still be able to fight them in order to survive and continue to investigate the terrible happenings in Louisiana. One of the main differences between this digital version and the board game is that we have been able to create a campaign mode that has bound together several different scenarios into one massive investigation that you can undertake. After you complete some investigation in Arkham, you will then travel to New Orleans, Louisiana, where you can investigate the sprawling streets of the city, the plantations, and even the Bayou; all of which make up this magnificent—but eerie and dangerous—location.

c0d9c287533dd2c79d2a1faf598b2f3268b17856.jpg


We really wanted to have the players feel that the menacing nature and size of our campaign is far bigger than just a mansion or even only a city... You're not safe anywhere, and your mind will suffer for it. This led us towards our decisions for three very specific pillars that we wanted to focus on to ensure that everyone would be able to have the best gameplay experience possible: the cosmic scale, the horror, and finally...the madness.

When we mean scale, we are not referring to the size of the world—which is fairly large—but to how we made sure that every part of this game made you realize how small and insignificant you really are against the absolute and terrifying power of what you are discovering and facing. You are but a bug on the wall trying to comprehend the works of something that you cannot even begin to understand.

Something that helps to showcase this is the second pillar: the constant horror that we portray throughout every inch of the game, from the music, sound and visual effects, to the creatures and places you will visit. But understand that this isn't the kind of horror you are used to—we don't do jump scares here. We're all about the lingering dread, the constant fear of what is to come. You will feel it everywhere, in the landscapes and buildings, in the monsters you will face, in the music that shakes you to your core.

This all leads us to the central pillar: the madness. Throughout your journey you will be uncovering a mystery that brings about revelations and realizations that will shake you to the core of your being, testing your mind at every step, not to mention the constant threat of otherworldly creatures. You will be able to see the effect of this on your characters as they take a long descent in to their own hell and end their journey either mad, or not far from it. Your body will be tested, your heart will waver, and your mind WILL be lost…

dea1914d97c1cbf24b7a3cc4a2e89f2db37fe297.png


Mansions of Madness: Mother's Embrace is a game that we are so proud to be working on today as it is a subtle mix of modern gameplay, with a strong narrative aspect, and a faithful transformation of the best elements of the board game to your device! We have taken some of the best aspects of the board game to improve not only the replayability of the game, but also just your general experience of it. One of the best examples of this are the seamless tiles that make up the randomized landscapes and locations you will visit in Louisiana.

Every location, both indoor and outdoor, consists of seamless tiles that our engine can switch, rotate and use to create a unique world for you to play through. This allows you to experience something different with every play-through and see locations in new and different ways that you might not have before. Which brings us to our dynamic lighting, time and weather systems, which adds further variety to your experience. In one play-through the Bayou might be rainy and misty, and in another it could be sunny and bright, or even the cold dead of night...but it will never lose those three pillars we mentioned earlier—the feeling of dread and discomfort never leaves, no matter the setting!

One of the core restrictions that tabletop games have is that it is limited to a 2D space. Luckily, thanks to this being a video game, we have a whole new dimension—such as stairs and levels—we can utilise to further diversify your environment and surroundings.

All of these things added together have allowed us to include new features and experiences that provide you with the same feeling you get from the board game, but culminate to create something even more memorable.

We look forward to revealing even more terrifying, chilling content and information to you again in the future. Feel free to ask us what you would like to know about this mysterious universe and we may cover it in one of our future “Diving into the Madness” blogs.

Mind your sanity, adventurers!
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Modron

Arcane
Joined
May 5, 2012
Messages
10,043
Isn't the second adaptation of the game on steam? Yes, yes it is.


Granted it looks like you have to buy the dlc to have gameplay.
 

LESS T_T

Arcane
Joined
Oct 5, 2012
Messages
13,582
Codex 2014
Isn't the second adaptation of the game on steam? Yes, yes it is.


Granted it looks like you have to buy the dlc to have gameplay.


AFAIK it's not a digital adaption but a companion app to the physical board game (so you need to buy the physical one).
 

