The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (PS2)

There are good things in this game: the RPG mechanics are fine (at various points in the story, you play as Frodo, Aragorn and Gandalf), the visuals are beautiful in parts, and certain aspects of game design are fantastic (Gandalf's magic-casting stands out). Little touches make it appealing to true fans, for instance when Aragorn receives the repaired Sword of Elendil and it glows during fighting. It would be a great game for even non-LOTR fans to play, since a good deal of backstory is provided in lengthy cinematics throughout the game. Fellowship's greatest asset, of course, is the story itself, as well as the bevy of villainous creatures that provide great boss-fight material. Many other games probably wished they had a Balrog to offer.

But the story deviates strangely from the book in order to satisfy the format of an RPG game. The final boss-fight (which we won't spoil here) is completely unrelated to anything devised by JRR Tolkien, and it seems hollow, strange and unsatisfying. The puzzles sprinkled throughout the game are random and often frustrating, as is your first encounter with the Ringwraiths (inevitably, you die many times--too steep a difficulty curve right out of the gate). This game is still strongly recommended, but with many caveats. Proceed with caution, and you're likely to enjoy yourself. Expect a masterpiece, and you'll be wishing you'd saved your money for a different PS2 title. --Jennifer Buckendorff

WHAT'S GOOD:
This game has a certain quaintness about it that resonates with Tolkien's presentation of his Hobbits. The chance to do a bit of exploring around the shire is a bit of fun too. You can tell playing this game that the makers have at least tried to bring to life Middle-Earth as Tolkien describes it. Personally, I liked the little touch of Gandalf stabbing his staff's butt into downed foes and then giving it a little twist.

WHAT'S BAD:
This game attempts to capitalise on the success of the film trilogy, but because it's not licenced by New Line Cinema, we get none of the visual style, hectic action or atmospheric design seen in the movies. Whilst, as I say, the Hobbit scenes are quaint, they're also very boring. When you encounter Tom Bombadil and discover you can't skip all of his waffling nonsense, you'll finally understand why he was so readily dropped from the films. Aragorn's combat is slow and unwieldy too. Worst of all is the reduction of the Ringwraiths and the Balrog to amusing kiddies' cartoon style monsters. Want a Lord of the Rings RPG? Buy 'The Third Age' instead.


Don't BUY it   January 2, 2005
2 out of 7 found this review helpful

This is possibly...no is the worst game I have played, it is an insult to the glory and might of the books that Tolkien bestowed upon us. The acting is so wooden that you will be thinking you have fallen into an episode of S-club 7. Gaffa Gamgee is not at all scared that there is a Ringwraith standing at his doorstep, and Gandalf's death was the least emotional scene I have ever seen! The game play was limited in that you had to fight 'bee's' as frodo and bats as gandalf and aragorn, it doesn't matter how many fancy spells gandalf can cast, ultimately he is just firing light at bats! The amount of glitches (such as invisible walls) and LOADING TIME you could make a sandwich and eat it and still you would be waiting. I am a massive The Lord of the Rings fan and am horrified over how awful this game is; it should be cast away forever! I could have made something from my rear end, which would be better; the graphics were the only good thing about it, and its not enough.


Disapointing   September 11, 2004
J. Reynolds
9 out of 11 found this review helpful

A very good game this is. Put aside all the cast from the film and the voices of them. The graphics are not to the cast and neither are the voices. Your more on an adventure type of game but still with the same storyline. Theres no upgrading or buying things, you just get a few things in the game. Its a bit harder in a way than the other ones because if you die, you go back to where you last saved it which means you'll want to save it quite alot of the time as you can save whenever you want. Play as three characters, Gandalf, Aragorn and Frodo. On the other ones your person has a kind of missile and its the same on here. Gandalf has some spells, Aragorn has unlimited arrows and Frodo has unlimited rocks which can be quite useful in some parts. The game adds more background to the story sort of and people who weren't in the films such as Sacville Baggins and Ted Sandyman are in it. There are some things which are a little bit wrong sort of because like when Frodo gets stabbed by the Nazgul he doesnt seem in too much pain because hes walking and talking fine and not screaming like in the film! There arent as many orcs to kill like in the two towers and return of the king but theres more logical puzzly kind of things which are not aimed at 13+ people i think. Overall a good game but not exactly my type. You either love or hate the game