A work of art. Sadly not everyone sees it that way.
Read around a bit to discover it isn't well liked by most. The purpose of this review is not to 'go with the flow' of the majority, but to shed a bit of light onto a game that deserves better.
Who has not read the Lord of the Rings? It's safe to assume the vast majority of people interested in a Tolkien game would know the gist of the plot. For those that don't, this game is based loosely around the first book, the Fellowship of the Ring, which sees Frodo and his companions set out on their journey to destroy the One Ring.
Of course, there's a little more to it than that. While the main purpose of the game is to advance through the various levels or areas, there are several snags in the form of mini quests that you either must do, or should do. Getting Aragorn in your party, for example, is a must. Finding the gems is a must. Finding the latest and greatest equipment (weapon and armour) for everyone is something you 'should' do.
The game takes the form of a third-person omniscient camera angle (somewhere above it all), and follows the main character around (with your growing fellowship following loosely around you). At first your main character is Frodo, but is replaced by Aragorn once you acquire his assistance. Even to begin with, managing such a large party soon becomes tiresome, so if you feel so inclined, don't worry about them. There is a button you can press to call them, but sometimes even this won't work for the more stubborn members of your party.
There are some mini quests too. Nothing truly rewarding - most are simply hurdles you have to get over in order to continue the game. For example, finding Old Gamgee's glasses. Your reward? Being able to leave the first town.
The most enjoyable feature of this game is one of either two things. The music, or the maze of tunnels and maps you'll find everywhere from the very start of the game, to the Barrow Downs, to Moria. The music is nothing short of genius. Even before you start playing, you'll find yourself in the mood, enveloped by the feel of the game. It's melodic, and it's easy to tell a lot of work and thought went into it. It's the sort of music one might expect in a movie.
But the mazes are something else entirely. It's really fun to just get lost. Seriously. Get underground somewhere, and find some treasure. Start drawing some maps for yourself. Encounter some goblins, or trolls. Battle follows the familiar formula of 'get more experience, level up', so once you get the hang of combat, you'll be laughing. The instrumentals that accompany each area bring them to life, making this world of Middle-Earth so much more than just the typical graphics. The graphics are typical, granted, but they aren't bad.
There is a unique little save system that involves writing down codes for input again when you want to resume play. It can be tedious, but it allows you to resume from whenever you want, as long as you keep your codes. Realise you missed an item earlier on? No worries, just load up an earlier save. If you have to do a maze again ... that's a good thing!
The story is remarkably consistent. Leaving home with four hobbits, picking up Aragorn at a tavern, Legolas at Rivendell ... even Gandalf vanishing for ages at a time. Even the final battle with the Balrog was true to the book.
The only problems you should try to ignore:
-- Legolas' bow. Yes, this is crazy, but the bow does not work. Somehow, Legolas forgot to string it, or forgot it needed arrows, or something, but the end result is glaringly obvious. Epic fail for the elf.
-- Save code glitches. Every once in a while, the code you wrote down accurately and double and triple checked was 100% accurate ... will not work when you try typing it in. The trouble may be that you have missed a key plot element, or you are halfway through completing a mini quest, like getting an oar or something. Best time to save and switch off is when you enter a new area right after a big maze or inter-connected area.
If you are a fan of Lord of the Rings, these problems will make you say "Pfft! No biggie." Well you should. This game is a worthy addition to any collector's shelf, and an experience well worth a try. Get hold of it today.