LESS T_T

Arcane
Joined
Oct 5, 2012
Messages
13,582
Codex 2014
:necro:

The developer shuts down due to "financial issues with the company's main publishing partners": https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-07-17-luckyhammers-shuts-down

Apparently they were working on VR games with Starbreeze. No specific statement about this game.

LuckyHammers shuts down
70 employees affected by closure of Montreal-based studio

Montreal-based development studio LuckyHammers shut down on Friday, affecting around 70 employees.

Owners Dom Roussy and Marc-Antoine Pinard confirmed the shutdown to GamesIndustry.biz, saying that the closure was due to financial issues with the company's main publishing partners, as well as a "huge bet" on VR investment that did not produce expected revenues.

LuckyHammers' portfolio includes PC and console titles such as Terraforming Mars and the unreleased Mansions of Madness: Mother's Embrace. It has also worked on both mobile and VR titles, the latter in partnership with StarVR.

"We are very proud of what we have been able to accomplish during our five years in business," reads a joint statement provided by Roussy and Pinard. "We have been working with a lot of extremely talented and dedicated individuals and are wishing to all of them the best in their future endeavours.

"We are working very hard at making sure all of our employees can find a new home/studios where they will be able to keep expressing their creativity and the art of making games. We organized a get together for our employees with all the major studios in Montréal to assure a smooth transition and continuity."

The owners declined to provide information about severance pay, but did add that LuckyHammers had held a job fair for its former employees on Tuesday, saying, "Most of our former employees already have some offers to choose from."
 

LESS T_T

Arcane
Joined
Oct 5, 2012
Messages
13,582
Codex 2014
https://gamedaily.biz/article/1055/asmodee-digital-starbreeze-partner-lucky-hammers-shuts-down

One of Lucky Hammer’s projects, Mansions of Madness: Mother’s Embrace, was in development at Lucky Hammers prior to the shutdown. In an email exchange with GameDaily, Asmodee Digital declined to comment specifically on the Lucky Hammers shut-down. However, the company did offer some hope for Mansions of Madness: Mother’s Embrace and future support for Terraforming Mars and other released titles.

“Current or future games’ development won’t be impacted by Lucky Hammers shutting down, as we have implemented adequate dispositions in time with them,” an Asmodee Digital representative said. “Communication on future games, including Mansions of Madness, will go on according to plan, with announcements coming soon.”
 

Infinitron

I post news
Staff Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2011
Messages
97,442
Codex Year of the Donut Serpent in the Staglands Dead State Divinity: Original Sin Project: Eternity Torment: Tides of Numenera Wasteland 2 Shadorwun: Hong Kong Divinity: Original Sin 2 A Beautifully Desolate Campaign Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire Pathfinder: Kingmaker Pathfinder: Wrath I'm very into cock and ball torture I helped put crap in Monomyth
:necro:

https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pres...GHTMARES_IN_ARKHAM_HORROR_MOTHERS_EMBRACE.php

PARIS - October 21, 2020 - Asmodee Digital, a leader in video game entertainment inspired by board games, today announced Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace, a digital game based on the award-winning board game franchise, is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch in 2021 ($19.99 / 19,99 €). Asmodee Digital has released a new set of screenshots available here.

Previously announced under the title Mansions of Madness: Mother’s Embrace, the upcoming Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace is a squad-based narrative adventure game offering a mix of exploration, investigation and tactical RPG combat phases set in the Lovecraftian universe.

The year is 1926, and a professor of astronomy is found dead in her mansion, the apparent victim of a heinous murder. Players must pick from 12 of the most iconic protagonists from the Arkham Horror universe, each with a unique skill set, and assemble a team of investigators to uncover the secrets behind this mysterious death.

As investigators face off against Lovecraftian horrors, they will descend deeper into the depths of madness, affecting their level of sanity and causing traumas that will impact the course of their investigation. Along with facing curious science, living nightmares and a sinister cult, players will combat an array of enemies in turn-based combat, all while attempting to retain their sanity. Developed by Artefacts Studio and featuring an original story, Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace plunges players into the engrossing pulp world of 1920s America to combat unseen supernatural and psychological horrors true to the Lovecraftian spirit.

