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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Tolkien zealot's opinion..., November 3, 2002
By A Customer
Let me begin this review by proclaiming proudly that I am at once an avid gamer, and a J.R.R. Tolkien fanatic. I was instantly skeptical about a game based upon Tolkien's works, as all past offerings have been lackluster and unworthy of their source materials. Still, video games couldn't be more vastly different from novels, so I knew that to make a game of a novel, liberties would have to be taken to some extent in favor of the gameplay. My greatest fear was that too many liberties would be taken, and I would loathe "The Fellowship of the Ring." Still, as a gamer and Tolkien fan, I decided to give it a chance - and I'm glad I did, despite the game's shortcomings. The game's strengths...
· Beautiful graphics faithfully adapt the characters and locations of the books. What's more, the game offers an alternative vision of the story and the characters therein, and, if done well, that is always a welcome thing. Peter Jackson's interpretation isn't the only one, and the fact that this game isn't based upon the movies shouldn't dissuade you from being interested if you're a fan of the books.
· Mostly splendid voice-acting, cut scenes, and dialogue - much of which is from or inspired very much by the source material.
· "Mission" objectives are pretty fresh, interesting, and usually in keeping with the events of the book. For instance, at one point you must guard Gandalf from the Watcher in the Water as he struggles to unlock the gates of Moria. Awesome.
· Friendly AI is excellent. For example, orcish archers in Moria will be computer-controlled Gimli's first target. This sort of threat assessment keeps things feeling very much alive. On top of that, it's great fun to have backup that actually backs you up when you're in trouble.
· Battles are well-animated and should excite spectators who just happen to be looking on as you play.
· The game lets you take control of Frodo, Aragorn, and Gandalf as the story progresses, and each of them play differently from one another. The game's weaknesses...
· First and foremost, this game is for fans of the books. If you don't fall into this category, this game probably isn't for you. Many of the game's reviews state as much, but bash the game unfairly for this fact. There are millions upon millions of Tolkien readers, and THEY will appreciate this attention to detail. Therefore, this is only a flaw depending upon how you look at it. So, if you're an avid gamer and a Tolkien fan, this comes highly recommended - I don't care what the Gamespot reviewers say.
· While it is so true to the novel that it sometimes embraces faithfulness over gameplay, there are moments where the game's designers take unnecessary liberties (but, hey, the same is true of the films, right?). For example, you battle orcs on your way to Weathertop in one of the game's nods toward action - and believe me, some action is welcome by this point. However, in a few moments, you'll be in Moria, and goodness knows there are plenty of orcs to slay there. Why did the designers jump the gun? There's no good reason. There are a few unwelcome moments like these, but by and large the game is very respectful of its roots.
· For those who are not avid fans of "The Lord of the Rings," and even for those Tolkien fans seeking instant gratification, this game will be a bit slow-going. You will often find yourself watching long movie segments followed by short missions. This allows the game to be true to the books, but gives you a feeling of lesser interaction, and it is especially problematic given the game's length - but I'll get to that in a moment.
· While the game often gives you the impression that you are a member of the Fellowship, sometimes it drops the ball. While playing through Moria was fun, it could have been so much more had the designers put the eight remaining members of the Fellowship at your back. I know the game has the capabilities to handle friendly AI in decent numbers, but for some reason, Gimli, and Gimli alone, is your sole support (until a puzzle at the end of the segment). I can only imagine that Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippen, Aragorn, Legolas, and Boromir were removed from the equation because, together, they would kick too much orcish arse and, as a result, make this portion of the game too easy. However, this problem could have been corrected by throwing more bloodthirsty orcs into the fray. Chaotic, story-driven action would ensue, and it could have been the highlight of the experience. As it is, you are just supposed to pretend that the Fellowship is there, since they show up in the cut-scenes only to mysteriously vanish when the gameplay resumes. Come on, guys - I know the difference between 9 and 2. So, you might be wondering how this game stacks up against its most predominant competition, the movie-licensed "The Two Towers." In my own humble opinion, it's a better game. It's less linear than its counterpart, and the gameplay doesn't become nearly as repetitive. On top of that, "The Fellowship of the Ring" takes far fewer liberties than "The Two Towers." On the other hand, "The Two Towers" employs more gameplay and less watching and waiting. "The Two Towers" also has more replay value, and will likely appeal to a wider audience with its non-stop action (not to mention the movie's impressive production values). Both games suffer from the worst plague of all, though, for both "The Two Towers" and "The Fellowship of the Ring" are short, short games. The two combined might equal one good game's content, and both lose serious points for this. On top of that, neither has much of an ending to make it feel as though your valiant efforts have paid off. Still, when the smoke has cleared, I think the "The Fellowship of the Ring," clearly the underdog of the bunch, wins the war, if only by a hair. Note that I am speaking as a Tolkien fan first and foremost, however - and I like both offerings despite their many failings. So, you Tolkien readers/gamers out there, give this underrated adaptation a try. It's clearly not for everybody, but in the right hands, it can work magic. Final Grade (as a Tolkien fan): B+
Final Grade (as a layman): C
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