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Intro Based on Tolkien's first book of the trilogy, the similarly-titled The Fellowship of the Ring focuses on Frodo's adventure as he gathers friends and heads off for Mount Doom. With problematic controls and a sluggish pace, LOTR on the Game Boy Advance is a title for the - extremely forgiving - diehard-fan. Gameplay: 3/10 With phenomenal success in both print and film, it was just a matter of time before J.R.R. Tolkien's world would come to life in digital form on the handheld. It's with a heavy heart that I tell you that this initial GBA offering of Middle Earth is a big disappointment. Fraught with technical problems and gameplay issues, LOTR provides another example of when a good license goes to waste. Following haphazardly with the book, Frodo starts off in the Shire and must round up his comrades, while performing menial tasks and stealing - a lot. When Frodo isn't busy gathering pipe weed or cabbage, he's wandering around the homes of other people and stealing their goods; he isn't picky either, as he'll take sandwiches, money, anything he can get his little hobbit hands on. Unlike the Xbox version, there are no consequences for these actions; neighbors don't care, as the act of evil doesn't corrupt him, and he's basically free to rip people off. Whenever it's time to do some serious adventuring, the player can look forward to running even more errands and fighting in some of the most dull battles to ever take place in an RPG. Fighting consists of using melee and long-range weapons, along with the ability to heal, use fireworks, and flee, none of which is too shabby. Combat itself is turn-based, which isn't the negative aspect; the problem is that the enemies tend to be unimaginative and the battles are slow. When a character fights with a melee weapon, they walk from one side of the screen to the other to attack, with no way to skip the process or speed them up. Since the enemies get first dibs, the presence of multiple adversaries forces the player to sit back and wait as enemy by enemy waltzes over and smacks a member of their party. If that didn't kill my enthusiasm, the fact that no experience is gained from victories certainly did. Using a system that gives characters automatic experience-based points in the story makes the tedious combat seem pointless. Basic controls are also problematic
due to both the isometric view and actual technical follies, and
considering that the game is already lengthy - especially in light
of the sluggish combat -- the result is a very long experience.
Gathering up the troops and meeting all the characters throughout
the towns is actually quite fun as there are a wide array of people
to meet, and areas to explore. Some might actually enjoy this slower
pace, and the chance to control their favorite hero against a band
of ogres can help to make up for the more disappointing aspects.
If you're a huge fan and are dying to take the adventure on the
road with you, this'll suffice. For those gamers who want a unique
and enjoyable experience, or fans who demand the best for such classic
literature, it's best to pass on this. Graphics: 7.5/10 Sound: 7/10 Control: 2/10 Overall: 3/10 [ top ] |
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