For more information on Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace, feel free to visit facebook.com/ArkhamHorror.ME

https://store.steampowered.com/newshub/app/840210/view/4622341472303087610

Madness is back for the Steam Digital Tabletop Fest!
“That is not dead which can eternal lie, And with strange aeons even death may die.”

Hello investigators,

It is now time to summon a great old one!

Mother’s Embrace is now back with a brand new name:

19e355df4a8de5e538f7d11db19760196508425a.jpg


Something move in the darkness, just at the corner of your eyes.
Take a deep breath and join us in this stream.

You will hear about the creative process, the history, the mechanics, and the madness.
And at the end …

The video has been previously recorded, for now, the participants are in the Arkham Asylum. The rest of the team will meet you in the chat to discuss the content you will be watching.

We hope you will enjoy the streaming, don’t hesitate to also join us on our social media page!

Release of the Madness 2021
Be sure to add the game to your whishlist to not miss it!
 

LESS T_T

Arcane
Joined
Oct 5, 2012
Messages
13,582
Codex 2014
Gameplay trailer.



ARKHAM HORROR: MOTHER’S EMBRACE GAMEPLAY TRAILER SHOWS OFF MACABRE TALES COMING TO CONSOLES AND PC

PARIS - February 3, 2021 - Asmodee Digital, a leader in video game entertainment inspired by board games, today unveiled gameplay in a new trailer for the awaited Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace, the upcoming narrative-driven tactical RPG based on the award-winning Lovecraftian adventure board game. Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace is set to be released Q1 2021 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch for the retail price of $19.99 / 19,99 €. Asmodee Digital has released a new gameplay trailer available here.

This first gameplay trailer showcases how the tactical RPG gameplay of the beloved board game combines with the deep narrative and intrepid characters of the Arkham Horror universe to create a new gameplay experience rich with mysteries to uncover and monsters to fight.

The year is 1926, and a professor of astronomy is found dead in her mansion, the apparent victim of a heinous murder. Players must pick from 12 of the most iconic protagonists from the Arkham Horror universe, each with a unique skill set, and assemble a team of investigators to uncover the secrets behind this mysterious death.

As investigators face off against Lovecraftian horrors, they will descend deeper into the depths of madness, affecting their level of sanity and causing traumas that will impact the course of their investigation. Along with facing curious science, living nightmares and a sinister cult, players will combat an array of enemies in turn-based combat, all while attempting to retain their sanity. Developed by Artefacts Studio and featuring an original story, Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace plunges players into the engrossing pulp world of 1920s America to combat unseen supernatural and psychological horrors true to the Lovecraftian spirit.

Care about your sanity and make the right choices… the Ancient Ones are preparing their return.

Madness begins when reality departs.

So they call this an RPG now? Also this happens to be the new game by devs of Naheulbeuk, which we probably wouldn't care much about months ago.
 

sser

Arcane
Developer
Joined
Mar 10, 2011
Messages
1,866,684
The UI on some of those shots looks almost identical to Empire of Sin :lol:
 

Zombra

An iron rock in the river of blood and evil
Patron
Joined
Jan 12, 2004
Messages
11,574
Location
Black Goat Woods !@#*%&^
Make the Codex Great Again! RPG Wokedex Strap Yourselves In Codex Year of the Donut Codex+ Now Streaming! Serpent in the Staglands Shadorwun: Hong Kong Divinity: Original Sin 2 BattleTech Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire Pathfinder: Kingmaker Steve gets a Kidney but I don't even get a tag. I'm very into cock and ball torture I helped put crap in Monomyth
Very excited that this project resurfaced. The original board game is super fun - I've played a number of different board/card games in the series. Steam release date lists as Q1 2021. Not unlikely that I'll D1P. Expect my impressions.
 

Dickie

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Jul 29, 2011
Messages
4,253
Steve gets a Kidney but I don't even get a tag.
The original board game is super fun
You played the original Arkham Horror from 1987? I always wondered if it was fun. I only played the second and third editions, which are quite different, but I do like those.
 

Harthwain

Magister
Joined
Dec 13, 2019
Messages
4,774
So this isn't dead? Looks promising, but I will wait for more gameplay videos before buying. The "gameplay trailer" shows only bits and I imagine it will be more of a boardgame rather than an RPG.

Then again, the developer said that Mansion of Madness was "one of numerous based inspiration, but Mother's Embrace is a game of it's own in this AHF universe", so it could be more than simply a translation of a traditional board game into a video board game (like, A Game of Thrones: The Board Game).

Edit:

Some more info from the developer (some from the Steam forum, some from the YouTube interview pinned on the Steam forum):

[...] it is not a board game adaptation [...]

This is an investigation and adventure game

Once you have done the game and if you still have some sanity, you will know every truth and the horrible secret that lied behind the curtain. Of course, you will be able to start the adventure with a different investigator and might find a slight change, in fine the journey will be the same.
So it's not really a roguelike nor there are elements that can change between playthroughs. Sounds like it'll be "beat it once and forget it" type of game. It's a shame, because it sounded like it had potential to be something more than that.

We went for a system [...] you can normally find in a lot of tactical RPG games.
The above probably means the combat is X-COM-alike. Unless I am missing something.
 
Last edited:

thesheeep

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Mar 16, 2007
Messages
9,949
Location
Tampere, Finland
Codex 2012 Strap Yourselves In Codex Year of the Donut Codex+ Now Streaming! Serpent in the Staglands Dead State Divinity: Original Sin Torment: Tides of Numenera Codex USB, 2014 Shadorwun: Hong Kong Divinity: Original Sin 2 BattleTech Bubbles In Memoria A Beautifully Desolate Campaign Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire Pathfinder: Kingmaker Steve gets a Kidney but I don't even get a tag. Pathfinder: Wrath I'm very into cock and ball torture I helped put crap in Monomyth
So it's not really a roguelike nor there are elements that can change between playthroughs. Sounds like it'll be "beat it once and forget it" type of game. It's a shame, because it sounded like it had potential to be something more than that.
Indeed.
What a shame.
 

Dickie

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Jul 29, 2011
Messages
4,253
Steve gets a Kidney but I don't even get a tag.
The original board game is super fun
You played the original Arkham Horror from 1987? I always wondered if it was fun. I only played the second and third editions, which are quite different, but I do like those.
Oh, I don't know from editions.
Ah, I see. Not to derail this thread, but there were three editions, released in 1987, 2005, and 2018, and they're fairly different games. I was just gonna ask if the 2005 version was like the remakes of 80s movies, where they just mess up the whole thing.
 

Zombra

An iron rock in the river of blood and evil
Patron
Joined
Jan 12, 2004
Messages
11,574
Location
Black Goat Woods !@#*%&^
Make the Codex Great Again! RPG Wokedex Strap Yourselves In Codex Year of the Donut Codex+ Now Streaming! Serpent in the Staglands Shadorwun: Hong Kong Divinity: Original Sin 2 BattleTech Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire Pathfinder: Kingmaker Steve gets a Kidney but I don't even get a tag. I'm very into cock and ball torture I helped put crap in Monomyth
The original board game is super fun
You played the original Arkham Horror from 1987? I always wondered if it was fun. I only played the second and third editions, which are quite different, but I do like those.
Oh, I don't know from editions.
Ah, I see. Not to derail this thread, but there were three editions, released in 1987, 2005, and 2018, and they're fairly different games. I was just gonna ask if the 2005 version was like the remakes of 80s movies, where they just mess up the whole thing.
I don't think it's too much of a derail :) I looked it up and can clarify some things about different editions. First off, there were several different tabletop games in this universe and I was talking about Mansions of Madness, not Arkham Horror. Mother's Embrace (the video game the thread is about) started off based on Mansions and that's what I was talking about. Mansions had two editions, 2011 and 2016, and the way the timing works out I more likely played the 2011 version, which was not perfect but still excellent.

I did also play the proper Arkham Horror game, most likely the 2005 version, which was also super good. (This was the game that contained the Azathoth card I showed above). The scope of Arkham Horror is the entire city, and much of the play takes place out on the streets, dodging/fighting monsters while moving, square by square, between key locations. The gameplay is more traditionally "board gamey". Mansions is more of a miniatures-based "dungeon crawl", going room to room, positioning units etc., although notably the game is not all combat all the time. Think of a dungeon crawl with equal parts combat, traps, and "tricks", where fighting is often inevitable but you want to avoid triggering it as long as you can; you want to be searching for clues, getting the right key to the right door etc. all on a time limit. Anyway, Embrace looks much more like a dungeon crawl and is clearly still modeled on Mansions.

As for Harthwain's "not roguelike" observation, this is true of the original tabletop game as well. Mansions is a series of handcrafted scenarios with a beginning, middle, and end; much better than a jumble of randomized rooms and monsters imo.
 
Last edited:

Dickie

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Jul 29, 2011
Messages
4,253
Steve gets a Kidney but I don't even get a tag.
I did also play the proper Arkham Horror game, most likely the 2005 version, which was also super good. (This was the game that contained the Azathoth card I showed above).
The Azathoth card you posted is from 3rd edition. You can see it says 2018 in the copyright at the bottom. The old ones in second edition have doom tracks on their cards. I have second and third editions, but now you can't even easily find second edition, much less the first one.

Embrace looks much more like a dungeon crawl and is clearly still modeled on Mansions.
I am hoping this game is more like Mansions of Madness, which has more of an investigation feeling. I have first edition of that one and no interest in the second edition that uses an app to play the overlord.
 

Harthwain

Magister
Joined
Dec 13, 2019
Messages
4,774
I am hoping this game is more like Mansions of Madness, which has more of an investigation feeling. I have first edition of that one and no interest in the second edition that uses an app to play the overlord.
Developer said that there are three core elements to the Mother's Embrace gameplay: sanity, combat and investigation. It's also possible to miss on clues if, for example, you take a team that's heavily combat-oriented (and a team that's too focused on clues is going to have hard time during combat).
 

Zombra

An iron rock in the river of blood and evil
Patron
Joined
Jan 12, 2004
Messages
11,574
Location
Black Goat Woods !@#*%&^
Make the Codex Great Again! RPG Wokedex Strap Yourselves In Codex Year of the Donut Codex+ Now Streaming! Serpent in the Staglands Shadorwun: Hong Kong Divinity: Original Sin 2 BattleTech Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire Pathfinder: Kingmaker Steve gets a Kidney but I don't even get a tag. I'm very into cock and ball torture I helped put crap in Monomyth
I did also play the proper Arkham Horror game, most likely the 2005 version, which was also super good.
The Azathoth card you posted is from 3rd edition. You can see it says 2018 in the copyright at the bottom. The old ones in second edition have doom tracks on their cards. I have second and third editions, but now you can't even easily find second edition, much less the first one.
Sure. I just posted a pic from the internet, didn't drive to my friend's house and take a photo of his card. I honestly don't know which edition I played but I believe it was more than 5 years ago.

I am hoping this game is more like Mansions of Madness, which has more of an investigation feeling.
Me too. I like Arkham Horror but as you say the investigation aspect of Mansions is more interesting. Mansions is also more claustrophobic and has stronger urgency imo.

So they call this an RPG now?
I agree the shoe doesn't fit perfectly but it's close enough that I'm not mad at them for trying to wear it. All the Arkham games have a strong emphasis on character stats, and although you don't "roll up" your characters, you do choose them based on their stats and powers, and in Mansions of Madness they're absolutely critical. Rolling 1 die to investigate a clue is shit compared to 3 dice, and having 2 hit points is shit compared to 8. Unlike, say, the XCOM games where you don't truly care if a sniper's Marksmanship is 67 or 74, the player's choice of party build in Embrace will dominate how the game plays. And if it's like Mansions, you can't even choose "fighter/mage/cleric/thief" and be ready for anything because time is a huge issue. Sometimes your gunslinger is going to end up being the only one who has time to decipher the magic symbols on the altar before the monsters appear. Good luck with that 1 die roll.
 

As an Amazon Associate, rpgcodex.net earns from qualifying purchases.
Back
Top Bottom